I think Mehlem goes under the radar for many, but he's been as productive as anyone in terms of final 3rd contribution. Can't believe he wasn't in more top 3s in the MOTM thread
Honestly, I completely forgot about him when I was going through the team thinking who to put! Not sure what it is. I don't think he's a bad player like some on here, just a bit meh
Only saw the first half and the the last ten minutes. We played some good stuff but also some of our passing was wayward. Zambrano is but ok he is no Seri, whom I think we are missing. On a number of occasions once again Zambrano was in an excellent position to receive the ball but his teamates ignored him. and the ball went to a person in a poorer position to create something. Bedia showed a lot of promise for the future with both his passing and potential for uture goals. Shame Bellouni did not get his hatrick, Pandur has done well but maybe its time to what Rushworth has to offer particularly for his reported distrubition skills?
A strange, but entertaining game today. Lots of individual mistakes from both sides mixed with moments of quality - Belloumi looks exciting! It’s obvious to me that Millar needs to start on the left and Belloumi on the right. I look forward to seeing Hughes soon, hopefully! Pandur made some great saves but also a couple of terrible passes. I’m still undecided on him. Once again Omur is getting unnecessary stick - especially when he’s being played out of position. For me he has to start in the middle for Mehlem. Zambrano looked better. Everyone was happy for Bedia. He’s got the attributes but I’m not sure he’s a step ahead enough to be a regular goalscorer. Maybe that will come with time/confidence. Overall, the game gave me more hope for where our season is heading. We seriously need to cut out the errors at the back though against tougher opposition. Looking forward to QPR. UTT.
I don’t think I have, but that’s opinions. The result builds momentum, The point raised, on this thread, was that “some posters will be fuming that City have started winning”. Which is absolute bollocks, I don’t believe there’ll be one even slightly irked that we’ve won 2, never mind “fuming” I’ll watch today’s game when time allows & comment on the performance then. The result is a good one & pulls us away. I’m still not convinced but twt. I’d have got rid before the last break & stand by my opinion, that’s something I seldom suggest, probably Hateley being the last in season & McCann after the season ended.
Lovely occasion for my first home game for quite a few months. Seeing it in person gives you so much more insight into the way we play as well. I can't see how (even after that result) Walterball will work with our present centre backs. They almost never get their head up and look for options further forward, Mehlem kept finding acres of space only to be ignored as Jones passed to Macca or vice versa. Seeing Mehlem in person did make me realise why Walter keeps picking him, he works so hard and he leads the press, literally as he's often directing everyone else. I think next game I'd like to see Millar in for Omur and Palmer for Slater, keep 50K for an impact sub. Hopefully Hughes and Rushworth will be in sooner rather than later, Pandur hasn't done that much wrong but we need a goalie who will look for an occasional long ball rather than the predictable (and occasionally insane) tip-tapping around at the back.
How good was their 27 as well. Colwill I think it was, thought he was on loan from a big club. Looked a decent larker.
they just want Rosie to come back - it's a form of separation anxiety - even though our results are almost identical to Rosie's against the same teams it's not the same because it's not Rosie - sad really, they probably have a blow up doll with a Rosie mask on it
As regards Mehlem , he was shattered he’d ran his legs off the whole game , connected the team together and played some great footie at pace - I think you need to watch him more . Granted he’s not done it a much before but today he did a great job . If we could pass the ball better in the last third we’d be well away .
I think Mehlem clearly has ability, he’s just rarely involved in the game enough but was more so today. He also takes up some great positions and think his influence will grow as the team gets more confident playing through the lines quickly. Won countless free kicks too from turning a defender with his back to goal.
You can only beat what's in front of you and we did that with aplomb today. For those who are saying Pandur made some great saves - yes he did, but so did their keeper and the game could easily have ended 6-3. That said, I thought we were poor down our left hand side - especially in the first half and any joy Cardiff had came down that side of the pitch. First half in particular Macca was woeful and Drameh and Omur (who is NOT a winger) struggled to get into the game. We might as well have had City "Legend" (I don't think) Steve Deere instead of Mcloughlin on the pitch in the opening 45 minutes. A good 3 points, but tougher tests to come in the next 7 days I suspect
That game was a case study in how a poor quality game can be entertaining. Two sides trying to play good football but with a lot of mistakes and turnovers, making it quite end to end. I think 4-1 flatters us a bit but will never complain about that. It's good that we've been quite clinical these last two games. Can't see Cardiff staying where they are, they played some tidy stuff and will presumably improve. We've come a long way in two games. The performances were never too far from this but after Sheff Utd I wasn't convinced we had the fight, belief and unity to turn performances into results. Clearly I was wrong there.
Yeah he is very good. Thought he was their best player today. Perry Ng is a good RB as well, didn't do as well as a centre half.
It might be me but I didn't think the performance was particularly good or a major step forward. I still think Leeds is the best we've played. It's been a gentle start to the year, 5 of the 7 we've played are bottom half sides currently so the next run of games will be interesting. I still don't really understand the end goal for this style either, you'll never get promoted with it as you give away too many soft goals but if the aim is to simply entertain and not worry about the league table, we'll do well.
Judging by that performance we'll be quite entertaining this season and finish mid-table or just above
