Cronky

The front six all show good technique and are all doing well. Trouble is the back four aren't very technical, apart from Ferdinand. The full backs aren't helping the attack much, and are giving the ball away a lot. Another problem is Gerrard running backwards to take the ball from the centre backs. If they had more confidence in their passing, he could stay forward. 1-0. Hey ho.

It's a skilful front six, which is nice to see. All the midfield players and strikers are comfortable on the ball.

Carr has played well enough to keep his place. Butt and Owen have been poor. I'd go for - Given Carr Cacapa Taylor Enrique Beye Barton Faye N'Zogbia Duff Smith

Leaving Richards out is a surprise, and I'm not sure we're going to get on the end of too many crosses. It highlights the fact that England are a bit short of top-class strikers at the moment. At least Capello has finally given the media permission to say what many within the game have been muttering in private - that Owen is not the player he was and we should be looking for alternatives.

Smith and Barton up front ftw!!!!11 Seriously, think about that comment. What a load of shite. That applies to basically all the world class strikers out there, you're saying just becuase he doesn't fly into challenges he shouldn't be in the team? His work rate is quite good imo. When I said 'scrap', I meant everyone had to work hard to get an advantage over the opposition, and we can't afford a specialist player who is there to finish off chances created by others. Admittedly, Owen has worked harder than usual, and has tried to get more involved in the build-up. Trouble is, that's not really his game, he doesn't look that confident, and he can't automatically be considered the best option.

None of our strikers are completely convincing, but we need to get away from the idea that Owen is an automatic choice and it's only a matter of time before the goals go flying in. He's changed completely from being a striker that was blindingly quick to one who's now quite slow. His old faults - one-footed and a poor first touch - are still there (albeit with a bit of improvement) and he should be competing for his place like the rest. I agree with Johnnypd. If we were better than the opposition most weeks then we'd be creating lots of chances and he'd score a lot more. The trouble is we're not better than the opposition most weeks and we're having to scrap. You have to question what Owen is offering us in that situation.

That bit I agree with. Sorry, mate, but I just don't think we're very good at the moment.

Faye, Barton, Duff are the class players. Beye and Enrique not seen enough of yet. Milner I suspect we're not using correctly. Everyone else is replaceable.

Only created the goal today. Okay. I should have said didn't create enough. Basic point still stands IMO.

Given - 5 This has been his poorest season so far. He's lost that chirpy confidence that was so important for him. Carr - 6 Did okay. Put in a lot of work and showed initiative. Cacapa - 7 Held things together at the back for us. Taylor - 5 My heart's in my mouth every time he's on the ball. Always looks likely to lose it. N-Zoggy - 7 Typical performance. Often got caught in no man's land, but opened things up for us going forward more than once. Barton - 7 Created a lot for us. Occasionally got caught. Butt - 3 No leadership qualities. Can't pass. Reluctant to take responsibility. Emre - 5 Poor in defence. If you pick a player like that, he's really got to create things for you, and that didn't happen. Duff - 7 Tried to do too much on his own at times, but often a threat. Smith - 6 Did a good job as target man, winning a lot of balls, but not much came off for him. Owen - 6 If it wasn't for the goal, I'd have given him a 4. He really looks like he's struggling. Viduka - 6 Slow as usual, but always liable to create something out of nothing. Milner - 6 Looked okay, but not much chance to shine.

Looking at the last four games, Owen just doesn't contribute enough. A very good goal today, but most of the time it's like we've got 10 men, because he doesn't create much, doesn't do that much work, and loses the ball in the build up a lot. You can say we should be creating more chances for him, but even then his sharpness has gone and he's missing quite a few chances. His presence also means that we lack pace in attack and can't hit teams on the break. Today, we were outnumbered in midfield and struggled in that area. We really needed a Beardsley or a Bellamy to drop off and link effectively with the midfield. Instead, we're playing a kind of old-fashioned 4-4-2 where one striker is looking for flick-ons from the other.

I was shocked and disappointed at first. Then I came round because he was at least uniting the club behind him (which we badly needed), and I was also reminded of his strengths in terms of motivational skills. I think he'll be able to push the club forward from the end of his season, if backed by money, which I'm sure he will be. I'm a bit concerned right now because I think he's over-estimated the quality of our current squad. We should have strengthened in January. We're not out of trouble, and I wonder if we're in for a repeat of when he first joined the club - a narrow escape from relegation followed by rapid progress.

