Cronky

So where is our divine right to be, then? Also, tell me why there is more chance of replacing the Board with a better one than a worse one? Tell me why another Board will automatically be better than the current one, why they will automatically make available as much or even more cash to the manager and will automatically appoint the right manager? Thanks Well, we've no divine right to be anywhere, and there's no automatic guarantees that another Board would perform better, but seeing I didn't say either of those things, I think your questions are wide of the mark. I mean, if someone is doing their job badly, you don't have any guarantees that their replacement would automatically do better, but you might still be correct in reaching the judgement that the bloke should be fired. You have to reach some kind of decision. Your reason for thinking that Shepherd should remain is that we're doing better than pre-1992, but in that era we weren't a big club whose turnover took them into the European top 20. We were a middle-sized club on the lines of West Ham or Sheffield Wednesday. Now we seem to be slipping back. Shepherd took over a very different club from the one that Sir John Hall took over in 1992. I mean, if you think Shepherd is doing an okay job, then fine, but it seems to me that our club has become one man's personal fiefdom. There's no checks on his powers because the Halls stay in the background, the local press is cowardly, and he doesn't give proper respect for the judgement of his managers. He's now built up a reputation as a Dictator that will make it difficult to attract any top-class manager, and maybe even top class players are going to think twice. Sigh "Where we ought to be if the club is run properly" ........ Note the second bit I put in bold, which is something true only in your head, as the muppets like to say. Well let me put it another way. If you don't think another Board could do better, why is that? If you do think it's possible that another Board could do better, why are you so reluctant to consider a change?

I agree with Gejon, Bolton's style suits him down to the ground. He's playing better for them than he did for us in his final two years. I don't think the loss of Speed was the problem.

So where is our divine right to be, then? Also, tell me why there is more chance of replacing the Board with a better one than a worse one? Tell me why another Board will automatically be better than the current one, why they will automatically make available as much or even more cash to the manager and will automatically appoint the right manager? Thanks Well, we've no divine right to be anywhere, and there's no automatic guarantees that another Board would perform better, but seeing I didn't say either of those things, I think your questions are wide of the mark. I mean, if someone is doing their job badly, you don't have any guarantees that their replacement would automatically do better, but you might still be correct in reaching the judgement that the bloke should be fired. You have to reach some kind of decision. Your reason for thinking that Shepherd should remain is that we're doing better than pre-1992, but in that era we weren't a big club whose turnover took them into the European top 20. We were a middle-sized club on the lines of West Ham or Sheffield Wednesday. Now we seem to be slipping back. Shepherd took over a very different club from the one that Sir John Hall took over in 1992. I mean, if you think Shepherd is doing an okay job, then fine, but it seems to me that our club has become one man's personal fiefdom. There's no checks on his powers because the Halls stay in the background, the local press is cowardly, and he doesn't give proper respect for the judgement of his managers. He's now built up a reputation as a Dictator that will make it difficult to attract any top-class manager, and maybe even top class players are going to think twice.

The proper comparison to make isn't between the current situation and how things were pre-1992. It's between the current situation and where we ought to be if the club was run properly.

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.