Coleman could be fit to face to Chelsea

I read somewhere that Gibson was going to be fit for tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

I fear that against Chelsea we'll need the best available defensive back four at the top of their game, in order to get a result.

Yakubu had his penalty saved by David James.

We were woeful and Neville was atrocious.

That was his last shite performance at RB. He's been steady there since then in my opinion.

His positional sense is excellent ; when to get tight, and when to drop off, when to drift wide, and when to close up into the middle. As is often pointed out on here, his distribution and ability with the ball is usually poor, but this other part of the game, often overlooked, is exceptional. Hopefully, this crucial part of the game can be passed on to Seamus, and he will emerge into our best right back since Gary Stevens.

I deliberately watched Neville against Wigan as well; while I can't remember him being beaten one-on-one, he was out of position at least three times.

Our best bet would be Hibbo, but it seems that wont be an option.

Neville does err on the side of caution, and certainly doesn't get up and down as quickly, or often, as either Hibbert or Coleman. As that great philosopher Clint Eastwood said though, "A man's got to know his limitations", and I contend that this enables Neville to be in the right position to defend better than either of our other two options. It's no coincidence that even as the slowest of the three, he doesn't get burnt for pace as often, or caught on the wrong side of his attacker.

I'm not saying that Neville is my preferred option at right back if all three are fit, as the modern game dictates that the right back be used as an attacking option, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good he still. Oh, and he did get an assist for the winning goal, with his trademark floaty chippy cross !!

I'm hoping Vic plays, he's deserved his place in the team recently and this game's a great opportunity for him to test his skills. If he gives it his very best and delivers, then he can stay and be a hero.

We win 2 - 1: Vic scores the winner in the 89th minute.

As a right-back he annoys me no end, everytime he gets the ball he slows play down and turns backwards, he cannot pick a pass to save his life – even the most simple of balls. He seems aware of his own limitations to the point of not even trying anything other than going backwards.

Phil Neville did what he can be relied upon to do. Played solidly and willingly in a very limited role, which he will do wherever he is selected. He is a water-carrier and no more, but practically every team needs a few of them to be successful.

Unless DM puts a quick player at right midfield we will be relying on keeping it tight on the right and moving it down the left all game. Has worked for us in the past and could do again as Chelsea are by no means invulnerable.

I am not knocking the bloke, but to call his performance in that game 'immense' is over-praising doing the simple things well, and ignoring the fact that he brings the same qualities most time he plays.

Assuming Gibson is unavailable, I would go with Hitzlberger and Osman in central midfield with Coleman on the wide right backed up by Neville.

Now we have more balance when everyone is fit and it's a shame that Mirallas has been out for so long as he has made a big difference to our attack. So far, Naismith has just been pretty average and has done nothing to really lift the crowd. Mirallas is an exciting player and with him, Fellaini and Osman in good form, we have shown attacking threat down both wings.

Unless Naismith starts to take on fullbacks in the way that Mirallas does, we will just be a one-trick pony relying on Pienaar and Baines to supply real threat. If Coleman is fit, I would try him in Mirallas's position with Neville at fullback as he is a player who will try to pass the fullback.

Hitzlsperger is not the answer, let's face it, he was released by lesser clubs than ours. I just wish Oviedo could play somewhere else other than the left side...???

Why does the club not give us progress reports on injured players? Nothing has been heard about Mirallas since he supposedly went for specialist examination in Germany. Surely we should be kept in the picture.