toptoon

Looking forward now after our result Old trafford. I am worried with Faye gone, who i rated highly, i hope that we buy another Faye type player i.e. a large dominant CB who will snuff out the threat from 'Big man' type strikers. Last year we got bullied in the air by a number of teams notably Villa's Carew who scored a hatrick whilst the one player who could have stopped him (faye) unbeliveably sat on the bench behind Keegan. I hope Keegan has learn't from this. Looking at our next game for example Bolton they have a very very physical team: Davies (6'1) and (Elmander 6'2) up top, in midfield Muamba 6'2, Nolan 6'0 and coming up for set pieces Steinsson 6'3, Gary Cahill 6'2 and a certain Andy O'brien 6'2 We have a young Steven Taylor who is only around 22 as our best defensive header of the ball, who is currently injured. Who is going to replace him if he's out? Cacapa 6'0 is weak as piss in the air! Bassong (6'0) unproven, Edgar (6'0) is not the greatest either. Other than Taylor's CB position we have Colo is 6'0 dead on and next week and will be a 'big' test for him, Beye is 6'0 and i'm not worried about him as he's pretty solid, hopefully Enrique 6'0 will play instead of Zoggy, but Enrique has looked a bit dodgy preseason. I suppose i am looking forward to O'brien marking Martins and Jonas playing again, but on the other side of the coin i have a feeling that Bolton may defend for their lives and launch long balls most of the game and i can see them easily see them scoring from headers. Just can't help feeling that losing Faye is a fairly big blow especially if we don't replace him properly.

Milner as AMC? Agree with Toon's Taylor, think he's worth a try there.

Against Bolton KK will probably to go with the same team again imo and who could blame him after their heroics (Owen coming off the bench possibly). Butt was brilliant at times, tremendous tackling and awfull at times too, giving the ball awaycaught in possesion, giving free kicks away etc I'd be tempted to try: Given Beye Taylor Coloccinni Enrique Jonas Guthrie Milner Zoggy Owen/Duff Martins

It just didn't happen for Zoggy yesterday, he made some good runs and then got tackled losing posession, took risks, left gaps. He's not a lb as we all know unless we were really chasing a game (i.e. need to take a risk to score). I'd like to have seen Zoggy play in Duff's role yesterday, Duff in all fairness looked alot better than last season, linked the midfield with attack and held the ball up well not wasting it, but didn't really take any risks taking players on at all. Not 100% sure if Zoggy can play as an attacking midfielder or not there's only one way to find out i suppose. He's not been all that good playing there under other managers we've had. This would be quite adventerous (i.e. it may not work, but worth a try): Milner Guthrie Zoggy Jonas Duff Martins or maybe: Milner Guthrie ?? Jonas Zoggy Martins or Jonas Milner Guthrie Zoggy Duff Martins Or as just as a Sub for Milner and Jonas if either were having an off day/Injured/ In need of rest/we were winning comfortably.

Let's not be silly. Do you expect anything more than the performance he put in today? He was a 9 imo as there is always room for improvement. Would be a 10 if he had scored.

Fantastic TEAM performance!! Given 9 - World Class Beye 7 - Solid Taylor 8 - Very good game. Unlucky he was off injured for their goal. Coloccini 7 - Shaky to start with but got better and better. Looks classy defender. Zoggy 5 - A bad day at the office overall, made some goodish runs, but giving the ball away and freekicks too often. Milner 8 - Covered every blade of grass, always makes himself available, holds the ball up well very very industrious going foward and tracking back. Butt 7 -Brilliant at times, fantastic tackles, good passing, gave a very good performance, still at least two very dangerous mistakes that nearly cost us. Guthrie 7 - Good game. Jonas 9 - What a player!!! Brilliant going forward, brilliant tracking back, haven't seen him shoot, but on his debut away at man u a fantastic looking player. Duff 6 - not bad, not really that good either though. Martins 7 - Fantatic goal has springs in his boots, gets up high. Missed an easier header.

