The Prophet

The way Nani is playing at the moment he'll do well to gently tear Taylor a new one. Certianly a concern if he's on form though. It has all the hallmarks of a Man United win. We're playing well, they're only just grinding out results, Rooney and Nani are out of form. Worrying signs.

Having watched this again I'm actually slightly annoyed we didn't get something from the game. We created and missed some great chances and conceded due to two individual errors and a questionable refereeing decision. On top of that we dominated large parts of the second half and limited City to three real chances from open play. Some real positives to take from the game though.

Oh, I'll admit I only saw it as a stand alone post. Can I assume it was laced in sarcasm?

Disagree. As good as Taylor has been for the most part Santon is a better player. Simple as that for me personally.

After seeing Man United grind out another result tonight there's no reason we shouldn't have confiidence for this. The probelm is their wingers up against our full backs is the stuff of nightmares. I fancy us to battle hard but narrowly lose out by the odd goal.

I expected that but I've taken a lot of heart from the performance, there's no reason we can't give Man United a really good game. We were punished for two individual errors today, mind I still dispute the third, the slight Ben Arfa knocking tank-line Richards off his feet. Still, the goal is the least we deserved. Krul 6 - Alright I guess, his kicking does my head in though just hits and hopes really. Still made some good saves, bit disappointed with his penalty effort. Simpson 7 - Solid, seemed realtively comfortable for large parts, got forward in parts too. Taylor 7 - Solid, some decent last ditch stuff too. Colo 8 - Massively impressed with him again, such a classy player. Taylor 2 - At fault for both first half goals, the latter being absolutely school boy stuff. Also tucked in far too much providing Richard with freedom of Manchester at times. Woeful. Sami 6 - Some decent direct stuff at times although the final ball was often lacking. With a bit of experience and some hard hours in the gym he could be worth holding on to. Provided good cover for Simpson as well. Guthrie 6 - Always looks decent on the ball, he really game into the game in the second half. Cabaye 6.5 - Same as Guthrie with added grit, made some great possession winning challanges in the middle. Jonas 5 - Can't fault his effort and application but he left Taylor a bit too exposed at times, also provided very little in the final third. Ben Arfa 7 - When he's on the ball he looks brilliant, by our far our most creative player today. On another day he could of had a goal and assist to his name, unlucky. Ba 5 - Fed on scraps but always a threat. Wasted a couple of really good half chances, the kind of chances you have to take to get anything from this type of game.

It'll be interesting to see how we deal with the right wing/forward issue. We could risk Obertan/experiment with Santon, Sammy or Ben Arfa on the right. For me Best has to start, it'd be whether I play Ba or Ben Arfa behind him. Perhaps Ben Arfa would be more useful in terms of keeping the ball and taking pressure off the defence. Whatever the line up we're going to be up against it, especially without Tiote. Even the optimist in me can see nothing but a defeat here.

I thought Tiote was alright to play. If he's out we'll get taken apart.

It's catchy, a bit like chlamydia really.

To be fair the mackems I know are quite a sensible bunch, a couple of them have wanted Bruce out for a while.

Tongue in cheek stuff aside. I fancy a comfortable defeat, a battling defeat and a draw, in that order.

No doubt they'll be back out of their box if/when we lose to Man City.

Looks nothing like him.

I've decided, we'll get a point from our free tough fixtures. A comfortable defeat to City, A battling defeat to Man United and a draw against Chelsea.

Aye, we tried to claim he was pushed in the back, the ref was having none of it. It's the same game where Bramble's sliced clearence flew straight to Henry giving him a tap-in at the back stick. Safe as houses at the back, we were.

Is the former you're thinking of not Jenas? Turned out to be the decisive gooal in a 3-2 defeat.

The thing is there has to be an element of common sense about it. A player having the ball smashed at him from point blank range is different from one who has time to think about what he is doing, similarly a player who has his arms by his sides and physically cannot move his arm out of the way short of having it removed is different from the player who has his arms raised or outstretched.

This requires a new thread, with a poll...

Kieron Dyer, had buckets of potential, ultimately ruined by injury.

I think we'll nick something off Chelsea. Can't see us getting anything from the other two, just hope our goal difference doesn't take a battering. Having said that if City and Man United do batter us, morale could be low for the Chelsea outing.

Happy with that, my main bet of the day came off, I got my money back from the PSG draw and I suffered a small loss from Barca. Not a bad day at all.

In fainess it's not like he's got a great deal to choose from.

Aye, can't see many of the big boys losing sleep over that squad.

2-2, woeful defending.

Should of hit the target there.