StellarStripes

Me too. Him, Cisse and Ben Arfa upfront would be lethal. I wonder if his comments really are a 'come and get me plea' or an attempt to get other big clubs in the PL interested. He is the one player we could sign that would tell me Ashley's wanting us to go in the right direction.

If Williamson goes to Cardiff and we bring in Douglas, that would be and upgrade and I'd be content with the 4 options we'd have at CB. M'Biwa gives us genuine cover for full back also. Haidara, Streete and Satka could also get a little shot at it next year too.

If Cabaye goes for 25mil I'd go straight to Ajax for Christian Eriksen. Like for like replacement.

Obviously this lad would have been perfect for us in a 433 system. Lots of goals, pace and trickery. We are never going to be able to attract a player like him to us, not after last years abomination. So Remy in January, Weimann signing a new contract and now Aubameyang looking to hot for us...We are left chasing Darren fuckin Bent. Dont get me wrong i'd have him here but for no more than 5mil and 50k a week. I want to see us go for Jordan Rhodes and Jay Rodriguez personally.

. I agree. Off all the 'purple' players, he is the one we could afford to let go. Sissoko then dropping deeper alongside Cabaye. I fear strong bids for Cabaye and Coloccini deciding to walk away but I don't see anyone else going. When you look at our best 11 we need 3 purples regardless and that's what the club should be focusing on. --------------------Krul---------- --Elliott and Alnwick as back up. Could do with another young option but not essential. Debuchy---Taylor---M'Biwa---Santon --Tavernier, Williamson, Perch, Streete, Mbabu, Newton, Dummett and Haidara. A lot of youth but no real quality. A purple CB needed. ----------Cabaye---Tiote---Sissoko --Gosling, Anita and Bigirimana is not good enough back up. We need a exciting young attack minded CM and someone with a bit of strength. Gosling can leave. Ben Arfa--------------------Gouffran ---Jonas, Obertan and Marveaux our options out wide. I'd only actively keep Marveaux. We need new options out wide on both sides. ----------------Cisse ---Shola and Campbell. Happy for both to be in and around the squad next year but we clearly need two strikers. One of them a 'purple'. We need 5 players in. 3 purples. 2 young prospects.

This Wilifred Bony looks a proper player like. 46 in 65 last season. Left foot, right foot, with his head. Clever feet too but his best attribute is his composure. Him and Cisse could work well. Especially with an African connection. Tiote also. Problem is the same as with Ba. Both our strikers could leave in January for the ACON. That said, if we got Weimann as well I'd be comfortable with Gouffran and Campbell as our other options. Shola could move on for a last 2 years of first team football.

Pretty much our strongest 11. Pressure is off...time to show what we are actually capable of against a top side. A performance today would show a lot.

Cisse. His 13 goals have been of Goliath importance. Then Krul.

That means either Cabaye or Ben Arfa behind Cisse. Ben Arfa would make much more sense. Jonas and Gouffran out wide with Tiote and Cabaye in the middle.

We can all speculate but it's futile until we are safe and we know what colo is going to do. But for the hell of it... Out: Coloccini 4mil Tiote 15mil Jonas 4mil Simpson FREE Harper FREE Happy for Taylor and M'biwa as our first choice CB pairing next season but we will need a 3rd purple CB to replace Colo. Tiote can do one, I'm sick of him. Drop Sissoko into the middle with Cabaye. Although we have Anita, Gosling and Bigi I'd like us to get another attacking CM. Ben Arfa would be starting LW for me next season and should Jonas follow Colo out the door it would be Gouffran as 1st choice on the other wing. Marveaux and Obertan as cover but both could move on. A QUALITY pacey winger is needed. Weimann could play there too. Cisse as our only quality out and out striker is what has hindered us this season. I'm happy for Shola to stick around as a squad filler but we really need two strikers in the summer. One ready made and another a prospect. In: CB...Alderweireld or Chedjou 10mil CM...Someone like James Mcarthur 7mil RW...??? ST...Weimann 4mil ST...Audebeyang 12mil

Back to 442 today, rigid and organised. --------------------Elliott Simpson, Taylor, Coloccini, Mbiwa Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Tiote, Jonas ------------Cisse------Goufrann 2-1 to us.

Baffled by today's team selection. One wide player? Definitely another game plan. Why not just play football and attack Pardew!

Id like to see Sissoko in the middle with Cabaye. Ben Arfa behind Cisse. Jonas and Gouffran out wide. Tiote off the bench to shore it up second half.

I like it!

I'd be very happy if we signed Weimann from Villa. So long as he wasnt our main striker through the doors in the summer.

When you look at it...poor season, very few actual good performances. Lingering just above relegation and now getting fuckin humped at home to this lot. I would not be surprised if Pardew gets the sack ya know. Just to clarify I don't think he should. But I would not be surprised.

Ben Arfa and Shola on for Cisse and Gouffran who are booked. This is fuckin awful.

I have to agree with CT to some extent. Pardew was too negative from the off. It wa a starting 11 which was to contain. We were shit and had nothing to offer in the first half leaving FAR much to do in the second. If we stood any chance of going through we needed a goal in the 1st period. Instead of backing and instilling confidence to the side he bred negativity and worry. Nerves were evident. Especially in Cabaye who was fuckin awful tonight. Pardew got it wrong. Lads have it all but end of the day we were not good enough or strong enough against a very good side.

Anita fuckin bores me. Backwards, sideways, backwards, sideways. No idea.

Why would even say that! Knob.

Just a few observations... Bigi offers nothing on the right, Simpson doesn't help. Cabaye is too deep and looking wasteful. Sissoko isn't getting anywhere near enough of the ball. Cisse dropping to deep to hit them on the counter. On a plus side... Haidara looks quality. That's it.

Campbell, Marveaux and Ben Arfa off the bench last 20.

Looks like the game plan. Pardew has alluded to it all week.

4411 apparently with Bigi on the right. Obertan clearly has no future here thank fuck!

No idea what shape that team fits in to?! 4 central midfielders, 1 winger and 1 striker...eh