Starting XI vs Villa

[Vaj]

So who would you start against Aston Villa on Sunday. I would go for the following team...

-----------------------Krul-----------------------

Simpson---Williamson---Coloccini---Santon

Ben Arfa-----Guthrie----Perch-----Gutierrez

------------------Cisse-----Ba------------------

Regarding Cisse and Ba, I would just go for it and start them both. Best and Ameobi, for me, have failed to impress and even if these two are not 100%, they will still be 10x Best & Ameobi.

Perch really impressed me against Blackburn and has earned his place in the centre of midfield and by having a natural defensive midfielder in there means that we can afford to have HBA in a normal midfield four.

What do you think? Would you start anyone differently?

[Alfie]

Agree with line up, not sure whether Pardew will though. Not sure he'll throw Cisse straight in. I would personally, he's fit, been playing regularly and knows his strike partner.

[Pardew's Legendary Specs]

-----------------------Krul-----------------------

Simpson---Williamson---Coloccini---Santon

Obertan-----Guthrie----Perch-----Gutierrez

------------------HBA-----Ba------------------

Cisse on at 60 minutes

This will give HBA a bit of freedom up front knowing he has two CM's behind him. Also the prseeure wont be entirely on him to score as it is with Strolla or Best up front

[Seagull]

Krul
Simpson Willo Colo Santon
Guthrie Perch
HBA Jonas Best
Ba

I wouldn't want to drop Cisse right in, it might just be counter productive as he hasn't played with the team for long (though then again it did work for the other Cisse on Weds..).
Play Perch and Guthrie quite deep (maybe Guthrie a bit more forward) which allows Jonas and HBA especially to focus on attack and not have to worry as much about tracking back. Still not too confident about HBA in a 4-4-2 but it could all change with the two Dembas, but I would play that for now.

[Pardew's Legendary Specs]

Krul
Simpson Willo Colo Santon
Guthrie Perch
HBA Jonas Best
Ba

I wouldn't want to drop Cisse right in, it might just be counter productive as he hasn't played with the team for long (though then again it did work for the other Cisse on Weds..).
Play Perch and Guthrie quite deep (maybe Guthrie a bit more forward) which allows Jonas and HBA especially to focus on attack and not have to worry as much about tracking back. Still not too confident about HBA in a 4-4-2 but it could all change with the two Dembas, but I would play that for now.

Haha, who'd have thought a few weeks ago that we'd all be putting Perch in CM rather than Abeid/Vuckic/Taylor/Gosling etc

[Smudger]

Krul
Simpson Williamson Colo Santon
Benny Guthrie Perch Gutierrez
Ba Cisse

I think we may start Ba and Best though - in fairness to Best he has been playing left wing the past 3 or 4 games and has worked much harder than Shola, and even though it's a home game I'm not sure we'd throw Cisse in at the deep end.

If Benny starts behind the striker it shouldnt be with Ba - Ba has played brilliantly as a number 10, likes having space behind a natural #9 to work. As far as I'm concerned, Ba and Benny wouldnt be very good up front together as neither can lead the line. Benny and Cisse would be brilliant though IMO, if we ever have to use it.

[Seagull]

Krul
Simpson Willo Colo Santon
Guthrie Perch
HBA Jonas Best
Ba

I wouldn't want to drop Cisse right in, it might just be counter productive as he hasn't played with the team for long (though then again it did work for the other Cisse on Weds..).
Play Perch and Guthrie quite deep (maybe Guthrie a bit more forward) which allows Jonas and HBA especially to focus on attack and not have to worry as much about tracking back. Still not too confident about HBA in a 4-4-2 but it could all change with the two Dembas, but I would play that for now.

Haha, who'd have thought a few weeks ago that we'd all be putting Perch in CM rather than Abeid/Vuckic/Taylor/Gosling etc

We're all so fickle! It's like about 12/13 months ago when we all thought Best was a lost cause. He starts his first PL game at SJP and gets a hat-trick! I'm happy for Perch though, he's taken some stick but its good to see he's earnt the praise of the manager and fans.

[Hatem Is A Geordie]

-----------------------Krul-----------------------

Simpson---Williamson---Coloccini---Santon

Ben Arfa-----Guthrie----Taylor-----Gutierrez

------------------Best-----Ba------------------

[GRB]

Krul,
Simmo, Willo, Colo, Santon
Arfa, Abeid, Perch, Jona
Cisse, Ba

Abeid due to the fact Guthrie went missing in Blackburn game

[Hatem Is A Geordie]

Krul,
Simmo, Willo, Colo, Santon
Arfa, Abeid, Perch, Jona
Cisse, Ba

Abeid due to the fact Guthrie went missing in Blackburn game

IMO that centre mid would get torn apart, we need Guthrie

[asbo]

Krul
Simpson Williamson Coloccini Santon
Obertan RTaylor Ben Arfa Guthrie Jonas
Ba

[TJR]

Krul
Raylor Williamson Coloccini Santon
Perch Guthrie
BenArfa Gutierrez DembaBa
Ameobi

With Cisse coming on for Shola at around 60 minutes.

or

Krul
Simpson Williamson Coloccini Santon
Raylor Guthrie Perch Gutierrez
Ameobi Ba

With Cisse coming on for Shola at around 60 minutes.

[Hatem Is A Geordie]

Would rather Best than Shola.

[Remember Colo]

Anyone but Shola.

In all seriousness, at the moment I don't have a preferred midfield - I'll admit pleasant surprise at the recent, albeit brief performances of Obertan and Perch. And I'll be happy with whatever 4 Pardew chooses as long as they get the best out of the Demba's.

[Vaj]

Shola should be nowhere near the starting eleven ever again!

[Hatem Is A Geordie]

Shola should be nowhere near the starting eleven ever again!

Well, apart from twice a season of course.

[beardface]

Shola should be nowhere near the starting eleven ever again!

Well, apart from twice a season of course.

Not even then, for me anyway.

He was s*** against the Mackems in the 1-0.

[Hatem Is A Geordie]

True, he'll have to make up for that in the game in a few weeks! Reckon he'll start.

[Dr. Bishop]

----------------Krul----------------
Simmo---Willo----Colo---Santon
---------------Perch---------------
---------Raylor----Guthrie--------
HBA---------------------------Ba
----------------Cisse--------------

[Remember Colo]

Not even then, for me anyway.

He was s*** against the Mackems in the 1-0.

And I don't remember him doing anything special in last year's 1-1 either? ...correction, read the match report and he did claim the assist on Nolan's goal.