Taylor Swift

VDS has a lot a lot more experience than Ben Foster. While Foster is doing great and learning fast in Watford, VDS is doing well in Manchester United. If the current keeper is an integral part to the best defense in premiership, why replace him with a "potentially" better keeper? Foster has not had the authority of VDS earned through experience and medals. I doubt the likes of Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Neville will listen to the commands of Foster. You have some sort of fetish with Man United players, especially the young ones!

In the end, it's all coaching. It's why Arsenal's style of football hasn't really changed in 10 years, even with the massive turnover in players. Losing arguably one of the finest midfielders to have graced the Premiership (Vieira), they're still playing flowing football and have seemingly replaced him with a different but arguably more effective player (Fabregas). Coaching is also why Manyoo's style of football hasn't changed as well. And it's why both of these teams have been successful and why they will still be successful if their respective managers and coaches remain, even if they continue to change their players. The system works, and that's the key.

I don't remember seeing one good forward pass from Parker in the game at all. Most of the passes he makes are just layoffs back to the defender who actually fucking passed the ball to him. He just runs towards the defender from the center of the pitch, then taps the ball that is passed to him back to the original passer. The ball then gets hoofed up bluesigh.gif He doesn't even turn to face their goal often enough and pass the ball forward and it contributes to why we lose possession so much and why we're usually under the cosh when he plays. When he does, the passes usually don't find their man (take notice of this in the next game - his forward passing in the Bolton and Everton game was atrocious). Parker was good when the team was shite, remember that. We always played shite football under Souness, always under the cosh, could never string more than 5 passes together yet during that time, Parker shown through because he excels when a team is under pressure, he excels when he's having opportunities to make last-ditch tackles. That's not a bad thing on his part, but it is a negative when in consideration with the type of football we would like to play and how we should be attacking other teams, not vice versa. We never really onced played a team off the park during the Souness era, we might have hustled them off the park (ie. against Arsenal at home) but it was a rarity that we won the game because of the way we passed the ball. In this season alone, we have already played Portsmouth off the park and in the other games [when Parker was injured], our attacking play has been much improved, showed in the increase of goals during the 'run'.

A healthy 38 points lead after the first leg

10m on two fullbacks. Forget about the strikers for now man, we're not going to do much in the league anyways. We have to stay lucky with injuries (which probably won't happen) if we're to have any chance of making a big run and move up the table. I say just let's start over and consider this season a one of transition, one that we can use to sort out the defence for the next few years. Then the summer will arrive where we can evaluate Shola's and Owen's respective physical conditions, then proceed on from there knowing we'll still have Martins who is quality. Much better than spending 5m+ on someone who'll have to sit on the bench when Mickey comes back. Our potential striking partnership has costed us 27m to assemble, no need to spend more money. Just start over. Obviously some people might point out the fact that we're one injury away from being plunged into the relegation dogfight, well, you know what, buying a shit striker for 2m isn't the answer. We need to spend big on a striker if we're to spend because we need goals, and I don't think it's a good idea to spend 10m on a striker who'll have to sit on the bench. PS. 'You can't lose if you don't concede' 'Defence wins championships' etc. etc. Defenders people, defenders!

We were missing a certain someone who I believe could have done this I think you know him very well. Woodgate doesn't play for us anymore Ramage still does

We were missing a certain someone who I believe could have done this I think you know him very well.

Not really a positive at all. He did work hard today though and we got a point that none of us could have really expected before the game so credit to the whole team, including Parker of course. I thought you would know what I meant but I shall elaborate. He popped up all over the field, worked his socks off like the parker we know. Unlike a certain Emre who, despite being a quality quality player, is very fragile it seems. Mate, I did understand your original point but I feel that's actually a negative. When Butt plays, he's never 'all over the place', he sticks in his position and is disciplined. Parker just seems to float around for a bit then suddenly gravitate towards the ball, and with Emre not having the best closing down skills, that's why Manyoo had so much time and space on the ball right in front of penalty area. I thought that if Parker spent his time actually guarding his position and staying in a designated 'zone', we wouldn't have allowed their central midfielders all the time and space in front of our area and wouldn't have allowed them to dictate the game as much as they did.

Are you thinking about adamsforthetoon.com??

We don't really get the chance to get carried away too often with our defenders so why not take advantage of the opportunity when it comes along?

Think John Terry you should feel better now And it's not like Rio is a shite defender as well!!

Not really a positive at all. He did work hard today though and we got a point that none of us could have really expected before the game so credit to the whole team, including Parker of course.

I think he has got excellent ball control and if we are to build up an attack the ball have to start at Taylor and not Ramage for excample. The only problem is that he at times almost play arrogant which remind me of Rio Ferdinand. All the top players have that arrogance about them on the pitch. They just know they're better than most of the other players. I definitely don't mind that because I believe, at least on the pitch, that you need that kind of self confidence to be the best of the very best. Ronaldinho, such a humble and soft-spoken man in person, but he's definitely one of the most arrogant players out there on the pitch, the tricks he tries are outrageous and the way he teases defenders and all. Arrogance = necessary quality to have on the pitch if you want to be one of the 'greats'.

