gazza ladra

Geremi should start. He's a kickdog for some, but he brings more to the pitch right now than Butt or Milner (or Barton for that matter) Not saying he's irreplaceable, but we are a better side with him playing. (We're not a good side. Just better)

We were the better team, but we were a goal up. Our frailties were very much in evidence. We were done for the minute they equalized.

@Mick We'd been better off with Barton - Emre, Barton - Faye, or Emre - Faye. Christ, I would've rather seen Smith out there in the midfield than Butt. Not a popular opinion I know, but I don't see that Butt offers us anything. At least Smith can run around like a headless chicken.

New thread. The Untouchable Nicky Butt. (Ship him off to Birmingham already.)

Can't wait next season. He has options now. When Martins and, yes, Geremi, return we could conceivably compete with a team like Villa. But not if Faye and Enrique are sitting on the bench.

Carr = Enrique, Edgar Smith = Viduka, Shola (FFS), and especially Martins ASAP Butt = Emre, Geremi (when he returns), Faye

Faye and Beye are the two players that I would consider undroppable. Can't fathom Faye's absence. And N'Zogbia. Maybe Enrique as well-- if only because we have no alternatives.

He won't drop Butt. Doubt he'll drop Smith. Will be shocked if Carr is not dropped. (If Carr starts against Manchester United, I'll be distraught. Relegation is a genuine possibility if he is that clueless)

FFS No one is calling for Keegan's head. But he does deserve criticism for his team selection today. Got it very wrong. Stephen Fucking Carr?

@ KaKa, Would rather see Duff attempt to dribble past players than dump the ball off to Carr.

Not this fucking thread again.

@Wullie, How pray is Duff responsible for this fiasco?

Yes, I don't think he's to blame. Too many weakhearts in the side. Paired with the right partner in midfield I think he would do very well for us. A better choice for captain than Owen, Smith, or Geremi to be sure. His position with the club has been compromised by his early injury, his offfield antics, and turmoil with the coaching staff. I expect him to succeed.

Even at 1-0 and when we were going ok in the first-half, you could see Carr having to cut in onto his right-foot, or not being able to hook the ball clear even with his left-foot, was going to cause us problems. Absolutely, Villa just ignored him as the game progressed. No worries.

I thought it was possible. Though, I assumed that Keegan would make changes at the half. I thought it was apparent to everyone that we needed someone to hold possession in midfield - Emre , needed the physical presence of Faye, and needed to replace Carr-- everyone in the stadium knew he was NOT going to offer anything coming forward. Enrique might have at least given them pause.

Given - 4 Falls over. His last season with the club? Harper - 6 Not to blame. Beye - 4 Toothless. Taylor -5 Cacapa - 4 Orange traffic cone. Carr - 2 Worthless. Waste. Of. Space. Milner -6 He tried. MOTM. Barton - 4 Can't pass. Butt - 4 See above. Duff - 5 Comparatively decent. Owen - 5 Goal. Zombie in second half. Not a team captain. Smith - 4 Always dangerous... wait. Keegan - 3 Poor selection.Made changes too late.

The players are to blame. Keegan selected the players. And he didn't take steps to make changes.

Spot on. Faye was the guy we needed in there for the set pieces. Carr was nothing to worry about. Might as well had 10 men out there for all the good he did us. Enrique might have at least pushed forward and put in the occasional cross.

I got up at 4:45 am. Howay the lads!

Q: Is there a striker that couldn't score a hat trick against us? A: Alan Smith.

well, they weren't that good in the first half. One really decent spell of possession -- though not a decent shot. Allardyce IS responsible for this - Wenger couldn't turn this pack of clowns around, FFS. His signings HIS fault. Keegan picked the team. Would've rather seen Allardyce's signings out there-- Faye, Enrique-- than Butt and Carr. And he picked Smith ahead of Viduka. (Didn't take much time at all to figure out that Carr wasn't going to put a cross in all game.) What do expect when you throw out a group of players guaranteed to create nothing at all?

Needed changes at the half.

Headless thy name is Carr.

Emre please.

Deflection and a corner. Poor goalkeeping and defending. Usual story.