STM

Given Solano Taylor Rozehnal Ramage Butt Geremi Milner N'Zogbia Shola Owen Might as well give Martins a rest and not risk Luque. Looks a canny side, need a left back though.

The fact "andy" had possesion and buffon nearly took his head off is enough to constitute a foul.

I think he's fishing mate.

I think Luque came off as a precaution.

Aye, it looked like he was wrapping cotton wool around them, aswell as Milner and Martins. Even if we had gone on to lose it wasn't worth risking them considering our injuries at the moment.

Didn't put a foot wrong all of the first half. His set-pieces cannot be faulted. Him and Nobby look a class above when it comes to passing and intelligence on the ball.

Going out on loan for a couple of months will benifit him greatly and if he isn't getting the games we can always bring him back.

Probably the reason behind his good left back performances. We all know he's good enough technically to be a left back but today makes me think he has what it takes physically. Can't help thinking that this Juve side isn't as good as it once was but there were some cracking performances all over today.

N'Zogbia looks so much fitter and stronger. Normally when he plays in centre midfield he doesn't quite cut it physically but today he out muscled the opposition. Ramage deserves credit for his display too.

Oh and Buffon shouldn't be on the field, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Half time report: Given-7 One good stop from the captain. Carr-7 Some good challenges but failed with crosses. Rozehnal-7.5 Looks very very composed. Ramage-7 Good performance, barely giving his man a sniff. Hunty-6 Only man beaten in the first half, can be forgiven. Nobby-8 Great passing contribution Geremi-8 Heartbeat once more, good set pieces. N'Zogbia-7 Doesn't look out of his depth. Milner-7.5 Won the penalty, looks very threatening. Martins-7 Worked hard, play part in second goal. Luque-7 Took penalty well, coped physically. Carrol-8 Great workrate, took goal well. Performance-8

blueyes.gif Diop has hardly set the world alight in the last two seasons due to injuries, but before that i'll admit he looked a cracking player. A real powerhouse but a big gamble considering our proneness to injuries. Do we really want another crock? If Sam believes he can sort out his fitness i think he's worth a shot. Especially considering he is injury free right now.

Alot seem to have think he has gone down hill for the last couple of years but i still think hes a very strong midfielder.

Haven't seen a thread but these two were linked with us this morning. Personally, i think they would both be cheap and good squad players. Which is what we need. I haven't seen a great deal of Abdoulaye Faye, am i correct in thinking he can play both DM and CB? If he can and Sam rates him he would be a good addition for a couple of million. PBD is someone i have always rated and he would add some much needed cover to the midfield, along with some important attributes such as strength, tackling and long range shots. Your thoughts?

I am sure someone said before its about £8 a game but £10 to have the channel for the month so you may aswell pay the extra £2 and see the other games they show. Cheers mate.

Does anyone knwo whether you can order individual games on setanta, or do you have to do the whole package thing?

James Milner is a good winger, no two ways about it. He's a very good crosser of the ball (not quite beckham, nobby standard) and has a very good shot on him (see the goals he scored and how many he has scored).

The only reason a footballer needs pace is if he wants to get to the ball first or beat his man whilst with the ball. Milner does both of these without having an abundance of pace. Plain and simply his end product is top draw in my eyes and doesn't deserve and negitive critisism. Sure there are parts of his game that he can improve on but for me he is the most exciting young player at the club.

What a load of tripe. They are what they are, bollocks to this "good bad player" shite. The guardian has gone down hill in my eyes.

What channel is it on?

The same could have been said about Ginola, it didn't stop him from being a good player for us. Ginola had bottle, he got clatterd all the time trying to go past players, luque gives the ball away the second it looks like he will be closed down. Ginola was lazy and would not track back, had nowt to do with lack of bottle. Define bottle? Bottle as in bravery as in being scared of getting hurt but still keeping a hold of the ball anyway.. It would make more sense if you said "Luque isn't tough enough and he doesn't get rid of the ball quick enough" If thats your critisism of him. Bottles a bullshit word. I did say higher up the thread that he is not very tough and my complaint is that he DOES get rid of the ball to quick, he will not hold the ball up at all, he could have played Butt in the other night if he had held the ball up for a few seconds but he gave it away, Butt let him know so too. Bottle is a term widely used to describe bravery, made up word I just think he is a wimp and being that way stops him being as effective as he could be in a game. In Spain they get lots more time on the ball without a player flying into a tackle on them, its that part of the Prem game that I think he is finding hard to deal with. Haha, i was just messing. I agree with what you have said in terms of the different style. Lets hope Sam can find a solution.

The same could have been said about Ginola, it didn't stop him from being a good player for us. Ginola had bottle, he got clatterd all the time trying to go past players, luque gives the ball away the second it looks like he will be closed down. Ginola was lazy and would not track back, had nowt to do with lack of bottle. Define bottle? Bottle as in bravery as in being scared of getting hurt but still keeping a hold of the ball anyway.. It would make more sense if you said "Luque isn't tough enough and he doesn't get rid of the ball quick enough" If thats your critisism of him. Bottles a bullshit word.

Richard Dunne would be cracking swap. Always thought he's solid. Lee Young Pyo would be canny considering the positions he can play.

Oh no no. Owen against Boumsong!

The same could have been said about Ginola, it didn't stop him from being a good player for us. Ginola had bottle, he got clatterd all the time trying to go past players, luque gives the ball away the second it looks like he will be closed down. Ginola was lazy and would not track back, had nowt to do with lack of bottle. Define bottle?