I've got a bit o' footy fatigue after the weekend but I'm gannin 2 KP 2nite.

Squad: Bell, Collin, Cowan, McGuffie, Steve Caldwell, Marcelino, Quinn, Bernard, Boyd, Green, Kerr, Orr, Chopra, McMenamin, Dimas, LuaLua.

We are top o' the league, say, We are top o' the league!

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Answers

I'll be there as well, just waiting for the rain and gales to start!

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Rain has just started!!

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

It's dry were I am, not a bad night.

I'd join you's but I think I'm out for a curry tonight.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

From NUFC.COM - 3-0 to the good guys so far - Chopra (24), Boyd (25), Chopra (32).

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Chops rules OK.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

5-0 when I left the game with 5minutes to go – frozen bloody solid! Typical KP night – cold, wet and windy.

While Bradford had plenty of possession, our combination of youth and experience was just too good for them. Bradford had Lee Sharp and Gareth Whalley in their team.

After an opening 20 minutes played largely in m/f we scored three in about 5minutes through Chopra (2) and Boyd. Lx3, who had been involved in a least one of the earlier goals, then caused chaos in the Bradford PA that lead to a defender slicing the ball into his own net. 4-0 at HT and some entertaining football played – particularly by Lx3 who caused Bradford all kinds of problems.

Frankly, the 2nd half was fairly nondescript with us generally in control and pressing for more goals. Lx3 was subbed on the hour to heavy applause from a very decent crowd, and soon after that Chopra finished off a nice move to complete his hat-trick.

Some good performances tonight in the usual windy conditions, but also on a bumpy pitch that made control and passing very difficult. The young keeper, Collin, is slightly built but did really well. Wayne Quinn had a nice game, getting forward all the time and knocking in some good crosses – to our two midgets in the middle! Marcelino was calm and assured and his distribution was good – he was easily our best defender. Steve Caldwell never looked happy on the bumpy surface, and looked a long way from being a top prospect.

Kerr was neat and tidy and the pick of our m/f. Bernard I thought was rather disappointing. He seemed to find it difficult to get into the game and kept wandering infield – he looked rather unhappy and seems to have lost his way somewhat.

Curiously, Michael Chopra wasn't really in the game all that much, and yet he scored three goals. He is still very lightly built for a striker. However, he seems an intelligent player, who gets into good positions, and seems to be a natural goalscorer.

As one of his critics, I saw something different in Lx3 tonight. Playing right up front, he as able to do his tricks in their penalty area where it doesn’t matter too much if it doesn’t come off – and when it does come off it results in immediate danger. In addition, when playing up front his lack of passing ability and overall awareness is far less of a problem. Although I don’t think he and Chopra played particularly well as a pair, Lx3 made some excellent runs down the channels, and was always a target for the man in possession. He caused real problems for Bradford, and this resulted in several of our goals.

I beginning to feel that if we’re going to keep Lx3 we should get him in the 1st team now, when things are not going well. Play him up front as an out and out striker, alongside AS, and let’s see if he can do the job that CB does so effectively. Surely worth a try?

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Beat me to it clarky, but you did leave early! ;-)

It looked like it was going to pour with rain so I took the chance to sit in the posh seats for once. Gives you a different view of the game from standing on the touchline. We had pretty much our usual team, with the return of Stuart Green from his loan spell at Carlisle. The only player of note in Bradford’s team was Lee Sharpe.

The game was a bit slow to get going but we were putting some nice passes together and at least the players looked interested. After 25 minutes Wayne Quinn crossed for Michael Chopra to volley into the net. Within a minute some nice work by Lua2 set up Boyd to score. Ten minutes later Lua2 was again the provider, this time for Chopra’s second. We got our fourth in injury time, a Bradford own goal. Going in at half-time 4-0 up, not bad!

At half time I made my way into the top bar, following Laurent Robert! Coming out for the second half he was in front of me and sat in the end seat of the top row. I got his autograph and a nice smile for “un photograph, s’il vous plait, merci!” The steward then told me I should wait till after the game to get autographs so I went back to my seat.

The second half took a while to get going, not really surprising with the scoreline. However the lads were playing with a lot of confidence and there were some lovely passes and flicks. Lua2 was subbed after 15 minutes to massive applause. Kerr and Green also made way and Lee Sharpe was booked in a tussle with Bernard. The fifth goal was a bit of a scramble but it gave Chopra a well deserved hat-trick. The young keeper Adam Collin is one to look out for. He’s confident, knows when to come for the ball and kicks well. Nice to see him keep another clean sheet. 5-0, has a nice ring to it!

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Lua Lua was something special tonight, in fact very similar to the last few home reserve games I've seen.

He caused a lot more problems down the flanks than down the middles though.

Not worth writing a report since it's already been said above.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Well done to those who braved the wilds of Kingston Park. I think this is now officially Springtime but KP has never had any regard for the season and is still locked in the last ice age.

Thanks for the match reports lads and lasses - I'm surprised your fingers were thawed sufficiently to have typed all that stuff, already - much appreciated.

