Striker needed desperately.

0-0 not a bad result against Arsenal, would have took it before the match.

Altough when you are playing against 10 men for a fair period of time, you expect to get at them a bit more.

What's clearly evident already is we need a striker of significant quality. Even if it just sheer individual, selfish, quality. Didn't create a single genuine chance and never looked like it either. If anyone has thoughts, or had the thoughts, that Demba Ba would fill Carrolls boots in the team has to be mistaken on the evidence so far. He looks more like Shola's twin brother than a striker worthy of leading the line.

With Cabaye and Tiote in the middle, we look a lot flatter in midfield then last year, where we had Nolan and Tiote in a more diamond formation then anything. Which means we are gonna have to play with 2 out and out wingers. From the evidence we have seen, is on the right it will probably have to be Obertan. Who had pace to burn and is very direct at goal. Looks a good signing already. So Barton may have a smaller role in the team than he would like, if he does end up staying. On the left we have Marveuax or Ben Arfa to come in when they are fit. I cannot seeing Jonas being a regular starter. More lack of creativity from him again.

We definetly need that striker to come in before Sep 2nd or we can look forward to more blank score sheets throughout the season. I personally wanna see Jermain Defoe in the No.9 shirt, doing his thing. But whether he would come up North is a big question. Also, get Erik Pieters in asap at left back. He should be here after this weekend.

Not a bad start though.

Bring on the new season!

 

Hopefully Pards wont have Shola starting, he wasnt that bad, but we looked more dangerous when Obertan and Best came on.

 

It's only been one game and Pardew took the wrong striker off at HT. Of course another striker is essential and we did well to hold out on our left side.

Would have taken the point before we kicked off, so I'm satisfied!

 

Who is Shola sucking off seriously?

 

It's too early to tell for Ba, but I will say that the first half may aswell have had two Sholas up front. And that's not a good thing. Still would rather Pardew had kept Ba on because we all know that Shola doesn't improve throughout a match.

 

Ba is Shola 2

 

I think Ba should have stayed on and Shola taken off. Obertan looked quite decent. Think Ba and Best could form quite a decent partnership though!

 

Anyone else like the look of Best? Some good ball control

 

Best looked his usual self....consistant hard worker

 

Ba, Shola and Tiote will all be going to the African Cup so we'll be seriously stretched over winter, thank god France isn't in Africa. We definitely need a striker and a LB, I know people say we shouldn't spend money unnecessarily, but a striker is necessary and they don't come cheap. Also, there were 6000 empty seats today, I reckon that would be near capacity if we spent big on a striker, plus shirt sales, it wouldn't be completely reckless to spend £20m on someone if they're good.

 

....slightly modified OP

 

I have a gut feeling we're getting Bendtner... Arsenal wouldn't want him available against them so they could have postponed the move until after todays match...

Just what we need, another Shola...

 

Pardew said he was looking for pace so if this was the case we would be getting two strikers, which would be suprising in my eyes...

Bendtner is average, but he is better then all our strikers except Ba in my eyes so Id recluctantly accept him!

 

if we don't have a new striker by the sunderland game I'd play best and shola. can't judge on ba just yet he hardly had a touch today but shola has a knack of scoring against the unwashed

 

If we can get a worker next to Ba then I think it could work well, I would like to see him with Obertan on the pitch aswell

 

Today we learnt that 2 wrongs (Ba and Ameobi (playing style)) don't make a right

 

I could have told you that before the game!

 

I see Rodallega didn't start for Wigan today, maybe he is a possibility? He would definately add some pace and movement up front to stretch defences

 

I was amazed. He must be off somewhere, their best player imo.

 

Shola looked better than Ba today which is why he stayed on. He did ok, considering all he had was long balls with no one around him. Killed a few balls dead with his chest/first touch and won the majority of headers. I also thought he was fouled a few times by those filthy ****ers. It's evident we need another striker or a player with pace to play off Ba/Best/Shola. Obertan is FAST