Not for the last 18 months or so he hasn't. Far too many of the goals conceded - while involving other defensive errors - are partially down to bad keeping.
This back 4 (along with Ramage, Taylor & Moore, and managed by Souness & Roeder) conceded 42 league goals in 05-06.
Last season we conceded 59 & the one before 68.
Not to mention the fact the most solid I've seen our defence was 03-04 with Woodgate and Bramble.
Like Coloccini added it, you mean?
I am not sure how the inability of one player to improve a particular attribute means that no other player can do so.
Exactly had a little chuckle at that.
Naturally small, weak CBs rarely succeed in the PL. You can add a bit of token muscle but it isn't going to help you much in the long run. Look how S.Taylor adding muscle helped him, not one bit.
There's not a chance he'll keep his job if there's a strong possibility of us going down come November or so. The fans will make his position absolutely untenable.
The "British based" is true though, regardless of nationality.
No club - and especially one with our non-existent spine and total lack of leadership - can afford to base transfer strategy around players with no experience of the most unique and arguably athletically demanding league in the world.
Well, yeah, he's an idiot. Anyway, Hatem's never a number 10. His game isn't about vision, passing and movement for the sake of someone else. Asking him to fulfil the basic criteria of a number 10 would negate his strengths.
Why are your reporters so desperate for all the players to be on three or four teams.
Mike, I know we've been here before man but you really can't hold the Star or the Sport to any sort of UK journalistic representation. Think the National Enquirer.
The most damning thing of all, is that his two ready-made #10 replacements in Ben Arfa and Marveaux are on loan because our manager doesn't like them.
I know it fits the agenda nicely but Ben Arfa isn't a number 10. He's consistently crap there. RW on the other hand he's very good at.