Sports Babble - sports forum

For fans of ill omens, the FA Cup has a habit of doubling up fixtures on us in quick succession. In 2012 we had to play Norwich in both league and cup within a fortnight, and contrived to lose both. In 2015 we played Villa twice in a week, and lost both. This year sees us do it against Southampton, having already lost the first effort, and with our team still injury-hit there's every chance we may make it three in a row.

Still, after team-building in Barcelona this week, maybe Albion can surprise us all. The league is fast getting away from us, so the cup seems as good a consolation as any. Having already done for Liverpool, as we did fifty years ago, can we also replicate the heroics of '68 by giving the Saints their marching orders too?

I'm not particularly pleased seeing Evans and Barry in the team and Myhill on the bench. In my opinion they should be nowhere near the starting 11 or bench today and should only return when the investigation into Taxigate is finished.

After what they did a clear message had to be sent out and there's no clearer message than dropping them altogether. What are Nyom, Yacob, Field and Burke supposed to think now? They always try their best when they do play, which is rare, whilst Evans and Barry break a curfew imposed by the Head Coach whilst drunk and quite possibly committed a crime (depends on who drove the taxi) but still keep their place in the starting 11.

This is poor from AP in my opinion but at least Evans isn't captain today and is seemingly going to be out of position at left back. That's something at least.  

I'm hoping for a win but I think with all that has happened this week, we will limp our way out of the cup.

We could win this. It would be typical. The one year we do well in the cup we fall out of the Premier League ?‍♂️

(17-02-2018, 16:01)Stairs Wrote: [ -> ]We could win this. It would be typical. The one year we do well in the cup we fall out of the Premier League ?‍♂️

No Gibbs, No Brunt & Mclean starts ?

4CB's (Has PULIS picked the team) depends if that means Evans goes to LB or into midfield as a 3-5-2 ?

Evans stripped of captaincy, Gmac takes the armband #Laughable

Not too sure what he's picked here, is it 4-4-2 with Evans at left back? Or 3 at the back with Evans in midfield?

Either way, screams of square pegs in round holes. Brunt is an ample replacement at left back IMO, Evans never fully convinces there. But Brunt hasn't figured at left back since Pardew took over. Wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't even know Brunt can play there.

Maybe there is method to the madness and Pardew has perhaps identified a defensive aerial frailty at the back for Southampton and tried to fit all of our big lads in to exploit that. Just hope this doesn't come at the expense of the balance of the team.

Although on paper it still does look a lot stronger than the side who we picked for the league match.

(17-02-2018, 16:54)Slick_Footwork Wrote: [ -> ]Not too sure what he's picked here, is it 4-4-2 with Evans at left back? Or 3 at the back with Evans in midfield?

Either way, screams of square pegs in round holes. Brunt is an ample replacement at left back IMO, Evans never fully convinces there. But hope I'm wrong if it is 4-4-2.

It almost looks like a Pulis selection in that Pardew has perhaps identified a defensive aerial frailty at the back for Southampton and tried to fit all of our big lads in to exploit that. Just hope this doesn't make us unable to actually obtain set plays and play high up the pitch.

Just hope we have enough...

I'm no manager but if we were to exploit them at set plays Chris Brunt starts correct,
I give up, not sure what AP is doing here I suppose we will find out at 5pm when he is sacked #Hope so

Its the 442 that I posted earlier.

Shit marking free shot at goal in the 6 yard box
great start !!!

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4 CB's and they leave a man unmarked in the six yard box ,
Not bothered with this shit anymore ......

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Everything just bouncing off Rondon up top , Stuck up for him but his control is no better than my 10 year old daughters,
Come on you lot I'm depressed enough as it is, now I'm talking to myself

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Ill post on my own Ill post on my own n n n
Im depressed but ill post on my own

Ok 0-1 half time
Pathetic defending for goal
Ref has not been overly kind to us,
Rondon is worse than i thought,
Two weeks we played Southampton got overrun in midfield , two weeks later the same thing is happening, great management skills AP well done
Sets up with 4CB's like Pulis, no shots on target like Pulis, Crap like pulis are you Pulis in disguise,
Sorry running out of things too say,
Never mind I'm sure AP half time talk will G them up

Can't believe what I'm watching, we have a corner, Southampton clear it and McAuley is the bloke on the half way line staying back.

This is our best header of the ball, one of the best in England, the top scoring defender in all of Europe for Northern Ireland in the European Champions qualification process.

To make it even more of a farce, he's got no legs, so terrible at defending the breakway. It's a double whammy.

Is Pardew being paid by someone to purposely make all of the wrong decisions? The guy has absolutely zero idea whatsoever.

I've honestly seen it all. 6ft4, scored 7 last year and now allowed to go forward when we're chasing the game. Please sack this muppet now and get Marco Silva in on a short term deal. He's not going be able to save us with this crock of sh*te team, but at least we might be able to salvage some pride.

There is sooo much wrong here. Evans, Barry and myhill should be no where near this squad, they are a disgrace. And as for that Muppet in charge, WTF team has he picked. I am very firmly of the opinion now that the owner needs to start planning for next season in the championship without these imbeciles who make me ashamed to be a baggie. Pardew has a proven track record of failure and clearly is no head coach lacking in any respect from his players and having no respect for the fans. I didn't think it could get worse post pulis, but it has. This season has gone, terminate contracts of Barry, Livermore, and myhill, and let Evans watch from stands and get whatever we can in the summer. Start looking now for a competent head coach and bin pardew as soon as season is over.