Saw the inside of the stadium for the first time on Sky Sports last night and it looked amazing. The way they have set the stands up looks better than any in the country.

Footballing wise. It was good to see Cort and Cordone taking their chances so well. Pleasing to see Glass do well and scored a cracking goal, he looked better than the reseve reports so far this season, and Cort's injury should enable him to be involved in a couple more matches.

Midfield looked okay and Dyer looked outstanding going forward and chased every cause. He linked up well with Solano as they always seem to do and ceate problems for Derby.

Defensively, well, they scored two goals and we have now conceded 4 in 2 games. Hughes got turned badly and wasn't goal side of his man for Strupers goal. He has been receiving great post match reviews but I was watching him a bit last night and he didn't look that assured. Goma suffered a bit as well. Hopefully with the injury to Dabs Hughes and Goma could form a partnership for a few games, because that is the only way in which we will get a decent defence.

Barton got caught non-goal side also and resulted in his sending off, would Griffin's pace have enabled him to get goal side and make the tackle, we'll soon find out.

Overall, worrying conceding two against Derby at home. Goals were taken very well. Hopefully the side will settle down and beat Spurs.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

Answers

Stephen Glass just did that to piss me off:-) He was anonymous on Monday and kept crossing the ball straight into touch about 7 feet above the intended recipient. I reckon he was only on the bench because he's the single left footed player at the club after Cordone and Domi. Bloody glad he was, mind, or we'd have had to settle for 2- 2. In future I will be sure to tip the least noteworthy performers in the reserves to see if Bobby picks Gavilan...

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

Coppy and Kerr on the bench, Softie. We may get the chance to see Coppy playing on the big stage soon.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

Coppinger and Kerr were warming up on the pitch at HT last night - they looked like 14 year olds physically.
With CC injured and likely to be out for a few weeks, and Gallacher also out injured again(!) I don't suppose it's escaped anyone's attention that yet again we are short of strikers - particularly those who warned this could happen if we sold DF.
We NEVER seem to learn. Nevertheless, this could provide us with the opportunity to see Jamie Coppinger strutting his stuff for the first team, possibly as early as Saturday.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

Surely Cordone will partner Shearer, but god help us if one of those two gets injured. Glass to continue on the left? Maybe he can link up with Domi again and give us some much needed balance. With Dyer and Solano linking again last night it looks good going forward.

Once again we are suffering an injury crisis. It happens too often to be a coincidence for me.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

I have no desire to see Coppinger's career ended by Tim Sherwood or his dirty Gorman sidekick. When I say he's still too slight for the prem I'm not joking. Bring him on against tired legs in a game we're winning comfortably and he'll be fine, but not a dirty George Graham side. Shearer's not fit yet, is he? Seemed to be holding himself back a lot. There were some chances he was chasing after last season that he was having to leave which was a serious concern. Interesting to see Bobby grooming Kerr for a more central role; he's obviously decided that with Dyer, Solano and Gavilan all playing so well on the right flank that he'll push him infield. Good idea, as his dribbling and close control is very good and his passing is first rate, though I reckon he'd need a run up to knock the skin off a rice pudding.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

DB,

I'm sure Axel will partner AS on Saturday, assuming CC is out of course - I was just suggesting that Coppy is likely to be sub again and might make his first appearance.

There were signs last night that Domi, Glass and Axel were starting to link well down the left, something that could be built on - I seem to recall Glass and Domi playing well together when Domi first came. Domi can be a little niaive, but he's a good player, and plays better with some support in front of him - as incidentally I believe Pistone would have done.

On the right, for me Solano was in & out, but mostly out. He has a good record of making goals, but defensively he's a bit of a liability, and he gave the ball away far too much for me last night. Given his continuing international commitments, him coming in and out of the side all the time will hinder the development of a settled team pattern. Personally, I'd leave him on the bench when available, and give YKD an extended run on the right of m/f. I don't believe he's strong to play in the middle, but feel he MUST be given a settled role in the team.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

>>>>>>he gave the ball away far too much for me last night

Solano? You surprise me there Clarky. I thought he had a blinder and I thought he should have stayed on after Bartinho went. I specifically watched him for a long spell in the second half and never saw him lose possession once despite receiving one or two horrendous passes. As well as the assist for the first goal I'm sure he'd have had more if one or two players had been on to his passes a little more smartly.

Still, you saw what you saw. Perhaps these lapses were in the first half when I didn't especially notice him.

Two interesting games. I came away after the defeat much encouraged by the performance. I came away after the victory with a lot more doubt. However, last night was marred by injuries to key players and a sending off so I'll give the lads the benefit of the doubt.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

Jonno,

Solano is a real dilemma to me. He does some good things, and has the ability to hold the ball while those around are treating it like a hot potato. His cross for CC's goal was brilliant, and frankly as good as anything served up by Mr P. Spice. However, he is feeble in the challenge, and I genuinely believe he gave the ball away rather a lot last night - although in truth he wasn't the only one: this is disease we are finding difficult to shake off.

I actually think he's a bit of a luxury player who would probably look terrific in a really good team. I also feel that in the medium term we face a choice between Solano and Dyer for the right-side m/f slot.

In the short term his regular disappearance on international duty will make it difficult for us to establish a stable team pattern - espacially as he and Dyer, or even he and Gavilan, are different types of player.

Good technical player, but I have some reservations about him.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

I share your reservations about Nobby, Al K Traz. Solano is an enigma to me. We know he can make some brilliant crosses but he tend to make more bad ones than good. Add his regular disappearance acts this season and I'd be tempted to see what Diego can do.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

I take the point about the regular disappearances - it can seriously disrupt the pattern of play match to match.

Anyway, I'll be watching Nobby keenly on Saturday after these comments. He must be something of an enigmatic player to produce such widely varying views on his play!

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000

To be perfectly honest Jonno, I regard the situation with Nobby as 'fine-tuning' compared to the transplant surgery that seems to be needed with the defence.

Your comment on the effect the keeper can have on the defence was very thought provoking. I just wonder. Certainly, throughout what is becoming an extended period of defensive frailty, we have not had a really commanding goaly.

It's difficult to criticise Given for either of his displays so far. He is an excellent reflex keeper and has significantly improved his kicking which was a real weakness, but he doesn't command his box. It was noticeable last night that he was coming for more crosses than usual, even if he was punching rather than catching them. However, at least that indicates they have been working at using the keeper to provide more help to the defence in clearing corners.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 2000