Some interesting questions by NUFC.com, to which I can find no serious answer, apart from the triple substitution working against Manure. Certainly some of the selections are a bit mystifying. Could it be that Robson is too reliant on his first team squad?

He has shown in the past that he uses the reserves but have things got to the stage where even Robson is nervous about making mistakes?

Why did Acuna play when Robson claimed that he wasn't fit, and why did Gallacher start in midfield? Kerr was valued enough to make his debut earlier in the season when we had a full complement of midfielders (apart from Bassedas) so why not now ? McClen was included in the party that travelled to Chelsea, but wasn't even in the 16 that faced Man City.

Why bother picking Cordone as a sub when there's obviously no intention of playing him?

Why bring Barton on in midfield? if he's good enough to play there when we're losing, why not play him there when we're drawing?

Why throw three subs on all at once? It's not worked yet this season and seems merely to confuse the rest of the United team.

Why risk playing with ten men ? The injured Acuna and Ameobi came off to be replaced, but the returning Shearer and known to be struggling Dyer remained on the field for the final 20 minutes when either (or both) of them could easily have succumbed.

Why do I have this sneaking feeling that those players who received a King's ransom for their efforts on Saturday didn't feel as thoroughly p***ed off afterwards as I did.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

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-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

He was trying to inject some spark into things by the triple substitution. However, let's face it, the Man Utd thing was purely accidental: Lua Lua can be depended on to bollox someting up but a perfect slice straight to Glass can't be relied on.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

What are we doing with Cordone? Robson obviously doesn't rate him well enough or recently he would have started more games. He hasn't been injured has he? If he's been fit why keep him at the club?

What about bringing in that Bonvin lad to the left midfield. He has scored a few for the reserves, Robson won't pick Glass but we so obviously lack width on the left and the subsequent balance. I don't care that Gallacher creditably runs his socks off every game, he's a striker or in the hole man not a left midielder.

In fact I feel sorry for Gallacher, always gives his all and has never complained about not getting a new contract, yet Robson takes this for granted and chucks him in the left midfield expecting him to do a job!

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001