Anyone heard from Robbie today? Good numbers turned up from Cov. Great away support for a Tuesday night. I see the return is scheduled for a 3.00pm kick off on Easter Monday. If we carry on like this that will be a sell out away end.
A few observations from last night aside from the plentiful good things. Ugbo is a weak link. He offers very little in open play, and was too slow to react to some decent balls in from wide. If fit Meite has to start up front. Ralls was as expected; when he gets the ball he’s so slow he kills the momentum whilst deciding whether to pass sideways or backwards. Alnwicks problem is that he is just too small. Most keepers wouldn’t need to punch as they’d catch it. City are keeping up their 2 goal a game average but only one clean sheet. Their propensity to playing deep to preserve a lead needs to be addressed. On the plus side there’s plenty to be enthused about!
I've watched a couple whole games and highlights of all of them on the official website, so not seen as much as most on here. However, the thing I've noticed different this year is the players in the box. Whatever side the ball comes in from, there's a player coming in from the penalty spot and a player on the far side of the 6 yard box. A minimum 2, often more. Last year a player would look up with no one in the box, or a cross would fizz through the 'corridor of uncertainty' with no one to get on the end of it. A positive change from last year. Whether it's the coaching or the natural attitude of the new signings I don't know, but it's having the desired affect. After all the grief he's been given, good to see Etete on the score sheet. Well taken goal. Angled his run to stay on side and a crisp first time strike just inside the far post. Nice. Goals build confidence and confidence results in goals. Now, who is our defensive coach? Someone needs a word. Edit: just checked, 18 goals, 9 different scorers. Ugbo and Ramsey top the list with 3. I like it.
Well, that was about as bad as I expected, we were all over the place and have no creativity from midfield. We have defensive midfielders who don’t track players and defenders who stand and watch as your striker goes past them, appealing for a throw in! All in all an absolute shambles, and awful tactics from Robins, leaving Palmer on so long whilst our creative players sit on the bench, it changed when Ayari and Allen came on but it was too late really Where were all your fans? you should have been full after the win against the JB’s it looked half empty
Bluey - from memory the only game I haven't backed City to win this season was our home game against QPR, and that was only because we were odds on favourites - remember the result. In fact even though we only drew at Leeds and lost at Ipswich, I got paid out in full because of B365's excellent "early payout" rule for going 2 goals up and we were 2-0 up in both. Funnily enough, just looked at our next one at the Mackems and we're rank outsiders @7/2 the win - Mackems are odds on. I feel a sudden urge...........
I think Coventry like Swansea have blown a lot of money in the window. Swansea Tymon and Yates in particular. That Wright for Coventry was really poor looks hopeless and Simms for 8m!!!!! wasnt it ?that is crazy money and one that could see you in a lot of trouble financially down the line. I would have been happy with anywhere out of the bottom 3 a few weeks ago but we look significantly stronger than both Swansea in particular and Coventry. Coventry didnt face us with Ramsey though.
If we spent £8m on a striker I’d expect him to start not come on so late. I checked and he only came on in their last game on 75 minutes.
I think Swansea are still quids in with the money they got for Piroe, Obefemwi and Whittaker which should have brought in about £15M, but Yates, Tymon and Kukh(something) coming in for about the £5M total mark are nowhere near as good as replacements. They've taken the money and run. Much the same with Coventry. Getting in over £30M for Gyokeres and Hamer, they've splashed out serious bucks at this level for Wright and Simms in an attempt to go one better than last season's playoffs. At the moment it looks like it's a lot of money for poor replacements.
Shows what a good window we had for £0. I know we spent the same last year, but we seem to have got more for our money this year.
Indeed it was a pathetic turn out - the missing 10,000 missed an enthralling game and the first time we’ve notched more than 2 in a game for a long time. As for the junior CCFC a very good turnout - about the same as swansea managed. ps Coventry as expected notched in injury time
In fairness the very poor weather must have put off a lot of people. The pitch stood up to it very well bearing in mind the deluge on Saturday evening where, at times, I couldn't see the other side of the pitch.
Cov seemed to lack any enthusiasm which was unexpected bearing in mind how they played last season. Has the manager run his course? They picked up when the Japanese winger came on. He gave them width and purpose and made it difficult for our defenders in the last half hour.
We're hardcore Nin. Nothing keeps us away - apart from holidays. It's always been the same. Loads of hangers on for the Jacks, many of whom had been drinking all day. Next game 3 days later, sh1tty weather all day. Bound to be a drop off although I thought we would get 20k plus at least.
The consensus on our board is his tactics and subs are hard to understand, why we had two attack minded players on the bench and Palmer playing was weird to say the least. We had no forward looking players in midfield until Sakamoto came on, and then Ayari and Allen improved it a bit. We need to gel is the mantra at the moment, but fug me, we haven’t got any time to waste on that showing.
I've got some sympathy for Robins given the changes he's had to endure in terms of players. It'll be like he's taking over a new club. Added to that is the fact that we've been unpredictable ourselves. I don't think he's become a bad manager but just has to start again.
Meant to reply to the crowd thing too. I think BfB is right about many "fans" only being so for the Swansea games. Also agree that the weather is a factor an that a night out at the football is an expensive activity these days.
