Is Left-Back STILL Our Major Problem?

Last Updated : 01-Nov-2007 by

Manchester City took us apart down our left, and even Derby County - relegation certs if EVER there were one - did the same.

England international Nicky Shorey pointed out where Reading had most success.

"I said to Kevin Doyle after the Newcastle game 'he shouldn't have played that well because he'll be there every week'.

"He did tremendously well on the right wing. Someone like Doyler wants to be playing every week and he showed his attacking sense and he also has the engine to get back and help Murts out as well.

"I was a little bit worried when they equalised because I thought we deserved  to win the game.

"It's good that we went 1-0 up and they came back because it shows that, especially with the way we've been going, that we could have crumbled.

"But the character's there and the boys are still good players even though people might think we're not. You don't become bad players over night.

"There have been a few results that haven't been the best and we have been disappointed, but we're all calm and hopefully we can push on now."

Allardyce has tried packing the midfield with ball-winners rather than players who like to push down the flanks, and dropping Charles N'Zogbia and James Milner had many Toon fans puzzled.

Charlie has played at left-back, and although he was never a 100% success in that position, he now knows the defensive duties and is an ideal midfield player to add options.

Playing left-midfield he has pace down the flank, and now he can help out in defence when United are on the back-foot. But Big Sam obviously has different ideas.