I'm convinced he's our best centre back and like the fact he has enough pace to cover for mistakes. Should we bring back Eliott?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

Answers

It's a tough one.

Distin IS our best centre back, but do we want Elliott to come back?

It's the link up with Robert that we'll miss the most I think if Elliott came back, although someone like Jenas to play it wide is just as good.

I wonder what Marcelino would be like in the first team?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

IMO, we need to play our best CB at CB, and then decide who is best to play LB. The centre of our defence in recent games has been bloody awful, and we simply have to try something else.

We also have to do something different up front, but I reckon we'll play the same back 4 and the same front 2 against Everton - unless of course CB miraculaously declares himself 80% fit before then.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

Easy. Bernard at LB. Elliot to stay on the bench. Please.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

I thought Bernard was more of a left midfielder, wing back at a stretch.

I agree that centre back is a more important position than left back, and we should aim to sort out that first.

Any weaknesses down the flanks can be partially papered over with classy centre backs, but weak in the middle and strong down the flanks leaves you open in the middle regardless.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

That's also my view of Bernard, Paul. He's a left Wing Back or wide m/f player, and I really feel he could be exposed defensively playing LB in a back 4.

Until we hopefully buy a top-class LB in the summer Elliott is probably our best LB. We could try Hughesie at LB again if Griffin could ever get himself fit enough to play RB, but AH's confidence seems pretty brittle right now and it would probably be risky.

I have a horrible feeling Hughes, like O'Brien, Shearer and possibly Solano are beginning to feel the physical strain of a long season and not enough rest periods, and I really do believe we need to be using the squad players we have a little more at this stage, in particular players like Griffin, Elliott and Bernard who can come in a do a useful job and give one or two others a short break.

I'm increasingly concerned that if we continue sticking the same 11/12 players out there the whole thing is likely to turn to cr@p.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

I've just remembered we're playing 'Yin's team on Friday, and for some strange reason he doesn't appear to be injured!

If we go into that fixture with the same back 4 we're in dead trouble - almost guaranteed.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

If Elliot's our best LB we're shagged

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

......had you not noticed, mysterious? ;o{)

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

I was in favor of keeping the back four intact so as to achieve a better understanding. Clearly, O'Brien is going through a crisis of confidence and Dabs is has been and always will be prone to mistakes. I have changed my mind. I agree with Clarky -- we have to plug the holes in the central defence and do it quickly. If we want to get into the CL we do not have the luxury of being patient. I would switch Distin and play either Bernard or Elliot at LB. Either arrangement would be better than what we have seen over the last few games. The same goes for Cort. Let him gain his confidence by bringing him on when the game is won, rather than relying on him to win the game. Put Dyer along with Shearer to run at the opposition

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

Flo', you should tell that to YBR personally. He might just take notice of somebody his senior!!

-- Anonymous, March 24, 2002

We have only 1 Centre Back , DISTIN, Obrien and Dabs are far too slow with the latter being far too keen to go to ground. AH is also too slow for a right back he has been at fault for marking his man rather than keeping the line thus playing people on side far too many times. LB we have not one. The answer - move Distin to CB sell the reat and buy some decent pacey defence.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Buy some full backs and play Hughes and Distin were they want to be, in the centre.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Dabz has pulled out of the Greek squad because of a foot injury, apparently sustained early on in Saturday's game. He is off to Roger Dobbin's Clinic (Oil Drum Lane, Barnsley) to have a scan to ascertain the extent of the injury. ;o{) The Club don't feel it is serious, but he is concerned he may have broken a bone.

Seems unlikely he will be fit for Friday, so will BR take the opportunity to move Distin into the middle to take care of 'Yin, or do something bizarre like bringing in Marcelino or Steve Caldwell and leaving Distin at LB?

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

ahh hey man Clarky, never underestimate Berb's ability to bamboozle, it'll be Farcelino at centre forward with bellers slotting into the heart of defence....

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

.....I'm saying nowt, Rog! ;o{)

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Strangely enough, I remember suggesting Marcelino up front last season when we had no strikers fit. This was based on a shot he had against Leeds that was just wide.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002