The sound of our bubble bursting.

A few questions:

1. Robbie Elliott.

He has played well once and is demonstrably a squad player, nothing more. Would it be any worse to bring back Wozza and put Hughes in at left back until Bernard is available? What Hughes lacks going forward, he makes up for defensively and what Bernard lacks defensivly, he makes up for going forward. Elliott doesn't do it at all.

2. Defence.

Will someone please organise the b*stard defence? I don't care how good Dabs and O'Brien are individually: one of them needs to take responsibility for organising the back line.

3. Midfield.

Replace Lee. Please. He may be our best midfielder but he's also only capable of cutting it one game in about three. Does Speed actually contribute anything?

4. Wingers.

Can we get them into the game, please, and if they are being lazy, just keep giving them the ball until the stupid gets have to play.

5. Forwards.

If Shearer and Bellamy aren't in it, bring the kids on: we have nothing to lose.

6. Leadership.

Can someone look as if they give a f...k?

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

Answers

Totally agree with point 6. As for Lee seems they are actively trying to replace him.

As for the bubble bursting, it never really got going in my view, it's another topsy turvy season. We dominated the game against Villa in a way I've never seen for ages yet today it seemed like another team turned up.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

Sorry, Lynda, but I'm cross. Is it too much to ask someone to take control on the pitch and force the others to get stuck in. There are a few people who are not real candidates (Robert or Solano) for this role but what is wrong with one of the midfielders or a defender just telling them to get f.....g stuck in?

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

Its too much to ask a 35 year old to do the job of a 25 year old on a regular basis

McAlistar can do it at Liverpool - surrounded by Murphy/Hamman/Rednapp/Gerrard

In the centre of midfield we are cack and it would appear we are nowhere near sorting it out

IF YBR can do one thing it must be to get this done

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

Speed likes to moan at the ref enough, what about convincing him to redirect the abuse to his teammates? Other than that, I can't think of another first teamer with a big enough mouth...who isn't a forward.

Unless we can find a spot for Caldwell (of the Steve variety). Or Gary? If I remember correctly, he's gotten better reviews performance-wise from our resorves watchers. How is he at shouting and organizing?

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

What's the point of shouting when your team mates all speak different languages.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001

Surely the language isn't an excuse for us.

Of our back line Given, Elliot, O'Brien and Hughes are native English speakers. Dabizas surely is by now, he's been with us for ages. Then there's Barton, Griffin and the Caldwells of our first team squad, which only leaves Distin who hasn't even started for us yet (I don't think)

Same applies to Speed and Lee in the central midfield, and Solano surely speaks English by now. Not sure about Acuna and Bassedas, but they didn't play yesterday.

Bellamy, Shearer, Ameobi and LuaLua are all English.

That really just leaves Robert in the first team who may be having difficulties with the language.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 2001