Ok, I have absolutely no argument that tonight was the most inept performance I have seen at AG for a VERY long time, and that even includes the 6 against Cardiff and the 5 against Donny and the hope built up from improved performances in the last few games was severely dented. There is absolutely no doubt about it, we were extremely ****e tonight, we couldn't keep hold of the ball for more than 5 seconds and whats more, it just kept on coming back unchallenged which is the cardinal sin and where today differed from Leicester and Cardiff. Make no mistake however that without Calamity's fine work, the score would have been 0-0. What the hell he thought he was doing trying to punch a routine catch is totally beyond me and frankly, I don't think we ever recovered from this as it totally knocked the stuffing out of us for 10 minutes by which time it was 2-0.. HOWEVER, my biggest bug bear tonight is the stream of callers on the radio tonight after the game, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, we played shocking tonight BUT WE HAVE 8 GAMES LEFT so we have to consign this one to the dustbin and dust ourselves off - it ain't over yet and we go again. Football as they say, is a funny old game - for instance, who saw:- Forest, who couldn't score for 6 weeks, whopping Leeds 7 at home Pompey, who have loaned out most of their best players and haven't scored at home this century, sticking 4 past Birmingham or for that matter, City putting 3 past Leicester (and winning) We forgot the basics tonight, we didn't compete with Watford all over the park and I know I will get stick from the Watford guys (who I remember from old 606 and who are a good bunch) but trust me, you weren't much better than us, it is basically a team of about 6 mobile brick ****houses who kick the ball into the stand at the first sign of trouble (I wish we had done it) but it was a pretty crap game all round, not great, not great at all... So, we have no option but to write off tonight and focus on doing the basics better next time and for Christ sake, put the negativity in the cupboard, shut the **** up and get behind the lads...
Prem I completely agree. The thing that annoyed me most about tonight's game wasn't the result, it was just so boring. I haven't watched a game where I genuine couldn't think of a positive reason to watch it for a while now. After Pitman went off we actually managed to play worse which was quite a feat in itself. Watford in terms of footballing ability are almost as bad as Scunny were last year, just more effective. Oh well, onwards to Boro on saturday!
I agree,honestly I do agree,the result would have been nice if we had won,it's the way we lost and continue to lose,there is no pride,no spirit,just an acceptance,it stinks.. I'm off...
If only our players showed some of Prems 'fire' and more importantly belief. From minute 1 Pitman's body language was a disgrace. Nothing in the game and James screws up big time. Sh*t happens - get on with it. Sorry but the reaction of City players was absolutely pathetic, talk about feeling sorry for yourself, a bunch of flaming girls. I hoped for a reaction from Del's half time rocket but nothing, absolutely nothing. Awful performance from City.
As you say footy is a funny old game-but tonight we looked woefull. It will in my humble opinion be a major shock if we stay up. Watford were rubbish,yet we lost bloody scarey.
It's a damn shame we haven't got 11 Jon Steads! The only City player to work his balls off. Watford constantly had three men around him and he won the ball more often than not. When he won the ball did any City players bust a gut to help!? No! Shameful! £5k a week and they play like that, pathetic! Still 8 games to go, things can only get better
As a Watford fan I know that we did not put in a good show tonight, but we have had plenty of troubles over the past few years and have developed a team of players who will go all out and fight for each other. None of them are that good, mostly cheap signings, youth team players and a couple of loans. At the end of the day a lot has to come down to the staff and how they can lift a team and ask them to play. From what I listened to the city defence panicked every time we attacked and that was confirmed by comments from City fans. You do not have players without experience, so a game plan for survival needs to be put into action. Hope it works out, I had expected a draw at the best for us tonight.
with Coventry playing Portsmouth on Saturday one, or possibly both, will be even closer to us by 5pm. However we are NOT in the relegation spots yet, but I fear it will come down to the last 2 games. Barnsley and Burnley, who will probably have nothing to play for. Goodness we will have to have some fighting spirit by then.
The best fighting display I have seen from us was against Leicester, when we had Bryan and Foster playing midfield and protecting the fullbacks. We seem to have ditched this idea, Why? I actually think bringing back Albert was a mistake as we rely on him too much, and when he is having an off day we don't have many other options. HOPE? well we were the better team for 15 or so minutes then "Calamity" played his part.So if we can put 6x15mins into one game we might even win another one. I think Keeper is a problem for us though. James doesn't ooze the confidence you would expect from a former England No 1 he doesn't have command in the box and sitting in the Ateyo there appeared to be a number of times when the ball should have been his but he didn't come or missed it. What does that do to an already shakey defence? I'm expecting relegation (there I've said it) and will be very peasantly surprised should we manage to stay in this league!!
Look I don't want to have a go at Del but he consistently refused to play Stead for months and yet he is the the only one who really gives 100% every game. It worries me that his judgement of players really isn't what we would hope it is. Aslo he seems to be failing to motivate or organise them in the right way. Whatever the game plan is - time to get it bloody working Del!
Not sure he has a game plan, what is his style of football? what are his tactics? what formation does he favour? Does he give motivation? Who knows!
and there you have the essence of the problem, neatly wrapped up in one short sentence - "what is his style of football, what are his tactics and what formation" Some of you might recall that I have been banging on about not playing "joined up" football for about 4 seasons now. The simple fact is that we do not have many football intelligent players in the current first team squad (and I'm talking about the regulars) meaning that we do not have enough ability to play "fluid" football or play clever formations so, what can the manager do...? The best method is to flood the midfield with 5 and hope to make up for lack of ability with hard work and effort but Pearson aside, this meant that the lone striker didn't really have anyone playing with him with enough brains to work out that they needed to burst forward to give support, something we have been extremely crap at for many years now except for Marv who sadly, most times (sorry Shiny) couldn't hit a cows backside with the proverbial banjo... So we tried 4-4-2 without Albert and Joe Bryan in his place against Leicester and it worked very well and whats more, we won but that only works if EVERYONE runs, harries and keeps the ball like they did that night however last night, we couldn't keep it or find a red shirt for love nor money. Right now, we do ANYTHING that works but I guarantee you that next year, we will have a team that has intelligent footballers who know what they are doing and are confident on the ball THEN we will be a different proposition...
I think that depends if we stay up or if we go down... Maybe you're right if we stay up If we go down, then no decent players will want to come to us, Del might not stay, money will be tighter as attendances will fall and then it will take a time for players to gel. All if's but's or maybe's.
I love your optimism prem but we are fast running out of games where we can look back and create excuses as to why we didn't win. This has to be one of the worst squads to put on a City shirt and my disappointment is aggravated by the sad fact that we just can't compete at this level and nobody has the answer to our problems. They all seem to lack any endeavour or commitment to winning, so how the heck can we survive when we have the aura of a team that is a solid candidate for relegation? Yes it can be turned around with a couple of good results combined with other team's failures, but relying on that scenario is somewaht like hoping to use your return ticket on the Titanic. Get the icebergs out of the way please.
It's more important than ever that we get some wins and secure our status in this league. In the summer a number of players will leave the club and it'll be the first opportunity any manager since GJ has had to build their own squad. I would much rather have McInnes building for the Championship rather than for League 1.
