But both players have "talked" their way into the book too often, and that is the side of the game we could do without.Passion Is One Thing - Petulance We Don't Need!
But both players have "talked" their way into the book too often, and that is the side of the game we could do without.Allardyce: "With four players going to the African Nations Cup and tomorrow seeing the start of a spell of four games in 10 or 11 days when we are likely to pick up injuries, the last thing we want is to have any of our players suspended.
"We know that Nicky Butt and Alan Smith are on seven bookings each but they are under instructions to keep playing their normal games.
"There is no way we are going to ask them to curtail the physical side of their game which is part and parcel of their make-up.
"We will look at the situation after our next four games."
Both Butt and Smith have special reasons for wanting to do well against Derby tomorrow.
While Smith and Butt are both on seven bookings, both Joey Barton and Habib Beye are on three and just another couple away from a one-match ban.
But, thankfully, United have not had a player sent off this season.