Very impressed with us, we've gone to old trafford and arguably edged it first half, well done lads lets keep it up second half! Absolute quality seeing the glory hunting wanker man u fans faces when our goal went in. They looked disgusted ha ha Very unlucky with their goal, Taylor going off injured really cost us , he came back on but still doesn't look right despite otherwise having a good game. Guthrie has loked good, gives us height in midfield and is good in the air, Milner has been very good, Oba (springs on his feet) Martins looks dangerous as does Jonas,who was denied a cast iron penalty/freekick, Butt hasn't played as bad as i thought he would, some good tackles. Colo looked a little rusty/wobbly early on but has got better as the games gone on. Given excellent world class double save, Zoggy isn't a LB (he's good on the break but his passing suspect), Duff has been poor, not done much at all maybe swap him and zoggy. Very worried that Faye is going as an injury to Colo and/or Taylor and we have an unproven Bassong 6'0 and Edgar 6'0 . The likes of Carew/Ashton would have a field day. We need a very good big solid CB (like Faye).

Well KK is biging up Smith and Cacapa which leads me to think he may start them plus Butt v man u in which case i may cry. Also faye who was one of our best players, an absolute rock is being sold for a poxy £2m to stoke. We need to replace him, or the likes of Carew etc will score another Hat trick against us this season. We need to buy another big commanding CB like Faye, Tiago would be superb too! and keep smith, Cacapa and Butt away from the team.

I see why you call yourself optomistic. In an ideal world i 100% agree with your team, that would be the best we could possibly hope for. I am normally quite optomistic myself, however not so v Man u as i have a horrible feeling that Butt will play (and of course have a shitter against the team he adores) and possibly Smith as well who just is completly ineffective! If Cacapa starts as well, again we are in trouble. If Faye (who i am gutted is leaving) is on his way as looks very very likely, i doubt Keegan will play him unfortunately. Martins is our best chance and he needs to be paired with Owen or Duff up top. I think the best we can reasonably expect/hope for is: Given Beye Taylor Colocinni EnriQue/Zoggy Milner Guthrie Geremi/Zoggy Jonas Martins Owen/Duff Please KK do not play Smith, Cacapa or Butt.

Gutted that Faye is moving to bloody stoke! Faye had a very good season last year and was certainly one of our best players, very tall 6'3, strong, tidy intelligent player and awesome in the air. He also is the only one of our defenders big and strong enough to handle the likes of Carew etc who single handedly murdered us (hat trick no less) v villa last year because no one else could out muscle him. Faye 100% would have stoped him but Keegan had him on the bench. Cacapa is NOT cut out for the premiership, on the plus side he's very experienced and quite a tidy passer etc at times but he is too old, slow, weak in the air and indecisive at times. He's too slow for many top CF's and too weak for the bigger lads. I rate Taylor but he's still a young lad and certainly last year was still no match physically for the likes of Carew, Ashton, Drogba etc he needs a powerhouse rock beside him like Faye. Maybe hes bulked out a bit but i'm certainly worried not enough. Colocinni is 6'0 which isn't all that big for a CB, a very classy CB he is, i might be wrong but doesn't strike me as a powerhouse type of CB, which now Faye has gone we desperately need. Bassong is also quite young, 6'0 and unproven.

Superb!

Depends on the opposition i.e. vs Villa's Carew (or other 'Big Man Strikers) I'd play Faye CB but otherwise i'd go. Given Beye Taylor Colo/Faye Enrique/Zoggy Faye/Colo Jonas Zoggy/Guthrie Owen Milner Martins Barton who i really rate (as a player) and Duff are close and just need to force their way in with good performances when given the chance. I'd like to see more of Bassong and Guthrie. There is a rumour that Colo may be played DM, interesting, could be good, in which case Faye partners Tayls at CB. I don't rate Viduka, good when he has space and given chances, but overall just way too slow and surprisingly weak at getting up and challenging for a big lad, very easily marked out the game if CB's stay tight, which happened alot last season. I think a few are expecting alot of him and will be disapointed. Absolutley gutted if Smith plays...sell him or stick him in the reserves until he's alot better. Also sick of Butt giving the ball away, i'd play Geremi ahead of him and Guthrie and Barton ahead of Geremi

Prefer Shola to Smith. Wish him all the best at wherever he ends up, its the best thing for both parties. Robson and other managers saw something in him, but it just never really happened for him. He was goot at times, but those times were just too few. Roeder seemed to bring out the best in him, it will be interesting to see how he does.

