Big clanger. Meant we had semi-fit attackers. Meant team unbalanced as Elmo and Brady had no-one to play off as Meyler and Quinn sucked in too central. Solution - back to 3-5-1-1 which is really what we usually play. Start Simmo against Barnsley. Start Fahti or Evans in central mid. Either play Boyd in the hole or drop him for Koren (or Fahti who has good shot on him and would do well there).
I would have started Fryatt, but wouldn't have started Gedo. If Gedo was only 50/50, it shouldn't have been risked. I would have had Fathi in midfield and Boyd up front with Super Matt. Saying that, I thought Gedo played really well but we didn't exactly give the strikers any chances at goal... These are the sort of games that we miss Aluko. That ability to just bring 3 players to him and then take them out of the game with a nice pass into someone and create a few chances. He gives a whole new dimension to our attack.
I can't remember us having a good game when playing Meyler as our most defensive midfielder (perhaps there might have been one). Meyler isn't particularly suited to that linking role. You need somebody who you know will be in the middle of the pitch to receive a pass and then move it on, keep possession in their half and then give it to the players who create chances. Evans does that role well, and Fathi seemed okay at Wolves.
The thing is Fryatt has had too long out to suddenly throw him into pressure situations where lack of match sharpness is exposed. Simpson is playing well - people are just too blinkered about his poor goal return. He beasts oppo defences, holds the ball up, and brings others into play. Once again we improved when he came on.
Bruce made a very pointed comment after wolves about how we've got where we are by not making mistakes and today fathis mistake has been punished. Seems harsh on the lad as he played a good game and if anything was guilty of trying too hard. Considering he's been warming the bench since he arrived you can't place him for that. Against an average Bristol side we just needed some energy so why we started with two unfit forwards and plenty of players dead on their feet when we have a relatively fresh Fathi, Cairney, Simpson et al I don't know. If ever there was a game to play one or two second stringers that was it....third game in six days, against a team lacking much talent. And it's obvious to everyone Boyd doesn't cut it in midfield, please don't play him there again Brucey.
Fathi just isn't as good as some of you I imagine? So desperate you over rated how well he played and totally gloss over the schoolboy error that led to their goal? SB has made mistakes with team selections, what manager doesn't but Fathi isn't one of them. I agree Simmo should have played. The only one who plays back to goal and shows for the ball.
Boyd should be nowhere near midfield, hes wasted there, and it leaves us a man short in the middle. I think its time to look at 442, the last few weeks weve looked much better when weve brought Rosenior on than when weve played 352.
Both Fratt and Elmo shouldn't have played, they both looked off the pace. I would have put Fathi in the holding roll, as Meyler is not suited to that slightly deeper position. Simpson looked a much better option when he came on, and should have started with Boyd. Having said all that they all looked as if they were running on empty, so I think to play Saturday/Tuesday/Friday is asking a bit to much of the players, to perform at the best.
Chester makes errors that lead to goals sometimes, all players do. It doesn't mean that we're over-rating him. Fathi played brilliantly at Wolves, and a lack of communication made a mistake. A player doesn't have 90+ caps for his Country being over-rated. He has ability and he's proven that. Simpson is a good larker, but you use a striker for goals. If you like playing forwards that do everything but score, you should ask Steve Bruce to recall Aaron McLean and play both him and Simpson up front.
Your getting desperate again with the Fathi ****fest. Why did SB drop him? I doubt you will see him again in a City shirt. If you can't see the difference between McLean and Simmo there's no hope. But again SB can, that's why ones here and ones gone.
Steve Bruce is rubbish and had to go now if we're to stand any chance of getting promoted, failing to beat the bottom 2 sides in consecutive games is not good enough and we've now blown our chances. Get terry Connor in for the last 2 games.
I'm desperate again? When was I desperate before? SB dropped him because he wanted to field Quinn, Meyler, Boyd, Gedo and Fryatt. And maybe we won't see him in a City shirt again but I think he's a very tidy footballer and definitely does a job. The differences between McLean and Simpson? Simpson had a good run of form at the beginning of the Season and scored 6 goals. McLean didn't. Ever since the home game against Wolves, Simpson has scored 1. McLean and Simpson both hold the ball up, work hard, run around the field and bust a gut, but they don't score enough. There's not much difference really?
I am not going to be critical of SB because he has done wonders for us this season. He is the manager, he sees players everyday we don't. All I would say is that I think he gambled last night and it didn't came off for him. **** happens and it did for him last night, and the rest of us come to that. We know we are not playing up to scratch but surely these players have enough about them to want to get us over the line. Time to prove it lads with two games remaining.
To blame him for the goal is silly, he lost possession on the half way line, there were 2 defenders behind him and the goalie. Stockdale could have done much better to make the save. He was probably our best player on Tuesday and probably showed enough to be played against the already relegated, bottom side. But SB played Boyd, who is an AM or striker, in CM. Earlier in the season he played Bruce, who is a CB. He wanted Boyd for the creativity, but didn't bet on Bristol crowding him out, or Boyd having probably his worst game in a City shirt.
