TRon

Barton was better in possession than the rest of our so called midfielders, but the game mostly passed him by. He was strolling at a gentle pace while Man U players were bombing past him. Jonas and Routledge were disappointing but it's difficult to know whether it's because they're mediocre players or because there's no midfield support. Probably a bit of both.

Just done a google image search for Tiote. He's massive and looks hard as fuck. So there.

And he'll drop Barton, Guthrie, Nolan and Smith just like that? They can play against the lesser teams but against the top teams they will be destroyed, as we saw and predicted yesterday. We know that, but does the club? I really can't see Ashley sanctioning a move for two central players when we already have about four/five on the books. I would think Hughton is given a budget then it's down to him which players he targets. I doubt Ashley is dictating which positions Hughton has to fill...although as he was at the game yesterday it must be obvious even to him that the wheezing wonders in the middle of the park can't live with top premier opposition.

Point taken. But maybe it's a bit early to write him off just yet. I can remember everyone was slating Enrique when he first played for us and he's probably our best player now. Enrique didn't look as poor as Perch does at the moment iirc. Well write him off then. I think I'll give it a couple more games though.

That French journalist also said that although it looks like he's coming here, don't count your chickens just yet, there are other clubs sniffing as well.

Point taken. But maybe it's a bit early to write him off just yet. I can remember everyone was slating Enrique when he first played for us and he's probably our best player now.

I reckon he made mad demands to scare Benfica off. That's what the french journalist said as well. He really does seem to be hell bent on coming here.

Er, how do you know the Ivory Coast player (if he exists) is bigger? It's a gues-timate

That's the second time i've read that. And the second time you've posted it. I thought I mentioned it previously. Did it make more sense second time round?

And he'll drop Barton, Guthrie, Nolan and Smith just like that? They can play against the lesser teams but against the top teams they will be destroyed, as we saw and predicted yesterday.

Would prefer the Ivory Coast player tbh. We need someone to do a minder role if we get Arfa and Arevalo isn't that big.

Perch looks lightning quick so he might turn out to be a decent defender. The problem is he offers fuck all going forwards, and with our static midfield that just compounds the problem.

Absolutely. I don't know if Ben Arfa is the answer but if we are going to send out Nolan, Barton and Smith against teams like Chelsea or Man U we might as well send them without any shorts and a tub of vaseline.

From that article:

It's Milan. Those opportunities sometimes only come once in a lifetime. Hope there's no truth in this because the dithering might well see us lose out.

He might not have been the worst but he allowed Scholes to be the best. No doubt Nolan tries but he's so slow he can't hope to compete with a mobile midfield like Man U's, especially if he's got equally slow partners in Barton and Smith. You can get away with it in the Championship, in the premier you will get run down like an old dog. How the hell could it have been his fault Scholes had a good game? Nolan was just behind Carroll, keeping Scholes and Fletcher quiet was Barton and Smiths job and they failed, badly. Perch had nothing to do in the second half, the only thing Smith was involved in was giving away stupid fouls. Nolan was playing behind Carroll it's true....unfortunately it was 40 yards behind him. Effectively he was just another slow moving midfielder who was run ragged by Man U's far superior mobility.

Seems Hughton is more keen to play him on the wing for some reason. He came on to replace Jonas yesterday with Carroll and Shola up front.

He might not have been the worst but he allowed Scholes to be the best. No doubt Nolan tries but he's so slow he can't hope to compete with a mobile midfield like Man U's, especially if he's got equally slow partners in Barton and Smith. You can get away with it in the Championship, in the premier you will get run down like an old dog.

Perch's qualities are his defensive attributes. He's lightning quick for example. He's shit going forward though...which is why your answer was a dumb one.

I've always preferred Stave Taylor in the centre but at this time he's the best we've got for right-back. I'd like to see him week in week out at RB before I made that call. A couple of flashy runs as a stand-in doesn't qualify him for the accolades in my view. Which accolades? Folk just think he's better than Raylor, Perch and Simpson. based on a couple of barnstorming runs as a fill-in? Well, no. He's a better defender than the lot, and better going forward. Better going forward I will give you but a better defender at RB I think is a just an easy answer. No, it's the right answer. No it's a dumb answer.

I've always preferred Stave Taylor in the centre but at this time he's the best we've got for right-back. I'd like to see him week in week out at RB before I made that call. A couple of flashy runs as a stand-in doesn't qualify him for the accolades in my view. Which accolades? Folk just think he's better than Raylor, Perch and Simpson. based on a couple of barnstorming runs as a fill-in? Well, no. He's a better defender than the lot, and better going forward. Better going forward I will give you but a better defender at RB I think is a just an easy answer.

I've always preferred Stave Taylor in the centre but at this time he's the best we've got for right-back. I'd like to see him week in week out at RB before I made that call. A couple of flashy runs as a stand-in doesn't qualify him for the accolades in my view. Which accolades? Folk just think he's better than Raylor, Perch and Simpson. based on a couple of barnstorming runs as a fill-in?

I've always preferred Stave Taylor in the centre but at this time he's the best we've got for right-back. I'd like to see him week in week out at RB before I made that call. A couple of flashy runs as a stand-in doesn't qualify him for the accolades in my view.

Steve Taylor is a central defender not a RB despite everyone getting carried away by a few decent runs down the flank.

No way are we signing another right back like. Maybe we aren't but it doesn't change the fact that none of the ones we've got are good enough.