jep

This. I'd absolutely kill for a player like Pedro in our team at this moment in time. Fantastic player, simple as.

I got a genuine question for you. Can you list all the errors Taylor made vs Man Utd? Obviously not every single one of them, but enough of them to show some sort of background of why you think he was a liability. I really think he looked decent, apart from the third goal. I don't think he's a world-class defender at all, but I still think he looks a decent prospect, who's been thrown in at the deep end, and has had to learn the hard way for quite a while now, without any authorative figure beside him who can teach him anything of what's needed to be a success at this level. People keep comparing him to Terry, Wheater, players like that, but noone mentions the fact that Terry had Desailly amongst others to teach him. Wheater has had Southgate. I really don't think it's a fair comparison at all. Fact is, he shows signs of being a good defender, he's a no-nonsense type who is a strong tackler and strong header of the ball, and commitment really is important for any defender, especially one of his type. What he's lacking is finesse and a good touch, and the positional sense and anticipation is something that comes with experience, which is an area he really is underdeveloped in, due to the point I made previously. To sum it up, I wholeheartedly agree that he's too rough around the edges to be playing week in week out in the PL, but calling him a liability and writing him off at this stage is just daft, in my opinion.

I don't think he was that bad? Certainly at fault for their third, with a half-hearted lunge and then slipping. Other than that I think other parts of the team failed long before the ball ever made its way to our defence. Then again, I might've not paid enough attention, as it was too painful to watch at times..

At some of the posts in this thread, that is.

Here's more about this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralithodes_camtschaticus

Oh well. Not as pissed off as I've been at previous losses of the kind. Like someone said before, plenty of positives from the first half. We were beaten by a group of better and fitter players, simply. Fast forward to 'boro at home, please.

Ah, right. I'm not that familiar with the rules, but it seems sensible enough. Not that we'd get any of those decisions for us away to any of the top four

No belief. Obviously. I think a few players just completely lose confidence, and just stop playing whenever we're about to lose. That, or the fact that they seem shit tired at the moment. Something needs to be done, concerning both of those.

Fucks sake, why do we always end up being completely shat on when we start conceding?

Well, I think it looked like his path was being blocked by Eduardo or whoever, so he couldn't track Adebayor, allowed him to shoot. I doubt it could be judged as obstruction tho, come to think of it. Think you need to be in possession for that to happen?

Isn't that obstruction on Cacapa right beforehand? Or is it allowed to block the path of a player when you don't have the ball?

Shit. Game over. Fair play, we weren't likely to win anyway.

Here we go. Lua Lua on for... Duff.

Had to be an injury. Think Enrique looked decent enough anyway, it's not an attacking substitution at least. Hope Lua Lua gets a sniff.

Roz on for Enrique. Diaby out, Gilberto in. Walcott out for Hleb.

Would've been harsh to give a penalty for that handball. I've seen them given for less tho.

Butt's passing this second half has been absolutely horrendous.

Another great one from Given.

Owen looking miles more lively than he ever has since signing for us, imo. Smith keeps laying it off, and he's doing decent enough. I'm thinking he might actually come good eventually, even how much of a kneejerk it might sound.

Speaking of Taylor. Header on the roof of the net, close one!

Milner hasn't been that much involved really, I think. N'Zogbia looking a threat, but losing possession too often still.

we need woodgate We do, but I won't go as far as saying Taylor is a liability. I'm guessing he's just a bit too eager as it is. Big game for us, really.

Schoolboy error from Taylor, great save by Given again.

Just hung over from the Allardyce era, obviously! We've been so starved of any sort of creativity for so long, it's an almighty relief seeing even our fullbacks doing something worthwhile with the ball in an attacking sense. If this is how we're gonna play for the rest of the season I'll be chuffed to bits.

Fuck me, we're giving it a right go!