Neil

Looks like he thinks he has now made it to the top level and does not need to try It's the effort I'm concerned about. He just doesn't look bothered.

I didn't see the build-up. Malcolm Allison?

It was a shame, for both sides, the football deteriorated as the 2nd half went on. I can understand you lot being tired but we played some poor, hopeless balls ourselves. But yeah, I'll gladly take a point. Got a few very winnable games coming up so I'd like to think we can continue this little run.

Could I interest Peter with some apple with that crumble at the end?

That'll do.

You can tell we lack a lot up front. Yakubu can hold it up all he likes but he doesn't have a natural partner to find, Cahill can only offer so much.

Unreal refereeing.

We're living dangerously with Crouch, yes. But a lot have been 50/50s, we've got some and you've got some. In terms of the game itself though you can't deny we deserve to be level, we've played just as well as you for the most part. However I am worried, again, that we're giving you room for shots from 25 yards and we can't do that with the quality you have. Certainly miss Arteta and Fellaini.

Tiote and Barton get a hold of the game and you'll win this 2-1. If not, 2-1 loss.

Great half for the neutral.

Arteta and Fellaini out but Pienaar able to play, thankfully. Fucking BBC btw. Fawning over Spurs as Brazil 1970 and assuming we'll just hoof it long for 90 minutes and sit in our own area.

Scary!

Ferguson is a great manager but I see little to suggest "he was in it" or that he had full control here. He was a desperate man and will be fucking relieved Rooney has decided to stay - Rooney on form will save Man Utd's season from dissolving into nothingness (by their standards).

Moderate Cockney-ish.... Reactionist?

Fair enough. Well I can't see Cattermole or Riveros causing you problems defensively, and I don't think Malbranque will really do that much. I can see Bramble being absolutely up for the game, Elmohamady (or however you spell that crazy man's name) has looked impressive thus far so he could be as a danger. Otherwise, it is up to you, ultimately, as the home side, to win the game.

Obviously, you can never guarantee stuff like this but if we use Mick's assessment as a relatively accurate one, is it too much to say he'll be playing again by late February?

This really is a finely balanced game at the moment. I suspect people are saying the key is to "keep Bent quiet" but this is the thing, Bent IS often quiet, and takes advantage of goalmouth scrambles, or a single lapse in defensive concentration. I think even more key will be how you deal with Henderson. He has grown to be a regular in their starting lineup and is going to be England quality sooner or later. If it is just a straight battle between Enrique and Henderson then it shouldn't be too bad but I think Bruce will recognise Enrique's quality and ask Henderson to drift inside - will you be able to deal with him centrally? I don't think Perch will struggle against Malbranque because the latter likes to drift inwards most of the time. In fact, I don't rate Malbranque much currently so I don't think that position will be your biggest concern.

With a fit squad I would have put my house on Everton DNB but now I can't see us winning at all. That said, Jags was supposed to be out for 2 weeks and he turned up last Sunday.

About 0.1% chance of it happening but you should absolutely go all out for him. Not that that means you'd have the money or he'd ever come.

They do. He's a great weapon when he can be arsed.

Mike! Why don't you buy some fucking players rather than spending your cash on Ginsters, Heineken and roulette? Imagine who he could buy for 200k too! 3 Seamus Colemans.

I think SAF will be breathing an absolutely massive sigh of relief. His language in the whole saga was strange. He had no problem kicking RvN, Beckham and others out but with Rooney, such phrases as "the door is always open", and generally fawning over him to stay was not in fitting with previous big-name departures. I think Ferguson realised Man Utd were (relatively) in the shitter if he went.

Tbf, he's actually been decent this season. Bullied Liverpool completely in the 1st half last week.

Fuck's sake man, here we go again. Saha, Rodwell, Pienaar, Osman, Arteta and Fellaini all possibly out of the Spurs game.

He's overrated in the sense that I don't see how he gets in the England team. He looks like he has little control over what he does on the pitch - kick and run. If he wants to do anything else with his career England-wise he should seek to move in the January window, not that I'd know who would buy him. Maybe Crawley Town.