Firstly, I don't get the negativity around, particularly on Twitter. As ST says with all the injuries most of our better technical players are missing at present, and I am sure the offensive side will improve once they are back and up to speed. Rome wasn't built in a day, we certainly look better organised, and it will take a bit of time to get them playing with more confidence. On the whole, I thought we played okay, Oscar missing the penalty was a blow, but unlike under Shota their heads never went down. This ref is just not up to Championship level, he was poor again and gave some really odd decisions. Their goal was just a collection of errors, Tufan lost the ball too easily, and why he probably isn't getting a start, because this happens quite often, The 2 defenders got split, and Ingram did a strange thing, thought he was going to be lobbed, but jumped too early, and then Stewart just slid it under him. Having said that, Stewart looks a very good player and took his goal well. Considering we had to have a makeshift centre-back pairing, apart from their goal we defended well. Seri has improved a lot under Liam, he is more robust and doesn't get muscled off the ball as easily as before. Woods is steady if not outstanding, Slater works hard and does have a bit of quality about him, Longman I thought, on the whole, was our better attacking threat, made some good runs down the left and put some decent balls in. Oscar looked out of sorts he needs a game or two to get back up to speed. Smith tries hard but is probably better suited down the middle, but is unlikely to feature once we get one or two players back. Sinik looks good and should be getting a start now. As I said Rome wasn't built in a day, but there is definite progress, we needed to tighten up the defence first and with one loss in the games Liam has been in charge is certainly much better. We just don't have the quality at the top end available at present, hence why we are struggling to break teams down, but get Tetteh, Allahyar, Pelkas, and Traore available, then I think we will see a different team. P.S. I wouldn't be surprised to see Allyahyar on the bench on Boxing day.
Sinik busted his gut to keep a ball that was 99% destined to be going out for a throw-in to Sunderland. He kept it in. From what I’ve seen of Sinik, he is a grafter. Got a bit of aggression about him too.
Come on John, a sensible post. We’re suppose to overreact on here. It was disappointing not to get the win, but considering where we are at with recent home performances it wasn’t a disaster. We are badly missing the attacking options up front, and was very apparent when we had no options when pushing for the win. Can’t believe posters turning on Rosenior already.
Exactly, I guess some people have little interest in watching football and appreciating other aspects of the game other than putting the ball in the net. Yes, we all want to win, but coaches and players need time to adapt to each other, and I can clearly see progress.
I am no Allam fan, but I see Ehab was at the game yesterday as a guest of Acun, and I was pleased to see at least the minute's applause went off without incident. City faithful at least showed a bit of class in respecting the passing of Assem.
Is the answer no simple...Liam wants 11 players on the pitch that will graft for 90 mins. Then sling on a luxury to try and change it if needed. Either a sniff of a win or to get back into it.
In all honesty, I thought they should’ve started yesterday. Barring injury, they must start against Blackpool.
Your guess is as good as mine. I reckon it's to keep the opposition guessing. He probably thought the likes of Amad and Roberts would give us trouble so wanted to tuck in and give the midfield more numbers and choke them out. Which, to be fair, actually worked. Sunderland probably expected Tufan to start, he didn't, so for the first 20 minutes, the game was a nothingburger and both sides cancelled each other out. It didn't help that the players we did have didn't have the ability to play quicker and more positively. Hopefully it's a lesson learned.
I think most of the criticism aimed at Rosenior is from people who questioned his being here in the first place.It's their opinion,they pay their money,they're entitled to it? I don't have a problem with Rosenior,he's inherited this team and needs time to put his own stamp on it and bring in his own players,therein lies the problem.The playing squad was ripped apart to give Arveladze his chance,he failed.Rosenior needs players in January,he needs a rebuild,he needs some muscle,experience and nous,he needs to clear out to bring in... It's been mentioned many times over the last few months and indeed on this thread...It takes time for players to gel,it doesn't happen overnight,that's a given.Rosenior will have to build his new look team from January onwards(including those who are coming back from injury and it's a perfectly valid point to mention our injury list,because they will also need time to get up to speed) Our current starting 11 aren't cutting it,it needs change and Rosenior needs to achieve that in a relatively short period of time come January,if we're dragged into that bottom 3 by then I can see issues. I've spoke to 3 people who attend on a weekly basis and froze their nuts off to support yesterday...They have concerns about the display and one of them has been going for 50+ years,I tend to respect his views.