Shame to hear Bernard seems to be losing his way a bit. But Wayne Quinn - the forgotten man of SJP - would he be a possible allowing Distin to move inside? Can't be any worse than Elliot I would have thought. The poor lad has really lost his way this season.

Very pleased to hear that my main man Lua*2 was on song tonight. I really believe the man has so much raw talent that if we don't make a very decent player out of him then there would have to be something seriously wrong with our coaching. The fact he was subbed at 60 mins suggests he is being saved for the weekend which is good to know.

Good to hear of Chopra banging them in as well - looks like a bit of a log jam could soon be developing in the striking positions with Ameobi, Chopra, Offiong, Lua*2, all starting to push for the place when Shearer or Bellamy are injured, or even, dare I say, rested.

Once again well done to those of you were there and survived to tell the tale. The adventures of Captain Scott and his crew pale into insignificance alongside these exploits.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

A question to those who've seen him - Would you play Marcelino at CH instead of Dabs? Should we give him another chance? The couple of times I've seen him in the reserves this season he still looks class.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Slip of the keyboard - I mean play him at CB?

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Do you mean Colwyn Bay? Probably! You don't get away with it that easily - I know you old timers still think of it as a centre half :)

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

Marcelino has looked very good in the last few reserve games I've seen (namely Man Utd, Man City, Sheff Wed, Middlesbrough and Bradford)

One thing he is great at is winning everything in the air, a bit like Distin in that sense.

His long balls also seem to have a bit of direction on them. I still feel a long ball is a better option than a centre back running up the middle of the pitch. If we can get something from them than great.

I think he's showed in the reserves that he is prepared to get to work and put a bit of graft in for the team. Why not pick him? I certainly would bearing in mind the current form of O'Brien and Dabizas.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2002

How would they feel being replaced by him. I still stand by the comment I made about Marcellino when he joined us and not having seen Distin at CB for more than a few minutes, Marcellino is the best CB at the club.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

All these glowing reports re Lua Lua make me even angrier about YBR bringing him on for 6 minutes on Saturday. How did Green play? he's been outstanding while on loan at Carlisle apparantly. Marcy to get one last try in the first XI? got to be worth a go.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Responding to a few points raised:

* disappointingly, I thought Stuart Green was poor. He was playing out of position wide right which might provide a partial excuse, but he actually had a bit of a 'mare.

* I still have my doubts that Chopra is ready for 1st team action. He is still learning his trade, and hopefully still developing physically. I think we can be looking for him by around the middle of next season.

* Marcelino certainly looked classy in last night's company, and I could see what Gullit was hoping he would bring to our defence. However, I still have serious doubts that he will ever effectively compete physically in the PL.

* I've always felt Wayne Quinn was a good footballer. Unfortunately, I feel he is another who is just not up to the PL. He is not strong enough defensively, and not pacey or skilful enough for a wide m/f player. He looks to me to be a decent Nationwide player.

* Bernard didn't look a happy bunny to me, and had a very average game last night. I suspect he feels he's had a raw deal from BR, and wouldn't be at all surprised if he was off in the summer.

* Lx3 had a smashing game - best I've seen from him by a long way. As I said in my match report, he was making excellent runs down the channels, and then doing his tricks in their PA. When he lost the ball in their PA it didn't hurt us - whereas when playing in m/f for the 1st team if he loses the ball failing to beat the 3rd opponent, or the same opponent for the 3rd time (!) - it puts us under immediate pressure. He is an instinctive but undisciplined player who has difficulty lifting his head to pick out a pass, and I doubt coaching is going to change him. After watching him last night, I'm now convinced that the only place to play him is right up front where his trickery can cause problems to the opposition without the risk of him losing the ball and hurting us in midfield.

I have to say, there was also a look of frustration about him last night, as well as with Bernard, and I suspect he too is not terribly happy with his lot right now.

BTW, his substitution may well have been due to needing him in the squad on Friday, but he also seemed to be carrying a slight knock - possibly a foot injury.

Final thought - I've often wondered why players find it very difficult to shine at this level, but when you see good players struggling to control the ball on a horribly bumpy Rugby Union pitch you begin to understand. Yet again I have to say that for a top PL Club to be using such utterly inadequate facilities to provide match fitness for our squad players, and to develop our emerging talent is a damned disgrace. But what's new?

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

They'll have to find somewhere else next season clarky as the Falcons are rebuilding KP.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

.....I gather Paddy Freemans is under serious consideration! ;o{)

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

wouldn't surprise me.....

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Interesting comments about Luax. I think the guy is so keen to do well he just tries too hard when he comes on with about five minutes left (why does Bobby consistently use his subs so late?) Give him a start on Friday.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

You make a good point Logan - I noticed that Lx3 looked more relaxed last night on the field, and far more confident than when I've seen him come on for the 1st team.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Agree with everything you've said Clarky.

How old is Brian Kerr? He has looked pretty decent recently.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002

Kerr is 21. He is under contract until the end of the 2003/4 season, but needs to make an impression soon.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2002