Ponky

Did Albrighton get a run and if so how did he go?

Last time we played Blackburn at Blackburn we played 442 and won 2-0, should have been 5-0. It was our last decent win before things went downhill. With the defence we now have I have no real fear of 442, as long as MON has the nous to change the formation late in the game.

Is this the Shorey who turned down a loan move because Pompey wouldn't give him a straight out guarantee of being first choice? If Shorey was really that hard done by surely he would take his chances at ousting Bellhadj, knowing that Warnock and (eventually) Bouma were likely to be above him in the pecking order.

I'd be very surprised if Collins didn't play - being against his old club and all. I think it will be a reasonably strong defence, with Collins & Cuellar in the middle and Beye & Warnock at FB. Gardner will probably get a run in midfield as he is the only player without substantial game time.

I thought it was a poor second half but we were always relatively in control. Quality goal by Gab - reminded me of Fuller's goal against us last year. My main comment from the game: Michael Brown you are a dirty **** piece of shit sniping word removed. About 3 times he came in late with a knee in the back and he does it every time he plays against us. Abolute piece of shit.

Lucas Neill's a good signing for Everton. I was saying on an Aussie forum a few days ago he seemed to be pissing his career down the drain in a world cup year simply because he had an over inflated sense of his own worth. Sounds like he has seen the penny drop somewhat and landed himself at a very good club in the process. Aussie papers are suggesting 35-40k a week.

I suspect Cuellar may sit this one out for Beye or Luke Young to provide a bit more attack from out wide if he decides to start with Carew.

I guess Mr Gold is still waiting for his apology then I'm sure he thinks he has you running scared General! I hope Sunday's result has done wonders for your "orneriness" and hope to see you back here soon.

I thought this from Richard Jolly of soccernet was an excellent summary of the match:

Dare I say it, but we got down and wrestled with the pigs today, and came away relatively clean It was a tough son of a bitch of a game. The blues were dogged and played pretty well, and it was probably only the presence of an all-new, all-improved defence that proved the difference in the end. The inclusion of Cuellar at RB puzzled me, but he did the job, giving us an extra solid foundation that probably assisted the three noobs to adjust. It was a close first half but I suspect that it was the fact that Milner was having an absolute nightmare that kept them in the match. Had several chances to put it to be but he was dire. Into everything, but botched the lot. I am a huge Milner fan, I hope he can bounce back next time.

Just finished watching Season 3 over a few weeks and really was the best season of Dexter so far IMO. I was a bit doubtful to begin with because Jimmy Smits is a bit wank as an actor but it was really very well done.

It seems to be aiming to demonstrate that, when asked to choose between our two excellent wingers, about half choose one, and half choose the other. :winkold: Which would be quite a quandary if there was only one wing.

I think it was a quad strain - he got sent home from the the training camp & didn't make the Peace Cup (hence Lichaj playing every match). He missed a few matches late last season and has had little pre-season so I would say Luke will be working his way back to fitness - so would be a few weeks off yet.

Gabby was relentless in closing down their defence tonight and forcing them into numerous turnovers and dodgy balls. It amazes me that some suggest he was "shit" tonight apart from the goal.

Fulham were down a bit but credit for that should go to our forwards and midfielders who harried them every step of the way and pressured them into errors. Gabby cops a lot of shit on this site for being lazy and, well, "shit" but tonight he was the opposite of both of those things. It was such a beautiful goal - are we sure he isn't a left footer? - it was sort of performance that could really kick-start his confidence and send him on a scoring spree. Magnificent performance by the back four as well. Cuellar was just clinical and Clark flung himself at everything and was lucky not to cop a broken jaw getting in the way of one ball. Nicky Shorey was also very good and it's clear the arrival of Warnock will push him out of his comfort zone. Very happy with the performance, ecstatic with the 3 points.

Delph is probably our best passer already on last night's evidence. I think he just needs to get used to the players around him and understand what they expect of him. That will come in time. I'd like to see him partner up with NRC for a game to see how he goes. Beye is the one who worries me a bit. I think he pushes too far up and leaves us exposed, with many counter attacks so far this season coming from over the top passes down that flank, leaving Cuellar in a footrace with the opposition winger or striker.

**** gutted. Too much giving it away in midfield.

Reckon MON might have sent a rocket up john's arse at HT!

Milner & Delph excellent, defence decent, strikers absent.

both very soft pens IMO

THAT's how you take 'em

Big John's getting killed by the ref

Young's too predictable witrh his pens - it's too 50/50

why short corners??

451 or 433 is not too much of a difference as long as your wingers are tracking back. The absolute key is having three men in central midfield. I would start Young on the bench even if he is fit - we don't want to be pushing our luck. Milner left, Albrighton right, gabby up front and maybe Delph in for Sidwell, although I'd be tempted to keep the Liverpool three intact to get a really strong partnership going. Can someone please confirm the start time - I have seen it variously as 1815 and 2000 - I want to know if I need to stay up late or wake up early