My magpie mate rekons this lad is quality and will play in the hole behind Ba from now on with Tiote and Cabaye holding and maybe Ben Arfa on the right in place of Obertan.

Perhaps you should just start your own misfits thread and add player names as and when they debut / get unexpected playing time.

That's a good suggestion actually.

Well, I've noticed you're quick to pick up on these sort of players

Cabaye will oust him from midfield (as would gosling or guthrie if available). He is behind at least Best, HBA and Ameobi for the second striker slot.

Not going to happen.

I wouldn't go that far. He certainly played himself into contention and was the only player (other than Ba) who could walk off the field with his head held high on Wednesday. Ben Arfa has been rubbish, Best has looked good in spells and terrible in others and Shola is... well Shola. I agree that Cabaye is ahead of him and Guthrie but Gosling will now struggle to get into contention given his poor performance and reckless red card. Remember that Tiote is away for the ANC and will hopefully be gone soon anyway so there will be more opportunities in the future for Newcastle midfielders

I think he played ok - his two long range shots were a little bit misleading. His passing, tackling and general ball retention actually seemed pretty average to me when I saw the game. But it matters not, in terms of the attacking position HBA is slowly coming back to full match fitness and will only improve, and Best is played for the workrate and size. Pardue knows his best team, and Best is easily in it at the moment. Ameobi is a useful (!) impact sub and would certainly be ahead of vuckic in the pecking order (in pardue's mind anyway) from the bench or for rotation.


The point is, we play with a defensive CM and a more attacking one. Tiote fills the defensive one when fit and cabaye the attacking one. Cabaye will always play when fit and also fill the attacking role. Vuckic is not a defensive midfielder and is behind not only guthrie and gosling for that slot, but also perch and alan smith if the substitutions in the last 2 months are anything to go by.


you may be alone in that opinion.



Possibly in the future. But no starts now for vuckic. Or soon. (Barring lots of injuries)

PARDEW

Vuckic was good for me in Football Manager a few years back. Signed for me for Liverpool from Millwall on a free as I recall.

Can't say he'll be in my FPL team tho

corrected.

He has a good shot on him

When tiote goes away cabaye will play the more defensive of the two midfielders and Guthrie will fill the other role. But guthrie has had his injuries problems over the last few seasons and isn't a nailed on starter at the best of times. Tiote has been utter dross all season. Either he has had his head turned by the bigger clubs or he has been found out as the one trick pony he is (tackle, 360 turn, pass to opposition, repeat)

starts tonight

Oh Vuck ic.

I will eat my words with a slice of humble pie. The lad must be training well. HBA on the other hand must be wondering what he's got to do to get a start.

Only lasted 65 mins though....

Vuck, I'm glad I don't have him