Keefaz

Thought Milner was excellent. Why knock a player who performed well and worked his heart out?

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8756/happyfanok5.jpg

We'll see. I hope so. Technically, he a good player but doesn't seem to have a forward's movement around the box. I think if Sam is seriously thinking about using him up front, he could do worse than trying to teach him to think like a striker again.

Back in days of yore under SBR, we often used to just pop a ball over the top for Bellamy to run onto who'd either score or get a pen. As you say, you need someone to pick up the run and get the ball moving ASAP. Oba could do it, but that doesn't seem to be his game.

Tbh, Taylor should be playing up front. He looks equally dangerous in both boxes sometimes, so we might as well keep him as far away as possible from our goal.

Something like that.

What people are failing to realise is that if Smith is occupying a forward position--in place of Viduka--that's one less goal-scorer we have on the pitch. It might work, but goals win you just as many games as graft.

I'll be checking for edits. You can't denail your colours!

So, you didn't think he was a bit mad?

Hmmm... we'll see if people are still feeling the same when Smith goes on a 20 match run without scoring.

and yet wor goal tonight came from a cross from Geremi on the right, (flicked on by Smith and touched on by Martins). interestingly, the stats disagree (with the OP). because Milner also scores from the left. I think he plays Zogs as a left back to make him more "rounded" as a player. And doesn't as yet have complete confidence in Enrique for the big games. Lots of factors that could be the reason. People like to simplify though. And people like to overcomplicate. I think Sam is playing Zog because he thinks he's the better player for that particular match. His job's hanging in the balance, I don't think he's got time to start moulding players etc. when he knows he needs results ASAP.

I voted Faye-Beye because I think they're the two best defenders we have, although we shall see if Beye is more useful at RB.

Aye, for someone with a goal ratio of a goal every 40 matches, you'd think he'd be sticking them away.

Rozehnal + anyone is a bad partnership. At the minute, he's as much a Premiership defender as I am.

Barton's outburst has been directly responsible for the backing the team has received tonight, the first home game for ages where we have backed them from beginning to end. If he meant it, it was a stroke of genius. Let's keep it going now. Be nice to hear him follow up with a comment about the fans tonight He already gave an interview following the Blackburn game praising the fans.

"Where's my horse gone?" Someone give this to the lads on RTG and see what they can do with it.

If Smith scores 6 in one match, based on his recent goal rate he mightn't score again until 2019!

i really don't think this. i feel its more to do with long term plans than short term fitness or performance. That doesn't make sense to me. If Enrique was playing better than Zog, he'd start, surely?

I pray for a very boring 1-0 win.

There is a chance that Zog is our best left-back at this moment in time.

Not meaning to jump on the lad but anyone with a brain in their head knows you don't try to play the ball like that from that positon. As a winger you will find yourself in that position from time to time so its no excuse saying "well not his fault, he isn't a left back". Agree. It was a silly error regardless of what position you play.

Maybe Allardyce isn't happy with his fitness. Looked a bit porky when he arrived. Might well be. Obviously isn't happy enough with his progress that he feels comfortable with him starting matches.

Obviously, Enrique's not so hot at the minute in training.

I don't know if it was anything to do with Barton. I think people have been a bit ashamed about what happened against Liverpool.