sicsfingeredmong

 

Great observation, in keeping with your usual standard if I may say so mate .......

 

Can't believe that people booed someone who didn't want to leave the club, must be right idiots. What sort of reception would the Scottish fuckpig get ? Logic says the same people would cheer him and shake his hand if they met him .....

 

Martins is settling down well now. He still blows hot and cold for me, but his attitude is great and with a quality partner can only get better.

 

 

And booing somebody who still gave 100% effort out on the pitch despite being 'targeted for removal', and reportedly belittled in front of the entire 1st team squad by egomaniac in charge. Bellamy's performance level at the time, even when played out of position, imo overshadowed Shearer's showings and the subsequent body language & effort displayed out on the pitch during the final months of Gullit's tenureship. Both players', at their respective troubled periods at the club, days were numbered - ie. if both managers had their way - under two managers who had absolutely no confidence in the players in question whether it be for footballing or non-footballing reasons. So by comparing both Bellamy and Shearer's respective levels of effort & commitment during the aforementioned periods there's alot to be said in favour Bellamy's intestinal fortitude when faced with the environment of being targetted by an incumbent manger in charge. I know many supporters will obviously will take issue this point just because Bellamy and Shearer have mentioned in the same breath of air - as a point of comparison that is.

On to another comparison, that being Bellamy's reception on the weekend & Owen's at Anfield last year. Owen, with the aid of his agent - by constantly stalling contract talks & essentially playing Houllier and the Liverpool for fools for about 18 months, engineered his way out of Anfield so his reception was to be expected. Many Liverpool supporters think ill of him and understandably so - he was developed & nurtured by the club before taking the piss.

The reception afforded to Bellamy - ie. for a bloke who wanted to stay, contrary to Owen at Liverpool - was sad indeed. The same clowns, and they were probably the same type who were spouting s**** in the manner of "i hope somebody snaps the little Welsh f***ers legs off" in the week leading up to the game. I wonder if they also, and this refers to your point as to whether or not they'd shake the Scottish shitstain's hand, nodded in aknowlegement while shedding tears when Shearer dedicated his record breaking goal to the very same shitstain.

Very good post, Shaman. Agree wholeheartedly. That's about it really!

 

Oh and... i'm so excited to see what him and Owen will be like.

 

Likewise, because both strikers offer two distinct threats. Those threats being Owen's movement - the diagonal runs off-the-ball, and his movement & ability to shake-off defenders inside the box ie. dropping-off one centrehalve's shoulder & popping-up between the wingback and the centrehalf in accordance to the cross' trajectory... there's a usually a brief moment where the defensive line, the centrehalves in particular, lose track of him - and Martin's ability to create havok outside the box.

Hence i'm not a great believer that you must a have 'target man-little man' partnership upfront - for me it's about having a variety of threats available, and an Owen-Martins partnership has great potential in this sense especially with Martins' link-up play improving week-by-week. He's going to draw defenders out of position as a result of centrehalves paying his shooting due respect, fracturing the opposition's rearguard across the line in the process leaving space for Owen, and i think Martins' has demonstrated in recent times - ie. playing Butt into space against Spurs -  that not only does he have the skill but i think he'll have the necessary vision to spot Owen's aforementioned diagonal runs off-the-ball. On a similar note, and for similar reasons, i felt that Defoe & Owen would work as an upfront pairing because imo Defoe's outfield and general link-up play are both underrated.

On a sidenote Martins' improving sideline-to-sideline lateral movement will prove to be an invaluable asset alongside the centrally operating Owen, as was the case when the supposed 'club cancer' was plying his trade here resurrecting Shearer's career in the process, because not only will he draw defender's out wide - away from Owen.... akin to HTL's earlier point - but we'll also have a sideline-to-sideline attacking balance ranging from the 'attacking hole' to penalty box, giving the opposition rearguard an ever-changing look forcing them to adjust their match-ups continiously, preventing their centrehalves from getting comfortable. This element of Bellamy's game was sorely missed in the wake of Clueless' handywork/demolition job inflicted on the club.

