A lot of new faces around me tonight.They spent most of the game laughing at the quality and then left on 80 minutes. The players really showed themselves up tonight.
Tonight was a reality check that our midfield, Honeyman included, are just really poor on the ball. Doc and Honeyman do a lot of running around but I have to say, they both play football like they wear lead boots sometimes. Their first touches are so heavy and it’s impossible to build momentum as they have to adjust themselves before trying to progress the ball and by that point the horse has already bolted and the forward runs are gone. Slater was the only one today who was able to quickly pick out a pass after controlling the ball. Didn’t come off all the time but at least he tried to create something.
I'm just asking them to secure championship status. We're gonna play dogshit from time to time. We don't have fundamentally different squad now to McCann and he put in turgid displays against ****e oppo too. It's where we are. Plenty of promise but a long way from where we need to be.
Honeyman is brilliant at what he does and absolutely deserves to be in the team for that reason. But as you say, he's not the best on the ball. For me, if we're going to build around him the other midfielders need to be good on the ball. I'd love to see more of Huddlestone and Walsh.
We got bullied into getting rid early tonight, to a man. Shota alluded to the possible change in dynamic where we are expected toake the play, and the expectation maybe having an effect also. I get that the schedule means training is pretty limited to warm downs and recoveries, selection is largely dictated by fitness levels and availability. No tactical change would have made a bit of difference tonight. We were beaten before a ball was kicked for whatever reason. Too many shockers for one or two subs or positional changes to make a gnats cock of difference....
I think Honeyman and Docherty flourished last season because they had more time on the ball in League 1 so it didn’t matter as much if their first touch wasn’t great. In the Championship, they get closed down quicker and it just looks like they panic under that pressure and they end up losing the ball because they try to hold it for too long when it should’ve been released 10 seconds earlier. I don’t know, honestly. We need someone in the first 11 who can dictate play, who can cushion the ball and release it quickly to build some momentum. Huddlestone can do that, he can do it in his sleep, but he can’t play 90 minutes twice a week anymore.
Alfie with Slater and Walsh next to him for me at Peterborough. Alfie the protector, slots in to become a 3rd centre back when we defend. Other 2 legs and forward passes. Not sure what to do with Longman and Bernard both poor. Moncur has a place in this side as he has quality on the ball.
Big difference is strikers. At L1 level we posed so much more threat with 3 players on double figures. No one would commit too far forward as it was suicide. In this league our strikers aren't as effective so oppositions press and isolate them more without fear of being caught out by pace or ability. They press higher and higher and it sometimes becomes 1 way traffic if we can't hurt them. In the final third.
We were undone by a well organised, grafting Barnsley - we had to be at it to beat them and we weren't; I take no pleasure in saying that some of us saw it coming ...
3 losses in 5 games that were Derby, Fulham, Sheff U, QPR and Barnsley. If the losses had been to Fulham Sheff U and QPR would that make a difference? Barnsley aren't catching us, but the Derby loss was a stinger. Win that and we're probably safe.
True, but it still alludes to my point about the midfield not being good enough on the ball. Championship teams this season aren’t afraid of our attack (rightly so lol) so they’re more likely to press and close us down, which means the likes of Honeyman and Docherty don’t have as much time on the ball as they might like. This exposes their lack of quality on the ball as it often leads to them trying to hold onto it longer than necessary rather than playing quick passes and building momentum.
Heh, funny you bring up that game, was just talking about it yesterday on a pod about the second half of that 12/13 season.. what a nervy end to that season!
Two or three posts above mentioning a young team, according to the iplay commentator Barnsley's team was the same average age as City.
For me tonight was more reminiscent of the home game against them, in February on a Tuesday night, two years ago. I knew we were down after that and while I'm not quite there this time (not quite sure why), the signs aren't good
Role for me, looked poor in a front 3 under McCann and arveladze, looked class at wb under both too Edit.... As someone else on here pointed out, Longmans best games have mainly been on the left rather than right too, he goes inside and out on the left whereas on the right only ever goes outside, KLP is the opposite, always comes inside on the left but goes both ways in the right, need switching for me.
Not that it means anything now but Longman lost the ball 24 times tonight Honeyman 25. Fleming leading the way with a whopping THIRTY NINE TIMES. Very worrying
