Makoun. Next season.

[mikeb1982]

I'd like to see him given more time, him, Ireland and Herd could work well. Assuming we pass through our midfield next season instead of bypassing it

[Summers]

Cracking player. Travesty we sent him on loan and brought in Jenas.

[paul_e]

Makoun never adjusted to the pace of the league, but the debate is, how many players have looked the business after that many games in this league, particularly after coming from France.

[Legion]

I'd forgotten about Jenas.

[PeterWithesShin]

Better than that American. Sorry, can't remember his name.

Michael Bradley who has been outstanding in Serie A this season...........

In fairness to Bradley, he played about 110 minutes total for us, most of which was at City in the cup debacle where pretty much every player was crap. Bit hard to judge a player over that little time.
Especially when people are still banging on how Bannan, Albrighton, Fonz etc all need more time and chances.

[spangley1812]

Better than that American. Sorry, can't remember his name.

Michael Bradley who has been outstanding in Serie A this season...........

In fairness to Bradley, he played about 110 minutes total for us, most of which was at City in the cup debacle where pretty much every player was crap. Bit hard to judge a player over that little time.
Especially when people are still banging on how Bannan, Albrighton, Fonz etc all need more time and chances.

I agree mate he wasnt given time I am afraid if he had all the chances Marc has had he would have proved to be a very decent player as he has done in the German and Italian leagues........

[ktvillan]

Wow it got to the fourth post before spurious "can't tackle" fallacy was wheeled out again.  Bases, once again, no doubt, on one bad challenge that got him red carded at Blackpool.  And nothing else. 

Very good footballer, good vision, good passer,  has the vision and technique to thread a through pass, would work well in tandem with Ireland.  He was outstanding at Old Trafford last season, and played very well at home to Newcastle. Not given a proper chance and there is no way we should have let him go out on loan.

[Dave]

I'm pretty certain that if we'd stuck with him and not bothered with Jenas then we would have been mathematically safe earlier than yesterday.

[Monty]

I'm pretty certain that if we'd stuck with him and not bothered with Jenas then we would have been mathematically safe earlier than yesterday.

I agree with this, simplistic as it seems, there are games where his calm on the ball might have earned us one or two more points than we ended up getting. Mind you, one calm player amidst the sea of chaos McLeish creates through his small-minded fear might not have made all the difference.

[Percy McCarthy]

I liked him, but can't help thinking that Houllier and then Macalister not picking him may be telling.

[PeterWithe]

I thought he was a cracking player but maybe having Herd and/or Clarke in there gave us more height and presence when defending set pieces?

[Clampy]

I liked him, but can't help thinking that Houllier and then Macalister not picking him may be telling.

Did'nt he pick up an injury towards the end of the season?

[Dave]

With Bent, we basically need to play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 (which are basically the same thing).

Our next manager just needs to work out a middle three that work well together. I still think that any of Herd, Clark, Ireland, Gardner, Makoun, Delph or our brilliant new signing COULD be in there and could work well.

I'll just take someone better than us lot to work out who should be in there, who will complement each other and how they should play. But there is definitely something there that could work because all the above are good players. It's just a case of somebody finding the right combination.

[eric woolban woolban]

He is the Matthieu Berson of the 10's

[hartman_1982]

It'd be such a waste of money to sell him though. He cost 7 million-ish, and we'll be lucky to get 2 mill for him now. Letting him go and getting in Jermaine Jenas was insane.

He cost less than 5million euros according to Mr Houllier.