The United boss said today: "We have to do better against Michael Owen because if we do the same as we have in recent seasons he will hurt us.

Is this at all possible?

"Owen is so bright and quick in the box that it is just about impossible to mark him out of the game.

Is this then a question of stopping the supply? How do you stop him?

"So it's just a question of making sure our defenders are aware of his presence tomorrow."

I can alsomst hear the chat -Bob - "Niccy, they've got this fast chap, Owen" Dabz - "sorry boss, i never saw him..."

Is it a question of throw the sink at them and hope to score more? Basically what price on 4-3?

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Answers

Only if Bellamy was playing, but I reckon it'll be either low scoring and close, 0-0, 1-0, 0-1, or we'll be well and trulied.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

We have as good a chance away against Pool as we did against Arsenal. We'll have to take our chances, as I don't think we'll get many. If, say, Robert, pulls of the equivalent of Bergkamp (just as possible IMO) we could easily win.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Without KD and CB our season depends on Laurent Robert.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

do you think he knows this?

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

I hope YBR is sitting in his office pointing this out as we speak. He has to realise that he was bought as a matchwinner and needs to turn on a bit of star dust now.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Good question swifty. While I didn't think he played very well against Arsenal, I felt there were some signs that he was rolling his sleeves up and perhaps beginning to realise that he has a key role to play.

There is no doubt in my mind that he is capable of producing so much more than he has been; we just have to hope that he starts to deilver, and soon.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

the interview hints a this, but he really needs to take on the role of star now - or he can kiss goodbye all the teams hard work with his chances of going to Japan!

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Defend deeper than normal, no point man marking him (too quick), bring Speed more central and deeper, let Jenas roam, get Robert to stick to the touchline (in fact, fine him £500 for every yard infield he moves), tell Cort to forget trying to win headers but stay on Al's shoulder, tell Nobby to press forward as often as possible. Hit them on the break with Robert's pace.

And we might get a draw...

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

There is a very real danger that we'll get stuffed actually. Owen will obviously score at least one and, if we defend like we did at Anfield last season, we'll be dead and buried. In fact, Dabs and O'Brien probably put on their worst ever display. Barton didn't have a great day, mind, and Hughes was at LB..

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

I didn't know that throwing household wares at opposition players was allowed in the rules. Surely throwing the sink at Owen would damage our World Cup ambitions.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Bugger our World Cup ambitions. Think of the Toon!

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Hear, Hear.

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002