Rich

Was he wrong? I personally thought we had a shout because we were playing them at a decent time. I don't know how anyone can argue with that? They fielded an exceptionally strong team but in the midst of their busiest period so far (and most important) and I think it showed. While they had their big guns out there and we played better than we have done for a long time, you surely can't tell me that ANY of their players where anywhere near top form. Now I know some of that (a lot, perhaps?) is down to the way we harried them and got at them, but I think it's fair to say they looked a bit "hungover" in general, especially defensively and were out of sorts. They probably came up here expecting a stroll as well and got a shock when we were at it from the first whistle. I think we deserve a lot of credit for the performance, but at the end of the day we still lost and Man Utd didn't have to get out of 2nd gear to beat us (in my opinion). I don't think people should go OTT though, which is what Shearer may have been trying to avoid. Aye it was a good marker for future games, but we got nowt from it and if we go to Hull and perform ineptly again and lose then it means absolutely nothing and we will literally have zero to show from it. I genuinely think you've over-analysed things/underestimated the potential effects of playing right after an extra-time/penalties cup final win (even if they didn't all play). I do think you're right to defend our performance though and I feel we deserved at least a point. To me, that Man Utd side looked wobbly and there for the taking, and we STILL didn't have enough about us to do it, which is a worry, although we obviously improved.

Not by everyone though, which is the key.

Nowt like stringing up fellow fans though, is there?

I'm happy with all 5 of those, to be honest. Cacapa and Edgar can both move on, but we absolutely have to get them some help in, create some competition and push them all on.

Fucking terrific attitude. Well done. I think the suggestion is ludicrous to be honest and I think the best I can suggest is that he tries too hard to be impartial and sometimes comes off the other way because of it. I can't blame him for it too much. I also would expect that his "support" of the club WILL have waned after playing here so long and seeing everything that was wrong, is wrong and will be wrong in the future. I hardly think he'd want to put us down though and I bet he still feels a similar sense of loss to us when we lose or when things are going bad. I know things are bad at the minute but poison like that in your previous post is still fairly uncalled for. It's nowt more than bile, which is becoming worryingly regular from formerly quality contributors such as yourself.

First time I've felt compelled to use that.

There's no excuse in this day and age with the research at hand and the facilities/money we have for training to have a negative effect on the players at all. IF there is something wrong at the level we're at, then it is seriously, seriously worrying.

It simply cannot be a coincidence. Something is wrong somewhere and by God it should have been sorted out by now. It's no wonder we're shite when we've got a shite manager (a shite chairman before that, some would argue) and half a squad every week. Even those that do play don't look the fittest bar a couple of exceptions. Someone wants a slap somewhere along the line.

This thread is the only fucker worth reading now people are being civil to each other. Studying coaching at university at the minute means I've got a massive interest in other people's experiences of coaching and ideas of what coaching should be as I believe one of the main ways I can improve personally is by taking on other ideas and suggestions from all-comers. Everyone who has had experience of competitive football at any level (or even those that haven't in some cases) have a lot to offer and are a valuable resource in this instance. When it comes to doing my dissertation on the social, psychological and political aspects of football coaching I might well be tapping a few up off here for interviews if I can't get my name to a professional club! Have loads to add from my own POV but it's late and I've got "proper" dissertation research to do, but I'll do my best to get involved in this over the weekend. Loving it, though, if that wasn't obvious enough.

Really, really good again. Fast becoming one of my favourites. Hope he wants to stay and hope we keep him (and that he stays fit) because I can just see him getting better and better. Nice to be waxing lyrical about some of our players. Enrique, Bassong, Jonas and Oba (if we stay up and we can keep them) are keeping my optimism alive.

The bloke is absolute class man, too good for us in our current predicament and like Chez says he'll be even better if we stay up (and get some stability/movement up front). He's like a one-man attacking force in the midfield at the moment when you consider what we've had on the opposite flank and in the centre. He is not a perfect footballer (who is?) but he has fantastic abilities in other areas bar his finishing/end product (which isn't as horrendous as some make out). IF we could get a right winger and a central midfielder to take on those roles (which all good teams should have, really) then he'll shine even more. The way that people sometimes slag him off is probably due to the praise he gets from the likes of myself and the raised expectations he's made for himself with his early season performances, but I am in no doubt that this season he's our best outfield player (I would even argue that when everybody is fit). He is the last person people should be criticising when you look around at the contributions of the rest of the squad this season.

It must have been Rooney man, cos CRonaldo is well fit.

Apologies. I have it on my goggle-box as well but the picture is dodgy, bit blurry.

It's horrible. (It was Steven Taylor, Dave.)

Despite the 1-1, I'm sitting here practically erect at the football we've been playing. Geremi's passing has been a particular highlight and the pace on the break looks frightening.

Come on man!

The attitudes in here from three posters who should know better are killing me. Howay lads man. Hate to see this shit on here.

It most certainly does. You know for a fact it won't be though. I think it could be tasty towards the back end of the season when people wake up and realise we have a part to play. Keep the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea at bay for long enough and I generally think the crowd will be on-side. As long as we don't roll over and embarrass ourselves I think the matches could be lively. Wish I could get to them. Hull (a) is about as good as I can manage!

NE5? Going back to the earlier comment about Nolan, I have to agree that if Anichebe hadn't been there, he wouldn't have got injured. His fault entirely. I'm not sure NE5 ever has been "smug", to be honest. He says he wants what's best for the club and takes no pleasure out of being right when things go tits-up. I'd be inclined to believe the bloke after the years he's put in following this dross.

I like this as well to be honest but would be worried about getting exposed out wide due to Lovenkrands/Martins not tracking back. If we play that formation then you'd want Taylor, Smith and Geremi in the middle with Jonas on the wing where Ronaldo is playing if you ask me. Martins up top and Lovenkrands off him. Or just a 4-4-1-1 like Keegan deployed at Old Trafford.

I'm glad I'm not the only who remembers the Phil K of old

Harper, S. Taylor, Coloccini, Bassong, Enrique, R. Taylor, Smith, Geremi, Jonas, Viduka, Martins. 4-4-2. Have a fucking crack at them. Won't happen though, but that's the best XI I can cobble together out of what's available... Smith/Geremi in the centre is pretty horrific like.

Fucking hell. Someone openly smug about being right with a negative prediction when we're doing badly. Seen it all now.

Seconded. AS9 on fire again these days.