Are people booing the team or booing the "tactics" - I would suggest the latter. When you can't get out of your own half for 15 minutes, stop playing short and start playing the percentages. Put some variation into the play and make the opposition think twice.
My twopenneth, I’ll prefix with I wasn’t at the game, but watching on TV from a not so sunny Cyprus. Well, saw the first half, until a Coptic storm engulfed us, knocking out electrics, interweb etc, so had a long, scaryish night. A blessing some might say, not having to endure City 2nd half! The old cliche of a game of two halves. In that first half we looked confident, attacking within minutes of kick off, scoring early & first! Followed up with some great decent chances to score, couple of guilt edged opps missed, and looked more than capable of a comfortable win & putting Portsmouth out of their misery. Then, the mystifying half time team break/talk. We seem to come out like a bunch of strangers. They adapted their game plan, which we couldn’t cope with. Tim’s approach seemed to be, not to react to their changes, but my way or the highway, replacing the entire midfield 3 personnel, an interesting one! A sign of insanity, to continue doing the same thing when not working! Definitely got Pandur to thank for the point rescued. Just watched Lewie Coyle’s post match interview, brutally honest, saying they couldn’t live with Portsmouth change in game plan, and maybe needed to change our game up a bit! Be interesting to see if his honesty brings any repercussions, a rest for him at Oxford, if so Tim’s time could be near. Anyway, on with the after storm clean up, back to City in real time next week. UTT.
Only listened on the radio but there was plenty of talk about this, Kamara knocked off the ball and just sat there on his arse for ages watching pompy run away with the ball. Another time Bedia I think disposesed up front and then stood in an offside position rather than chasing the play. We started of well got a goal then took the foot of the gas. Pompy saw at half time that they were still in with a chance, came out fighting got an early goal and after that it was all them, more fight, more passion, more heart, more desire. We did well to hang on for a point (thanks panda) I expected us to lose.
I don’t totally disagree with this, deffo need variation and could be more streetwise when we’re clearly under the pump for 10 minutes, but this idea from many in the stadium that going long is the magical fix is nonsense. Playing out the back has its risks and rewards, but what’s funny is everytime Pandur went long yesterday and either put it into touch, or we lost possession, people groan too but conveniently forget about that when talking about playing out the back. We should have had the game done and dusted at half time and we paid the price for not doing so, I’m not convinced by Tim but people need to stop reducing it to playing out from the back. It’s what 90% of teams do these days, just many, unfortunately, are better than us at it.
By all means play out from the back but could we occasionally include the midfield in this? Why are we restricted to 4 defenders and the goal keeper? Where is this magical space behind the press and why can't we find it? Why bring Omur on when the opposition are very physical and the ref allows them to be? If we are going to play it long, why not try playing it the the tall bloke up front rather than the non- physical wingers where any over hit is a throw in to them. (Note, their goalie had similar problems). If the manager sorted some of this **** out rather than blaming the fans, who last time I looked aren't allowed on the field, we might play a bit better.
Why does it appear acceptable to write off a player, maybe as a “donkey” after a handful of starts but not a Manager who has managed a team through over 20 games? Walter is the problem. It’s been as clear as the nose on your face from game 1 that he’s out of his depth. Time is the last thing we should have given him. Another International Break anyone? Despite this, booing your team is for ****s.
We regularly have a centre forward stood 10 yards into their half (unmoving - why?) with no defender within 10 yards of him. Why not pass straight down the middle of the pitch to him, he either trys to turn and run (like Delap) or lays it off to a midfielder now facing their goal for a run or a pass. This idea appears heretical and not part of our style of play but why? There are only two types of football, effective successful or ineffective unsuccessful. Why are we persisting with the latter? Why are we the surprised when the crowd complain? I was quite happy to give Tim time until we saw what he could do with a full side. Well we have, but we are now getting worse. Over to you Acun.
Yes, it's bizarre, we seem completely unwilling to play through the middle to the point where you wonder if the centre circle is dotted with landmines.
I can quite understand he has a preferred way of playing, but we spent the second half looking like a rabbit in headlights. For the love of God, if it's not working, change it. The crowd gets frustrated (understandably) resulting in a toxic environment. No, it doesn't help the team but we expect (and demand) better. Deliver or depart.
