StellarStripes

Yeah me too. Shola was mint aswell.

Thought we'd get beat 2-1 tonight but it was a great effort by the lads. Man U had a strong side out except 3 of their back 4 but it was exactly that area of their side we didnt expose enough. Vuckic was poor and im sure in hindsight Pardew will have wished he had started Cisse with Shola. All in all a good performance, an unlucky defeat but im not too bothered. Means we have less games to play and can put our focus on the 3 that matter. PL, EL and the FA Cup. Elliott...7 Looks to actually be a pretty decent keeper. Few good saves and his kicking is probably better than Krul and Harper put together. Tavernier...7 Done enough to look like he can handle the big time. Impressed. Williamson...6 I hate the way he turns his back and gets wrong footed. Always worry when he is in the side. -----Ferguson...7 Great assist and wanted the ball, needs to show more of that when given a chance. Coloccini...6 Didnt look his sharpest tonight but glad he is back and got 60mins under his belt. Perch...7 Solid enough, tried to get forward and support attack whilst doing ok at the back. Obertan...6 Actually done alright second half, looked dangerous down the line but his awareness and final ball is shockingly bad. Marveaux...7 Didnt play as wide and tried to dictate our play through the middle. Was tidy just wish he had a shot on him. Tiote...7 In spells looked at his best, great composure and first touch at times, still got that stupid side though, dallying on the ball and over exuberant in the tackle. -----Bigirimana...7 Keep saying it but this boy looks the real deal! So composed and has a great pass on him. Gosling...6 Grew into the game second half with a few nice passes, better work ethic but should have scored twice tonight. Vuckic...5 Didnt get into the game at all even when we were passing it about. Nice bit of skill and unlucky with his shot but needs to show alot more. -----Cisse...8 He is back!! Great movement for his goal, chased everything, looked hungry and almost a great great overhead kick!! Shola...8 Lead the line well, linked play and covered good ground. Looks the fittest he has been in a long time. Will get goals this season.

Agreed. Sameobi, Cisse and Anita?

I actually thought we were the better side, unfortunate to concede so close to half time. Elliott, Tavernier, Tiote and Shola are playing well. Expecting more from Marveaux, Gosling and Obertan second half. Vuckic cant get into the game...again. Is he really that good? I dont know. Get Cisse on for him at half time and keep doing what we have been.

We have looked very good so far! Everyone doing well! Tiote looks to be back to his best, looking forward to him and Cabaye playing together again.

CT = 25% Reasoned, interesting opinion / 75% Complete and utter shit.

442 or 4231? I think its the latter. Or i at least hope it is. Perch LB and Tav at RB? Big chance for the lad tonight, same for Vuckic too. Chance to make an impression against a massive club.

Have we been in the CL whilst under MA's ownership? No. Until then pipe down.

We came close and i'd argue we have a better starting 11 now, problem is, like it was then, is squad depth and the quality of it. We did bring in some good players but we also brought in a load of shite. I think with a few years CL money and the scouting setup we have now we could build a much stronger squad which could challenge on all fronts. If winning a cup gave people joy but in turn lead to us falling behind in the league, which we would, i'd say not thanks personally.

And then have our best 11 tired for an important league game at the weekend...Yeah...good idea fella.

For me CL is more important and its quite simple really. Qualify for the CL and have a decent campaign, use the money to build the squad, a squad more capable of winning a cup AND qualifying for the CL year on year. Like all the other tops clubs have done.

Agreed, with Santon instead of Ferguson. Sneaky feeling Ben Arfa will start tonight though, a bit of magic is needed in these kind of cup ties.

Nope, not in the last 18 visits according to nufc.com. Drew 7 lost 11.

----------------Harper Perch---Taylor---Coloccini---Anita Obertan---Bigi---Tiote---Ben Arfa ----------Shola----Cisse Vuckic, Marveaux and Gosling to come on. 2-1 Man U

When was that video taken? Im presuming pre season time, if so then fair play to the lad for doing it to keep fit, get sharp and toughen up for the PL.

