ChezGiven

I also wonder about the midfield formation with Ben Arfa and Nolan in the same team and whether Perch was brought in with this in mind. If Hughton was looking at bringing in an Attacking midfielder and not just opportunistically getting Ben Arfa that is. We'll see in the next few weeks.

I reckon Perch is faster than Simpson and is a better player. He may not be a great player but he's better than 2 of the other options there. I reckon S Taylor could do as good a job if not better though.

45 difficult minutes of a premiership debut at Old Trafford against one of the best wingers in the world and people reckon Simpson is better than Perch? Madness. Simpson is just about Championship standard, Perch played very well against Villa and although he got away with a penalty against Wolves, it was about the only thing he did wrong on an afternoon he looked very bright going forward. Simpson is lightweight, has no great pace and is positionally suspect. Perch is a better player.

Out left in a midfield 3? With Ben Arfa playing deep off the two strikers, there is more support in central midfield, allowing Jonas to give width when needed? Am just shoe-horning the club captain and the star signing into the same 11 tbh. Sounds a bit lightweight in the middle to me. ATTACK!!!!! Depends on how good Lexington Steele is in the holding role. Attack from a solid base though. That's where the Villa game was won, i.e. in midfield. Are we going to drop Nolan or not start Ben Arfa then? Well, I'd probably drop Nolan, but that won't happen. I think Ben Arfa will start off wide-left (coming in for Routledge, as Holden suggested) with Jonas on the right. That'll leave Barton and Smith/Tiote (the latter'll probably be eased in) playing in the middle with Nolan looking to support the front man. Like Stevie, I think we'll play different teams home and away too. So I'm basically on about the next home game. Aye, am only thinking about Blackpool too. Hence the attacking nature of the formation. Away to e.g. Chelsea i'd be playing 2 holding in the middle. I doubt Hughton will shift Jonas to the right, his understanding with Jose is what keeps that side of the team together.

Btw i've already said drop Routledge but a straight swap means playing Ben Arfa as a right winger. Its possibly what Hughton will do.

Out left in a midfield 3? With Ben Arfa playing deep off the two strikers, there is more support in central midfield, allowing Jonas to give width when needed? Am just shoe-horning the club captain and the star signing into the same 11 tbh. Sounds a bit lightweight in the middle to me. ATTACK!!!!! Depends on how good Lexington Steele is in the holding role. Attack from a solid base though. That's where the Villa game was won, i.e. in midfield. Are we going to drop Nolan or not start Ben Arfa then?

Out left in a midfield 3? With Ben Arfa playing deep off the two strikers, there is more support in central midfield, allowing Jonas to give width when needed? Am just shoe-horning the club captain and the star signing into the same 11 tbh. Sounds a bit lightweight in the middle to me. ATTACK!!!!! Depends on how good Lexington Steele is in the holding role. who? Tiote.

Where does Cleverley play though, thats the issue? I know he can play in defence but he is essentially a central midfielder so am not sure he would have got that many games for us.

Out left in a midfield 3? With Ben Arfa playing deep off the two strikers, there is more support in central midfield, allowing Jonas to give width when needed? Am just shoe-horning the club captain and the star signing into the same 11 tbh. Sounds a bit lightweight in the middle to me. ATTACK!!!!! Depends on how good Lexington Steele is in the holding role.

Out left in a midfield 3? With Ben Arfa playing deep off the two strikers, there is more support in central midfield, allowing Jonas to give width when needed? Am just shoe-horning the club captain and the star signing into the same 11 tbh.

I'd play Barton, Tiote & Jonas in a midfield 3, Ben Arfa floating around behind Nolan and Carroll. In that formation, i'd want Perch's pace on the right as he would need to get forward to give us some width. If we play 4-4-1-1 with Ben Arfa off Carroll, then putting Taylor behind Routledge would work for me.

Its not really related to Iraq but this article on private influence on public policy caused quite a stir. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08...currentPage=all If your objective is to dominate the world financially, militarily, politically and culturally (making money = freedom) then invading Iraq was a good idea.

Perch > Simpson

Ben Arfa > Gudjohnsen

Oh aye and Sniffer if you're going to pull the 'When you've followed Newcastle as long as me' line then at least use an example outside of the last decade

Aye, he was named Young European footballer of the year and was seen as the future for Portugal. I wasnt saying you were wrong, just that Ben Arfa is bit more advanced in his career than Viana was.

When you've followed Newcastle as long as me its difficult to tell how full the cup is until you actually see it. In this case on the field. Remember we also signed the future of Portuguese football. Viana was 19 and had barely played for Portugal when he came to us. Laurent Blanc is releasing statements on his management of the Ben Arfa situation.

http://www.footineo.com/blogs/le-blog-de-m...-est-un-artiste http://video.eurosport.fr/football/telefoo...367/video.shtml http://video.eurosport.fr/football/telefoo...355/video.shtml

Hughton is a fucking commie bastard.

I agree KSA, Ranger could well turn into a much better player but its just potential at the minute. A fit Shola does give you a goal threat. With Shola and the fans, i think its a case of familiarity breeding contempt. His lack of any semblance of consistency is his major problem too.

Some bits and bobs. Sinden & SBTRKT - Kind of Familiar Fever Ray - Mercy Street Broken Social Scene - All to All (Skeet Skeey remix) Matthew Dear - You put a smell on me Simian Mobile Disco - Nerve Salad Scuba - Three sided shape Azari & III - Reckless with your love

No. Bad news. I know. Tiote speaks French btw.

No.

Same here, if Hughton doesnt drop Nolan we play Ben Arfa just behind him and Carroll i can see Barton going to the right of a midfield 3.

Do Stoke have debts? Genuine question.