StellarStripes

I think something like... Krul, Tavernier, Williamson, Coloccini, Raylor, Amalfitano, Gosling, Anita, Marveaux Obertan, Shola. ...Would be sufficient to get an away leg win. Gives senior squad players a run out, a chance for Colo to get sharp for the league and give some of our youngsters some good experience. Abeid, Bigi and Sameobi if fit could get minutes too. 2-0 Gosling and Raylor.

Could well be agreed already and definitely looks to be better than Williamson. Questions over his attitude though. But for 3mil, european experience, knows Tiote. Would definitely be a good signing.

Hazard getting two assists in 1st 5 mins of his PL debut. Looks very very good. A little bit like Ben Arfa actually.

Nothing has been made of it in the media and should there have been any ill doings then im pretty sure we'd have heard about it. Like someone said yesterday it seems more a case of right time right place for Amalfitano. Still, i think it should be club policy that for all squad members who are not in the match day squad should have to stay and watch the match.

Why would someone praise him for being at fault? He did well actually, him and Santon done well at FB but for me Simpson was still at fault for their goal. Just like Walker had a good game but was at fault for Ba's goal. The build up from us was exceptional.

If Tiote is to leave it will be for either Arsenal or Chelsea who both need a player of his ilk. Will Arsenal spend 25mil though? Will Chelsea after how much they've spent already. I think Tiote leaving is unlikely. Cabaye leaving is even less likely. Like Tiote it would have to be a team in the CL. Chelsea dont need him, Man Utd have Kagawa and just spent 25mil on RVP, Man City dont need him and neither. I dont think we will lose any of our key players now. In the same token i think we are going to stick with Simpson at RB and run with Saylor, Willo, Colo and Perchinio as CB's until Janurary. Dangerous but could be ok if we are lucky with injuries. We do need a FB, CB and striker but i think we will only get a striker and look at it again (Debuchy + CB) in January.

I think looking back on it, their goal was probably Simpsons fault. If you look at the 1st phase of their attack when the ball is played wide left to Lennon, just how much space he is in and how out of position Simpson is. A fullbacks duty is to stop delivery from out wide. That there is where is should have been dealt with. Arguments about Perch and Santon are futile. It should have been dealt with out wide. That said, it was a soft goal aye, couple of positional errors but the goal did not cost us. It was our 1st game of the season. After watching the highlights again i dont think Spurs deserved to win. A draw probably was a fair result. Both teams played some great stuff. Our move leading to Ba's goal was top 4 quality football.

We might just get a striker and go with what we have until January.

Spot on.

Pardew's full post match interview. I like him, he's honest and talks sense. http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/matchday-live/120818/pardew-full-praise-ben-afra-178974

Parky i thought you were always right? Anita did look tidy when he came on. Full of energy. Expect him to start against Atromitos.

All sounds promising. It could all turn out to be nothing but it certainly would be possible. Confirmed later tonight? That would be class.

Great result. Solid enough performance. Still rusty but we looked good in patches. Nice stuff from Jonas and Ben Arfa, who deserved to take the penalty. Ba didnt look happy but he got his goal today and what a strike. Nice to see him off the mark early on. Cisse could have done more but whatever reason didnt see the ball much. Cabaye and Tiote were poor but overall it was a solid first game, great 3 points, off to winning ways and something to build on. I wonder what our target is for the 1st 5 games? 3 home games (Spurs, Villa and CH's Norwich) and 2 away games at Chelsea and Everton. I think 10 points is achievable. 3 home wins and a point away.

Exactly. Another player with a great footballing upbringing at a top top club. We have done well to get him for what we did. He comes into a squad looking to push on and improve whilst he comes with a winners metality after winning the dutch league. Like Tiote did. Like Cabaye did at Lille. We are signing players of real quality at great prices at the moment. The scouting system is without question 'top notch'.