I just wish HE'D stop this irritatING habit of EMPHASISING words and syllabLES in all THE wrong PLACES.

I agree with the first sentence, agree with the last, it's the middle one causing me the problem. Instead of saying Shearer will never be manager while I am in control, maybe for Ashley/Mort to say that KK is the manager now and any subsequent appointment will go to a candidate who has proven managerial credentials? Same message but leaving the door open if Shearer wants to prove himself elsewhere first. The club has got to stop bending over backwards to suit the career aspirations of one man. This has totally fucked us up for the last four years. When Keegan goes, we appoint the best available candidate. Nothing more needs to be said. In fact, not even that.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Derby beat us away, and drew with us at home. Getting relegated isn't a matter of being worse than Derby or Fulham, who I think are both doomed. It's about finishing below Boro, Sunderland, Bolton, Reading, Brum and Wigan. Given our current form and our fixture list, that's not nailed on.

Is it a coincidence that he was allowed to go so soon after his public criticisms? KK doesn't have the thickest of skins. Like people have said, it doesn't tie in with the idea that we've a small squad and can't afford to let players go.

I was expecting us to make at least one first-team signing this window, and I'm a bit concerned. I was hoping we'd revitalise the attack, but that hasn't happened. I've taken a closer look at our closing run of fixtures, and it's really tough. Even if we win the home games that we should (which we haven't been doing of late) then I reckon we'll still only end up with around 40 points. As at the start of the season, I'm pinning a bit of hope on Barton. He's been way off his best so far, but there were some encouraging signs against Arsenal.

I'd try Smith and Duff. Smith is our best target man, and Duff is probably best in the withdrawn role, like he's played for Ireland. Martins and Owen aren't good target men, and aren't creative enough to play the withdrawn role. With them, we seem to end up in an old-fashioned style where you have a finisher trying to feed off chances created by others.

Tricky decision. Beckham doesn't warrant a place on merit, and it's a good message to send to the rest of the squad that the team will always be picked on merit rather than reputation. On the other hand, some of the senior players might feel it's a bit hard on Beckham. Capello can't really win on this. Being a coward, I'd have picked Beckham, to get the issue over with, but Capello's probably right. If Beckham then goes missing from the next squad, everyone will say that his 100th cap was only granted on sentiment.

If we really have agreed terms with the player, and the clubs are only 1.5 mill out on their valuations, then I'll be really narked if this doesn't go through. Dare I say it, it doesn't sound like manager and board are working closely enough on this? We've made a bid, and yet Keegan doesn't sound too bothered with the lad comes or not.

Something that the Arsenal match highlighted for me - Does Zoggy ever open his mouth during a game? I don't think I've ever seen him talk to any of his team-mates. He just seems to have this serious, Trappist monk expression about him all the time. I don't get the impression that he does much listening either. He seems a very quiet lad, but defenders need to be able to talk in order to stay organised. Zoggy often seems to be floating around in no man's land and you wonder whether he's just not communicating with his team-mates.

Neither are the main problem. Owen is just not offering us enough. I wouldn't pick a player who contributes so little just because once every half dozen games he's finally going to beat the offside trap and score.

I don't get that logic at all. If a player you want is available, go for it. You never know if the opportunity is still going to be there in a few months' time. Barnes's arrival being dependent on other arrivals doesn't make any sense. If we're short of players, all the more reason to bring him in. I know he's the Messiah, but this is a bit of a bullshit statement. I wonder if, with his self-imposed exile from football, he hasn't actually seen Barnes play, and wants a bit of time to make his mind up. The new DOF may have already reached a conclusion and wants to move more quickly.

Owen.

Barton looked much fitter and sharper than previous, and was a bright spot in the evening. Carr also seems to have recovered his form. Butt and Rozenhal are a bit of a joke as a central midfield combination. We're never going to be able to keep possession with those two. There's a bit of a problem at the moment with Milner. Despite what many have said, he's better on the left, but I wouldn't drop Duff.