Cabaye and Cisse were the only two that seemed unhappy per say. I thought everyone else looked hungry even if they were not playing to their best. Harper seems up for the fight with Elliot, Santon looks confident and settled, Taylor's come back strong, Willo was decent, Perch was solid, Jonas was Jonas, and of course Ba and Ben Arfa are in great form. Anita however just doesnt look comfortable at the moment.

Its another option isnt it. I'd love to see Ben Arfa get a run of games in that number 10 role behind a striker, its what you do with the other striker then though so in the mean time, for me, 4231 HAS to be our number one formation.

Spot on. I have said a few times already this season the reason we havent looked good much is down to players losing their focus, desire and belief. Belief in themselves but more so in the ownership and their ambition. Cabaye and Cisse are two players out of many in our side who could get into top top teams in europe, there will have been bids/enquiries for them and of course the players themselves would have known about it. We kept them because no-one would pay the "silly money" for them which is good, we are fending teams off but that will only go so far. We cant keep an unhappy player, so, keep them happy. The fact we never got the players we needed will have pissed off the more ambitious in the group, Cabaye, Cisse, Ba, Tiote and Coloccini for sure. They want to compete in the CL, they seem to want to do it with the toon, if we are to keep them year on year MA needs to match their ambition. I think fwiw we will see a couple of major transfers coming in in January.

Cisse and Shola on Wednesday and the better perfomer of the two midweek should start with Ba at the weekend. Simple. If Papiss wants it enough he SHOULD be the better player midweek. I do think him and Ba will strike up a partnership at some point, we should be trying to set up and grow three partnerships though. Cisse + Ba, Cisse + Shola and Shola + Ba, the more options we have upfront with only three strikers the better really.

Quite right. I really wanted him to score today, play him on Wednesday with Shola. They could link up well. Would be another option. He will come good again.

Important 3 points but questions still have to be asked of the performance as a team and a few individuals. Harper...9 Won the game for us really with a few crucial saves. Very good performance. Santon...6 Wasteful and lacked concentration but did try to link down the left. A consistent system would allow a relationship to be formed with whoever is infront of him. Williamson...7 Better game, few attempts on goal but still flaps at times and punts it forward. Taylor...7 Solid enough, looks like he is enjoying his football again. Anita...6 Just ordinary. I really dont see alot in this lad. Perch...8 Composed, chased and was tidy on the ball. I like this lad. Cabaye...6 Just not firing, looks off the pace but can give you that magic ball at any time. Will come good. Ben Arfa...8 Wanted it, looked hungry and assertive, give the ball away a few times but worked hard for the team. Jonas...7 Ran with the ball and won freekicks, doesnt do our shape any good really but his work ethic gets him through. Ba...8 Looked lively, smiling again and took the goal very well. Cisse...5 Seriously needs to have a word with himself, actually think a couple of games out will do him good. Shola...Should get a few games upfront with Ba. Tiote...Proper fuckin animal! Glad he's back but Cheik man, calm down. Obertan...Really dislike this pathetic excuse for a footballer. Good 3 points, few positives but still alot of room for improvement. A match sharp Tiote and Colo will help the team ten fold.

Really dont see it like that at all. A real chance to get both our strikers firing together is nothing to do with arrogance. Totally dont get that mindset at all. Hindshight is a wonderful thing, had Cisse scored everyone would have been saying it was a smart move. These things happen. Still fancy Cisse to score second half.

No he hasnt! A couple of times has found himself in a great position and he's lost his concentration to control or shoot. Definitely not in any sort of form. I think he misses Cheik alongside him personally.

I actually think it was the right choice, a chance for our main man to hit the ground and start scoring. His confidence is shot to shit but i think a fire will be lit in his stomach second half. Fancy him to score today still.

We have played well in 5 minute spells, an improvement on recent 1st half displays but still lack that "control" we need to dominate sides. In large the poor form of Cabaye and Cisse is not helping matters. I have faith in both to come good, it seems to me that the summer has disrupted a few players and they have lost their "belief". It will come, Ben Arfa and Ba are leading by example, they want it and hopefully it will rub off on the others. Tiote and Coloccini will help when they come back like. Hope to see Tiote on in the second half to take control of Norwich's midfield. Keep on going lads, a second and third are in the tank for sure.