Got to agree with this. Marveaux has massive ability it all about him staying fit. Interesting to hear AP say Anita is a mixture of both Tiote and Cabaye.

I certainly think theres more to it like. Same with Cabaye. Pissed off we didnt get his mate? There were rumbles last week about a few players complaining that we left players behind for the Cardiff game. Something is or has been sturring. We've kept a lid on it but i hope it works in our favour. Little bit of patience with the 2 frenchmen who are known for being a little moody at times. Big big year ahead for Ben Arfa. Im expecting 10+ goals from him. Cabaye could get close to 10 goals if he is used more in the final third.

Go on Monkeys Fist!

Well put!

They look like losing Song too. Tiote would be an upgrade in their central midfield. If they offered 25mil for him i think i would let him go. While i obviously would lok him to stay and play in a midfield 3, Anita can step in there too. Alot of people in front think Anita is a better player than Tiote. Signed them both for a fee about 10mil and recieving another 15mil on top we could use that for a quality striker (Rhodes? Guidetti?) and a quality CB (Douglas or otheras cover. Simpson will stay for the last year and play a good few games competing with Raylor and Santon for a position While i expext Tavernier to be blooded too.

Looks like Coloccini will be fit and will start on Saturday. Thats a relief, i wouldnt want us to start the new season at home to another top 4 challenger without him. It will be good to see how him and Steven Taylor work together again after they were part of the team that seen us have the best defensive record in the country. My question is who is going to play RB and LB?. Ryan Taylor and Santon seem to have had more minutes than Simpson. I wouldnt be suprised if we see Santon at RB and Raylor at LB. Cabaye and Ben Arfa are still doubts but i think Pardew is playing them down to maybe keep Spurs guessing on who will start. I think Cabaye will make it, Ben Arfa on the bench. Tiote to missout and Anita to step in. Jonas to stay in the team and start wide left. Obertan to start and start wide right in a four four two. Cisse trained well and will start where as there was no news on the fitness of Ba. Shola could start. Krul, Santon, S.Taylor, Coloccini ©, R.Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Anita, Jonas, Shola and Cisse. A bench of: Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Gosling, Marveaux, Ben Arfa and Ba. Ba on for Shola, Ben Arfa on for Obertan and Marveaux on for Jonas. 2-1 Cabaye and Ba.

Wrong. Cabaye by far and away is better playing higher and having more creative freedom. This showed in the games he played there in contrast to when he sat deeper and we got nother out of him creatively. I would love to see us play a middle three of Anita, Cabaye and Tiote. Grit, tenacity and a bit of guile either side of Cabaye allowing him to pull the strings a lot more.

Agreed. At a very good price too. 23 years old, capped for Holland 3 times. Key player for Ajax, a team with great history, tradition and pedigree. He has most definitely been brought up right by the club and being dutch will be able to play football. In Anita's interviews it does seem that AP has told him he will be predominantly a defensive midfielder but whilst being able to play RB and LB will be used their if needed too. Wears the number 8. Very very good signing. Will be interesting what sort of system we play now.

I think if we get the players we need and get the balance right for each competition, i actually think we could have an outstanding year! League: 1st. Man Citeh. 2nd. Arsenal. 3rd. Man Utd. 4th. Newcastle. 5th. Chelsea *Some may be suprised at me putting 5th but even though they have brought in some quality, i dont think Di Matteo will do well this year. 6th. Spurs. 7th. Liverpool. 8th Everton. Cisse to get 20 league goals. Ba 15. Ben Arfa 10. Cabaye to get most assists in the PL. LC: Semi's FA Cup: Winners Europa League: Final...Winners? Would love a trip to Amsterdam! That would be some season!

Pretty much how i feel too. I think the Debuchy deal is dead in the water. Give that 6mil to PSV for Pieters. I know what your saying but i have never seen him shoot when he cuts inside. Im more in favour of a balanced back four.

Peaked on Sunday but was still active last night. Ursa major. My bad. Damn predictive text.