gazza ladra

Replacing Pearson?

McClaren won something.

Ah, the west coast. Getting to bed early tonight.

No surprise. He's a good player.

Given Beye -- Taylor -- Cacapa -- Enrique Barton -- Faye -- Emre -- Duff Owen -- Martins

We'll always have Sunderland. [under Souness]

@quayside Duff is plenty quick @macphisto I disagree. Especially about Barton. He was cheaper than he should've been because of off field concerns-- and we're paying for those. But he's not "on the same level" as Parker. Different class entirely. I (still) think he'll come off big.

Sorry to keep beating on the Geremi horse but.... Did you know we haven't won a single league game in which Milner played on the right of the midfield? Does that make sense? Could be completely mistaken. But that's how it seems. I was looking at football lineups.com and the only game we won with Milner on the right was Stoke City. Early on when we played 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 Milner was on the left wasn't he? We've won games with him on the left, but not on the right from what I've seen. 25 of our 28 points came with Geremi playing on the right. * And I've been one to defend Milner -- repeatedly in the past. I'm not a Milner-basher. Though I'm starting to think that maybe I should be. To blame the team's problems on a single player is too simplistic --not to mention wrong, but... we've been toothless. So may be Geremi on the right is not the answer. Perhaps when Enrique and Zog return we'll see Duff on the right. Perhaps, Geremi as a CM. I'd certainly prefer him to Butt at this point. * All numbers pulled from dubious sources by a bored inebriated non-statistician. Your results may vary.

@fredbob, Here's hoping you are right.

When we played Man City last season, Barton dominated midfield. Was far better than Parker.

@ElDialbo RE: the whole absence thing Well, Geremi was out right for some of our better performances: the victories over West Ham, Everton, Tottehham, the draw with Arsenal, loss to Blackburn. Yeah, he was out there for Liverpool as well. (I don't think he was involved in Portsmouth fiasco.) But November and December are starting to look like the good old days compared to the shit we served up in January.

Terrific free-kick. Why can't he do that for us? Should start for us on the right. Time to reassess Geremi and what he brings to the team. Stultified by Big Sam's "tactics". Think he'll bring more to the team than Milner.

Can't include the African players.

All start. Including Geremi. Beye - Faye - Taylor - Enrique Geremi - Barton - Emre - Duff/Zog Martins - Owen A tougher, faster team. Milner and Smith will make good subs.

I can agree with most of this. Think Carr was good. May be a 6. Not ready to count out Viduka quite yet.

He hasn't got the legs.

Credit where credit is due.

Hold the ball.

Hands in air. Need Faye back.

At last.

Please pass on SA's pearl of wisdom. That's what we need to ask ourselves at this moment. What would Sam do?

Good point about Carr. He's looked better going forward than N'Zogbia.

Smith and Duff have been good. Cacapa.