Pedantry corner:

"...asset stripping the club of their best assets".

"..degradation of the first team with first teamers Bobby Zamora, ..."

Terrific piece (sad do subbing points notwithstanding) and a much need reality check the the folk just down the road from me.

When Man U came Zola dithered for so long that and obviously injured Zavon Hines's season was wrecked - and the Mancs ran out of subs and put Carrick as makeshift centre half with 10 men.. 0-4, if I recall right. That's when I knew we were fucked.