Cronky

I think we are unpopular, although it's not easy to make a good comparison with Chelsea's unpopularity. I agree that the 'best fans in the country' bit gets on people's nerves. Freddie's also a bit of a PR disaster, with a boorish manner and a habit of opening his mouth before engaging his brain. Outside the local press, which he largely controls, I don't think he has many friends in the national media, and that often comes out in the coverage we receive.

Il est totallement merde. Ne l'achetez pas.

Wullie has a heart! Who would have believed it?

No question he's turned things round for us. I don't think he's ever played better than he is now, which is remarkable considering the time he's had out. He's not needed any time to get back to his best form - the minute he stepped on the pitch at Man City, he's looked great. My heart was in my mouth today when he went down, clutching the back of his thigh. I really thought his hamstring had gone again.

Parker just isn't the player that he was at Charlton, where he looked relaxed, positive and eager to get on the ball. He now looks a bit nervous, eager not to lose the ball rather than trying to move it on quickly. The extra pressure has got to him. Having said that, even though there's not much to choose between him and Butt at the moment, Parker has the potential to play much better.

Nobby was brilliant in possession today, and really added something to our right side. I'm still not sure yet that he's a longer-term solution to the full back problem. He wasn't up against a winger today, and wasn't challenged in the air. The test will come against a Bolton or a Wigan, or in an away game where we get pushed back. But I must admit, the doubts that I had about him before the game have been considerably eased.

Great performances by Nobby and Dyer - they barely wasted possession once. The crowd finally got behind the team ten minutes into the second half, and it gave the lads a real lift. I can't remember wanting a final whistle to go more. It would have been a travesty not to have won. I don't understand why Portsmouth are in the top four. They didn't really threaten all game. It looks like we've only got 11 fit players now, so we won't have any arguments about team selection. Looks like Luque's fans will get their wish because Roeder won't have any choice but to play him.

Apart from run? Luque is preety quick. If only.

Eastern Europeans seem to have more problems than you might expect. I think they struggle with the language, as well as the different style of play. And I'd agree that most South Americans really struggle physically with the Premiership.

Duff. And I think if you asked the 20 Premiership managers that question, they would all give that answer.

I think what happens with a lot of young players is they have an initial impact, but then opposition players suss them out a bit, and it becomes a bit more difficult for them. At that point they need to work on their game and improve in order to continue to progress their careers. I think that's the point that Zoggy has reached, but he seems a bit stuck. I don't know if he's decided that he's already a great player and is in a kind of mini-sulk, or if he thinks he'd be better off playing for another club. Either way, he's been poor and isn't improving. His attitude doesn't seem right.

For me, the really difficult decision is around Emre. I like to see him play, but picking him alongside Butt or Parker in the centre doesn't seem to work very well. On the other hand, Butt and Parker aren't a very creative combination. I think we'll see - .................Given Carr....Taylor.....Bramble.....Ramage Solano......Butt.....Parker......Milner ..............Dyer......Martins What I'd like to see tried as a front six is - Parker...Butt....Emre ....Dyer.....Milner ........Martins or - ......Butt....Parker Milner...Dyer....Emre .........Martins That last one's a homage to John Barnes and his passionate advocacy of 2 holding midfield players. He irritated the hell out of me, but it may be an idea that English clubs could copy more widely.

It's 'barren', not 'baron'.

I can understand someone wanting to play Solano instead of Carr after tonight, although I don't agree with it. What I don't understand is the level of anger that's now being directed at Carr, like he's taken over from Dyer and Shola as Public Enemy Number 1. Has he had a really shitty game recently?

I just think a few people are getting a bit carried away after one performance. He did well in possession, but he wasn't put under any pressure defensively, either on the ground or in the air. Premiership teams work to try and expose full backs at the far post.

Carr isn't great, but he's a lot stronger than Nobby.

I think in the Premiership, Solano would get exposed in the air, if played at right back. He did well tonight, but I wouldn't chance it on Sunday.

We still had a lot of problems keeping possession - not much movement for the man in possession. Zoggy just doesn't look happy at the moment. Luque put in a couple of good crosses and supplied the corner, but still didn't convince. Solano did very well, but I wouldn't play him in defence in the Premiership, where his weakness in the air is going to be far more exposed than it was tonight.

I think the reason Man U have stepped up a gear is actually Ryan Giggs, who for some reason is playing the best football of his career. Interesting that Man U are still after Hargreaves, who does run around all day, upending people, but Carrick's passing is very good and as you say, in turnovers, that's very useful. I don't think a top team can afford to have an anchor man who's just a clogger, because a player in that position does see a lot of the ball, and if he loses it a lot or delays an attack, then that's a problem. Ideally, you need someone who can both tackle and pass to a top level (Keane, Makelele, Viera) but players like that are not common, and you usually have to make some compromise. I have to confess that I thought Parker was going to be a bit more comfortable in possession than he seems to be, and although he's done a good job, I'm a bit disappointed so far.

He played like a brick shithouse as well.

He wasn't very good, but it's nice to know that someone sorted out Vinnie Jones.

That was me. The Fast Show reference was deliberate, honest. At the moment, the answer to 'would he get it' is a resounding 'yes'. He's Freddie's blue-eyed boy, and could have taken over after Robson if he'd wanted. If there is a takeover, it'll be interesting to see whether they find some kind of role for Shearer. There has been talk of an ex-player joining the Board. If they have Shearer in mind, that would be a big mistake, because that could only undermine the manager's position IMO. With Shearer, he should either have a real job at the club, or clear off on to his own career path.

I'd rest as many first-choice players as possible. The Portsmouth game is far more important, and we need to put out a fresh team. Having won our first two games in the UEFA, it's unlikely that we'll fail to go through.

Clearly some will be disappointed, but I suspect that Roeder will use Milner rather than Zoggy in the first choice team that he uses for League games. And while I hate to agree with AO, Duff did a lot of good work on Saturday. Most of the time he was a kind of auxiliary left back. It's difficult for him to shine going forward, because we're not putting teams on the back foot, but at least he's reliable on the defensive side.

If Fabregas had been playing for the away side, he'd have walked. It's the sort of situation where home teams tend to get the rub of the green, because there's no pressure from the crowd.