Hopefully both players will enjoy a full off-season, developing a 'strikers' understanding' and learning each other's games out on the training paddock.

It wasn't pretty, but from a team perspective it was a 'corner turner'..... and a moment's reflection.

Martins' goal on Saturday doesn't rank up there with his effort at Spurs, or the other highlight reel specials which have become something of an accepted cliche where the said player's debut season is concerned but there were elements to that goal which re-wound the clock by two seasons and left me smiling on the inside.

In most instances, and for most frontmen that is, the striker has no right to 'possibly win that ball' - especially a speculative throughball which hasn't been played through the centre of the park. Agger had a meter or two start on Oba but Reina, and goalkeepers do their homework on their prospective opponents before gameday, respected the two main strengths which are part of Martin's considerable armoury - those strengths being his prodigious pace and his ability to shoot the ball 'first time' with power and more importantly from any angle with both feet - and it's this threat posed which led to Reina rushing out.... causing a defensive calamity in the process. It was heartwarming to watch, and this element - ie. pressuring the defence via upfront speed & commitment - has been devoid from our game for a considerable period time, since the Scottish shithead worked his magic here.

Admittedly Bellamy didn't possess the same level of long range shooting, but the commitment - and the pressure inflicted on the opposition - shown by Martins bore resemblance to the former and supposed 'cancer of the club'. The same 'cancer of the club' unceremoniously booed on Saturday, who ironically played a huge part in the career resurrection of a bloke who will soon have a bronze statue erected in his honor.

It's a shame that we nearly had to wait two seasons for a repeat....... and not just a sole peformance at the other end of the pitch.

Wet/muddy conditions, as an intangible, was a considerable equaliser on Sunday. It cancelled out Gerrard and Sissoko's usual dominance as a 'passing partnership' in the middle, while favouring the 'effort type' Parker in the process.

Good original post, he deserves applause.

The prospect of Bellamy punishing us on Saturday resonates of Murphy's Law doesn't it ie. our best player - at the time - booted out of the club for non-footballing reasons, and the whole episode - contrary to what some muppets choose to believe - was orchestrated by one single substitution aimed at pressing the player's buttons and it worked.

Completely agree. Unless the team rises with him, and the finishing position on the table matches, the situation will bear resemblance to Juninho's stay at Boro........... too good for the team, unable to keep the player.

 

Pathetic if you ask me. It's only a friendly, why do Nigeria care so much?

 

As significant a continental rivalry as say Belgium v Holland, or Scotland versus ourselves/England. It's understandable that both teams are keen to leave nothing in the locker - ie. team selection - come gameday.

Good points made by t-monkey and i'm in agreement with much of what he says. We were a more fluent team, in effect a 'better team' before his arrival. What i disagree with is the point concerning 'an overhaul of the defense'. Stats-wise we ranked up there with the best, but it can be argued the quality of our possession play and our attack played a major part in our 'goals conceeded' return. The best form of defense is being able to starve the opposition, and it still holds true today. What we needed was a keeper with some 'physical presence', akin to Schmeicel, who could save you at least 5 goals a season.

 

but can you think of 1,man u thought "what we need is an alan shearer"

 

For arguments sake how old was Van der Sar back then ie. while breaking through at Ajax? Early-mid 20's? Surely if we had looked hard enough we could very well have unearthed a player of similar ability who had the physical presence to match, admittedly though our scouting department hasn't been our strongsuit.

Back to the rearguard. I always felt that our centrehalf combination was solid at the height of Keegan's reign. Because of his ability on the ball Albert, arguably our best playmaking centrehalf over the last decade or so - Woodgate ranks alongside, was always a viable outlet for the midfield when the opposition tried pressing up. A centrehalf who when needed can dictate the play from the back is an invaluable asset imo, and it's an ingredient we lack today and hasn't featured in our play for quite some time. Beresford etc provided the necessary grit which was needed to compliment Albert's 'cultured/continental' style of play.

