Just got back from Gigg Lane. (Josh were you there?) A full report is on .com actually so you may wish to read that instead.

Teams for us was:

Adam Collin Andy Griffin Robbie Elliot S Caldwell Cowan Mark boyd Stu Green Brian Kerr Chopra Dimas Bernard

No subs used.

For them - Wes Brown played and Roy Carroll was in goal. David May and Ronnie Wallwork also there but noone else of note.

Ended nil nil. Defences on top most of game. Neither team had much in front of goal, a distinct lack of creativity I thought. Bernard did very little but looked the classier player on the pitch. Disappointed in Chopra but he got little service. Elliot and Griffin did OK - Griff got booked for a nasty tackle as usual. Thought Steve Caldwell did fairly well and organised everyone.

Conditions - getting colder and damper as the minutes went on.

Toilets - rotten. Like the bad old days.

Tea - the worst I've ever had.

However made a donation to Bury FC fighting fund, so did my good deed for the day.

Anyone else there? There was a fair smattering of black and white shirts.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2002

Answers

BTW I meant Offiong not Dimas.

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2002

Lynda

I made it but was late - a mix of too much time walking round Mam Tor and then waiting for Josh junior to finish his tea. My daughter showed more sense and stayed at home.

I stayed on the half way line for both halves as James didn't want to move for the 2nd half.

I thought we got into it better as the 1st half went on and were tidiest in the 2nd. The late rally that Manure put on may have swung it in the past.

The pitch was abysmal and stopped the passing game we tried to play - no wonder Bury are going bust. We were however too intricate at times and I don't think we'd have scored if we'd still been there. (Neither would they).

Player comments :- Adam Collin - not much to do besides good stop in the 2nd half after the 3rd of a series of 4 corners. Dropped one but his kicking was pretty good and he did OK.

Griffin - Mr solid at Right back - got booked for going right through on their left winger just before the end - a fearsome tackle. Elliot - see above minus booking. Both full backs had usefull opponents and spent their time dealing with them.

Caldwell (S)- solid enough at this level organised back line well enough - Cowan - same as Caldwell without the organising

Midfield Bernard - obviously class above the rest - didn't get any service after half time - skimmed the bar with a free kick at the death and should have taken the one before if he'd listened to Mr Craig. Kerr/Green/Boyd - 3 clones - all tidy little players who passed it through the opposition pretty well but fell into the over elaboration trap.

Chopra - ran all night but got no service at all. Timed his runs well and nearly got on the end of some average through balls. Offiong - some good touches but looked like Cort in his 1st few games back. There were some glimmers of something there so with coaching and time he should develop - he's only a bairn.

Surprisingly no subs used - and as NUFC.COM say - if Luax2 had played we'd probably have won.

Apologies I couldn't spot you - there were definitely more B&W shirts than last year

PS Chicken Balti pies were OK.

PPS Lucozade Sport drink was OK and have you tried to burst the empty pack if you blow it up and put the top back on - we haven't managed it yet ?

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2002

Josh - RU Biffa in disguise?? Man United Res 0 Newcastle Res 0

After a poor first half, United withstood a late rally from the home side as Tommy Craig's boys left Gigg Lane with a vital point.

Andy Griffin and Michael Chopra were both booked in a better second half with the latter having our best chance - a header from a Stuey Green free-kick.

Man United had four late corners and Adam Collin made a good stop from the third of those as Manchester threatened to take three undeserved points.

It was the visitors who dominated the closing stages of the game without creating anything clearcut against an experienced defence including Wes Brown and David May. Richard Offiong didn't have one of his better games, making his first reserves start and had LuaLua played we may have left with a precious win.

Tommy said after the game, "I was pretty happy with the performance, given that it was the worst pitch I've ever known."

We remain second in the table behind new leaders Middlesbrough. Man United moved up to third ahead of Bolton on goal difference.

Squad: Collin, Griffin, Cowan, Elliott, Bernard, S.Caldwell, Boyd, Green, Kerr, Chopra, Offiong Subs n/u: Dimas, Bell, McGuffie, Ramage, Orr

No mention of the Balti pies tho' on .COM ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2002

No mention of the Balti pies tho' on .COM

You can often rely on this forum to provide a more in-depth analysis, with weather, tea, pies and toilets all getting a mention, although I'm disappointed not to see a comment about the chips. Thanks Lynda and Josh for your reports.

The Chronicle reported that Lua*2 would be playing so perhaps he is being saved for Monday.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002

Excellent news Jonno! I hadn't realised Billy Smart's Circus was back in town. Can you get me a ticket (ringside please) as I return on Saturday. Do you expect him to wear baggy pants and a red nose??

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002

Congrats Richard Offiong, we've been hearing a lot of good reports about the kid and now he is a Newcastle United resorve. I hope he gets a squad number in the summer.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002

Where was Marcelino?

No really, was he not playing well?

Not included for this weeks game is he?

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002

Gus,

that's exactly what I thought. Bobby must be saving him for Monday..

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002

He's probably injured ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002

Fats Old chap - Biffa and I were at the same game by the sound of it. I'm glad he agrees with me re Luax2.

I couldn't comment on the chips as there weren't any when I got in.

I also wondered where Ellena was - either YBR has given up on him totally or he is indeed being groomed for a swansong (or should that be duck song) in the 1st team. I reckon putting him in would rattle a few cages and make the present incumbents think a bit. Mind you you're probably correct - he may very well be injured.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002

Warned you about the pitch didn't I! Did your kids take their buckets and spades Josh?

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002

Nah - James was extremely puzzled why there wasn't any grass. I'm surprised ManU put up with it - it can't be any good for their players.

A few years ago City were supposed to play at Alty and the pitch started cutting up - they b*ggered off to Hyde and haven't been back.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2002