So as above.....we have massive defensive issues/injuries.......so why doesnt he counteract this, by giving them some cover with a holding CDM like Diakite?? he waits until its almost too late.....finally makes the change and we look like the side we should have always been, Diakite is pushing too hard to win the game back and ends up getting Clattenburged!
Seems like a pretty ordinary decision. If we blame injuries to our back four, then having a fullback rotting in reserves just highlights the incompetence.
Flogging Gorkks and loaning Hill, cost NW his Job IMO, De ja vu anyone? (even came back to haunt us!!) Young could have done a job last night but as he's not in the 25 whos fault would that be???? (not the gaffers.....) I Blame Joey Barton........... Oh wait Hang on there's another dodgy decision giving OM one of our best players for free. (we looked lightweight last night) Mark Hughes you have my unwaivering confidence and support untill we've been beaten in the next two games. Then I will openly call for your head. A Squad full of old players and a growing injury list, who'd of imagined. Well many on here actually, including me. Mark Hughes - Heads Gone. Thus ends the sermon.
Whilst I agree with some of the criticisms you guys have made of Hughes, TF is right (except for the bit about "we would have won if we didn't go down to 10." )
i think tf has to back hughes as he gave him the job, im not sure for how much longer if this run continues , i still think one win will work wonders
Exactly, Ive been saying this for weeks! I held back going off on one because weve played some difficult teams so i could understand him being so negative. Theres no excuse not to play Taarabt or Hoilett at home to WHU. Hes totally nullifying our attack by forcing SWP into the team thus forcing Park over to the left. Park on the right and Hoilett/Taarabt on the left. Play both of them if we are going 1 up front.
So in that case we may be excused for perhaps shipping a couple goals in games, but with our offensive strike force, we should still be able to score three goals ourselves, and carry the day, especially with the home crowd 100% behind us.
They've made their bed now - Hughes has personally recruited players to share in the "Project" at the behest of Beard and the owners........to get rid now after only half a dozen games would send way the wrong message.......
5 out injured? That leaves 20 to choose from surely there must be 11 out of those that can perform at Prem Level. Can't be that difficult can it?
Noticeable that a man with millions at stake seems much calmer than most. He is reaching a bit for excuses. That said, we started yesterday with a plan tall, strong guys at the back (not that we had too much choice) and the same pairing in the centre that more than coped with the 3 of Chelsea. Didn't work so he moved them around to combat the numerical difference. Didn't work so he subbed a couple and it clicked (note before the 60 minute mark). Hughes is not responsible for the sending off. He did show a plan B and C though. We play well against teams and it's the players who made it happen not Hughes. We play badly but change it and nearly pinch a point and it's Hughes fault for not getting it right again. If I was guessing, I reckon people have an excessive issue with him just because he's dull. Oh and there's a comfy band wagon to leap on.
This is a load of bollix! We were doing better this time last year with a backline that, according to TF and MH's "quality" assessment, were worse than this past weeks' line up! Remember that, Tony? It's not the quality, obviously, because that makes it sound like the ones who aren't injured just aren't good enough - which doesn't instill any confidence in the players who just played. If 6 games doesn't, would 10 games? If we're still bottom after 10 games with not enough points to climb above the relegation line in time, would you act then? And MH doesn't have to keep playing 4-4-2. Why didn't he at least try to hold it off and get a draw, and played 5-4-1? No shame in it, just to go out and try to get a point while we get our injured players back to healthy. Better sooner than later, Tony.
he is responsible for starting SWP and playing park out of position. and only reacting once we were chasing the game.
I assume they were there to provide support for the CB's playing at FB. We were chasing the game after 3 minutes. I'd be surprised if any manager would react before that.
Were you surprised he waited until the 86th min to bring on Hoilett? He should have reacted right after the 2nd goal. Does he have some kind of self imposed rule that no changes or tactical decisions can be made before the 55th minute?
I think Hill needed some cover because he'd have been ruined by Vaz Te's pace. I'd have started Park and Hoilett personally although thought SWP made some decent interceptions.
TF - "He added: "Mark will sort it out. Look at his record. We would have won if we didn't go down to 10." Not so sure about that - maybe could have salvaged a point.
Helguson was unlikely to get many games at his age and understandably doesn't want to see out what will be his last year or two as a pro playing the odd cup game and cameo 20 minutes when we need a goal. With hindsight Young should be there but Bosingwa, Dyer and Fabio are all superior players who can play there and are all injured at the same time, which is just bad luck. The one change I would have made to the 25 is to keep Campbell or even Bothroyd (if you can persuade him to not spend 89 minutes of each game standing on the right wing) in place of Ephraim who is competing with about six players for a place on either wing.