Good points made by t-monkey and i'm in agreement with much of what he says. We were a more fluent team, in effect a 'better team' before his arrival. What i disagree with is the point concerning 'an overhaul of the defense'. Stats-wise we ranked up there with the best, but it can be argued the quality of our possession play and our attack played a major part in our 'goals conceeded' return. The best form of defense is being able to starve the opposition, and it still holds true today. What we needed was a keeper with some 'physical presence', akin to Schmeicel, who could save you at least 5 goals a season.

Good news if the reports, concerning an obligatory permanent 5m transfer clause, are true. In the wake of Luque's stint here, last thing we need is another 'panic buy' who ends up being a multi-million pound bust.

Car   Bramble Boumsong Marcelinho

 

Acuna Butt Bassedas  Viana

 

Cort  Luque

 

Injured: Dyer (plays well sometimes, when not injured).

 

Duff and Owen are not hits yet but certainly have the talent, unlucky with injuries so too early to judge yet really. Still disapointed though.

Good little player, better player than our current captain in all honesty.

Pricetag & wages weighed up against the player's actual ability & production.

Scott Parker.

Building the team's engine room around a player with average attributes, and a player with little in the locker in the way of 'defensive smarts' - as compared to Speed ie. not being drawn to the ball like a hawk & knowing when to hold his position, tracking his opposing counterpart/s runs into the danger area in & around the box, will go down as Roeder's biggest mistake of the season and hopefully not beyond. As disappointing a captain i've seen.

scum of the earth, agents. Just a notch above pedophiles and rapers.

Not far from the truth actually, given how they swarm around the junior paddocks in their search for fresh meat/clients.

One central defender whose shown some ability this season, and poise to go with, as far as bringing the ball out of the defensive third and setting up some possession play/sequences in the middle. A quality - ie. a playmaking centrehalf - we've lacked since Woodgate and *Distin left the club respectively.

*In this area Distin showed some ability - ie. turning the zone defending striker, and bringing the ball out to the defensive edge of the centre circle - on the few occasions he played in the middle.

Play Parker or Butt as the defensive midfielder but not both, and make sure Parker knows that Emre is our midfield playmaker.

 

Emre was just hitting top form and I think it was down to Roeder massaging the Turks ego by telling him that he was the man to pull the strings in midfield. Now Parker's back Emre seems to have taken a step backwards.

 

Parker can't play the defensive role. Or the playmaker role. But never mind......perhaps Roeder hasn't thought of massaging his ego yet, despite doing it for Emre.

 

Your usual negative bullshit.

 

Your standards have gone into orbit if you think Parker is not good enough for us. He's a current England international, he was the main man for Charlton in the Premiership for several seasons, Mourinho spent millions getting him to Chelski, but all this means nothing because HTL has pronounced that he's just not good enough for us.  :roll:

 

The lads still a good player, I just think that the management aren't managing him correctly.

 

He was good for Charlton for ONE season only. That's the bit of bullshit around here.

 

BTW I expect it from you, but there's no need for the childish sarcasm.

 

A purple patch highlighted by several quality strikes on goal. That purple patch combined with Chelsea's interest at the time equated to a well over the odds transfer fee. Chelsea/Kenyon did very well, in terms of losing only 3.5m, when they offloaded him to us..... that is for a player who varying reasons - ie. injury, loss of form, falling down the pecking behind new and prospective arrivals - rarely played for them.

6.5m - we were taken for mugs and it was my opinion when we purchased him, especially when the need to replace Bellamy should have been at the forefront of Useless' priority list.

 

COMPLETE CHEATING SCUM!! Like most of those blue bastards!

 

Top player though, i'd have him here in a heartbeat.

Same goes for public enemy no.1 C.Ronaldo, ie. two footed, can hurt teams on either side of the park. Whether or not footballers are 'scum, shitheads, cheats..... and the other names thrown around' is irrelevant in my book. It's all about putting out a set of footballers with ability, and getting the results. It's not about throwing on a bunch of 'good lads' with a commendable amount of ethics to match.

Crumpster:

 

Who among our starting XI should wear the armband besides Given?

 

The armband is F*** all and means F*** all. He's not the best player at the Club for the position he plays.

 

Didn't someone recently post on here the stats/results of games where Parker was missing? IF they are accurate then it goes a long way to proving what I think - we are a better team without him.

