Cronky

Two thoughts after the game - Long term, I don't think Coloccini is the answer to our problems at centre back. He's not quick or strong enough for the top level of the Premiership, and once he's beaten, he stays beaten. We don't have a better option at the moment, but I'd like to see us find another Bassong and shift Colo into the DM position. For once, Zoggy showed the sort of attitude that you want from a top professional. He really imposed himself - not just on the opposition but on his team-mates - and looked eager to take responsibility. I hope he wasn't just trying to catch the eye of other clubs, but if he keeps showing that kind of initiative, he'd get more games.

We have to be realistic in that the likes of Riise are the best signings that we can expect to make. As usual in the January transfer window, the prices for the players on the next level are just stupid. I mean - £15 million for Defoe? £18 million (allegedly) for Santa Cruz?

The whole situation is such a mess. Whether it's Man City or not, it certainly looks like he's looking for a move in the summer. In which case, is he really going to be risking injury by giving 100% in the last half of the season? There's bound to be doubts in people's minds, including his team mates. It makes me doubly angry because the club is only getting what it deserves. We were wrong in manipulating him into signing in the first place when he'd clearly stated his reluctance, and we should have sold him at the start of the season once it became clear he didn't want to commit to a new contract. Instead we made him the captain. You couldn't write it.

I'm sure that if any of the big four were seriously interested, he'd have gone by now. The only one that ever seems to get linked is Arsenal, and I suspect that's only because he's young and French. Besides, Wenger doesn't really go for players who hang on to the ball and try to beat their man. He wants his players to release the ball early and go for one-twos.

Interesting. Only one out of ten conspiracy theories have anything to them, but that may be an exception.

Deffo, but surely Redknapp wouldn't go for it. Bale is class.

I didn't see the whole Derby game, but it looked like one of the worst Man U performances that I've seen in a long while. Wellbeck and Gibson looked really poor - it didn't look like there was another golden generation coming through.

There seems to be a veiled suggestion in that article that the 'Palestine Aid' logo may have put the TV companies off. Just from a quick Google search, I don't think it's the logo that they normally have on their home shirts, and there's been some controversy that Palestine Aid may be closely linked with Hamas. The whole issue may be a bit more messy and political than they're making out.

I'm very impressed by Burnley. Their manager has got them playing really good football and they're full of real confidence. No hit and hope long balls.

I just wonder whether the film is something that the three kids will one day look back on with some dismay. Not only was their father / step-father publicly portrayed in a humiliating light, but their negative comments about him are recorded for posterity. I realise that the picture of Gazza is probably accurate, and that they're entitled to their feelings about him. But turning it all into a public entertainment is a misjudgement for which their mum must bear a lot of responsibility.

the kid was not old enough to remember when gazza was at his height of celebrity so probs see's him in a different light- i might be totally wrong but but the older two IMO want to hang onto him for who he is/was yeah its probably nothing to do with the fact that he's their dad like hes not there dad though.. like i said its just my opinion, i just didnt see it in the same way as others maybe It sounded like the older two knew him before the problems got out of hand, and had some experience of a different side of his character. The younger one didn't. It was a gruesomely fascinating programme, but I can't see that it was in any of their interests to have their private lives paraded like that.

That would be you imo. And like most of your opinions, it's hysterical and melodramatic. People who have spent years supporting the club by going to the games and helping fellow fans are entitled to respect and have every right to air their views. People who have no clue about the history of the club, don't go to matches and even now still have their tongues stained with Ashley's shit deserve no respect. You're sailing close to the idea that people who have supported the club for the longest and been to the most matches are the most insightful. Whilst their dedication is worthy of respect, their opinions may actually be distorted because they're too worked up and emotionally involved. Some of the most perceptive ideas I've seen on this forum have come from teenagers from overseas who have never been to a game. Sometimes it's easier to see things from a distance.

