Is Hughes the best we can do at left back or centre half? Seems to me he lacks pace,belief when going forward aand spinal fortitude at the back - Darlington is his next stop within 2 years.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

Answers

At this moment in time I'm sure he is probably the best we can do, which is for me quite worrying. I'd expect him to partner Dabs tomorrow night, another worrying centre back, and Domi to fill the left back slot. Hopefully Domi can stay fit and secure the left back slot for the rest of the season.

Bobby knows he has to strengthen the heart of defence, due to the misgivings of Goma and Sid the Sexist, shame we have to start doing it when the season has started and not in pre-season.

IMHO he might as well play Goma and Marcellino and let them get on with it. Make them do everything together so they form and understanding, anything as long as we get a centre back pairing that plays evey week.

Is it too much to ask?

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

GET OFF HUGHES' BACK SPENCER. HOW CAN YOU EXPECT THE KID TO BE A FANTASTIC LEFT BACK WHEN HE ISNT EVEN LEFT FOOTED. HE STILL KEPT BECKHAM QUIET. STICK HIM CENTRE HALF AND HE IS A GREAT PLAYER. ONE GAME GONE AND YOUR MOANING. TYPICAL PART-TIMER!!!

SMB

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

Hey SMB or -- TONY or KDMAGPIES@COMPUSERVE.COM or whoever, you make a point and you can make it well, but please, in the interest of everyone's sanity, can I calmly and politely please ask you not to keep your caps lock key in the depressed position and please Stop Shouting

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

Some of us are trying to sleep you know!

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

To be honest, I didn't think Hughes had a good game on Sunday. He is not left footed and when we broke (?) down the left, we lost what little momentum we had when he had to cut back in on his right. This simply isn't good enought for the EPL - either convert him back to CB or teach him to kick with his left peg. ManUre can only get away with Neville (P) on the left 'cos they're so mobile in midfield. Keegan found that out the hard way in Euro 2000.

-- Anonymous, August 22, 2000

Hughes lacks pace, creativity and most importantly a LEFT foot. I think that the best defence will end up being Given Griffen Goma Dabizas Domi

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2000

I don't get it, I just don't flammin well get it!!!

What as Bobby got against Domi?

O.K. Domi is returning from injury and not 100% fit. But if you trust Barton enough to play at right back, then surely you should trust Domi enough to play at left back. Especially if your planning on playing five at the back.

I said this during Euro2000. One of the English commentators made a very good obsevation about France and playing a 4-4-2 formation. The width comes from the fullbacks, not the wingers.

If the full backs are compentant enough in attack, and I would suggest Barton and Domi are, then your midfield should be able to dominate possession and create plenty of chances. Why, becuase if you rely on the midfield wingers to create the width then you are leaving vast amounts of space for your two central midfielders to cover. However if your fullbacks are creating the width, your central midfielders can overun the opposition through sheer numbers.

Of course you need two relaible central defenders, which we lack, and the fullbacks need to be able to run all day, which Barton and Domi can.

As for Bobby's search for a centre half. I am rather concerned that he is being linked with a number of bargin buys or cheapish players. he has to have a fair wedge from all the sales. Just be done with it and pay an inflated price for Ehiogu, and stick him with Goma.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2000

Lots of good sense in your suggestions Tre, as usual.

To answer the initial question - Hughes is not a left back, and what's even more worrying, he even less a left wing-back.

I don't really know whether playing three at the back is feasible for us, principally as we have dodgy CB's. However, we certainly have in Barton and Domi, two players who could definitely play the WB role.

It seems quite certain that BR is not convinced about Domi's defensive qualities at LB, but by not playing him at WB on Sunday I'm just not sure why he seems so keen to keep him on the books. DD doesn't like playing wide left in midfield, and if we aren't going to play him either LB or LWB then we may as well cash in on him. IMO he'd be an excellent LWB. That I believe is where TDO originally intended him to play, and that is where he'll surely play for his next club.

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2000