starts here.....

; o ]

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Answers

Aye min, a nice win. That puts us up to sixth. It's such a shame we blew the games against Charlton and Everton or we would have been a couple of points off top spot. Still, there's a long way to go in the season and other than the odd screw up, we seem to be playing well. I wonder how Cort is doing and what difference he will make when he returns to the side.

What's the scoop on Nobby Solano? was that a tactical switch, or had he taken a knock?

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Hmmm. I'm feeling positive, that's for sure. I looked at the bench this afternoon and thought it looked good. With a fully fit squad [Dabizas, Cort, Gallacher, Barton etc] it'll look even better.

Shame about Charlton and Everton but we're onbviously learning. I'd put Ipswich in the same category as those games - must wins, regardless of performance. the future's bright...

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

awww...you're no fun! ;-)

Webcast said something about hamstring..I think?? I hope I'm wrong!

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Has anyone seen Bassedas play. I saw the West ham game and thought Acuna did quite well, watch for him to really shine when he gets settled into the team. Sounded like Domi had another good game today too.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

At the moment a win is a win no matter how it comes. Sounded like we were pretty much in control for the whole of the match, and Ipswich only had a couple of forays into wor area.

Three points and two more goals for Al will never come in wrong. Going to Leicester next week and then BRING ON THE MAKEMS.

BTW PiC....we have gone into FIFTH place not sixth.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Right Ken, my mistake, Leeds went 6th and we overtook them. Math was never my strong point. I feel a hat trick coming for Big Al, Hope it's againts the Mackems, but then again, one against the foxes won't come in too wrong.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

If this works:

You should be able to see the Premier League Table as it stands tonight.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

But it didn't work.....it's on the BBC Football site anyway.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Agree about the bench today...and for the future. Never thought I'd see a day when I wasn't cringing at some of what was available or what was out on the pitch. Still think we're going to be on a roller coaster until we get some consistency in play. That should come in time. Long live YBR!!

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Same old Shearer...

always scoring!!!

(ok, ok, I'm new at this)

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Good win against a very decent, well organised team. From my perspective we were never really in control of the game, and had to battle really hard to get the points.
The best part of it for me was that this time we successfully changed it around tactically at HT after we had struggled again in midfield, similarly to the Bradford game. We switched to 4-4-2 at HT, pushed RL into midfield and looked much more comfortable.
Solano went off what looked like a hamstring injury, and was replaced by young Caldwell who did really well again. He has a bit of presence, and appears to be very confident. He's a strong lad, and isn't afraid to put his foot behind the ball when it's needed. It's very early to say, but he is looking like a lad who might just take stepping up into the big league in his stride. If so, he could save us a hell of a lot of money.
Goma had a good game and is beginning to look a decent player. I didn't think Domi had a particularly good game - he saw lots of the ball but doesn't always use it very effectively.
Speed and Acuna struggled again in midfield, but to their credit they worked hard and battled for 90 mins. Dyer had a much better 2nd half, when for some reason he seemed more composed than he has done recently, and used the ball more intelligently.
Apart from his ability on corners, Cordone was largely ineffective, and curiously seemed very slow off the mark. For me, Lua Lua wasn't much better, and really doesn't look ready for the PL.
I thought The Captain was absolutely superb today and unquestionably MOTM. He ran down the channels all afternoon, won most balls in the air, chased, harried and tackled, held the ball, passed it superbly, and as usual got in a few good crosses. Oh yes, I forgot, he scored both goals as well. His usual stunning penalty - top left this time - and an excellent left foot drive across the keeper. I really do believe he's beginning to look sharper and fitter, and we might just be beginning to see the benefit of not playing for England.
Hard won three points, and a battling team performance. Nothing wrong with that.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

So the duck is broken, and we finally managed to score more league goals at SJP than our opponents. Thank God October is behind us. The game was probably the best seen at SJP this season, bar possibly Wednesday's against Bradford, but not having been there, I can't comment.

Unlike Everton and Charlton, who simply came to spoil things, Ipswich came to play football. Top marks to them for that. They probably had the better of a very open first half, and took the lead after exploiting the gap on our right hand side, due to having no fullback. Slano came back as best he could, but with two attacking him, his job was almost impossible.

Despite making a couple of point blank saves, Shay couldn't stop the third shot hitting the back of the net after 13 minutes. However, Toon equalised after a great thru ball from (Speed??) found Shearer on the edge of the box. He took it down on his chest and moved towards the left of the area before hammering a shot past Wright.1-1 and game on.