If Roeder/Fred can't bring in new fullbacks, I'd be extremely disappointed. Even though we have players capable of producing high-quality performances in those positions, such as Nobby at RB, we surely can't expect them to keep it up for the rest of the season without having dips in form, and more importantly, we have to look towards the future. Solano won't be able to play at this level in a couple of seasons so this could be our chance to sort out both the LB and RB positions for the foreseeable future. Get someone of Bridge's quality in for LB and someone like the Greece fella who was magnificent in the Euro 04, Seitaridis was it? Then I'd say we'd be covered in those positions for the next few years at least, and furthermore, considering the young talented defenders we have coming through, our whole defence will have basically been upgraded

Tbh, I thought in the second half Martins was bossed by Vidic, who's actually turning out into a good player and forming an excellent partnership with the druggie (Rio). First half he was decent, as was our whole team. Second half just couldn't get anything going, especially after our whole team's confidence seemed to have been lost after Scholes' second. He'll get better, this is pretty early on his learning curve still.

Although we've lost 7 goals in the past three games, the more this boy plays, the better he gets. Was unbelievable during the 6 prior matches and today against Manyoo, showed he can lead from the back. His style of play is eerily similar to that of John Terry's. He has also showed much more consistency lately, as well as improving his anticipation and overall reading of the game, which has compensated for his lack of pace (when compared to the super quick strikers). His passing is much more composed and has also added a Bramble-esque long ball style to his game, which to be fair, isn't attractive but at least it seems to go where it should He looks more mature now and plays like it as well, which can be seen from the times that he decides to surge up the field with the ball - just looks like a boy with confidence. Before, we'd get a couple of good games followed by a howler. However, it seems the crisis in defence has demanded that someone step up and lead the team from the back, step in Taylor Hope he can keep this up because we have a real talent on our hands. Can't believe he's still only 20!! blueeek.gif And lastly, he's added goals to his game as well. Keep it up!

45 points for so far. Get in the bonus points! Got 9 for Micah, Stevie G and Sidwell My captain, the great Kolo, is still to play as well. AND I still have Drogba and the dirty cunt Fabregas left. Good start to the month

Taylor deserves some credit as well. He was the most experienced 'defender' out there and lead from the back well.

I remember last year some people said they wouldn't want him to be our manager, said he's lost it Always was a great manager and seems to always will be until he retires. He'll also always get Manyoo winning because the unique style of movement that is included in the tactics. Similar to Wenger, this style of football has worked for 10 years and isn't showing any signs that it's going to stop working.

to the academy lads. Well played today, all three of them A point has to be made though, we're now in a very good position regarding our centerbacks. We have Taylor, Ramage, Huntington and Edgar, and all come from our academy! Although none of them are pacey, Taylor's anticipation and reading of the game has improved massively, which is good enough compensation and he reminds me of John Terry. He's been magnificent in the past 8 games imo. Ramage, on the other hand, still lacks that 'quality' about him that first-teamers seem to possess. He is decent and is a squad player, but hopefully that'll be all that he'll ever be. Huntington has impressed me most so far. His reading of the game is exceptional and even when he was playing on the right/left, he showed composure, which Ramage definitely lacks. Edgar.. wow Good game, was quite scared at the end when he nearly gave the ball away to Ronaldo but get in son, definitely one for the future now. Considering the fact that the oldest is Ramage who is still 22/23, the other 3 being 19 or 20, we possibly have the 4 central defenders position locked up for 10 years (if the players can continue developing). Obviously a world class center-back would be welcomed but that'd be asking too much considering how these four defenders have now progressed into the first team squad. All we need now is two excellent fullbacks

We'll never win anything with kids

Malbranque scored. 1-1 in the Pompey Spurs game.

At the speed you count? Not the best idea you've ever had. I had a full time temporary part time Christmas job. Had no time. So what is it you tit?

To be fair to Knightrider, he does have a disclaimer, he means the mismanaged club that we have become/returned to. I have two I clearly stated in the first post that I would dispense with him if we could bring in a significantly better manager, without a doubt. However I don't think that will happen so I'm sticking with Roeder, until otherwise. He for me is the right man to manage this mismanaged club during this period of transition and uncertainty. He's proved himself not only capable but up to the task in hand and with some patience, luck and understanding, I'm sure he can do the work he is being paid to do - to repair the damage of Souness - to a level that is satisfactory: European football which is a must for this club. He achieved that goal in less than 6 months as caretaker and despite our problems and low league position today, we can still achieve the same again this season which given the circumstances would be another remarkable feat should it happen. IMO anyway. blueyes.gif Will be tough if the gap is still 8+ points come end of January or whatever. We need to play well against the teams we're competing against ie. against the likes of Bolton, Spurs and Everton.

Sounds like the forum is about to have a major epiphany regarding Parker and his role. It'll happen the next time he's not playing and we do well.