Good game, better second half for us, well really after we scored we had the game, it was a matter of putting the ball in the net. Sounds simple enough doesn't it. I think the turning point was when Speed came off and Acuna came on. Rob Lee became the man in midfield. Lovely passes and a great performance by the General.

With Robert and Bellamy we have nice pace at the front. Lovely touches by Robert and he left his man many times eating smoke. Bellamy has great pace too... the goal was pure effort on his part latching onto Robert's long ball and shedding the defender.

Not much else to write home about. Given has his confidence back, although needs work on his kicking game. Dabizas needs to shut up and play. His mouth and constant fouling is going to cost us eventually. He pushes to damn much. I reckon he didn't pickup Phillips in the area for the goal, he was definitely out of position. Hughes was good and solid as usual. Elliott had a bit of a 'mare, hope his injury(?) isn't serious. Obrien filled in well.

Wozza did very well I thought. Handled himself well and made solid decisions on the ball. Acuna was a workhorse as usual. What I like about him is you never really pay him much mind, but he seems to be everywhere. Speed was non-existent before he left. I think we seriously need to decide whether or not we want him as the centerpiece of our midfield.

Nobby, had one of those games unfortunately. He often scores great goals for us, but today was NOT his day. Shola likewise. I think he should go and play som reserve matches, he doesn't seem confident on the ball. If Big Al is ready to go, I'd start him.

Lastly, I think we should be encouraged by our performance. If we continue this way good things shall come, I honestly believe that.

-- Anonymous, August 26, 2001

Answers

We were easily the better team. Barton did very well, Lee was solid and Robert is potentially a hero. Bellamy took his goal excellently and if only that flick from him had hit the net...

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

Hughes lost Phillips not Dabizas!

The fatal error in not being goal side meant Phillips was able to give Hughes a little nudge, putting Hughes off balance and more importantly two or three yards away from the ball. He should have been behind Phillips so he could do the nudging!

Dabizas was cleaning up behind Hughes and almost averted the goal, something he shouldn't be criticised for. When Elliott went off we found Hughes' real value to the team, the perfect utility player and for that he will probably spend more time on the bench this year.

The centre of defence needs investment. Either that or bring in the Caldwells..

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

DB, Dabs is still a mouthy get and does commit loads of fouls and he WILL get us into trouble. We need to spend a fair old sum on a senior centre half who can educate the kids and marshall the back line. Dabizas isn't that person, I'm afraid.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

What gets my goat is that the players we select should be intelligent (or should it be simple?!) enough to be able to carry out simple defensive duties.

We all know Dabizas is error prone in a Barton type way but he's the only defender we have capable of heading a ball whilst he's in the air.

By the defences record last year it looks like it will again be our achilles heel this season. IMHO Hughes and Dabizas are never going to perform at the required level and it is not all down to Dabizas.

Better than Rio Ferdinand? Hughes is a decent player but not our answer as a centre back and probably never will be. I wonder if he has thought about playing in midfield?

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

Didn;t see Lee as MOTM - in fact the two players I would've given the longest odds on, Barton and Bellamy, were our best performers, IMHO.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

I agree about Bellamy. If he keeps up with those sort of performances he will be a very good buy and a popular addition to the team.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

Dabs is beging for a card, the guy whinges the whole bloody game!! That plus the fact that he may be the dirtiest pllayer on our side, he's just lucky he hasn't been carded yet. Hopefully we can get this Distin fella in soon.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

He's learnt that from Speed. They should spend more time shouting at teammates and less at the ref.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

Hughes needs a strong central defender next to him. Dabs ain't it. Dabs will never be it. I'm sure Dabs means well and is a lovely person, but I won't be crying if we sold him. Soon. He's a liability. I'd start bawling for him to be dropped from the squad, but unfortunately he's also our most experienced central defender.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

nuts, Dabizas was pretty darn good yesterday

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

I thought Dabizas was in his Greek Barton mode yesterday.although rather than that monicker I prefer hm being our Achilles Heel, nice ring to that.

We would all like Dabs to be the commanding centre half to pair with Hughes or O'Brien as the better players on the ground, but he really isn't dependable enough.

Those of you of sad background will know Achilles Heel died when an arrow from Pairs hit his weak spot. Come in Distin !!!!!

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

"Nicos, you are weakest link .............!"

Dabz plays good games but too many bad games, and like one or two others is way too inconsistent. I thought he was good at Chelsea, highly erratic against Troyes, and was the weak link defensively yesterday.

I think he actually tries to do too much, and continually fouled Disco Pants yesterday by trying to win impossible balls. However, lets also remember that Quinny didn't score, or even look like scoring.

The Hughes/Dabz pairing is not a good one, and imo Andy O'Brien is our best defender and must play from the beginning. I actually think O'Brien & Dabz are our best CB pairing, but we badly need a commanding centre half. Actually, I suspect that with such a player in the team, Dabz might look a much better defender.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

DB, I think the problem with Hughes is largely that he has had two weeks holiday (his honeymoon so probably not very restful) in the past year. I'd rest him for a few weeks if I were Bobby, then we might see the form that earned him the Ferdinand tag.

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

Although why we are debating the defence when it was our finishing that was our undoing is another matter....

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

Dabizas kept Quinn under control (by fair means or foul) for much of the game. However, I still have a large laundry bill due to his rampaging up the field - as well as his mouthing off to the orificials. I think YBR doesn't see him as long term, or first choice. I also don't believe Hughes is the CB we need, and perhaps Sacha Distin and O'Brien could be a good force in central m/f. Hughes showed his worth yesterday when he took over from Robbie Elliot. In a strange sort of way, he's a bit like the Ugly Sisters or Denis Irwin at ManUre - not outstanding but very reliable (not always in the case of Plug Nev).

Bellamy had his best game for us - after he scored. He ran and ran and ran (but we've seen that before) with little result and probably was guilty of trying too hard. But after his goal (which he took very weel, tho Sorrenson should have saved the shot) his confidence gre and he looked a class better than before the goal. Unlike some, I didn't think Shola had a particularly good game. Sure, he holds the ball weel and can turn a defender with that back-heel flick, but he never wins the ball in the air - his one header yesterday was unchallenged and as a result, he all too often gives the initiative back to the opponents. If I was YBR, that is the one area he should be coached in. Not just the kick-abouts we've seen at C-l-S but real coaching - with say Dabz up against him and Robert and Nobby pinging in the crosses or Shay and Stevie H hoofing up the long high ball.

PS. I still think if we'd played Robert up front with Bellamy and had Bernard wide left, we'd have torn them to shreds ;-)

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001

Always said it, Dab's is good if he has a mentor figure next to him, someone who will stop him losing his head and keep his positional sense right. In short we need a leader at the back. Thought Dab's did alright on Sunday but his mouth nearly got him carded as people have said...thought Elliot was marking Munchkin at the set piece???

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2001