I know Al is our penalty taker, but I would have loved Robert to take it. He has to have the balls and the skill, just look at the free kicks - cool as ice.

To be honest I thought Al was going to have a hat-trick of disallowed goals, the one he 'scored' actually had more contact than the previos 2. Just think our lurvery ref was out to make a point then bottled it on the third attempt. b#$!@+d.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Answers

Be truthful. If Shearer had scored would you have even thought of this?

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Just watched it on "The premiership." It probably wasn't a penalty in the first place. But the other 2 dissallowed goals would have counted on a different day. Probably about 8 refs out of 10 would have let both of Alans goals stand. If you ask me the Ref only gave the pen to counter his earlier mistakes that went against Newcastle, as it clearly wasn't a pen.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

I know, but I have the advantage of hindsight :->

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2002

Don't know which of 10 threads to post this on but Sheare was on fire yesterday. Sods law that he missed the penalty - he didn't deserve that. Scored three good goals only to have 2 ridiculously chalked off. Hit a rocket shot from Robert's short pass, and sprayed the ball around superbly all game.

Robert too, was excellent. I can forgive him not tackling back (though he did several times yesterday) and not always getting past his man, when he creates the number of real scoring opportunities that he did yesterday. I was sat behind the goal in the Gallowgate and just knew that his free kick would go in, even before he stepped up to take it. It was superb. No hesitation - keeper on the far post so I'll just dink it in the other side!

Agree that Shearer & Cort don't seem to work as a partnership, but I hated the crowd's reaction to Cort. All around me people screaming how sh@t he was. For hells sake give him time to get fit. Remember how long it took Shearer to get his sharpness back. Maybe we should be playing Shearer / Robert up front 'til Dyers back, but don't take it out on Cort - he gave 100% and will look different class when he eventually plays instead of Shearer alongside Bellamy. (And I hope that's not for a few years yet!)

LuaLua looked like a match winner when he came on. His best cameo for us yet! Still mystified by the choice of sacrificial lambs to go off though. I'd have replaced Cort & Acuna with LuaLua and Dyer. If I wanted a third sub I'd have taken Hughes (who had a poor game at the back - along with the rest of his colleagues - they were all much better going forward) off and played Nobby as wingback.

Despite all this thouigh we should have won comfortably and I blame the ref that we didn't. Ipswich didn't deserve a point - they got maximum return for their few shots. Stack them up against Shearers 3 goals, Rocket Shot, Penaly miss, Dabs missed sitter and a missed header, Roberts free kick, LuaLuo, blocked with the hand shot - I've probably missed some from Cort, Nobby etc. That is the true reflection of the match.

Don't be too downbeat - This team is amazing going forward - the midfield is better now than at any time in the season, and with Bellamy back for Everton, a good finish is certain. When we get a couple of fullbacks close season, rather than converted CBs, and move Distin back to the middle, we'll be a tough prospect for anyone next season.

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2002

Agree, Shearer was superb yesterday. I don't know what it was, but he was really up for it.

And watch the penalty claim again. I am sure John McGreal trips Acuna just before he falls. Not the bloke behind him, the one approaching him, on the right of the screen.

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2002

Pilgrim, you said, "we'll be a tough prospect for anyone next season." I agree, let's just hope that it's going to be in the Champions League and not the UEFA (courtesy of the Intertoto)!?

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2002