Slept on it and it's no better this morning - in fact the more I recall it the worse it gets. I know we've all got our own opinions on here and rightly so, but the best two players on the pitch were Chambers and Mannsverk when he came on - both showed some guts and urgency that put others to shame. The worst, and by a mile, were Robertson, Colwill and Ramsey - the heart of our midfield were abysmal. We can't control the ball and pass it accurately going forward, and barely keep it in play passing it across the back. The lack of progress with the ball at feet is shocking. Alves goes round in circles but at least he retains the ball whereas Colwill falls over himself and loses it. I don't want to see Willock play any part in this run in - he looks completely disinterested and slows the game down allowing the opposition to get back behind the ball. At least Zak had a go and Cian would have done given the chance. Managementwise, Riza has become a liability rather than stability at the helm - he really hasn't the grip on what we need to do. That's playing to our existing strengths such as they are, rather than trying to create a magic bullet combination that never happens.
Nobody played well. He's lost the plot completely and if he remains in charge we go down. The subs made us worse if anything. Back to the awful Chambers (so many plays break down with him passing backwards) Mannsverk pairing. Mannsverk again one of the players allowing Bowler to put the ball into the box for the goal that just isn't on. Ramsey miles off it Robertson terrible. Alves and Colwill trying to do far too much. The defence is shocking but when he can't pick a settled one then what do we expect. No Ashford at all and to cap it all Meite. Unless Riza is replaced then we are going down. We almost loaned Ashford out. We've made a huge error with Joel Colwill. He should be one of our 3 midfielders. We desperately now need a past his best Joe Ralls back to show at least some fight in the engine room.
Joel Colwill, a great prospect, did well at Cheltenham in Div 2 but can't get a start at struggling Div. 1 Exeter. Yes Ralls would show some dog but another backwards/sideways passer and very slow. Apart from maybe Bagan for O'Dowda that was pur first choice defence until Daland is fit and Fish was one of our better, and I use that term loosely, players last night. All in all, we are royally f@cked, right up the ar$e.
4 wins in 24 games. Our 5-6 points cushion has all but been eroded. How can he still be in the job this morning? City need a Red Adair appointment.
I've heard it all now - so it's Ralls to the rescue then. I like the bloke and he embodies the right spirit needed. I wouldn't be suprised if he resumed his job as our midfield mugger, but that's about it. He'll never create anything from midfield to win games and whilst we're reliant on Ramsey/Colwill/Robertson and even Willock to provide it, we're doomed. I can't believe all the hype surrounding Colwill - he's talented but a complete waste of time in a bottom half battle - he can only play well in a team that's playing well. At this level he's your ultimate luxury player - we can't afford him in the side. If Turnbull comes back strong and can give us half a dozen games we might have a decent shout, but until that (or something else) happens, we'd be better off playing an old fashioned 4-4-2 and provide from out wide with Zak and Ashford - Tanner is another option when fit.
Sorry butts but we were honking last night too. Can’t believe how bad Sam Allison is as a ref, but the bugger did our game against them at home too, very suss. We huffed and puffed but never looked like scoring, so far off the pace it’s baffling.
Turnbull. Another one we need getting rid of. Plus let's go all Mike Bassett and 442. Are Benson and Hedges available?
I'd take a Mike Bassett 4-4-2 and stay in the Championship - you can have the current rotating 3-2-2-2-1 and enjoy League One next season.....
I don't care who he selects or what formation. He's lost it completely. He's taking us down. He's talking about changes again. He stays we are down. Get rid now we may stay up.
I tend to agree - mind you, he might strike lucky with a formation one day............... I just wonder who can do a job for us over the next 9 games - the time Tan takes over decisions though, it could be the last 2 games...........
There’s a 2 week gap after Saturday. Plenty of time to pay a football consultant to source a saviour. If left to the Chuckle Brothers they’d bell McCarthy & Connor