 

Yup, agreed. Shearer wore it for ages but the real captain on the field was Gary Speed.

 

The significance of it is that the player is expected to start most matches if they're fit, that's the problem right now. Parker isn't good enough to be a first choice player.

 

If I HAD to make a choice I'd give it to Solano.

Completely agree - bold bit being the main point.

A colorless dungeons & chains-like sphere is a metaphor which best sums up Steve Bruce's ideology as a football manager, and the football on display at Birmingham reflected this. For Nicky Butt, and combine this with a potential existence in the Fizzy Pop League, life at the Brum acted as a much needed slap in the face after the decade-long euphoric high he once experienced at Manchester United.

It took a while for him to realise, for Butt that is, that there's an amiable footballing experience to be had outside the trophy laden dream which is the The Theatre of Dreams. After emerging from the proverbial shithole that is Steve Bruce & Birmingham we, as a club, must represent a healthy footballing alternative - as compared to Birmingham - outside of Manchester.

We have Steve Bruce and The Brum to thank for this. Mr Bruce as a unique and Souness-like ability when it comes to exorcising the collective flair out of a team, like it's an unwanted demonic spirit. Combine Bruce's 'management' with The Brum's ambition as a club and what you have is a stone cold dose otherwise known as a reality check. They gave us a remotivated and refocused Ginger Haired Destroyer. Therefore a special congratulatory thanks goes out to Steve Bruce and The Brum..... you're help has been greatly appreciated.

After reading through the above and elongated mumbo-jumbo one might ask the following question ," Where does Nicky Butt fit into the rebirth of the transition/counterattacking game at Newcastle United?"

One poster on this forum best summed the impact a re-motivated Butt has made out on the pitch. It was summed up briefly. One sentence was needed, a stream of words was all it took in order to drive the point home. The declaration stated the following ," Nicky Butt has given us something we've lacked since Acuna left the club". Admittedly i'd add Gary Speed into the equation.

The declaration didn't go into any specific detail, but it was a relevant point nonetheless. A motivated Butt certainly offers the team the aforementioned South American's street-wise grit, but what's comparable is an often overlooked element in Acuna's repetoire. This relates to Acuna's efficient and instinctive 'transition passing game' within the defensive half.

The Brum certainly delivered to us a reborn Nicky Butt, a streetwise pugilist of a midfielder who for a while had lost the grit between his teeth, but what we've seen over the past few weeks and much to the benefit of the team - when paired with Emre and Sibierski in a 442 formation - is an element of his game which has never been in doubt. That is the ability, and it relates to vision & instinct and to subsequently be ablle to reach a quick decision in how to use the ball after winning it, to play the quick and efficient 10-15 yard transition pass ie. played a few yards in front of the attacking midfielders so they hit the at pace.

Butt and Acuna don't posess Carrick's and Speed's - as a 'first-use of the ball' midifelder - long passing game and the subsequent ability to execute a raking/angled 'Hollywood Ball' through the passing lanes, after a turnover in possession, into the 'hole' beyond the centre circle. Attacking midfielders love nothing more than to be hit at pace, or near-full pace, so they can run and torment their backpeddling opposite number. As a result there's often a cushion between the themself and their man, and this equates to more time and creative space in order to punish the opposition whose defensive lines are broken formation-wise.

Butt and Acuna's passing games best resemble Makalele's. They paint a counterattacking canvas for the artists - ie. the gamblers, the Robbens.... the Duffs etc - to paint their magic on. Duff, for much of this season, hasn't benefitted from this type of delivery and imo it's played a major part in his downturn in form since arriving here.

In recent weeks, in Parker's absence, Solano and others have benefitted as a result of Butt's aforementioned transition passing game. Granted we're still not dominating games in the engine-room, in term's of possession and fluency akin to Manchester United/Chelsea/Arsenal etc, but until last night we've looked a far more capable and efficient counterattacking unit - a side which is actually able to punish the opposition following the turnover. Up until Parker's injury - despite having a bonafide counterattacking threat upfront in the form of Martins, and at various stages of the current campaign, creative hubs in midfield such as Emre, N'Zogbia, Solano and Milner - this hasn't been the case. We have Butt's impact to thank for this imo.

