Their midfield looked gash on cabaye leaving and it's foolish to think he's been replaced.
Cabaye , was by all accounts, hugely influential in the dressing room, even to the extent that he marginalised both Nolan and Barton, such that they weren't missed.
Never rated him ( especially against us ) but clearly Blanc and Deschamps do.
Sissoko was being played on the wing and allegedly has fallen out with Pardew, and Anita is gash.
de Jong will have been cheap and on low wages..it's where they are all aboot.
They have big problems with defence, as Colo looks set to get out of dodge, and Debuchy on his way.
Cisse has gone off the boil ( and been that way for a while ) and Shola has gone.
They need to spend the sort of money Ashley is highly unlikely to spend
Sissoko has been chronically mismanaged by Pardew as has Anita who is now our best link in the middle between midfield and attack. Knackers will probably drop him for Colback though.