Vote for your MOTM for this weeks game, voting closes in 24 hours. Also look out for player of the season poll, which will be posted tonight and open till the Man City game.
Taarabt was excellent although gave the ball away a few times (some great defensive work for the cause). Barton really good solid performance and got everywhere. Mackie, tremendous battle with that cock Huth and did well not to rise to the rough hand tactics that went unpunished. Only one winner, we needed a goal, someone to finish coolly and he did it again - Ole ole ole ole Cisse Cisse!!
Cisse's goal may well keep us up. But one touch does not make him man of the match. Close run thing between Taarabt and Derry with Adel knicking it for me with his total commitment as well as being involved closely in all our most dangerous attacking play. Not to mention the going back to tackle their player three times by our corner flag and eventually succeeding in getting the ball off him.
There were no particular standouts for me, so went for 'nobody deserves it'. I thought Taarabt, Mackie, Zamora and Barton had good games, as did Ferdinand. Sure, Cisse scored the goal as well as had a clever header well saved by Sorensen, but I didn't think he did much else to warrant being singled out. Must admit I was both surprised and delighted at the win, given that Spunky's last throw of the dice was to put messrs Wrong-Phooted and Betty on. He might as well had brought on Dyer and Faurlin with their crutches.
:S I thought they both did okay when they came on Uber, Zamora was pants. You're criticising them purely based on previous performances
Barton by a country mile. He was absolutely immense. Great distribution great engine inspirational. I never thought I would write that but hats off to him.
Barton for me too. He really really cared. He drove everything and he wasn't silly either. Well done Joey. Never thought I would write that either But Cisse you are a legend
He's taken a lot of criticism, including plenty from me, but for the second time in recent weeks I vote for Joey Barton: great all-round game, worked REALLY hard and looked like he REALLY REALLY cared. Well done Joey. Special mention to Adel, another whose game has been transformed in recent weeks and, I thought I 'd never say this, he worked SO hard.
Absolutely I am, Grifter. Based on their previous performances it would be an act of desperation for me to bring them on. Just my opinion is all. Funnily enough, I was just about to press 'post' on my first post when I thought I'd add Zamora. I was in two minds about him, but recalled him putting himself about a bit in front of a very physical Stoke back four. Mackie did OK, but really struggled to get much from Huth today, when he's roasted guys like Evra in earlier games.
Home, fed and now drinking a little sparkling number. I've gone for Derry. He held us together at times, made his usual timely interventions and a couple of absolutely crucial tackles. He fought, fought and fought again, no one gives more for the cause.
Barton for his work rate today. He still gave the ball away too much but he just kept on driving forward!!
