Having read all the negatives about how we are playing (or not playing) according to some on here I just thought I would put my twopence worth in. Stoke is a hard place too go and get any result, that's two seasons in a row we have kept a clean sheet and taken 4 points out of 6, quite a change from our days with manager Bruce where we capitulated from a winning position in the last three minutes to loose 3 - 2. Can you remember a time when we started a season with five away games and only one defeat, (I can't) we have been perannual poor travellers and at least MoN seems to have got that right. We have had three home games two tough ones,'pool and our neighbours and didn't loose either, we did beat the supposed lesser team in Wigan. Yes we are not playing like Barcelona but with three or more of our regulars playing below par we are still digging out results, proving beyond doubt we are becoming a very difficult team too beat. This coming week will go a long way to define our season, a hard derby game against the Smoggies, in a competition MoN looks on in high regard so I expect a full team out there to ensure our progress, then we welcome Judas and Co. (that is if he gets a game) and again this game if won will ensure a decent start to what is in my opinion a misfiring season that with a more forward looking attacking display will ensure we are well on our way to an easy top ten finish.. Keep the faith.
C'mon mate. To not have 1 single shot on target is just awful. How many against Newcastle the week before, How many against City. Arsenal, Liverpool. Happy to take a point away to any team but it's the manner of the way we are doing it. We even have some posters saying they would rather lose "giving it a go" than turning up to bore our way to a point. I do still support MON, We do have some good players. THEY, each and every one need to take a good look at themselves and get the tactics/formation changed NOW.
According to Lineker on Motd we have had 17 shots on target all season and one of them was from Demba Ba. I'm no football tactician but I do realise you need to shoot to score. I'm not in the I would prefer to get beat and entertain group but surely there should be at least some entertainment when you go to the game. However, the defence and the goal keeper are performing wonders but I do find myself wondering if defence vs attack in training is fletcher vs everybody else. Finally, I think mancini knew exactly what he was doing ripping us off over johnson
Isn't that the whole point MMM. Despite all the short comings we are experiencing at the moment we are still extremely difficult to beat, and I firmly believe that we have the players to put this right and feel we will start doing that very soon, hence my glass is still half full, and when we start playing to our full potential then that glass will be full too overflowing.
Totally agree with you welder, the players are there, we just have to use them correctly. I think that now Bardsley is back we might see a change, get Gardner back to his preferred position, I honestly think Johnson will come good then. O'Neil has his reasons for playing people out of position and it doesn't make sense to the vast majority of us but to start moaning about the start to the season, unbeaten except to the champions isn't that bad, its certainly not the worst start we've ever had.
Or..... our players need to improve (work harder) and adapt to the tactics we play. we lack confidence as much as anything else going forward. That said, my patience is almost completely worn out with the far too defensive pairing of Catts and Colback.....Gardner is a must in the middle.
