SoccerHQ

Nah draw please. Keep em both in the bottom half.

Couple of times in the past we've put Gabby on the right wing against Chelsea to nulify Cole and it's worked a treat so wouldn't surprise me if that happens.

I think we'll start Ireland on saturday. Wolves and Stoke away were scraps that didn't really suit him but Spurs will be a more technical game.

I too would have Albrighton as an impact sub for the next few games.

I don't expect him back to around February tbh, it was a very serious injury after all, more so than Downing's so don't expect Delph back ahead of schedule like Downing was.

I think Redknob seems to be having problems shoehorning everyone in midfield. Can Lennon, Van der Vaart AND Modric all play in the same midfielde? And he had to push Bale back to LB to accomodate him.

which isn't actually all that bad)

Well I'd say 1 point from the games against Wigan, West Ham and WBA is a pretty poor return. And they could've easily have drawn against Wolves.

I think they'll struggle away from home this season tbh.

Their next three games are SHA and Spurs away and Liverpool at home.

Both Merseyteams are so dire at the minute that'll probably be 0-0 and I wouldn't back them to win at either SHA or Spurs so they could be in real trouble in a months time.

Will comfortably finish top 4 this season.

Was surprised people were writing them off against Chelsea today, turned them over twice last season so have the sign over them now and Chelsea were going to drop points sooner rather than later.

Do we really want champions league if the league form is going to be as mediocre as Spurs's results are at the minute?

Much rather win a cup tbh.

I think it will be City for 4th as well.

Actually I think City might finish higher than 4th. They have started a bit slowly but once they are gelling and their huge squad comes into play after christmas I think they will contuine to pick up points in a similar way to Man U and Chelsea.

Don't think City will get enough away wins to finish top 3 like Arsenal and Manure will.

4th could be as low as 65 points this season given how mediocre the prem has been so far.

Fully appreciate that he's made only three appearances and is still settling in, this is not in question but, can anyone genuinely say that they've been impressed with him so far?

Honest appraisals would be appreciated, i.e. take away the fact that he's new to the club etc as those things are given already.

Completely misused in fairness.

True, but I reckon you could put Wayne Rooney at right back and still be in awe of his ability.

A top player will come across as being a top player wherever he's played....within reason.

Playing SI, who is a midfielder, in midfield should not pose a massive problem to him.

Although he's not setting the world alight upfront at the minute.

Another thing to remember is when Milner first joined he a) couldn't get into the team for the first month and wasn't that great when he played a few games.

I'm not righting him off just yet.

Remember he has a good goalscoring record in the cups, scored twice in europe and also in the FA cup so no mean feat for a then 18 year old.

Show at least be given the opportunity in the prem to see if he can sink or swim which I think GH will do.

I thought he'd signed for Aberdeen but just listening to 5 live and apparently he came on for Bradford at the weekend?

Such a waster, couple of years older than Barry but both broke through at the same time. One's still playing for England and a top 6 club, the other is scrabling around league two now.

We really are easily pleased aren't we.

It says it all really that before I even viewed this thread I knew there would be multiple posts concerning the 20 yard run he went on.

That was all he did in what, 75 minutes?

I remember Ulisys De La Cruz doing something similar once......it may have even ended up as a goal, bring him back.

No, the point I made was that he would have more chance of more good runs like that if he was played just off a striker e.g. ten yards further up the pitch rather than being on the halfway line all the time.

Well Saha's injured tbf.

Beckford simply isn't good enough for this level.

Spurs weren't too far from drawing that and indeed the highlights indicated they weren't actually creating that many second half chances before that idiotic Ward challenge on Hutton.

I'd still expect them to drop plenty of points this side of Xmas, Man. City will finish 4th this season.

On another note, would anyone really pay 20m for Fellaini.

Plenty of better midfielders out there, Pienaar for a start who could be on a free transfer at the end of the season.

I agree Young was through on goal but I think there was a covering defender just.

When the season started, I was hoping for a top 8-10 finish. I still think we are on track for that finish, but we play very badly, and that is a big worry.

We're still comfortably on track for that as below the top 3, the league is extremely mediocre this season.

You rotate Downing and Albrighton throughout the season especially as Marc's still learning at this level.

Young imo in the free role isn't good enough, dosen't create enough for me so rather stick him out wide and get Ireland playing there.

He should've been ten yards further up the pitch today, we saw the potential with that nice run and just wide shot he did in the second half.

Poor poor tactics in the second half.

Fuming he took Ireland off having not played him yet again in his best position, just off Gabby (who wasn't at his best).

I'd have taken off Albrighton who got marked out in the second half by Robinson, moved Young back out wide, played Ireland just off Gabby and brough NRC in.

Instead what we got was a midfield of Albirgton....Petrov...Young....Downing for the last 15 games.

Far too lightweight and Bolton took control of the game from then on.No good playing two upfront if you can't get possession of the ball to create chances.

But but but.......Ireland isn't a central two midfielder!

Why we have played him there is beyond me, play NRC in his place and play him in Young's place from now on please and now Ashley back out wide as apart from his goal Young was very poor imo and simply dosen't play enough throughballs for the striker in the free role.

Just mention Howard Webb and that will shut Glaston up on that point.

Which puts things in a little perspective, keep strong Paddy.

Villa of 2 years ago, when we were playing majestic counter attacking stuff, would not have lost that.

We actually did in the very same fashion. :x

Oh yeah, forgot about that one sorry! Usually have been draws in recent years.

I must admit I thought Albrighton had a really good first half, was always an outlet and hit in some very good crosses that were well defended.

Downing is a confidence player and got some from his goal, very nearly had another shortly afterwards but then disappeared again in the second half.

Very disappointed with Ashley Young, considering he was in the free role he needed to do better when he had possession, I would've hooked him and put Ireland on.