KaKa

It cannot be underestimated how much Butt negatively affects the whole team. You just cannot have him in central midfield playing the way he does. He kills us defensively and going forward. The likes of Nolan, Duff etc who are not that great in the first place are made to look a million times worse as he puts them all under pressure time and time again with his questionable play. Taking Butt alone out of the team for Guthrie regardless of what formation we play will se us improve about 50% right off the bat. Still he will remain even after today's performance. You really have to wonder what it is all about when the guy continues to feature in the game every single week. It is criminal.

FYP

We've just watched 90 mins of football and what has Owen done in this whole time? You can talk about his goal record all you want but I find it alarming that he doesn't even manage to get any attempts on goal. He either plays behind a front two or not at all. The difference Martins made up front was crazy. You can talk about how frustrating he is all you want but we had Spurs o the ropes from the moment he came on and that handball against him before he scored was just bollocks. He should have had a goal there. Martins and Jonas have to be the first two in the team.

Martins has to play every game from now even if he is on one foot. The difference he has made has been startling. It's a joke that anyone compares his effectiveness to Owen's ineffectiveness. We have actually had strikers on the pitch this half.

Smith's passing has been worlds better than Butt's.

Nicky Butt with the retarder pass again ...

Marins causing problems already. Him nad Jonas are so freakin' vital.

Nicky Butt with the retarded pass again.

Keegan's formation now. Martins the Spurs destroyer in effect. Martins does more in one second than Owen has all game.

Andy Gray says the set plays have been shocking "today"?! Where have you been all season you mental case!!!

Jonas is a warrior.

Bassong is quite literally unbelievable. The best and luckiest defender we've had in forever!

What the heck is the formation right now? Can't figure it out?!!

Alan Smith has already made a couple of 5 yard passes forward. The most basic of tasks but has therefore already surpassed Butt's contributions.

Butt is tragic ...

The inability for any BRITISH manager to drop Nicky Butt is has been a huge contributor to our downfall. Souness sent him away for goodness sake! Even Souness knew he was past it back then.

Owen's one of our better players out there. No shock to see people posting blaming him though. If he's on the ball and any player puts the slightest bit of pressure on him he will lose the ball.

Our team has no legs whatsoever. Owen is the weakest human ever ...

We're going to be compensating for Butt and Duff all game.

He's not just good he's lucky too. Very goo combo.

3-5-2 ftw Ultimately Iwould rather have an extra defender at centre back with Steven Taylor in there and Jonas would be much more of a threat with some freedom through the middle.

Aye Sky Sports Thanks.

Stoke were only really a threat from set pieces imo. Other than that they really weren't able to do to much else against our 3 centre backs. Attacking wise we had enough of the ball but it ultimately ended with Butt having most of the posession and he kept hittin it long to Shola who is unable to head the ball or hold it up. Jonas will get on the ball more as he will demand it from Butt more than Guthrie did last week and if the ball does go long to Carroll he will definitely be more succesful than Shola was. Just my feeling on things.

I liked the 3-5-2 last week. Thought it worked well and if we play that way again today it should be much better with Jonas and Carroll in the team this time. Is this on the telly?

I hate to single out anyone because everyone is allowed their opinion on here but this post is just too shocking for words. Start Viduka? Please please tell me you where intoxicated when you typed that? Are you friggin kiddin me? he shouldn't even be allowed anywhere near the club the fat waster. Carroll should be the first name on that team sheet thank you very much. As for Martins not being the type of player you want in a relegation battle? Say what? Please tell me you were smoking something illegal when you were silly enough to type such a thing. Martins has been in relegation battles since he joined the club and his performances have been vital for us. Your post is killing me right now. I'm so frustrated by it. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!