When breaking forward at pace Emre has resembled a far more effective attacking playmaker through the centre of the park, N'Zogbia for a brief moment - prior to injury - bore resemblance to the winger who was 'came on' late last season, in Zoggy's case it's ironic the above mentioned period also coincided with Parker's stint on the sidelines with Glandular Fever. The rebirth of the transition game through the midfield has resulted in a flow-on effect further down the pitch. Martins, who imo deserves a place in the highest echelon when it comes strikers who are purpose built for the counterattacking game which does encapsulate modern football in today's world, is beginning to look every part the 10.5 million investment made in the Summer. Martins' opening goal at Blackburn best paints the picture.... a flowing move on the break followed Sibierski's killer ball to the jugular, and finish which matched the efficiency from defense to attack.

Perhaps, and arguably the biggest recipients courtesy of our newly found and sadly brief transition game, were James Milner and Solano. Milner as a ballcarrying winger does look impressive when the ball is at feet, when he's running at a backpeddling defender - he can step-over on the dribble on either foot and take the defender either way. Ultimately though he's one-paced, with barely above average speed, and most importantly there's not alot in his locker when comes to pace off the mark, so does have difficulty beating defenders from a standing start. Like Solano he does need a cushion between himself and his outfield opposite. The type of passing game attributed to Nicky Butt gives the aforementioned players a headstart.

Prior to last night i was concerned at the prospect of Parker returning to full fitness - this concern surfaced over the weekend courtesy of his 15 minute cameo appearance. Roeder last night opted to choke up the midfield, by implementing Parker/Butt/Emre as his central midfield trio in a 4-5-1, and to an extent it worked.

Ultimately though i'm a believer when it comes to making the opposition worry about you, and forcing them to adapt. Whether it's Butt partnered with Emre, Dyer or Sibierski the transition game has been noticeable, and for once we've scared the shit out of the opposition.

My worry is when we switch back to a four man midfield front where Parker more often than not is the 'first user of the ball' when coming out of our own half. With Parker's inclusion last night we caught another glimpse of our previously experience season-long 'counter-attacking absence'.

Roeder this weekend has a crunch decision - in terms of dropping a defective part in the midfield machine, for the good of the team - to make. If he get's it right we'll safely go top 6 imo. If he gets it wrong the midfield will be once again rendered ineffective, the transition/counterattacking game will once again be noticeably absent, and this will have a negative ripple effect further down the paddock ie. Martins' productivity. This will equate to a serious relegation fight imo............ but to some people this might not matter, to some people "he's our Captain Marvellous, he's a 'trier'.

The problem is 'triers' only get you so far.

as Sima said on a rival forum ,"take a few months off.... you're shit."

 

BUT FOR FUCKS SAKE. 4-5-1 @ OLD TRAFFORD?!?!?! DOES ROEDER WANT US TO LOSE!?!?!?!?

 

 

 

 

but nice post.

 

Carrick, Scholes & Giggs - and the latter has been drifting inside off-the-ball....... it must have something to do with Carrick's vision & distribution in their own half - have been tearing teams apart through the middle. It's understandable why any rival manager, whether it be Mourinho or anyone else, would attempt to choke up the centre of the park by going 4-5-1 at Old Trafford.

On the otherhand it's shit tactics if you go to Old Trafford, apply a 4-5-1 system, set your stall out to defend & leave your only counterattacking outlet upfront - ie. a vital commodity for any defensive rearguard under constant pressure at Old Trafford - on the bench, placing a clogger in the starting line-up instead. Any chance of us obtaining a smash & grab style result was duly thrown out the window on the teamsheet.

 

Butt's providing something we've lacked in midfield since we stopped playing Acuna.

 

Obviously applies to a committed, motivated & focused Nicky Butt which has been the case of late.

ie. quick & efficient forward passing, usually within 5 yards in front of his attacking counterparts so they can run onto the ball at pace - namely Emre who, in the absence of Parker's cumbersome distribution in our own half, has reverted to a more all-out attack/playmaking role and is providing those aforementioned runs off-the-ball. It's not just about running around and smashing people, something which applies to the 'official' team captain.

