What’s disappointing about that was for once City competed with a top 3 side this season but only after giving Burnley a 2 goal lead by not marking their players tightly enough in the box. They gave it their all second half after a couple of top saves from Horvath. On another night Salach has a hat trick & Fish scores. Tonight the rub of the green just wasn’t with us. If we can replicate that performance in games to come and if Riza gets his team selection right, there’s good reason to be optimistic. Burnley were a horrible side. Cheating to get cheap fouls which the limp ref bought. Embarrassing time wasting by their keeper. No wonder they have had so many 0-0’s this season.
Worth a draw for the last 30 minutes performance. Ng should have started at right back. Jaiden Anthony was tearing Rino a new one every time he had the ball. Ng stopped all that and Burnley's attack became a lot less effective. Could easily have got a second on any other day once we got Burnley on the back foot. Salech is a real monster and is proving to be a great signing. I don't remember Keiffer Moore or Kenwynne Jones knocking lumps off centre backs the way Salech does.
It was a much better 2nd half and as they only had a one goal lead we were unlucky not to get a draw in the end. We were very lucky to be still one behind after about 55 mins mind. Over 90 mins a fair outcome.
However, having hit the post in the first half, it could be argued that we were unlucky not to be all square.
The differences between the two teams last night were clear to see but the one that stood out for me was the defensive set up 5-10 yards outside the penalty area; especially in the first 60 minutes.
I agree. Either that's coaching individuals not doing their jobs or both. Fish should have started. The starting midfield 3 were all awful. 2nd half much better.
I appreciate games are coming thick and fast and in modern day football there needs to be rotation (plus injuries) but it seems to me Riza can’t work out his best (and most suited to who the opposition is) starting X1 from whom is available.
I don't buy into this lurching from praising players to slating them. If opinions about players change on a game to game basis we've got a problem. Mannsverk and Chambers have been solid and stiffened the midfield particularly since Chambers was switched there from CB. Mannsverk is a dog and both him and Chambers bite at the right time. On a team basis, being good at what you do rather than being great at it was the difference between the two sides last night. Parker has got them tight as a unit and efficient to the point of boring - but they win football matches. On the other hand we're pressing square pegs into round holes trying to find a solution to the problem on a game by game basis - we have no identity. Maybe illness and injury has had a lot to do with it but Robertson looks lost and the back 4 is being swapped around through choice as much as necessity. On the creative front, Ramsey and Colwill should be able to play through most of this division's defensive midfields and put the front men in. The pace and presence is now up top in the form of Ashford, Salech, Robbo with Zak Davies coming back - Alves is a bonus.
Alves could well have made a difference as a sub for 30 mins second half. Whatever El Ghazi had 2 or 3 years ago he doesn't have now.
That was a poor decision. The "blunt force trauma" approach of Salech needed the service from out wide - El Ghazi can't seem to do it.
For my money - Omer got the back line wrong to begin with and he obviously recognised that as he changed it (so credit to him for that). Robertson was off the pace so that really didn't help the team - all players will have off days though so no blame attached, it was what it was. I actually though El Ghazi did ok when he came on in the end, but needed too long to get up to speed and after we'd witnessed Ashford busting a gut up to that point it did feel like a backwards move, but we know how data driven teams are nowadays and we have to assume it was data that drove that decision - he certainly wasn't struggling out there though.... I also think Riza needs credit for bringing in Salech - he really does look like a Championship player already and is shaping up to be the best forward we've signed since Moore (granted Robbo is doing the business this year but by his own admission he's not always been at his best during his time with us). Ultimately, whilst we failed to pick up any points, I think we need to be encouraged by the fact that we had the best defensive unit in the entire football league reduced to hoofing the ball clear, time wasting beyond acceptability and sweating massively whilst they held out against a determined team that battled well in the end. We can bemoan the bad start sure, but lets not lose sight of the positives too. If we HAD equalised through Fish or Salech to get a draw then we'd be absolutely praising the team for turning it around - we went damn close to doing just that!
I do struggle with some of the lineups Omer puts out. Never mind correcting some of the lineups, like Tuesday, that he's put out. We said they were wrong from the outset. I worked with a number of project managers who were praised for digging projects out of a hole. Nobody questioned who put them in the hole in the first place! I think Robertson struggled with the formation. If he was playing as a 10, there was one wide man. If he was playing as a wide man, he was playing out of position. Let's not credit Omer with fixing a problem he created. I quite like Omer as a manager. He's a bit to learn, but has more positives than negatives in the bank. I'd rather he stick to a 4231 though. Put square pegs in square holes, and utilise what is available to him. I think there is change for change sake and confusing players with too many formations.
Couldn't agree more; as I stated (somewhere today on this forum) Riza just does not seem able to pick the best starting X1 from what’s available. We’re guaranteed a different team selected on Saturday then another v Luton (injuries notwithstanding)
Got to start Ng at right back with Fish centre back. Then Alves to start out wide if fit. Bagan at left back with O'Dowda left wing. It means Ashford and Robo on the bench but we can't fit them all in. If he can Ramsey to start instead of Robertson All positive changes involving little bu££ering around. Also a very strong bench.
For me, as much as the personnel, its a settled formation we need. Never mind worrying about the opposition, we worry about us, and we let them worry about us. Stuck record time. A settled, balanced formation, square pegs in square holes. Players knowing what is expected of them. Successful teams have a settled style and formation with everyone comfortable with what's happening. I'd still prefer 4231. We seem to have the players for it. But if its 352 or 442 or 541 or 433, lets just settle on one and build confidence in the squad. As for personnel, I think Salech has quickly established himself as the first choice 9. Then whether it's Alves and Ashford or Willock or El Ghazi or Davies, its a settled formation. Robertson as an 8 or a 10, not out wide. Same with Ramsey and Colwill. Let the players get settled and let rip. Lots of bench options so the legs shouldn't get tired. Make changes based on the game, not on the minutes in the legs. If Ashford is having a blinder, let him play 80-85 minutes rather than 60. Rest him in the next game. If someone is struggling, make a change early and go again in the next game. Its getting to a $h!t or bust scenario. No time for what is thought to be ideal.
I'd play O Dowda at left back and replace Chambers with Bagan in midfield. That allows Ashford Alves Davies as pace options or playing Robinson and Salech together. The Mannsverk/Chambers midfield is just too slow.
