Am I alone in not being suprised at the ever unfolding defensive crisis?

OUT: From last year go Dumas, Howey, Charvet, Pistone and Helder

IN: Young Caldwell steps up from the reserves

Marcelino has been fit to appear 14 times from approx 80 possibles, while the record of an apparently unhappy Goma is not a great deal better. Neither could or should have been relied on.

And yet we face Christmas with bugger all cover for two lads 20 and 19 years of age, one left back who appears not to give a toss,both centre forwards missing, and seemingly no one in the club with a left foot who is considered good enough to play.

Never mind - we've got three wide right players in Dyer, Nobby and Gavilan (remember him) and four central midfielders who may all play at the same time.

Am I missing something?

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

Answers

Yeah - three goalies.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

Wonder if the FA will allow us to use 14 players at the same time.

We can play all three keepers- to go with all four central midfielders and the two right backs

All to make up for the missing left back, left sided midfielder and strikers

Bah

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

Hughes & Caldwell v Arsenal this weekend.

Anybody remember many years ago - we had a very young back 4 @ Arsenal - Nattrass, Kennedy @ Full back with only a couple of games each and David Craig C/Half with another youngster. We lost 2-0 and the Cockney press were raving about super Arsenal.

It'd be nice to be different this time.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

Probably Aiden McAffery ??

Also recall a defence of kids going to Chelsea and us getting stuffed out of sight on Match of the Day.... Halliday, Barton .... any others anyone

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000