Disco

He's been effective this season, of course he has - that can't be denied. 7 goals is a fantastic return for a midfielder in a short space of time. I'm just slightly disappointed that he's only averaged just over 1 shot per game. It just seems a bit strange for a midfielder that isn't a 'defensive' one. He's too busy taking too long to shoot and getting hacked down for non-given pens On a serious note, he's never been known for shooting from distance so probably doesn't think its worth trying and likely losing possession easily.

Glenn Roeder thinks Glenn Roeder made Andy Carroll.

Can be in your system for a number of months before the symptoms show themselves You not bother taking anti-malaria tablets or do they not work?

Has been an issue for a while. We are light upfront and on the wings. If Jose got injured Simpson would go LB and S. Taylor would come in I'd have thought

Ex Rovers n all ain't he? so should be extra keen to impress on Weds.

Someone raised this in the Sunderland match thread, is it not down to the new 'style' of defending? Make the opposition beat you through skill rather than allowing them to run/pass behind our defence. Seems to minimising opposition chances. Not when he is allowing people into the box area when anything can happen. I'm not saying he should be diving in everytime as that'd be worse, just not allowing so much space. Hasn't been so bad for it this season (so far) though. I've thought about this aswell. His positional sense seems to have improved a lot this year. Where last year he let attacking players into the box at almost all times before trying to make a challenge, he seems to have the confidence to take them on further out towards the sidelines this year. Indeed, the gameplan v Arsenal was evidently force them down the wings and keep them wide which is understandable and I could understand him backing off/jockeying the oppposing player down the line forcing him to put in a cross but there was a couple of times just don't do when players are actively cutting inside though. Definitely a marked improvement, long may it continue against MGP. If MGP is playing down his side, surely we'd want him cutting in? No idea. I haven't watched a Blackburn match since the last time we played them. Just want him to continue improving markedly, as above .

Sepp Blatter will be loving that title.

Someone raised this in the Sunderland match thread, is it not down to the new 'style' of defending? Make the opposition beat you through skill rather than allowing them to run/pass behind our defence. Seems to minimising opposition chances. Not when he is allowing people into the box area when anything can happen. I'm not saying he should be diving in everytime as that'd be worse, just not allowing so much space. Hasn't been so bad for it this season (so far) though. I've thought about this aswell. His positional sense seems to have improved a lot this year. Where last year he let attacking players into the box at almost all times before trying to make a challenge, he seems to have the confidence to take them on further out towards the sidelines this year. Indeed, the gameplan v Arsenal was evidently force them down the wings and keep them wide which is understandable and I could understand him backing off/jockeying the oppposing player down the line forcing him to put in a cross but there was a couple of times just don't do when players are actively cutting inside though. Definitely a marked improvement, long may it continue against MGP.

Someone raised this in the Sunderland match thread, is it not down to the new 'style' of defending? Make the opposition beat you through skill rather than allowing them to run/pass behind our defence. Seems to minimising opposition chances. Not when he is allowing people into the box area when anything can happen. I'm not saying he should be diving in everytime as that'd be worse, just not allowing so much space. Hasn't been so bad for it this season (so far) though.

Hope to fuck he doesn't get the call as we could do with him not having another game in a crowded schedule. Also we're mildly fucked if he gets a knock.

Benayoun is a horror to look at like. Absolutely awful.

Who the fuck is Ricky?

Glad someone said it. Excellent player mind. Fantastic footballer but I think it was kicking Tim Krul who'd just skinned him that did for me. Wanker. He barely barged him if anything like. Tevez the player >>>>>> Tevez the mercenary, arguably the ultimate mercanaries him and Mascherano. CoMS is canny n all but it ain't really theres.

No need for the smug pundits when we've got our own fans... It seems to be your style to lift posts from eons ago in an attempt to establish a point. It's bullshit. Given the context of whenever that was written, presumably a few months into 08/09, whoever said it was absolutely right. Coloccini and Jonas were gash in the first season. Eh? He quite clearly hasn't somehow become a new player in 18months and discovered the art of defending, there's been a quality player in there all along, seemingly hampered by a lack of confidence, poor team harmony and some shocking midfield cover. Many of these things were pointed out by the more reasoned posters at the time, despite the pain of relegation, yet it seems like you'd rather continue to slate those posters who actually support their own players rather than take every available opportunity to slag them off. Sorry, I don't buy into that style of 'being a fan'. If highlighting the OTT judgements made by our OWN supporters (i.e. those who should be seeing things week in, week out) makes just one person hesitate before booing their team off the pitch (after finishing 5th?) then I'll consider it job done. I shouldn't have to kow-tow to your defensive sniping. Shame on me for wanting our fans to get behind the team through the rough AND the smooth. BTW, the quote you referred to wasn't even a post from this board Yorkie, you'll never be as good as fan as Stu, I recommend you defect to Leeds or Hull or something.

He's a proper 'clean shorts' defender like. Quality. He's learnt from where he went wrong in his first season; getting too tight, failing to outmuscle people so now he is playing the traditional South American smallish centre back of reading the game perfectly and using his nouse in one on ones. Actually having a midfield in front of the back 4 instead of nobody last time we went down can't be underestimated either.

An absolute joy to watch. So deft and clever. Makes me sick when try hard Milner has been in ahead of him.

i think this is one of the reasons we beat them Problem is we've done the same this season (wigan especially)

I was saying this in the football hates thread. Mancini's tactics and buys have been so uninspiring/unnecessary for the whole. 3 DMs at home to teams like us man. Horrible. Still fairly of the opinion one of the main reasons they bought Milner was to fuck Villa (a potential) rival over. I do like Silva and to a lesser extent Johnson and Tevez though. Joe Hart seems like a general good egg from what I've read/seen n all.

Rolling contract like Sir Bob used to have. Not really sure what wedge managers get but something along the lines of Coyle/Martinez is on would seem fair.

Needs to spend less money on Range Rovers and more money on correct football boots. Was slipping and sliding all over the show again yesterday. Did well for their red though, decent strength and persistance. Shocking defending like.

What is it? I don't remember. Trophy we got for beating Depor on pens pre-season. Used to be a proper pre-season tournament however this time it wasn't.

Thing is though, unlike previous defenders who we've praised (i.e. Woody), the whole back line has been performing consistently well and the results (and stats!) reflect this. The old Shearer addage goes "if you don't buy a ticket you can't win the lottery" - we're protecting the goal (and Krul) by not letting the opposition get any decent chances on goal and forcing them to rely on set-pieces, individual pieces of skill or a mistake in our defence, no-one is really creating chance after chance (therefore increasing the probability of scoring). Thinking back over our goals conceded recently: Arsenal - clean sheet mackems - set piece (slight mistake by Krul, team starting to switch off @ 5-0 and injury time) West Ham - good pass by Noble and defensive line mis-times step-up Wigan - mistake by Perch & Williamson/individual skill by Zoggy Man Citeh - penalty/individual skill from Johnson Stoke - set piece/set piece Everton - clean sheet Good job by the coaching staff (Hi Chris) in getting the team into this mentality. Fair point. We're now defending as a team effectively rather than relying on the individual brilliance of one or two players (not that Coloccini hasn't been stand out brilliant because he has). Long may it continue. Great to see the whole team grafting their arses off from front to back from the first to the last whistle.

Must be one of the form defenders in the leeg at the moment. Can't think of any other cbs who've impressed to much off the top of my head (cue 100s of names from others)

Tomayto, tomarto but id say t'other way.

Still totally buzzing off this. Class.