Rich

HTL, I think "everyone" was a bit harsh, looking back Excellent point about the type of bandwagon supporters you mention, the think that narks me is being classed in amongst the "Skyboys" because of nowt else bar my age. And HTT, even when we were finishing 3rd and 4th there was still a hell of a lot of moaning/scape-goating/arguing from what I recall. Some people just like to behave that way. I don't think success equates to harmony among supporters, not at all, maybe like you say "not as much" - but there'll still be a significant number who will find enough to pick fault with. Phil K was the master of that a few years back, seems to have mellowed somewhat now. Some people expect us to win every game we play, keep clean sheets and to play brilliant football along with it, and it's just not a realistic expectation. I bet there are still plenty of moaning Man Utd/Chelsea fans around, too.

Good lads, keep up the excellent work. Looked cracking over your way from where I was sitting and I could be tempted to head over there if we make it through to the next round. Purposefully moved away from "The Corner" (my usual seat) to get a different view from higher-up in the Leazes.

We need another striker, I think, as well as the positions that Nut/NSG have mentioned. But we're not as far away as some seem to think.

You're not the only one, fella. If we get past AZ then we are in for another huge night at SJP, at the least, and one that we might even see Michael Owen involved in, depending on whether the home/away leg comes first. It is imperative that we keep people fit this time, by not over-working them. We got undone against Marseille and Sporting because we had too many irons in the fire both times, no such things distracting us now. Should we concentrate all our efforts on the UEFA Cup? I have to say, I'm tempted like. I don't know if we can afford to, financially. Each league placing is worth £500k or so, isn't it? That's a hell of a lot of money to us in our current situation and a good league position PLUS a good UEFA run would go a hell of a long way to appeasing fans for next season. However, if the calendar works out like UEFA (Thursday), League (Sunday) and UEFA (Thursday) again, then it would be acceptable IMO to rest some players in the league game. We've been "lucky" this week because it's an FA Cup weekend, but if we get past AZ I don't think this situation will arise again. Here's what could happen in reality: QF First Leg = 5th April 2007 Sheff Utd (a) = 7th/8th April 2007 QF Second Leg = 12th April 2007 I would most definitely rest people at Brammall Lane, as we always lose away anyway. SF First Leg = 26th April 2007 Reading (a) = 28th/29th April 2007 SF Second Leg = 3rd May 2007 Same again here. If we DO progress in the UEFA the timing couldn't have been better, because fans will be a lot less annoyed by losing away to Sheff Utd/Reading than they would losing a home game. Obviously we're getting ahead of ourselves, but the schedule is very kind.

If that's the case, can we get rid of the sort of people who I was sitting amongst last night, as well? Offer nowt to the club bar their cash. Aye, absolutely. "Supporters" who do nowt but moan and don't support can all piss off as far as I'm concerned. Grassroots might tell you about some tirade I went into a while ago after we played Wolves about people who boo at the match. Gets on my bloody wick. I may criticise certain individuals here but at the match you support the team and all of the players and that's the end of it. If, as HTT suggests, we didn't need the money from these clowns - I'd happily see the back of them all, as well. HTL, if everyone on here thinks you're that bad, then I'll implore them to sit in Row J seat 50 of the Leazes End once a season. If people like that posted on here, THEN we'd see some arguing.

You're not the only one, fella. If we get past AZ then we are in for another huge night at SJP, at the least, and one that we might even see Michael Owen involved in, depending on whether the home/away leg comes first. It is imperative that we keep people fit this time, by not over-working them. We got undone against Marseille and Sporting because we had too many irons in the fire both times, no such things distracting us now.

Aye, Dave, that illustrates things a bit better. The cunts at the match blamed him 100%, I couldn't believe my ears. Probably just thick buggers like, who don't have a clue about the game. Shouldn't let them wind me up so much. Seemed to me the type who have heard some fans saying they don't rate Parker (which is fair enough in every way) and then hopped mercilessly on the bandwagon. Must be hard when Shola has been out for so long. They were funny when they kept shouting "put him in the Paddock", though, whenever a player had it out wide for them. So fair play for that.

