You said it yourself, the last thing he needs is heads dropping after a losing streak. We'd lost three in a row and it wasn't looking good, so he's tightened things up for the last two games and we've got two clean sheets. Inevitably it's also thwarted our attacking threat. With the resources he's got available I don't think that's too shameful.
Tightened how though? It was the exact same system we usually play. The only reason it wasn’t a rugby score in Swansea’s favour is because Ingram had a blinder and Bernard and Greaves were solid. Other than that, we were ****e. The midfielders might as well have been watching from the stands because they looked like the Terracotta Statues compared to Grimes and Downes. The less said about the front three, the better.
A point away has always been seen as acceptable as a team st home is expected to win more games than they lose. You expect an attacking mentality at home and yet City line up exactly the same. They are predictable and easy to defend against. A win is worth three points so one win in six and losing the rest would be better than what we have. We have to give Terry ten games to try and sort this out but his championship record in his last thirty or so games is very poor. If he can’t adapt what he is doing now then it’s curtains down. All this fighting hard stuff just sounds the same as last time. It’s quality you need upfront and we haven’t got enough or we are not getting a tune out of what we have.
Not to worry though, lads. Our recent record against Blackburn can lift our hopes. 4 losses 8 conceded 0 scored
First 15-20 minutes or so they cut through the middle time and again as we gave them acres of space in the middle to play through us. The way he 'tightened' it up was by keeping the same system (obvs!), just the 'front' three dropping deeper and deeper. It wasn't just Ingram, Bernard and Greaves's performances that prevented 'a rugby score', it was the fact that we had all 11 players behind the ball in our own half for large parts of the game. On the plus side, at least McCann recognised that we were getting cut to pieces. His changes, whilst keeping basically the same set up, managed at least to get us a point. But it was a million miles away from what McCann reckons we play. Surely a better manager would use their nous and change the set up. Against most sides in this division, we simply aren't good enough to (try to) go 4 3 3 high tempo high press (without getting cut to pieces). McCann seems either incredibly stubborn or naive (or both). But there again, what do I know.
Just because he didn't change the formation in a way that messageboard users can perceive, doesn't mean he hasn't changed anything at all. Sometimes there's a little bit more to setting up a football team than the laymen who think they're experts can actually understand.
Is it true or urban myth that we're always crap after an international break? Anyway it sounds like we had a bad day yesterday but we still kept a clean sheet and picked up a point so it could have been worse. Still say let's see Honeyman back and him and Wilks both match fit before too much doom and gloom sets in. If we're no better by xmas we'll be in trouble.
I watched the entire game and Swansea were given way too much space, even in the second half. The back four was set up exactly the same as normal. If anything, we we were less tight in midfield and gave way too much space than against Fulham. Huddlestone and Moncur weren’t closing down and tracking back, allowing Grimes and Downes to have acres of space. Swansea looked rusty too and made several dodgy passes, especially out wide, but it wasn’t due to us putting them under pressure. I’m not even talking about different formations. It was the same formation as usual but even worse than usual because we had players not pulling their weight to close down and trying to win the ball back. It was a lethargic performance and we got away with it. Nothing to do with tightening things up.
That’s fair cos unless you’re there you can’t see it on the tv You do agree they cut through us at will tho? Terry really needs some pr training if he went phew we got away with it today fair play to swansea Great defending by us tho Then good on him but to describe it as tho we did well isn’t good
Tbf I think hudd ran his bollocks off but they were quicker sharper and had more men around him and he was by passed But I do think our forwards never closed them down allowing their defence to pick good passes to players in space
I think Huddlestone did what we’ve known him to do. He’s 34 and isn’t someone who I expect to cover every blade of grass in midfield anyway. Problem was, neither is Moncur, so we only had one real grafter in midfield in the form of Docherty and two players who are more luxury players. We could get away with playing Huddlestone with Honeyman and Docherty, but not Moncur and Docherty. Our midfield yesterday just didn’t have sufficient legs and graft to close them down and we just soaked up pressure. KLP and Wilks need a rocket up the arse too but Wilks can be forgiven for only just returning. Don’t know what KLP’s problem is at the moment.
Also, the way McCann whinges about injuries and players returning from injuries/suspensions, you’d think we’re the only club in the EFL who has to deal with injuries and suspensions. Reasonable questions by Mike White about not scoring in 5 league games on the bounce and he gets a pissy attitude about “people kicking us when we’re down”. No Grant, we’re just a bit concerned about having only one shot on target in the 93rd minute against a team below us in the table.
Calling Tom Huddlestone a luxury player. Breathtakingly stupid. The 0-7 defeat we suffered yesterday has got all the usual doom mongers out I see. Bit sad really.
But he didn’t change it, we couldn’t get out, we couldn’t keep the ball and get forward. That’s not Terry’s tactical nouse, that’s Terry’s stubbornness to do anything different. It was luck and Swansea’s lack of finishing quality that got us a point. Nothing else
Curtis Davies’ comments on Huddlestone in July when he was training with us. What does he know? He only worked alongside him for years.
Your loving this. What's your motive ? Let's hope we get thumped six nowt just so you can fill your boots with your anti McCann posts.
I think Terry’s attitude towards Mike has made yesterday worse for me. Mikes questions was reasonable and In a reasonable tone. It was Grant that came across as a cock, the stats are there for all to see and they are a concern
