VB Weekend winners and losers

Right off first off who in the blue hell nicked all the players scoring boots?!

It all seems to contrive against us on Saturday afternoon as a combination of bad finishing, a good shot stopper and some really bad luck 'helped' us draw a big fat zero again.

But who played well? Who didn't? I hear you ask... well calm down and show a bit of patience and I shall tell thee as the people of Yorkshire say!

WINNERS

VINCE GRELLA - Epic effort from the Aussie on Saturday and went someway to erasing doubts in a lot of peoples minds with a 90 minute effort that will hopefully come to be known as the 'Vinny Grella performance'.

Yes his long term fitness will be in doubt for a while yet until he manages to string about 3 months together but what wasn't in doubt for me is that he had a terrific game against the Spurs...

Stern in the tackle and constant hassling/closing down of the Spurs midfielders led to a difficult afternoon for the usually excellent Wilson Palacios.

He is a spolier of a player, he is there to prevent rather than create and that is what he is best at.

Some of his passing was a tad wayward but you cannot argue that when on the pitch and in full flow he is first choice in that holding role - he is a competitor and when away from home you can never have too many of those... wink wink.

JUNIOR HOILETT - Another bright showing from the young Canadian, this time on the left flank as he tried to make up for the lack of attacking implosion down the right hand side in the shape of the World's Most Defensive Right Winger (Michel Salgado).

And that he did, Spurs were unsettled when on the ball and allowed to run at the defence.

Fair enough, he did run out of steam come the end of the 75 minutes he was on the pitch but that was to be expected... he had tried his best and on another day with exactly the same performance he would have reaped some dividends.

Hopefully we can tie him down to a deal as he looks a big player for the future for us.

BENNI MCCARTHY - Finally looking trim and finally looking 100% motivated.

Whether it is to put himself in the shop window or whether it is to remain in the Big Man's plans is yet to be seen but he did EVERYTHING BUT SCORE against the Yid Army.

Playing with composure and the trickery that makes him stand out on his day, he really rattled Spurs with some sharp footwork and just as importantly... some fat busting work rate.

Much, much, much better and if he can chip in with the goals as well then Sam can't afford to sell him.

LOSERS

GAEL GIVET - Second season syndrome? Lack of confidence? Losing his appetite for the fight?

Whatever it is it needs sorting as Gael is not performing to the high standaards of last season.

And the annoying thing is that we all know what he is capable of.

LARS JACOBSEN - Hit and miss. He as been out of the thick of the action for a few weeks but you would be thinking he would want to make a statement and show Sam what he is mssing when he doesn't play him.

What he showed instead is why he hasn't played - Lars looked sloppy and nervous.

Slowly losing the promise that showed he could be a Danish bargain.

EL HADJI DIOUF - An unlikely contender for the January sales after slipping down the pecking order.

Junior Hoilett can play both wings, Morten Gamst Pedersen can play on the left (allegedly) and Brett can play on the right and just about anywhere!

Is he the odd man out?

The worrying thing for EHD is that he has no-one else to blame but himself for his current plight.