Parker's injury has been a blessing in disguise. When Parker's fit, let's see if Roeder has the balls to drop the 'annointed captain' for the good of the team.

Arsenal planning £7million Magpies raid

15:36 November, 30, 2006

Arsenal Football Club will still make an effort to sign Charles N’Zogbia in the New Year.

 

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The Frenchman has made a great impact in the English game since moving to Newcastle United, and Arsene Wenger is hoping to lure him to the Emirates Stadium in January.

 

However, Magpies boss Glenn Roeder told the Newcastle Chronicle: "His future is here at Newcastle United - and anyone who is mischievously saying otherwise is totally wasting their time.”

 

Despite this, Wenger will not be deterred and an offer of £7million will be tabled as soon as the transfer window allows him to make an official move for the 20-year-old.

 

 

 

 

£7m?! Who are they kidding? I'd be f*ckin livid, we sold that bag of sh*te Jenas for more and if the spuds can get £18m for Carrick I'd want considerably more than £7m for Zoggy!  :wullie:

 

 

7m will be a good deal if that contract - ie. the one currently on the table - does remain unsigned. I'd say cash-in now, if we do face the prospect of losing him on a Bosman next Summer.

 

I have to say i'm disappointed with Roeder's handling of N'Zogbia this season, purely because i felt that Roeder has underutilised Duff's versatility by not taking advantage of the said player's ability to slot in at either RW or upfront. Martins and Duff, as a forward pairing, would've provided a dual-counterattacking threat making us more effective as a hit&run team away from home, and more capable of building on a 1 goal lead at home.

 

Zoggy's progress, his development, has stagnated as a result.

 

I'd say he's gone backwards rather than just stagnated and while the media has blamed external reasons for it, perhaps it's because Roeder is moulding N'Zogbia in the wrong way? He certainly doesn't have the same self-belief as he did last season and his end product has been shocking - while last term he scored a few goals, got a good number of direct assists and generally was involved in a hell of a lot of our best moments via his direct running/good crossing.

 

I can't help but feel he's suffering because he's not really being allowed to play "his way" anymore and might be being made to be more of a team player - God forbid anyone has flair players anymore, it seems people believe that to be successful everyone must be geared towards teamwork rather than just going out to "play", but right now I reckon we'd benefit more from last season's more unpredictable/exciting N'Zogbia. Is it really such an issue if he loses the ball a few times in the opponent's third if his unrelenting running earns us a goal or two?

 

N'Zogbia is quite probably the player with the most flair in the squad and the most ability to change a game in a moment, much like Robert was when Souness was here (and we all know what happened there), I just hope the outcome isn't the same and that Charlie's problems are simply "second season blues" or short-term because of Boumsong/Duff/Faye.

 

Good post. Just adding further to that, another aspect of his game which has 'gone backwards' this campaign has been his 'off the ball runs' into the opponent's box. They've been noticeably scarce, in comparison to last season..... i mean post-Souness, and as you say his finishing has been way off the mark whereas in relation to the above mentioned period he looked very clinical in the event of any chances presenting themselves inside the box. I thought we had a 'goal poaching winger' prospect, in the mould of Pires, on our hands. This attacking instinct of his - ie. gambling & coming inside - has been reigned in by Roeder..... it should have been allowed to flourish ala Pires under Wenger.

I liken his stagnation to Dyer under Sir Bobby Robson, or him moving backwards in your words - and you're correct btw, from a playing perspective or 'honing in one's flair & unpredictably for the sake of converting that player into a more team-orientated one'. Dyer, under Gullit and shortly after - before his surgery, as a dribbler was more direct & more unpredictable. After he came back from the shin-op Robson tried to make him a more off-the-ball orientated central midfielder. His 'dribbling/attacking game' was negelected, and i always felt that SBR coached the flair out of Dyer's game.

Arsenal planning £7million Magpies raid

15:36 November, 30, 2006

Arsenal Football Club will still make an effort to sign Charles N’Zogbia in the New Year.

