The Fish

Agree that we need a 3rd. Early goal for West Ham could really make our boys nervous. Early goal for us kills the game.

You should be a motivational speaker.

I'd be amazed if we brought in a striker, or a left back.

Played less Premier League games than Gouffran, so can he be called "proven" premier league? Inconsistent, one trick pony in the last chance saloon if you ask me.

If Perez was firing on all cylinders I'd wholeheartedly agree.

and Leicester. It's a shame for his career that Carroll is injured, but I'm delightedwe won't see him bullying the shit out of our centrebacks at set pieces.

If Tiote is going, get him to knacker Payet as a parting gift.

Hah, I've never been the mad optimist, just the realist when everyone else is pissing their pants. Stevie is the one that predict comfortable wins every other fixture, he's the optimist. Dr Gloom is the one that predicts relegation if we lose the toss in the 1st game.

Guess I just don't have the faith in our team to outscore them, certainly have no faith in keeping a clean sheet.

I see him like Gini, ostensibly a wide player, but when it comes down to it, he's more central than that.

I've a much better beard than that.

I just checked his heatmap v Bournemouth on FourFourTwo's Stats zone and he seems far more central than you suggest? Whoscored.com actually have him central and right.

The other option is (as you point out) have Sissoko & Janmaat try to defend against Payet. Which would be unlikely to be successful AND would stymie our most productive avenue of threat. I don't think that the formation I suggest is perfect, but it isn't the same as the 2 DM system we've been playing because it also includes a central midfielder who can spread the play, can pass forward & can retain possession.

Dunno why, but I thought you were a fairly recent addition to the board. You recently started posting more?

No it's to push him out wider left, play with 2 centrally defensive mids from Tiote, Colback and Anita, but with Shelvey central ahead of them. I'm absolutely terrified of Payet, so want 1 of the DMs we have to shadow him & hopefully run him out of the game.

I've made a career out of killing time on this board

I agree Gini's better in the centre, but for this game, I think neutralising Payet has to take precedence.

I will have to bear in mind you're a thick fucker who likes to be contrary, then cover your idiocy with misplaced condescension.

Did I highlight the throw away line about Saivet in bold? Or did I highlight the 2 paragraphs that spoke specifically about Shelvey, within which there was a throwaway line about Saivet? --------> <-----------

Embrace it mate. Start eating cabbage and sprout based remedies.

It means CT is deliberately missing the point. Probably because he's a contrarian, possibly because he's stupid.

You're being obtuse. That doesn't mean fat.

Hey, Mr Potatohead, how am I arguing against it? Shelvey could be key to Newcastle, that's e point of the article. Saivet gets a line, if that, and it's not accurate.