Nothing about last night troubles me more than how much we were physically outfought. People often say things like outfought after a defeat without really meaning it literally, but last night genuinely some of our players were just not up for the fight and got bullied. The fact Walter was so happy with the performance despite that happening really concerns me. Does he just think the physical side isn't important? Seems like a cartoonishly stereotypical 'naive foreign manager' attitude to have. It also worries me longer term about recruitment we've done. All these players on permanent deals, some big fees and long contracts, and some of them weren't up for the fight against a Chris Wilder side. Have we signed the right characters? Did our combination of unproven brain trust and eccentric foreign manager have the right priorities in assembling a squad for English football?
Fin Burns is 6’5” and got bullied off the ball several times. The team is incredibly soft and ‘nice’ and it’s been an issue for two or three years. It’s nothing new.
'complex'!? I'm not sure whether it is complex I think football is a simple game and you should try to do the basics well I'd like to see better corners - no short corners and no balls to the near post that are too easy to clear better throw ins - not enough players giving options quickly dont have the less skillful players trying to beat two or three players
Agree. As asked earlier, has anyone on hear heard why Burns started ahead of Zambrano and Simons? I get that Walter didn't play Alzate or Puerto, but I don't get the Burns decision, unless there was some something going on with both Zambrano and Simons.
The most worrying thing for me Is not just that we are weak as piss But we are so so naive The basics of football we are failing And whats the long term goal? If we somehow did get into the prem This system would be destroyed We coulda have conceded 4 goals each game if championship forwards were higher quality
Forget about ‘being up for it’. Forget about bypassing midfield, forget about crosses, shots on target, double pivots and deep lying 10’s. We controlled a lot of the game last night, dominated the ball, created dangerous openings, chances and could and should have scored a couple. The real problem is every time we lose possession our defensive shape resembles the top of a Christmas tree, it’s far too easy for the enemy to cut us open rapidly as they did numerous times last night. Unless the team start defending as a unit and we actually have a couple of players back covering the counter and keeping a tight shape throughout general play, we’re going to be at serious risk of conceding every single time we lose possession of the ball. Everything else is secondary.
If we go and lose against stoke The players will lose all support for walter imo Forget the owner or fans Walter needs the players on his side Must be hard to constantly train Double sessions And the system youre asked to do is failing Never taking the lead once The players already stopped short corners after we conceded yesterday for ahwile So theyre questioning the system Players are still humans And when youre being asked to do something you dont believe in Its a recipe for disaster
I agree last night it was basics that let us down and silly mistakes but I’m guessing it’s because they’re so focused on trying to implement a certain system and philosophy. I think a few more months everything will all be a lot smoother.
When Walter was first linked with us as the new coach I read a bit about him online. His first season at Hamburg was apparently a lot like what we’re seeing now. He was laying the groundwork for his style of play in possession but defensively they were all over the place. At some point in his second season there, he did have a change of heart somewhat and decided to shore up the defence more whilst sacrificing some of the gung ho approach. Some Hamburg fans said it was good they looked more solid defensively and stopped conceding silly goals on the counter but the style of play lost some of its ‘magic’. I think he needs to make that same change at City and he needs to do it now. Putting one or two players deeper during corners as a safety measure, not having McLoughlin marauding into the attacking third and playing a slightly deeper line so we can grind out results and pick up some points. It might save him his job in the long-term. He’s stubborn and has his particular style of play he’s cultivated for years during his career and I respect that but he’s made pragmatic adjustments before and I think he needs to do it again.
When the kid is five yards out, nobody is near him and he doesn't hit the target, then you can see why. Even the follow up was a chance that went begging...Not good signs, but eh maybe our luck just isn't in at the moment. That might change when one hits someone on the backside and cannons in, lets hope so! But right now barn door and banjo spring to mind.
But he still didn't have any actual success at Hamburg... Like most, I don't see 2. Bundesliga but I saw Darmstadt a few times last season and they were completely woeful. It does make you wonder what the quality of that 2nd tier in Germany is like considering they finished 2nd.
