I think we've found David Silvas back up

[Blue Since 76]

Thought he was more Yaya's replacement - picking up the ball and running at the defence with it.

Nasri was Silva's replacement, in that he played in the same way Silva would have done with the hamstring injury.

[sheblue]

Apart from the goal he filled that role superbly. I know it's wrong to single out one player/performance, but those 3 points go down to him.

[Ted Hughes]

My point is not how great tevez is, we already know that. The fact is that we often ask the question who can fill in for David when he's out injured etc. I think we have an answer.

Do you really think our passing game was as fluid etc as it would have been with Dave pulling the strings?
Most of our lads had a day off today which of course affected our play but IMO it's waaaaaay too much to say Tevez could fill Silva's role. He may be our best alternative but that's far from being the same thing.

I don't think our passing would have been fluid if Silva & Messi had played, not with Yaya strolling about, Aguero playing like Darius Vassell & a left back on the right wing.

Tevez isn't & will never be the kind of genius for an unexpected pass that Silva (& once every ten games Nasri) can be, but he is in effect doing that job, in his own way. He's getting the team moving, which is imo Silva's biggest plus.

Tevez also has a goal threat. The interesting thing for me would be to see Tevez & Silva both playing midfield & Nasri on the bench.

[Alex Sapphire]

The biggest thing for me was how bad he wanted it.

I'm not ashamed to say he's my fav player, but even I got excited when he got the big applause for chasing the ball and making a slide tackle.

I agree, but I'm not happy that having come on so farthe team seems to be right back to being dependent on his workrate and occassional brilliance to get a result
thought that was Yaya's bag

[Mikhail Chigorin]

On a slightly different thought, yesterday I was reading a small article in the Daily Mirror.

IF this article could be believed (and I know it's a big if), Mourinho is still wanting Gareth Bale and is prepared to off-load Kaka and Mesut Ozil, to facilitate this.

If there's any grain of credibility in this, would Mesut Ozil be the man to stand in for Silva and, also, to complement him in the same team (i.e. could they play together)??

I've always liked him myself and I'd jump at the chance of him being in our squad.

[Blue Philistine]

On a slightly different thought, yesterday I was reading a small article in the Daily Mirror.

IF this article could be believed (and I know it's a big if), Mourinho is still wanting Gareth Bale and is prepared to off-load Kaka and Mesut Ozil, to facilitate this.

If there's any grain of credibility in this, would Mesut Ozil be the man to stand in for Silva and, also, to complement him in the same team (i.e. could they play together)??

I've always liked him myself and I'd jump at the chance of him being in our squad.

We can only dream.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

On a slightly different thought, yesterday I was reading a small article in the Daily Mirror.

IF this article could be believed (and I know it's a big if), Mourinho is still wanting Gareth Bale and is prepared to off-load Kaka and Mesut Ozil, to facilitate this.

If there's any grain of credibility in this, would Mesut Ozil be the man to stand in for Silva and, also, to complement him in the same team (i.e. could they play together)??

I've always liked him myself and I'd jump at the chance of him being in our squad.

We can only dream.

You're right about that chum, but dreams can come true.

However, if Mourinho is now prepared to consider letting Ozil go and with the FFP shadow loomimg over our own heads, like a veritable Sword of Damocles, I wonder if we ought to start thinking the unthinkable and arranging an exchange involving important players such as Yaya, Micah etc. or, perhaps less controversially, Edin ??

In the past, Mourinho has been supposedly interested in PabZab, but I don't think I'd go as far as letting that player go.

[Blue Philistine]

You're right about that chum, but dreams can come true.

However, if Mourinho is now prepared to consider letting Ozil go and with the FFP shadow loomimg over our own heads, like a veritable Sword of Damocles, I wonder if we ought to start thinking the unthinkable and arranging an exchange involving important players such as Yaya, Micah etc. or, perhaps less controversially, Edin ??

In the past, Mourinho has been supposedly interested in PabZab, but I don't think I'd go as far as letting that player go.

PabZab the fab. I always feel more comfortable with the knowledge he's either working his trade on the pitch or on the bench. Been consistently performing for a few seasons on the trot now.
Be interesting to see how Txiki enforces his new regime, may just see some of these high-profile moves yet!