Just a few things:
- describing Antony Gardner as suffering from a dip in form is hugely generous considering the man can’t mark (watch how many free-kicks he’ll give away for holding) and only ever passes it back to Robbo.
- Your description of Steed is spot on; he can be pure class, but only for 20 minutes (see Derby match) whereafter he disappears from sight.
- Lee and Stalteri would struggle at League Two level, let alone in the Premiership! Both are awful and the sooner Bale gets fit, the better.
- I think you overlooked the presence of Huddlestone. It is believed that one of the reasons that we sold Carrick to your goodselves, along with the extortionate price you paid and the fact that he wanted to go, was the ex-Derby prospect in our ranks. The guy has just as good if not better vision than Carrick and a powerful shot to boot (see match V Citeh last season). Hopefully the middle two will be Jenas and the Hudd on Sunday, although Zokora may get the nod instead.
- We have suffered horrible from injuries so far this season. King (first choice centre-back) was out before the season even began, then Dawson (second choice CB) got crocked just before our first game, and then in the second match Kaboul got injured too (our third choice CB). Add to that injuries to our £10mil left-back Bale, who we stole off of you (!), our £40mil rated striker Berbatov, who we also stole off you (!), and our young wizard Aaron Lennon, and it’s unsuprising that we’ve struggled so far.

Overall your article is very good, and before your injury to Rooney and Ronaldo’s red I really wasn’t looking forward to the match, but now I think we do have a chance to sneak a win. That said, I would happily take a draw next weekend.