IIRC that goal came about because of the midfield losing all of it's shape as Dyer moved infield, Parker ended up towards the right and Butt moved along one slot to the right of centre. I could be wrong here, but I remember thinking that we'd completely lost focus around the time of their opener.

Get out! Nicky Butt does NOT makes mistakes (apparently). Even when he does, they get ignored. Nope, he stops tracking his man, ball watches and then goes towards the ball, leaving Averladze a free run into the box and basically making up the crosser's mind where to send the ball. He's a good reader of the game though Butt, and his awareness is also spot on... You're talking gibberish mate, it's a well known fact that you either blame Carr, Bramble or Parker when we concede a goal. You're not a proper Geordie if you don't. Seriously, though, I thought Butt had a solid game yesterday, like everyone else on our side. Everyone can be forgiven for making the occasional error when there's so much good in the rest of their play. He ran himself into the ground, along with most of our team last night. I'm chuffed that we've got the weekend "off", because I'd seriously doubt our fitness capabilities if we had an FA Cup/League game in between these UEFA matches. AZ have to play Feyenoord, don't they? Good news.

Not in the slightest, did brilliantly to get what he did on the tackle, just unfortunate it ended up where it did. Aye, cheers mate. It's nice to get a straight answer from someone about it, as it's been doing my nut since last night.

Fair enough then. Wullie, did you think Parker could have done anything else from the penalty?

Get out! Nicky Butt does NOT makes mistakes (apparently). Even when he does, they get ignored.

Sorry about that then, NE5. Should have said "Leazes", got mixed-up. Seriously, what is so funny here? Is this some sort of joke that is flying over my noggin?!

Also, is there anyone who thinks Parker should have done more for their 2nd goal yesterday? More than make a goal-saving tackle, I mean?

Have I missed something here??

If that's the case, can we get rid of the sort of people who I was sitting amongst last night, as well? Offer nowt to the club bar their cash.

yet he was there when we were a top 6 side go figure. Your point being? It was despite him, not because of him. He's not good enough to be in a team that achieves and maintains that level. 3 seasons in a row ain't bad. yet he was there when we were a top 6 side go figure. Your point being? It was despite him, not because of him. He's not good enough to be in a team that achieves and maintains that level. 3 seasons in a row ain't bad. Griffin, O'Brien, Bernard & Hughes all played 30+ games when we finished 3rd...one's at Stoke, one's being linked with Derby, one with Sunderland, and the other hasn't played a game for over a year. Is your point that Bramble was carrying all of them? If so, I agree.

Sorry about that then, NE5. Should have said "Leazes", got mixed-up.

He was a striker, man.

yet he was there when we were a top 6 side go figure. Your point being? It was despite him, not because of him. He's not good enough to be in a team that achieves and maintains that level. 3 seasons in a row ain't bad.

Gary Speed quite probably played in over 90% of the games that Laurent Robert played for us, and he was a left-footed central midfielder, so I wouldn't say that completely explains it. Emre would help Duff simply because he has the best vision/passing out of all of our central players, not just because he's left-footed.

Fairly well know, isn't it? We were close to getting him in January, but face stiff competition from the likes of Arsenal for him in the summer. We were linked with him an awful lot on January, in particular.

Debatable. We've had 3 top 6 finishes with him as a first-choice player, although I concede the league is now stronger than it was back then. There are other areas to worry about first, I'd say.

Get out of town!! It's 100% Duff's fault, man.

Such as? Such as losing his man a few times. You think he had a flawless game? I've never seen (or can remember) a game where a defender hasn't made a single mistake of the nature you suggest. Even Woodgate against us lost Martins a few times and Terry has been guilty of costing Chelsea a few goals this season from getting done/losing his man. I don't think anyone is saying the idiot plays flawless games, but he certainly has games where he is very, very good for us. I thought Taylor was far more dodgy last night, in particular, and I can only recall 1 truly bad Bramble long-ball, as well, right near the end left-footed up the left-flank. I would still like to see him replaced with someone better/less chubby/less embarrassing to have associated with our club, but for now he's the best of an utterly average bunch.