Just before halftime, our luck turned when Nobby pulled up with a hamstring. It seemd 5 minutes or so before the bench decided to replace him with Caldwell, with Hughes moving out to the right back slot. Lee continued as a sweeper (I think!) for the remaining 5 minutes of the half, but after the break we reverted to a more orthodox home formation of 4-4-2 with Lee operating in front of the back four of Hughes, Goma, Caldwell and Domi.

Caldwell and Goma played really well, and Goma ened with MotM. I'd probably have given it to Acuna, and Dougal said it should have been Bobby Lee. I guess everybody has their own thoughts. Our shape was better in the second half, tho Shearer found himself out wide more often. However, anoth long thu ball found their defence lacking and he stormed through of goal, only to be upended by Venus (without the Blue Jeans). Al picked himself up, dusted himself down and hammered us into the lead.

A few scares towards the end, but we held on, with Lua x2 coming on for Cordone, but did little to impress. I think if the Don had left his gloves in the dressing room, YBR might have left him on the pitch. In the last couple of minutes, Bassedas replaced a tiring Acuna. Still we won, and it was made all the sweeter to hear that Munchkin missed a penalty in the Mackems deafeat at White Hate Lane.

So, it seems we can beat teams who try to play against us. All we have to do is learn how to beat a packed midfielf and defence. Wingers - that's what's needed.

Well, I guess the unusual suspects are still in th Strawbeery right now. I had a(nother) enjoyable drive back via Alston (still not sight of the Girlie) and Hartside, even managing to avoid the scenery again. Sad to say I won't be able to get to the Mackems game, but my seat is in the good hands (ooh, er missus) of Susie Brown Ale and then #1 son.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

So the duck is broken, and we finally managed to score more league goals at SJP than our opponents. Thank God October is behind us. The game was probably the best seen at SJP this season, bar possibly Wednesday's against Bradford, but not having been there, I can't comment.

Unlike Everton and Charlton, who simply came to spoil things, Ipswich came to play football. Top marks to them for that. They probably had the better of a very open first half, and took the lead after exploiting the gap on our right hand side, due to having no fullback. Slano came back as best he could, but with two attacking him, his job was almost impossible.

Despite making a couple of point blank saves, Shay couldn't stop the third shot hitting the back of the net after 13 minutes. However, Toon equalised after a great thru ball from (Speed??) found Shearer on the edge of the box. He took it down on his chest and moved towards the left of the area before hammering a shot past Wright.1-1 and game on.

Just before halftime, our luck turned when Nobby pulled up with a hamstring. It seemd 5 minutes or so before the bench decided to replace him with Caldwell, with Hughes moving out to the right back slot. Lee continued as a sweeper (I think!) for the remaining 5 minutes of the half, but after the break we reverted to a more orthodox home formation of 4-4-2 with Lee operating in front of the back four of Hughes, Goma, Caldwell and Domi.

Caldwell and Goma played really well, and Goma ened with MotM. I'd probably have given it to Acuna, and Dougal said it should have been Bobby Lee. I guess everybody has their own thoughts. Our shape was better in the second half, tho Shearer found himself out wide more often. However, anoth long thu ball found their defence lacking and he stormed through of goal, only to be upended by Venus (without the Blue Jeans). Al picked himself up, dusted himself down and hammered us into the lead.

A few scares towards the end, but we held on, with Lua x2 coming on for Cordone, but did little to impress. I think if the Don had left his gloves in the dressing room, YBR might have left him on the pitch. In the last couple of minutes, Bassedas replaced a tiring Acuna. Still we won, and it was made all the sweeter to hear that Munchkin missed a penalty in the Mackems deafeat at White Hate Lane.

So, it seems we can beat teams who try to play against us. All we have to do is learn how to beat a packed midfield and defence. Wingers - that's what's needed.

Well, I guess the unusual suspects are still in th Strawbeery right now. I had a(nother) enjoyable drive back via Alston (still not sight of the Girlie) and Hartside, even managing to avoid the scenery again. Sad to say I won't be able to get to the Mackems game, but my seat is in the good hands (ooh, er missus) of Susie Brown Ale and then #1 son.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Sorry - trigger happy!

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

Waddya mean HTML free? It's easier to point you to The way Rik saw it

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2000

The scorer celebrates

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2000