Really? I didn't notice that at all. One of our best chances in the second half was when Fig found him free out wide and he fired a great cross in.
Figueiredo has slipped nearly every game since Burnley, I think it was. Whatever’s wrong with his boots needs changing. Can’t put it down to the pitch either as nobody else is slipping like he is every game. I think teams have already sussed that our back three **** themselves if pressed high up the pitch whilst fart-arsing about with the ball. We do that against Sheffield United and it will be a rugby score. I understand Shota wants us to play out from the back but our defenders are **** at it, especially Figueiredo and Jones. Also, a lot of the playing out from the back towards the end of last season was solely down to the link-up and chemistry between Greaves, Fleming and KLP. That’s gone now, and we look terrible playing out from the back.
So…I have missed the game tonight. However I saw the starting lineup and instantly thought - why the hell is Woods not starting?! He was IMO the best player against Cov and always asked for the ball. It’s no surprise to read the match thread from then on. I am yet to see any of the game. My worries before the game: Cannon holds on for it too long and is not at this level Longman is too slow and would not be sharp enough (shocked to see him starting) Have those things happened? I would also have preferred Jones at CB instead of Figs, but according to reports, Jones had a shocker. So I may be wrong about that one. Anyway, it’s not the end of the world. Still made a good start to the season and I remain confident about the Sheff Utd game (with the atmosphere behind us - 20 000?) UTT.
I did read that he played as a roaming midfielder at Galatasaray. But I don't think it's rocket science that you need a ball winner alongside him
Based on the last couple of games, our starting midfield of 3 has to be Seri, Woods and Tufan in front of them, when they're all fit.
Slater is too slow, constantly caught n the wrong side of his man, can’t pick a pass and la cos stamina
By coming on late in the game. Not much of a conundrum. Woods is match fit, he's been playing for Birmingham.
I thought Christie was fine tonight. Defensively sound, but clearly not match fit. And he was up against one of the best wingers in the league tonight in Willock
If Coyle played like that you would not be saying he was fine. You also ripped him apart after his game against Diagana where he struggled. Christie was absolutely terrible, don’t recall him completing a pass
No, he wasn’t half as bad as some on the pitch tonight. It’s no surprise that his best performances in a City shirt have been alongside Tufan and Seri.
Yeah I thought Christie was poor, which is to be expected of someone who hasn't had any minutes. No idea why he was thrown in from the start, especially in a back 4.