Mowen

It's not good is it. I said in the match thread, having not seen it I don't actually know how it worked, but when Geremi, Butt and Nolan were on the pitch together I just can't imagine there being enough pace or energy to ever break the opposition down.

He wasn't who Bobby wanted to sign. Freddie Shepard transfer, says as much in Bobby's book.

Haven't got mine yet, only bought them on Weds in the general sale mind.

Is it not for sale? I'd buy one.

During that brief run under KK was the only time Barton's looked any good for us. Sort of a left hand sided centre mid, same position but opposite side to Geremi.

Greedy bastard though. I think me and Wullie tried to politely point this out to him on the odd occasion in the final fixture of last season.

That's all I can think of now we have Lovenkrands and Ranger has proven that he isn't out of his depth at this level. Sounds about right. I wouldn't be all that surprised if Lovenkrands and Harewood are being looked at as auxillary wingers too.

Not that optimistic, you don't even think we'll make the play offs.

It's just a shame Keegan didn't have the benefit of your tactical genius and have us sit back and defend for over half an hour at Liverpool who scored more goals at home than anyone else that year. He could at least have pressed ALT+F4 tbh

Dunno what we're supposed to expect from him when we're sticking him down the left, mind... That's no excuse for his woeful passing and reading of the game. He relentlessly gave the ball away at Cardiff and the only time I saw him get stuck in was when he was aggreived at not having won a free kick. The talent's in there, I'm worried if we're going to see it or not.

It would have seen them win it by one, actually, not that the conjuncture isn't ridiculous. You don't think we would have been demoralised by losing a game we dominated? That win gave manu the belief that they could win, and they were unstoppable after it.

Exactly. One injury to Taylor or Collo and we're throwing in untried kids or playing people out of position. Common sense signing is this.

More of a full-back than a winger isn't he?

What about Zurab Khiznashvilli from Blackburn?

Which is one reason why the difference may have been Venison, had he not be allowed to leave. It was also a lot to do with the amazing last 15 or 16 games from manure that is constantly overlooked. Really, the 12 point lead isn't the main thing here anyway. The media like to sensationalise and it's a better story (even if true) that Keegan bottled it on TV and threw away a 12 point lead when compared to Man Utd winning the league again due in huge part to an absolutely amazing run-in. It's played over 38 games and the bottom line is the best team wins the league. We were second best overall despite being ahead for large parts of it. We didn't win, but to suggest a manager is hopeless who takes a club from where Keegan started to where it was at that point is lunacy. Would agree with all of that, especially Man U's amazing run at the end. You can't really legislate for that, and tbh finishing runners up with a team that had only been promoted a couple of seasons earlier was no small achievement. Absolutely. The pivotal moment was clearly the defeat at home to manure and that was absolutely nowt at all to do with Keegan supposedly bottling it. Even a draw in that game and I think we'd have gone on to win the league but it wasn't to be. I'm as disappointed as anyone else but these things happen. Keegan made mistkes, who doesn't and for that he can be criticised like anybody else, but I'm not going to generally slag the bloke who gave us our best team since 1927 in the manner some do on this forum. To do so is pathetic and sad imo. That ManU game was unreal. Were it not for Peter Schmeichal we'd have won that night and, imo, gone on to win the league. Performances like that where why he was the best keeper in the world mind, probably the best I've ever seen.

Another transfer that went completely under the radar of the media...

Good.

I was very surprised (and happy) we managed to hold on to him. Comfortably good enough for the top flight.

Wenger and Ferguson have never lost after being ahead in a match? Amazing stat if so. I couldn't ever see Wenger throwing away, say, a champions league final once his team were in front.

WE DIDN'T THROW AWAY A 12 POINT LEAD.

I'd guess it'll be; Harper; Simpson, Colo, Taylor, Jose; R Taylor, Smith, Nolan, Barton; Carroll, Lovenkrands.

Agreed, could do with them both being pacy. Also need centre back cover.

Why? Ashley (Satan eat his soul) has made us beggars - and what can beggars NOT be ? I was more asking why you thought Hughton was preferable to Temuri. I can't say I know all that much about Temuri's managerial abilities but his CV looks pretty decent to date. Got to wonder why he was booted out though. If his CV was good, why ? Remember it frequently happens that a new manager can benefit from the previous managers organized approach, and it'd take a couple of seasons to fall away - look at David O'Leary. Maybe Kets' prior was the reason for his success - don't know, just wondering about the sacking. He's a bad tempered sod. Remember him scoring that winner and kicking the boardings ? The sacking seems to point towards a fall out of some sort as he'd won 5 and drawn one of his six games, they also didn't concede a goal in his time there. He'd previously played for their big rivals and the fans didn't like him for that reason. A weird one whatever, he did very well with Famagusta though and was there about 4-5 years. He definitely lost the plot with that celebration but I can't remember any other instances of losing his temper or going mental, was it not just a one off?