Cronky

'All the players are crap' is just a cry of despair, not a rational statement. Obviously we're not scoring goals, and I think there are two problems here. The first problem is a lack of pace in the side, so we can't hit teams on the break. The build up tends to be too slow and defences can set themselves. We can play the two players with genuine pace - Zoggy and Martins - but the trouble is they aren't too strong on the technical side and don't read the game well. It's questionable whether they improve things. The second and more solveable problem surrounds Owen. Keegan, along with many fans, have got the idea that Owen is still a great striker and all we need to do is provide him with more chances. The old 'service' line of argument. Trouble is Owen has to play off a target man, and so that more or less dictates that we have to play an orthodox 4-4-2, very reliant on crosses, a bit predictable and not much being created down the middle. It's pretty obvious that strategy isn't working, and Keegan has to find the nerve and the imagination to try something different. We still need to play with a striker who can hold the ball up (Smith, Viduka, Carroll, Shola - you can make out a case for any of them), but should try partnering them with a creative player who can link with the midfield - Duff or Emre would be good choices, but possibly Milner as well. Do a Capello, in other words, but I can't see it happening. In making Owen the captain, Keegan seems to have set his stall out.

Not much pace anywhere in the midfield or attack. Hopefully we'll get to 0-0 with 15 minutes to go, and win it using Martins and Zoggy as impact subs. Dropping Zoggy was never going to be popular, but is he a better left back than Enrique, or a better left winger than Duff? I'd say no to both.

What a fucking pathetic post. Thought it was quite funny, myself.

This. Yep. There was all this talk about a rift between Owen and Keegan, dating from KK's England manager days. Keegan wanted to make a public statement that there was no problem between them. It was a bad move because Owen seems too quietly spoken as a personality and he doesn't lead from the front. There's always a bit of a problem having a striker as a captain because they tend to be involved intermittently.

For all his faults, I'd say the player that made the difference for us last season was Dyer. He added pace, energy and he could link the midfield with the striker - exactly what we lack at the moment.

The bad news is you may just be right.

The Owen situation reminds me of how it was with Shearer in his last three seasons. A player who had slipped significantly from his peak, but who was still regarded as an automatic choice, based on reputation. The whole development of the side is held back as a result.

I agree with this, and if we re-sign him now on a huge contract, it won't say much for Keegan's judgement. Martins is quick and strong, but doesn't have enough skill on the ball to be a top striker.

Actually that's a good analysis of the problem, although I don't agree with your solution. Owen doesn't have the right skills to play wide, and with Smith and Shola you'd have two target men. I'd agree that we do need someone who can link a main striker with the midfield. I'd try Duff or Emre in that role.

Change your religion. You're obviously praying to the wrong one. What would you suggest. Voodoo? That would be a start. There's a saying in tennis - always change a losing game.

Change your religion. You're obviously praying to the wrong one.

Love it, haway the lads! Umm... let's not forget that the Greeks lost that one in the end. I can't see Keegan making any changes from last week. Need to read your history again mate, they "Lost" at Thermopylae but drew a line in the sand to the Persians, they were not to be conquered. They also won a couple of crucial naval battles that day which barely gets a metion, lead by the Athenians. Thermopylae was a moral victory. Sod a moral victory. You don't get three points for that.

Love it, haway the lads! Umm... let's not forget that the Greeks lost that one in the end. I can't see Keegan making any changes from last week. Aye, but they sacrificied their lives, so at least we'll get rid of Smith, Butt and Carr. Can't we sacrifice the other lot's lives, for a change?

Love it, haway the lads! Umm... let's not forget that the Greeks lost that one in the end. I can't see Keegan making any changes from last week.

A bit similar to Steve Watson, if I remember. Good but slow.

Strong lad but lacked pace. That's what held him back.

I daresay that KK will give it a go. Neither of them are much good at holding the ball up though, and I can't see it working.

Even allowing for the money that he cost, Torres has been outstanding. He makes the most out of what are often quite difficult opportunities. I don't know what Muamba is doing on that list. He's looked very ordinary to me.

If he's been worried about aggravating his groin, it certainly might explain these erratic clearances that have been going on over the last few months.

Not as stupid as those who seriously believe that such a clause might exist.

Anyone who isn't one of Keegan's long-term cronies is good news. We need some fresh ideas.

Yes, but it was poor awareness, not because he had a poor attitude / didn't care. I'd make allowances for Duff and Milner in the same situation too, given they aren't defenders either. Was just posting the same response. The fact that he was up against Rooney, who must be one of the best around for ghosting in like he did, as well, would have been added. People have short memories as far as N'Zogbia and Milner are concerned, while the likes of Duff - who is yet to really do anything for us - are hailed as "being almost back to their best". If we lose N'Zogbia in the summer, I for one will be extremely downhearted because of it. He's one of a very minute group of players we have who is capable of creating something out of nothing, but he struggles to do it from LB. I'd rather play Duff there and start N'Zogbia in midfield, if Enrique isn't going to get a sniff and the former has to be selected. I don't know whether it's that Zoggy 'doesn't care', but there's something about his temperament that's a bit suspect, and that got exposed on Saturday. He looks a bit of a loner, not communicating much to his team-mates or taking much responsibility. Yes, if he gets the ball in space moving forward he can go past people, but you can't play 90 minutes only doing the things you're good at. What bothered me was that he stood still and watched. It was like his ego was reluctant to let him try and fail. The actual decision itself was easy.

Even if Zoggy was playing on the left of midfield, he'd still have to do some defending and he'd still have to face the situation where an opposition player was running past him to try and get on the end of a chance. Even if you don't get the ball, if you try to track back you may do enough to put them off or break their concentration. There's no excuses here. If Milner or Duff had let their man go past them and not make the slightest attempt to get back, they'd be getting a hammering.

In which case he's not much use to us at the moment. We need players who are going to give their team-mates a lift. He can be George Best for all I care, but if he's going to stand there looking gormless while a player runs past him then we'd be better off with someone with a better attitude.

We need a striker who can drop back and a midfield player who can get forward. That's the basics of the kind of movement that can unsettle defences. At the moment we're playing along tramlines. The '96 side had Beardsley dropping back and Rob Lee getting forward. Sir Bob had Bellamy going back and Dyer going forward. I'd give Duff the withdrawn striker role and get Barton moving forward. They won't be as good as the above combos, but it would be better than what we have now. At the moment, we're pinning all our hopes on Owen's finishing skills, such as they now are after his injuries. We won't improve that way.