I'd agree Bob, but in the context of his arrival, the atmosphere that followed it and the patched up team he appeared in he didn't stand much of a chance. Scored a goal mind and certainly looked like a battler. There didn't seem anything wrong with his attitude, I'd agree. He was keen to get involved. Kinnear obviously isn't at all impressed with what he's showing in training. That may be only partly to do with ability and more to do with his understanding of what's expected of him. Either way, I wouldn't be worried about him going. We've got other target men in Shola, Viduka and Carroll, and I don't think we'd be letting a Vieri or a Torres slip through our hands.

Keith, there's a lot that I'd disagree with in your post, but can I pick out one significant one - namely, where you say Keegan 'left to his own devices' produced the best football we've seen. FFS, he was bankrolled. Bar Man U, under Sir John Hall we were the league's biggest spenders, and without that, we wouldn't have got where we did. The situation has now changed. Even if we had another sugardaddy - and nowadays it would have to be Arab or Russian oil money - it would be a much harder job to crack the top four, with the advantages they have with Champions League football, and the gap between the quality of our squad and theirs. The way forward is with a long-term plan which involves spotting and developing young talent, and so far Wise has done a good job in that area. The idea of Keegan as miracle worker is a delusion.

In the fleeting glimpses we've had of him, he looked quick but not great in terms of his touch on the ball. However, what may be keeping him out is his reading of the game. Didn't Kinnear complain that he wasn't making the right runs or taking up the right positions eg not anticipating crosses and so on.

I agree with your basic point. There's a lack of leadership on the field (never more painfully exposed than against Liverpool) and I suspect off it as well. Owen is uncommitted and should never have been made the captain. Butt just doesn't look like a leader - he lacks initiative and often passes responsibility to others. Given often reacts with his emotions and that's what I think has happened here. It's difficult then for the younger players to grasp the nettle, because the more senior players are blocking the way. Trouble is, I don't think there's an easy answer. The most obvious young leader is Barton, and he isn't available. Signing Ferguson might not be a bad idea, because he is a captain and is a better all round player than Butt.

Its not fair is it, Jack Wilshere looks a classy midfielder aswell Yeah, him too.

Scary that you believe we have the quality of Given waiting in the wings Realistically, goalkeeper is one position where we have good cover. If we can tempt the likes of Spurs or Arsenal to release a player for one of our weaker positions in a swap deal, then that would be good business.

The Arsenal youth team taking a full strength Wigan side to the cleaners 3-0. Wenger is re-writing the manual about what can be achieved with young players. Nick Wilshere looks like another Fabregas. Possibly better.

I don't like the idea of him leaving half way through the season, and coming out with this negative statement at a time when you want everyone to be pulling together. If he wants to leave at the end of the season, fine, but the timing is bad at the moment.

There was something a bit half-arsed and confused about this Sir Bobby Robson day which is a bit of a reflection on the organisation that spawned it. It feels like a bit of an impulse decision that in reality was as much about raising NUSC's profile as anything else. If it was all about supporting the charity then there needs to be a longer commitment to fund-raising. If it was about a day of saying thank you for what he did for the club, then that's a bit embarrassing when so many fans wanted him sacked. No surprise that eventually it became a stick to beat Ashley with.

PBD would be a very good buy for us, and Portsmouth might just sell at that price. Re Samba, I doubt if Blackburn, in their current position, are going to want to sell a defender. We could always offer them Taylor in part exchange.... I can only think that the Owen to Inter rumour is something invented as a counter-attention seeking gesture against Beckham and AC Milan. No way would Mourinho be interested.

Got involved, looked confident, tried things. Considering we were being hammered by the league leaders, you can't ask for anything more of an 18 year old.

Just to back up my earlier point, I've checked the stats and we committed 7 fouls all game. That's not exactly an indication of a side that's trying to get stuck in. We seemed to be concentrating on getting goal side all the time rather than putting them under pressure.

I love Sir Bob - he was the best manager we've had in the last 40 years. I find the commemorative day a bit embarrassing though, seeing as a very large percentage of fans were screaming for him to be sacked at the time he left.