David Kelly

Hilarious

The makems 8-1-1 formation cost them again! They're an absolute joy to watch!

I wouldn't say it was a shit performance, I thought it was ok on a poor pitch in very warm weather. But it was a very dull match in the second half, had been anyone else I'd have turned it off. I thought Elliot did well but Williamson was absolutely gash and Vukic never really got into the game. Everyone we ok but nowt special which I would expect given that this is not a team that is playing together regularly and you had a few players just coming back from injury. It's a decent first result though and I'm sure if we can win our home games (in which I expect to see a few more senior players) we'll progress.

It seems his agents like to spout off without really consulting him because when he speaks he always says he's happy. Mind you I've no doubt he didn't like going so long without scoring last season and Cisse getting all the aclaim. As this happened at the same time as we moved him out wide then he understandably blamed that. But I honestly beleive it was just one of those things and if we stuck with it, he'd still score plenty and be a lot happier. He just needs the confidence to stick with it. I don't think we'll get the chance to test that theory though as I think he'll now sulk and Pardew's hand will be forced if he tries it. Pardew now needs to come up with a plan b, which so far seems to be trying to play the two of them up top with Ben Arfa in behind. Time will tell if this works but I have my doubts because of the lack of quality coming in from the fullbacks.

That Miralles that Everton have got looks like he might well be a player.

Fucking hope they sort this like. Will be a massive kick in the stotts if not!

Still gives me goosebumps watching it now. So glad I didn't end up going to see Oasis that night (not that there would have ever been and contest between which one I would have went to!).

Which goal did he score in the villa game, theirs or Ben Arfa's? After being left on the bench for half a game this seems like a massive overreaction but maybe this is a bit of a carry over from him being pushed wider when Cisse arrived last season. May also have something to do with his frustrations with Senegal (we might be getting the blame for that too come to think of it). But there are certainly going to have to be some games this season where one or even both of him and Cisse don't play. Especially given the number of games in the next few weeks. It's certainly not a massive problem as it stands as long as we don't allow it to turn in to one. I'm sure it will be sorted out long before the next window.

Strange choice from Pardew to go with Maveaux on the right for this one. I was happy to see him drop the 4-4-2 but clearly Evertons main threat is from the left. Would playing Jonas there not have been a better option? Anyway we really didn't look up for it in the first half whereas Everton were playing like it was their cup final. We were lucky to just be one behind. But fair play to Pardew he made an early change and obviously read them the riot act because we were a different team in the second half. Cabaye finally started his season which was a massive positive. Yes they were on the wrong side of two wrong decisions (both of them were pretty tight though and by far the worst decision was not allowing Ben Arfa to play on) and they'll rightly feel wronged. But I thought how we fought our way back into the game in the second half was worthy of the point and I think it'll set us up nicely for Sunday.

I know very little about him as he was way before my time, but anyone I've ever heard mention him all say how great he was. I've never heard anything remotely negative.

Not many but he's been disapointing at best in all of them. I actually thought he had a good first half in Europe the other week when he just kept everything moving along nicely in the middle. But I think he must have had a joint at half time because he slowed down so much and just went totally to shite. A short term loan might do him good but I do think he's played enough now for us to make a judgement on him and I have to say it's not a positive one.

Hope so. He seems to be well out of the picture at the moment so needs some experience to progress. At 20 he really needs to be getting some football.

Aye, my argument a year ago that it was too early to judge was still right but since that time he's shown himself to be nothing but a massive disapointment.

Was top class but looks very ordinary now (based mainly on the Euros). I wouldn't have him back now because he's not in the same class as Krul but that doesn't change how good he was when he was here.

He looked ok but I have to admit I'm not sure exactly what type of player he is. He doesn't seem to be particularly attacking or defensive.

I would say Biggi, Amalfitano and even Perch are all ahead of him for a centre mid role so I wouldn't even expect to see him on the bench tomorrow (especially given the return to fitness of wor Shane, Vukic and the Ameobi's). I would certainly have expected him to be about the European squad though so I was surprising he wasn't on the bench in the last game and even more so that we've hear jack shit about him since.

I personally don't see Ben Arfa as an out an out winger tbh but I certainly would like to see us swap them about more.

Interesting question although I don't think it's pertinent to a discussion about tomorrows game given that he wouldn't be playing anyway.

I think it's a fairly accurate assessment that Jonas doesn't deliver enough quality from the left. But it also disregards the fact that we don't get enough quality from the right either in a 4-4-2. Ben Arfa (while clearly being class and our most effective attacking player so far) rarely delivers quality crosses in from the right. This is why I don't think 4-4-2 in any way suits us any more. We need to go back to playing 4-3-3 or whatever you want to call what we finished last season with. That gets round the problem of wingers who can't put in quality crosses, makes the best use of Cabaye by pushing him further forward and gives an answer to the problem of Ba and Cisse seemingly being unable to play as a front two together. Whether or not you then try playing Marveaux or Fergusson as the wide left player is another question.

Aye that's what I thought.

Couldn't agree more. Is Colo definitely out or are we all just assuming at this stage?

Theres absolutely no chance Jonas won't play imo. The lad grafts his bollocks off every time he plays and we will need that against a team like Everton. Add to that the fact he'll be captain if Colo misses the game and he's first name on the team sheet. Hopefully Pardew sees sense though and plays him as part of a middle three.

Looking forward to having a game again (seems like ages with all the international shite) but I don't fancy us at all. Colo and Tiote will be massive misses and after watching Harper in the friendlies I'm not at all convinced he has much left. Add to that our ongoing problems with Pardew insisting on playing 4-4-2 and I really don't fancy us at all against a team that (West Brom game aside) has looked very strong so far. I'd be very happy to come away with a draw.

Every one of the 9 wouldn't be though really would they. Krul, Colo, Simpson & Tiote are realistically the only ones who would be starters for us. The Ameobi's & Vukic are apparently fit now too.

I know someone who's put a charter plane on for Brugge with Sport Options. £255, leave Newcastle on the Wednesday morning, hotel included that night and fly home on the Thursday night after the match (apparently most if not all of the bars close on the Thursday after the match so it might not be much of a night out anyway). Sounds like a canny option.