The Leeds match yesterday showed Ian Harte up as a really sh*te defender.

Good at going forward but not good enough to replace Kewell, he plays left back, where his lack of pace found him caught out many times. For all the praise he gets, some of the mistakes were Bartonesque.

I really think our being top of the league is down to the Intertoto. It sort of gave us a huge headstart with fitness and team spirit over everyone else, and this has continued. Best bit of luck we ever got those Spanish teams pulling out. In a way, getting beaten over two legs by Troyes also helped as we weren't distracted by a competition that we probably wouldn't win.

And, WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

Answers

A'hm Pleased

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

I agree re Harte, Paul. I shuuder to think we were only talking of him as a make-weight in the Dyer transfer saga. He was shown up yesterday for what he is. Slow and incompetant as a defender who packs a canny punch. But had we been alert after a corner (anybody remember Sick Note?) we should have snuffed it out before he shot.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001

Maybe just the camera angle, but I also think Given could have done better with a couple of their goals.

-- Anonymous, December 23, 2001