Disagree, he's been playing for his country so he should be fit enough. He could be our secret weapon. Imense player! With Beye he's our best defensive player. Immense physical presence, dangerous in the air, wins big tackles, tidy passer of the ball as well, he could help us hugely in the midfield. Gutherie seems a bit young and lightweight (his time will come), Butt doesn't impress me at all, Geremi is a better option than Butt imo

Got to agree with the Butt comment as 1. He's not all that good and at 34 is certainly WAY past his best anyway and 2. Is a huge Man U fan and you just know he's going to a have a complete s*** game giving the ball away etc. Disagree with other areas of your team as Faye has to play and Zoggy and Milner for me too. Given Beye Taylor Coloccini Enrique Faye Gutierrez Guthrie Milner Zoggy Martins Subs: Harper,, Geremi, Duff, Owen Bring Owen on as and when needs be.

We might have a better idea after Valencia but assuming for now Owen is going to come on off the bench and not start due to lack of fitness. At this moment in time i would be tempted to match fergie's probable 433(when attacking)/451 (when defending) in an attempt to win the midfield. Something like: Given Beye Taylor Coloccini Enrique Faye Gutierrez Guthrie Milner Zoggy/Duff Martins Subs: Harper,, Butt, Duff, Owen Faye should give us the steel we need in the middle and stop our defence getting too exposed, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Milner and Zoggy will hopefully provide some creativity, push forward and track back when needed and Martins should make us a threat up top.

Shearer was shorter than that tbf. Same apparently. Both 6'0 ft. Shearer was obviously one of the best headers of the ball ever. However even he would struggle against some CB's. My point being its different when your a CB. Have you ever seen Coloccini play? Yes, but not alot. I take it you have ? ...How good would you say he is? Better than any other centre back outside the top 3 in the Premiership on current form in Spain. Don't read too much into how tall he is, he's got a great aerial presence. Agree with Baggy. He's better than any CD in the PL bar about 5. IMO. You both normally speak alot of sense and are sticking your necks out alot saying that. I'm a little more reassured now. Pair him with Faye i take it?

Worth a try imo! We need some creativity and movement.

Shearer was shorter than that tbf. Same apparently. Both 6'0 ft. Shearer was obviously one of the best headers of the ball ever. However even he would struggle against some CB's. My point being its different when your a CB. Have you ever seen Coloccini play? Yes, but not alot. I take it you have ? ...How good would you say he is?

Shearer was shorter than that tbf. Same apparently. Both 6'0 ft. Shearer was obviously one of the best headers of the ball ever. However even he would struggle against some CB's. My point being its different when your a CB.

At 6.0 ft/183cm he's not very big for a CB. I suppose we have Faye for the likes of Carew, Ashton, Drogba, Adebayor etc etc.... Coloccini for the Rooneys/more skillfull players ? I'm usually quite possitive but just have a bad feeling that he's going to be too weak or slow like Cacapa and Roze. Its like 10 times bitten once shy in my case after having initial high hopes for Cacapa, Rozenhal, Boumsong, Bramble, O'brien etc i fear the worst again.

Given is our best player. The only player in our squad who would get in/near a Premiership XI in my opinion, although some on here will disagree. Outfield its a tough choice, but it would be Milner for me followed by Martins/Owen/Faye/Beye/Zoggy. If we play to Martins strengths this year he/we should have a decent year. Martins has everything it takes to be a brilliant player, he just needs to find some consistancy, which Keegan can help him find.

I like Milner alot, quality young player! Very versatile. Yes give him a run in the middle, see how he does. deffo keep him though for the wing even if it doesn't work out in the middle.

Agreed, except that I do rate Milner. I honestly don't understand why so many people don't, but I won't get into it. Agree with thewellander on this one. Milner is a very good young player as is Taylor imo. Milner is hardworking, great attitude, not as slow as some idiots make out, two footed, very versatile, skillfull, not injury prone, has a good shot on him. We should deffo keep him, we do not have enough players as it is and i can't be arsed to argue with the anti milner brigade, some of which i suspect are mackems mischief making. Milner is very versatile and could play in many roles 433 included. Hopefully we are not too desprerate for money at the moment that we have to sell our best youngsters, i hope Keegan tells liverpool where to go. Smith, Viduka, Cacapa and Duff should be got rid of, long before the likes of Milner.

We need to be getting players in, not selling our better players like Milner. Ok Ramage, Car and Emre are gone, i'd also Sell Viduka & Smith because i don't rate them at all. Hopefully we don't need the money ffs! Milner is a very good player, versatile, great attitude and rarely injured, we should keep him. If we are playing 433, he can play on the left or right up top or midfield.