I think he'll be in the XI vs Blackpool, as will Tufan. If we're going for the jugular, it should be (assuming Fleming and Jones are still unavailable): --------------------Ingram--------------- Christie----Macca----Figs/Jones----Greaves ------------------Seri-----Doc---------- ------Sinik----------Tufan--------------Longman -------------------Oscar----------------------
It’s almost like he’s been given sainthood has Liam No Criticism allowed. He’s a genius apparently who’s implementing a new style of play Anyone questions it and he hasn’t had time to implement it is the excuse he may not have had a preseason but he’s just had a four week preseason to find out who can do what we have a real predator in the box yet we do nothing to give him any chances that’s what we need to work on there’s a mistake coming soon when it goes Christie to Ingram to McLoughlin to Ingram to Christie And even when there’s a pass on or it’s better to hoof it we go backwards It’s ridiculous When Ingram is having to take on players to pass it it’s not going to end well we need to beat Blackpool if we give them something via this stupidity it could be our downfall I don’t think we will go down as there are three worse teams than us But Christ we’re paying players 20 grand a week ffs
Absolutely. Drove in then checked to pass to Longman on the overlap, but he wasn’t there. Longman looked knackered at that point, or carrying a niggle because the overlap was the blatantly obvious option
I don't believe posters (on here) are turning on Rosenior. I was baffled with his decision making yesterday, in terms of selection, positions, and subs. I know he had a late change to contend with, but things I just didn't get included: - why Smith was a starter. He's way out of his depth, and out of position. It wasn't even as if we had to play him as a CF as we had no other option; meaning we had Oscar starting as the CF! - why it took until 71 mins for him to be hooked when he was contributing next to nothing and looked a boy lost - why Christie, arguably in recent games our best outlet / creator going forward was played as CB. We missed his attacking contribution massively. - ... and why the more obvious options of playing either Fig or Greaves alongside Macca weren't taken - ... and why Elder and Fleming seem to have disappeared, even more so when we needed a left back - why Coyle was hooked 'early', when he was at least driving forward when he got chance and getting some decent crosses in, and playing in his natural position - why Tufan and Sinik aren't starting when we are short on real quality, or at least coming on earlier - why when we are so clearly missing energy, drive, pace etc, Doc isn't brought on (or even starting - yes, I know they can't all start! but his fresh legs and energy he would have better exploited a 10 man Sunderland). - where the urgency & tempo is; not headless chicken mode, but a higher tempo with at least some hint of urgency. I know things should look a lot different when we get players back but for now it's about getting the best out of the squad available. I just didn't get Rosie's decision making yesterday. That doesn't mean I'm turning on him, far from it; I'm simply stating my opinions on a message board.
I thought Smith looked good against Watford so was deserving of starting again alongside Oscar to see if he could play off him I didn't mind that one. Coyle coming in with Christie and Greaves was odd though.
Have you seen the size of the clubs above them in the table? I'd say he is doing about as well as possible having had to rebuild the side following relegation.
I'm actually the opposite. I questioned the appointment, and still have reservations, but having seen the side yesterday I'm happy to say it was miles better than anything I've seen defensively at home this season. We look confident with the ball playing out, we seem to be able to switch to a meaningful attack quite well and all of this is being done with a patched up team and players that aren't good enough. Ingram and his defence made a stupid mistake but having had some clean sheets recently it's nice to see the mistakes becoming less frequent. Longman was excellent yesterday, caused them all sorts of problems. We just don't have a championship striker. I've never been a fan of Oscar and yesterday didn't make me change my mind. I'd much rather have Ross Stewart who was a real handful when he came on.
