There now, I've said it. They were both beyond reproach. The back four were generally goodr but Wozza and Aaron were top notch and deserve massive praise. Warren Barton, centre partin. WE all agree. Aaron is better than Rio.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Answers

AP in case any Wozza critics miss it.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2001

Hmm - what colour was the moon last night?

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

Yeah well you would say that...

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

The obvious question is what happened in the other matches that went so wrong? You don't suddenly discover your form in such a way as Barton seemed to be doing last night.

A hole in one does not make a good round.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

Simple really. Play a side with balance. Give the lazy bastards in midfield a rocket: he stood up for them on Monday and put his head on the line and they responded. Last night when Barton won the ball, sidestepped his man and looked up, there were people running into space or coming short for the ball. He launched two long balls to the usual chorus of abuse from the idiots and this time found first Cort and then Ameobi actually running and challenging for it: this produces a goal-scoring chance - same player "hoofing" it but someone else doing their job up front suddenly makes it seem like a good idea. Hmmmm. Who is the "improved" player in this scenario?

Not often this season that they announce Man of the Match and the choice gets a round of applause. It's bizarre. Gallacher and Barton have lots in common. They both spend long spells as the only people trying to make things happen and a lot of what they try doesn't come off. Gallacher does it at one end of the park and gets a standing ovation for it and the other one just gets called a c*nt.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

So you're saying he's been good all season but the other players round him have been at fault.....BOLLOX!

I've seen him with my own eyes, standing too far away from his man, letting them turn, giving the ball away, failing to make a tackle, playing men onside! his form has been abysmal and he's been shite!

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

I thought Barton was absolutely pants in the first half, had a *better* second half and only got MOTM cos he didn't do as many mistakes as he did in the first half!

Hughes was decent although he has got the first touch of an elephant.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

Sorry softs I didn't mean it to sound like such a dig, you're defence of him is admirable but honestly mate I've supported him when he's good but it's never for long, I've had enough of his bad spells, I've concluded that he just isn't good enough....

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

Sorry Softie, but I'm with Gav on this one. One good game a season dosen't convince me that he should be at right back week in week out. I've always seen plenty of players on the right side of midfield, for him to try to pass to but he rarely finds them. If he were a left back then he could be excused.

I think he was playing out of hs skin last night to try to impress the Crystal Palace board of directors that he would make a good player/coach.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

At last I've found out what Barton's problem is. It's me. I haven't seen him play well all season, then last night we can't make it to the game and he puts in a decent performance. A few years ago he played well against Palace in a cup match and again I'd given my seat to my dad.

My dad'll be thinking Barton is great, and will wonder why I don't think so.

Sorry Warren but I'll be there again on Saturday, to see your last game in black and white ?

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

He'll remain at the club I'm sure but I'd rather see Griffin make the strides forward if he remains injury free, failing that sell Griffin and sign another right back.

I believe Barton would be a valuable asset as a coach.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

Aaron Hughes better than Rio ferdinand....hahahahahahah! He had a canny game last night though :-)

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

Well, as far as I've seen, Rio Ferdinand is Dabizas but with a better tan.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

He was canny ...Aye and without a word of complaint about being moved again..can't buy that sort of attitude. BTW, Ferdinand is the most over-rated player in Europe. Bar none. Regarding first touch of an elephant - he's Brazilian in comparison to Carl Cort.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001

Ferdinand has improved markedly since he went to Leeds to such an extent that he makes Dominic Matteo look like a decent centre back.

Hughes is a good player but I wouldn't bank on him shutting out some of Europe's best in the way Ferdinand has done this year.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 2001