"After five minutes, Speed intimated to us that he had no energy," he said. "His energy level had gone, he just couldn't run.

Here's a crazy idea? Gary Speed turns up to the ground looking like shit and says he feels crap. Give him a fitness test to see if he can sprint or run around for five-ten minutes. This will point out he's knackered and we don't select him for the match.

We play with a settled side for at least the first half because we don't have to make any subs. Am I missing something?

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Answers

Maybe they did firness test him. If they hadn't he might have lasted 10 minutes longer! ;-(

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

no... you aren't missing anything

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

'firness'?? This on-the-wagon stuff is affecting my typing

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

This situation is a mite confused. Some reports say GS has been suffering from a virus. Others quote BR as saying he was fine, but was simply physically exhausted after 5 minutes - caused by his exertions in the previous four games, including playing with 9 men at Spurs.

Something isn't quite right here. We played 4 games in 11 days, and then had a three day break before a 5th game. That is certainly a lot of games to expect pros to play, but with a three day break I'd have expected GS to be in reasonable shape yesterday. In addition, the other players seemed to cope reasonably well - although to be honest I did think they looked rather jaded, especially Barton and Hughes.

I can only assume that GS must be suffering from some virus that affected his fitness - yet again, why can't we simply be given the plain facts?

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

If he has a virus then he's not fit to play a cup tie for 45 minutes never mind the full game. I can only think Speed never told anyone about his virus, and if that is the case he's was being very, very stupid.

If Bobby told him to get out there and play he really musn't rate Glass!

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Like I've been saying all along, "As long as Speed and Lee can walk and run, Bobby will pick them over the others without taking into consideration the other midfielders might be in better form, might complement each other better, might be much fresher, and heavens forbid, might be better players."

Love them or hate them, both will be starting most games, no sitting warming the bench for these two.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

I'm more concerned over the possibility that Gary Speed did not have a virus or other physical problem, and yet couldn't play more than few minutes yesterday because he totally donald ducked through playing 4 hard games in 11 days.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

He did look ill sitting on the bench, but he shouldn't have played i the first place. He let the side down and used up one of the gaffa's substitution options. I hope he gets a good bollocking.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

According to the Journo this morning, GS was ",i>legless after the Christmas/New Year programme". Bliddy good job he's nivvor been oot wi the BBS on a drinkin' spree then, eh?

Actually, this whole thing os very strange - either GS didn't let on or YBR pushed him into it. Either way, not a good situation. Also, IMHO, replacing him with Cordone was a mistake (and thats' not just hindsight - I commented about it at the time. Can't understand why Glass isn't in favour. He's done OK when he's played.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

I have it on very good authority that as soon as he left the pitch he went to the bog and dumped so big time he actually blocked it up.... whether that was down to a virus, over indulgence of turkey or alcohol induced is of little consequence, if he looked that bad when he arrived at the ground why the hell did he get picked.....are we that desperate

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Sorry - all our players looked knackered on Sunday. It's not just the four games - it's being down to 9 men for most of the second half last Tuesday.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001

So why do we have so many in the f@@@in' squad? It was a mistke for Speed to play - either YBR or GS made it. Or both. No other question.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001

Well, you saw how crap we were, Screach. It was like playing Shearer all season despite injuries. Desperation, it's called.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001

Yes, indeed I did see how cr@p we were. But that is no excuse for Speed playing. A wirus doesn't come on instantaneously (unless you'd like to correct me Dougal, having sat in the good Doctor's seat on Sunday). We had options from the start - Glass was on the bench, and Dyer could have started in MF.

Sorry, but I believe this could and should have been avoided. Depending on when the effects started to appear, we could even have brought in somebody else on Sunday morning - such as Disco Des. Hang on, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to start GS.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001

The point I'm making is that, in Lee's absence, Speed has been our midfield anchor and WE DID look lightweight without him, even with Clarence doing the biz. Maybe he thought he felt better than he was. Who knows?

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001

Can't agree that it was the absence of Speed that made us look lightweight.

I think it was the tactics and formation we were playing.

When was our best spell of the match? After they scored and we started attacking. Once Acuna came forward and Bassedas and Dyer, then Glass started going forward and running at players Villa pooped their collective pants.

They did not have a clue how to stop the players running at them from more than one area of the park.(as opposed to only down the middle).

Speed was long gone at this stage.

Someone said Barton had a stinker, compared to what? He has had about 4 stinkers in a row. It was more obvious as he was on the left this week.

He has not hit a forward or even sideways pass of more than 10yds that has found any of our players. He has been caught in possession far too many times. Merson went past him often and even when on equal terms with him Merson outpaced him each time.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001