We now have a 2 week break before EPL hostilities are resumed at Notlob. In the last 2 weeks (or so) we have played exciting football against the team that still sets the benchmark n English (if not European) football, capitulated against the bottom of the league, scraped a win against their successors and lost against a poor Liverpool outfit.

As Softie pointed out, today was a watershed, and we are actually worse off than we were at this stage last season (don;t blame me if that's wrong!). So what's to be done? Persevere with what we've got, get out the cheque book or promote the bairns? To be honest, I dunno. I still believe we have talented players, but they do not play together as a unit. Is this their fault or a problem with the coach?

Bob now has 2 weeks to get things together. I honestly hope he can fix it.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

Answers

The team is screaming after a midfield that can control things. Speed, Lee, Acuna and Bassedas are decent players, but none of them are outstanding. If we are going to play with two wingers we have to have someone who can boss the central midfield. We need a player like Keane, Vieira, McAllister etc. Among our younger players i don't see anyone who will turn out to be class. McClen, Kerr, Green and Boyd aren't exactly high quality players.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

Now then Roxy, Green and Kerr will both do Bassedas's job better than he's managed it and get stuck in when needs be even if they aren't ball winners. Young Damon Robson will hopefully be the answer when he breaks into the first team at the end of this season (or 2005 if Bobby is still the manager) being a player with a canny touch and a great eye for a pass as well as guts.

I have checked out the stats though Screacher, and we are actually still 1 point up this season on last with unexpected gains against Chelsea, mackems and Man Utd (4 points) and only today's embarrassment in the debit column. If we keep our form as it is we will end up with 60 points this season, some 9 better than last season's form and 1 point down on Robson's share of 1999-2000. A likely story!

Curiously we are averaging 1.57 points per game, scoring an average of 1.57 goals and conceding an average of 1.57 goals....I can only see one of those averages rising from here on in :-(

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

can anybody say.....NICKY BUTT????

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

"As Softie pointed out, today was a watershed, and we are actually worse off than we were at this stage last season (don;t blame me if that's wrong!)."

You're wrong Screach! Two seasons ago we got 5 points out of the comparable fixtures. Last season we got 10. This year we've got 11. We've improved the output against Manure, the Makems and Chelsea but lost out against Liverpool. The other matches are the same as last year.

Re bringing on the bairns. Look at the average age of Liverpool today compared to us. Bairns on their own aren't enough though - they have to be good enough and I've not seen enough of our youngsters to judge.

What we desperately need, as has been said in every other thread about the match, is a real driving force/lynchpin in midfield. Look at the top sides and they all have one - Viera, Keane, Bowyer, McAllister (aged 107)/Gerrard. Ideally we could do with someone like Matt Holland from Ipswich or David Dunn from Blackburn. Neither club would sell, however. Nicky Butt might be a posibility but he would be overpriced. An English Edgar Davids without the attitude would be nice (this is not a racist remark, I mean a player like him!)

The fact is, there is probably no quick fix to this problem.... unless a fit Kieron Dyer is the answer.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

Just had a thought - what about something really radical - two of Shola, Bellamy and Cort when fit up front - Al in midfield.

Steps back and awaits shower of abuse!

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

Where does Distin fit into this ? It's starting to look as though he'll go back to France having proved absolutely nowt.

I'd have him in somewhere for three or four, (don't ask me where), just to see if he shows any sign that he's the guy we need to boss midfield.

Mind, the necessary crash course in frog for most of our lot will probably turn a perfectly straight forward caesarian section into a still birth.

Yes I know it's way past my bedtime, but I had to defrost me own dinner, which added to the stress of this afternoon's shenanigans, and it's taken three tinnies and watching service pack two for Windows 2000 download, to get me unwound enough to sort of rejoin the (sub) human race.:-))

Being on me own for a fortnight isn't going to help either. For those who weren't in the Strawberry, it's a bliddy good job we haven't gorra gas oven. :-((

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

Jacko, I've thought AS should move back into midfield for a couple of seasons. Wouldn't be a long-term answer at this point, but could get us through another season or two.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

Ideally we could do with someone like Matt Holland

Sorry Jacko you are completely wrong. We couldn't do with someone like Matt Holland - we could do with Matt Holland. He would be perfect.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

I saw the Sunday Sun yesterday when bobby stated he felt he only needed one more player !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think again Bob. However he at least recognises that we need a mid-fielder but there is a definate urgency about this now. Our mid-field is cack and now that teams have learned to mark the wingers out of the game, there is no other outlet other than the hoofed ball up the middle.

Lets hope BR gets the chequebook out and soon.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

I would be tempted to play Shearer in midfield alongside Dyer with Cort and Bellamy upfront .

As for the youngsters ......... Peter Taylor ?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

I didn't read this thread before I posted on another about the possibility of AS dropping into midfield. I think its a hell of an idea, and one that appears to be shared by one or two others. Tin hat at the ready.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

When Mark Hughes got too slow to play up front he dropped back and did OK (probably still is somewhere). Al could do it as well - whether he wants to is another matter.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Its into the lake I fear.....................

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Ya ya ya ya ya...

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001