OTF

Don't know anything about this Canadian bloke you're talking about, but agree with your sentiment. Our back four get precious little cover from our midfield, because Nicky Butt is lazy and slow. He'll attempt a tackle (and often come away with the ball) when the player is within his reach, but otherwise he doesn't track runners. Consequently makes it much harder on the defense. Same can be said for several of our other midfielders (Duff and Geremi come immediately to mind).

I can only think that we didn't go for Ben Haim because Taylor is on his way. It being a loan move would probably have suited us though, but I'd prefer Taylor signed permanently.

Had a thought at the match today...anyone else think JFK is scared to have both Enrique and Duff on the same side of the pitch? Wouldn't be surprised-the two of them can be completely out of it when they want to be, and could be easily torn apart by a decent player. Duff can't defend, that's for sure, but I think if there is any hesitation to play Duff on the left it's more than likely to do with his ability to communicate with Enrique. We've seen Enrique and Jonas communicate very well, which makes sense as they both have Spanish as their first language.

Just a shame that he has to put up with such poor performances.

Agree. Saw Nolan making some intelligent runs into the box to put himself in a scoring position, or in the position to pick up a parried shot (if anyone could actually put a shot on target). That's something you won't see Nicky Butt doing. He'd take the opportunity to have a break and ball watch. I think Nolan was a good purchase. He needs someone to play with in midfield. Could form a decent partnership with Barton, though we won't get a chance to see that for some time. LIkewise with Guthrie. I really hope that another central midfielder is signed, because NIcky Butt is just way too slow.

Yeah I was completely pissed off when I saw that (was evident on TV as well). Last thing we need is players getting angry at each other for stupid stuff (particularly Shola who has no right to be angry at anyone). Enrique tried his arse off all game, and linked up very well with Jonas. We need our team to work together, not get upset and stroppy if a pass goes astray. That kind of attitude will see us relegated.

To be fair there was nothing he could do, our backs were playing to Kinnear's tactics of hoofing long balls towards Carroll and Ameobi. In some ways that suits those two players, but we'ev seen time and time again (under Allardyce in particular) that we suck at playing the long ball game. Anyway, it all meant that the play always went over Nolan (and Butt). Alternately it went down the left wing with Enrique and Jonas.

Everything except when Jones turned on him from wide. Thankfully Jones miss-kicked the shot. Though yeah Bassong was excellent, as was Enrique. Would like to say the same for Jonas, but was badly let down by his crossing.

And don't worry lads, we've still got "a few irons in the fire."

Jonas can't cross a ball with his left foot. So when he's played out there you know his bally into the box are going to be without power and skidding in. Kept getting into good position but could do nothing with it. Frustrating. Could barely look when Ameobi stepped up to take the penalty. Chopra did us a bloody big favour with his decision making, though Nicky Butt should hang his head in shame for that woeful pass (and his pathetic attempt at actually running earlier in the game).

.And the long balls from the back are painful. Carroll is getting to his fair share, but we're not retaining possession on many of them. Butt and Nolan might as well not be there when we have the ball, as they're being played over or around constantly. No doubt they are the tactics of Kinnear with Shola and Carroll up front.

Ouch. Explains why they were so quick to act (in signing Nolan) after the Barton injury.

Agree, unless it's a pay when you play style arrangement.

I lol'd

Nice flattering snap of Bassong

Bring in Taylor for sure. Tell Marseille they can have the original agreed fee for Ebondo or get stuffed. If it's the latter, put the money toward a proper midfield signing. Part of the benefit with Nolan I think, is that he won't have been on massive wages at Bolton, so also won't be on big wages with us. Trying to bring foreign players on board what appears to be a sinking ship will be hard to do unless you pony up with massive wages (which when you look at our already mammoth wage bill is not economically feasible).

We'd be stupid to get rid of him at the moment. He's playing like shit, and everyone knows that he wants out. Noone is going to offer us any decent amount of money for him. He's signed on with us until 2012, so we should be in no rush to sell him. It's tough times at the club at the moment, and everyone reacts in their own way. You can understand in some ways how he would be frustrated, having not had much of a chance to play in his preferred position (and certainly not for any prolonged periods of time). Besides, I feel that Duff will be the next one of our players to pick up an injury, so the chance for N'Zogbia to get some decent amount of time in his preferred position will open up. Needs to sit down with Kinnear and sort things out, channel his anger into giving better performances than we're getting from him at the moment. If we sell him we'll be the ones losing out. We can't afford to let anyone go at the moment. There's rumours about that he'll be going to Villa for 4-6 mill, though I can't see why they would really want him with Ashley Young there. I guess if they're planning on being in the Champions League next season they'll need to flesh out their playing roster.

Boaz Myhill. Not too bad a keeper.

The only club where he would pass a medical is us tbh. Noone will want him now (noone wanted him before he was injured) and he'll have trouble finding anyone who will pay him big wages next season. He's shot.

Only the desperate or the foolish will now offer Owen a big money contract (excluding on a pay-for-play basis). Whatever he says he is injury prone, and with each new injury that he picks up he becomes less of a useful player. In several matches this season he's been a liability for us, with little or no attacking instinct shown while on the ball.

I'm sure we will 'show some interest', at least they'll talk like they have. Signing some actual players on the other hand...

As far as I could tell noone was nasty to him, excluding of course his stylist.

Yep he's out for West Brom. TBH I don't think the Sunderland or the West Brom game will suit his style of play. Even still we'll miss him.

Looked hopelessly stranded when Bellamy got their second. Looked like no matter where Bellamy put the ball Harper was stuck in the mud. That said his vision was probably blocked by a defender, and it's likely that the ball went nowhere near where Bellamy was planning. Their first goal he came out and made himself as big as he could. Unfortunately Wright-Phillips maintained composure and slotted the ball cooly through Harper's legs. If Taylor wasn't dallying in the middle of our box Wright-Phillips would have been offside. Ref missed an obvious penalty when Taylor was assaulted by Richards. Only thing I can think there is that Taylor's reputation preceded him, and the ref thought he'd been struck by a sniper on the grassy knoll. They had a good penalty shout turned down as well, when Bassong basically pushed Bellamy.