G Somerset Rover

I knew somebody would dig up Pompey and evertons results. Pompey are only in such good form because they tonked us 3-0. Everton played very poorly against Watford and we should have beaten them. Too often teams start good runs against us. Incidently I would want to be in Tottenhams position because they're on 3 points and not bottom of the league.

Phil-Alan Macinally was on sky yesterday saying that he believes certain players such as Todd's reputations go before them, and it is probably is true to a certain extent...but obviously Clattenburg would know anything of Ooijer's so we have no excuses there I suppose. As for the game-it's all been said really. For me the worrying points: *Jason Roberts-I honestly do not think that this guy is a first 11 player for a team with ambitions of a top six finish. For all his hard work he's got a pretty p*** Poor touch for a guy who trains every day and his finishing has always been questioned. You can tell hes lacking in confidence and as I said in another thread he had a terrible last third of the season for Wigan. *Creativity-We dictated the whole of the first half yet didnt create ONE GOOD CHANCE. Somebody mentioned it on the previous page last season we didnt really create many chances in matches and were doing the same this season-but obviously thus far we've not really hit the net. You cannot play Savage and Reid in centre midfield together....they constantly pass either sideways or backwards and on the whole are poor passers. Either Tugay plays every home game or we sign a new central midfield player. It's that black or white for me. *Steven Reid-Are Spuds and Man yoo still interested? I though this was the player to this season stake his claim as one of the top midfielders in the league. He's poor at passing and when he's not too interested the rest of his game is pretty lacklustre, ie tackling, getting forward etc. I'd probably drop him for the next match for Tugs. There were pluses-Emerton was again back to his Feyernord self, Neil was impressive in our problamatic left back role, Bentley showed that he can play right midfield-but providing we can get another creative midfielder because alone it's not enough-as we saw today. I'll reserve judgement on Ooijer until I've seen him more, but his strength does look a little concerning. In Holland he doesnt come up against the likes of Drogba, Beattie, Dunc Ferguson etc every week.

Greggy all people are saying is dont take them likely. The experience that a few of their players have will be hard to play against...but like you say hopefuly we should have enough. Players like Benny and Ooijer are used to the Champs Lge.

Tricky Tricky tie-they have Linke, Zickler and co in their team...were gonna need to be at our best.

Ouch

When do group stages start should we get through?

The 60 mins I saw werent too pleasing on the eye either...I was quite suprised that hughes was so happy after the game. What is evident is that despite having the Lions share of possession, we seemed to do nothing creative with it other than playing either sideways balls or long ones.

I forgot to mention the commentator on football first said that Roberts scored only 1 in his last 13 appearances at the back end of last season (and unless Im wrong I think that was against us?!)-so that's now 1 in 15. If theres ever been one critisism of his game its his ability to turn chances into goals. The rest of his game is pretty much spot on-so lets get Benny and Sparky to show him how its done!

One thing infuriated me-I think it was Todd (could be wrong) but when Mcfadden hit the post the defender just stopped and stared as it hit the post and as a result he was to slow to react when it rebounded off the post. I had the hundsight of a behind the goal view on footie first but whoever it was had a shocking defending lapse that could have been easily cleared if he'd carried on running back.

Good shout, like you say if I remember rightly from his autobiography Quinn was the one who stood up and backed Mccarthy right in front of him?!...Maybe Roy has gone soft in his old age?

Am waiting to watch Footie First but Cottee seems to think that Todd 'could easily have got sent off' as he kept on pushing it whilst on a yellow...I would have thought that this was biased but he did say that Osman should have perhaps had a straight red. Dissapointing-from those first two games you would have expected more than one point-did we create many good chances tonight? Finally, was Emo really showing his Feyenord form?!

I told you all! Comon Benni!! Lets get another

It was a joke Krislu! This match has got 0-0 or 1-0 to Everton written all over it. They dont even sound like theyve been in it (although we havent created much either), but we have to take advantage when the opposition are playing so poorly.

Que a Bentley hatrick...

Cool, glad he's in. Just checked his DOB and he's only just turned 32...so all in all not that bad.

Having watched footie first I think that we're going to conceed alot of goals from set pieces and crosses this season. I know that it's pretty easy to say that after Kanu's headers yesterday (who btw Ive never ever seen score a header before), but I think that it's apparent that were one of, if not the, smallest teams in the prem. Defending from set pieces could be a real issue this year.

ROVERS I think you got it pretty much right there. One other problem (as others have started to pick up on) for me aside from creativity and depth of our squad is a lack of pace from our widemen. We didnt notice it too much last season because of Bellamy pulling out wide so often-but this season i think we will if we dont bring a genuine wide man with pace in.

The official site report says that both will be banned for wednesday.

Pompey looking 'faster' and 'stronger' than us is a big suprise. We're well known within the league for being one of the fitter, sharper teams, so its suprising that this was 2 of our major downfalls. I agree with most, why, when reid had his best ever season, was he playing right wing? It looks as if Hughes is trying to accomodate for Bentley, but everytime Bentley plays, utd and spurs aside, hes never justified his inclusion.

Pretty sure reds at least mean that the player gets banned straight away. It may be different for Lucas but after his performance it may be best for him to have a game off-but is there anyone to come in?

That p***k Wiley better never ever ref a rovers game again.

todd sent off penalty!!!!!!!!!! Boys Ive played centre back before-who should I send my CV to?

Thing is buddy the club will have known about our small squad. The fact is outside of our first 11 there is very little class at our disposal. Hopefuly it will at least highten our need for more players.

nwanknu friggin kanu again. We should have seen that coming a day after they sign him-how on earth is this player who couldnt get in WBA's team half the time titting all over our back four>?

Sounds like the usual dive in and think later routine of his.