 

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Send This Article To A Friend

Post Your View on The Msg Board

 

The Frenchman has made a great impact in the English game since moving to Newcastle United, and Arsene Wenger is hoping to lure him to the Emirates Stadium in January.

 

However, Magpies boss Glenn Roeder told the Newcastle Chronicle: "His future is here at Newcastle United - and anyone who is mischievously saying otherwise is totally wasting their time.”

 

Despite this, Wenger will not be deterred and an offer of £7million will be tabled as soon as the transfer window allows him to make an official move for the 20-year-old.

 

 

 

 

£7m?! Who are they kidding? I'd be f*ckin livid, we sold that bag of sh*te Jenas for more and if the spuds can get £18m for Carrick I'd want considerably more than £7m for Zoggy!  :wullie:

 

7m will be a good deal if that contract - ie. the one currently on the table - does remain unsigned. I'd say cash-in now, if we do face the prospect of losing him on a Bosman next Summer.

I have to say i'm disappointed with Roeder's handling of N'Zogbia this season, purely because i felt that Roeder has underutilised Duff's versatility by not taking advantage of the said player's ability to slot in at either RW or upfront. Martins and Duff, as a forward pairing, would've provided a dual-counterattacking threat making us more effective as a hit&run team away from home, and more capable of building on a 1 goal lead at home.

Zoggy's progress, his development, has stagnated as a result.

 

Don't agree at all. They're two different types of player so I don't know why we're comparing them in the first place. Also, Man Utd have excellent movement off the ball. We don't.

 

The majority of Parker's workload still takes place in our own defensive half, and as such his vision - ie. his ability, or inability in his case, to see the open passing lanes when the opposition is caught between attack & *defense *earlier typo - and resulting distribution gives just cause when comparing both players' respective roles within their team set-up. More often than not both players are the springboards in each team's attack, most importantly on the counter, so on this basis it's fair to compare.

Given that Ferguson has effectively moulded his midfield set-up around Carrick, as Souness and Roeder have respectively done with Parker, it's fair to compare both players' contribution & and overall effectiveness to the team. In the form of Djemba Djemba and Fletcher, at varying times, Ferguson tried to unearth Roy Keane's eventual successor - someone who could control the pace & tempo of the game within the engineroom. He's eventually succeeded re:Carrick.

I questioned the decision to purchase Parker in the first place - he was overpriced, and there were other priorities which needed addressing at the time, namely the task of finding an immediate replacement for Bellamy. The decision to mould the midfield around an 'effort but ultimately an average player' has been a bigger mistake.

Sir Alex Ferguson's response to criticism directed at the said player, criticism inferring that Carrick has made a limited contribution in the wake of his move to United.

Here are the main points:

"He just knows where is passing the ball and when to pass it"

"He knows the right angles and the right weight. His passing is absolutely fantastic"

and there's this in relation to those who have slipped into the false illusion that in order to be an effective midfield anchorman one has to "run around alot and fly into tackles all over the place", or he doesn't have the defensive capabality or muscle/steel needed to compliment the attacking machine.... the ever-forward bombing Scholes. In other words those who have spent too many wintery afternoons watching our midfield destroyer, aka Scott Parker, upending Joe Cole and others alike with a series of highlight worthy tackles.

"Just because you don't pund into tackles it doesn't mean you're not good at your job in terms of the positions you take up"

Ferguson's right on both counts, and this is where i make the comparison with the man who many supporters feel is Captain F*ckin Marvellous.

Matches are won & lossed on the back of turnovers - those critical moments, and there only is a second or two available, when the opposition midfield is caught in between attack and attack ie. before they've regained their defensive shape, while the passing lanes are open. Carrick's vision, or his ability to instantly see these available passing lanes, coupled with his passing range has complimented Scholes perfectly, a player who is at his best 'off the ball on the counter'. Carrick, unlike Parker, stays on his feet as a defender and is provide an instant launchpad when he does gain possession.

Ferguson has reinvented his midfield, and he should be commended for it......... we on the otherhand are stuck with a 6.5m mistake.