I don't understand Garrido starting over Olsson either. Garrido is a reasonable player, but he had a poor game today. Was this a game where City haven't adjusted to RvW's strengths up front yet. I still think we have an excellent squad and players who will play better than this.
Thing is, it's quite clear that Olsson isn't fit enough to last 90. And once you've committed Garrido on, and they're down to ten men, how negative would replacing a left back be? I agree he shouldn't be on, but I don't really see that we had any other choice. You can't tell the team to go out hassling away from home - it is too risky. At half time he obviously instructed them to do so, and they did. Taking off Redmond was exactly the right decision - he was tiring fast and his decision making was simply awful at times. I agree that he looks dangerous, but looking dangerous and having an impact on the pitch haven't come together for him yet. I actually thought that little chip was precisely the wrong idea - too complicated and risky. It barely came off, and there was a better option to his left. I don't think Hughton had any choice on midfield - Snodders is also clearly unfit and weave no wide right player. The only change, on reflection, that I would have made to the starting line up would have been Hoolahan on wide left for Tettey with Redmond on the right, but even that wouldn't have been ideal - Hoolahan was poor last week and that's two players out of position. I agree about the decision making point. Ultimately, it wasn't Hughton gifting the opposition the ball, it wasn't Hughton walking instead of making runs to pull the defence out of position and it wasn't Hughton making precisely the wrong decision (like Garrido's difficult pass when he was clean through?!?) I'm happy to criticise Hughton when gets it wrong, but it wasn't here.
I feel frustrated and annoyed too, Hull is the type of game we should take points from, no disrespect to Hull. They didn't look threatening at all in 2 games now, they got the win, but they won't get a penalty in every game. I thought we controlled the game, had more possession, created chances (stats said we had 14 attempts the last time I looked, not that bad away from home) but we we terrible upfront and couldn't score which is the same old record last season. I'm feeling down about the result, but got to remain positive lol
Of course, every other team that fields a lot of new signings are given time for them to settle in, but some of you lot think we should expect our new ones to be up and running straight away! It's so easy to see why some of you aren't football managers!
I've been negative about Hughton in the past, but not even I'm blaming him for that one. Feel sorry for RvW - his movement really deserves much better service. It's already starting to look like a long hard season ahead.
Ah but Dave, this weeks team (except Fer) was the same as last weeks team and the general consensus was that it was not a bad performance, with some even going as far as to say it was very good. So why such a difference today, with 1 NEW player?
Why can't you press away from home? They had 10 men and didn't have an out and out striker for around 40 minutes for that game. Fer played behind the striker why couldn't he press Huddlestone every time he had the ball? It wouldn't affect our defensive shape too much. I completely disagree with that myself. That chip was perfectly fine in my book, it created a rare chance. Plus why knock it left to Garrido who's had a poor game and once again try and put it on RVW's head. RVW can head a ball but make the most of his movement and technique which he is better at. Also, despite being poor last week, Wes should have started. The first thing I thought when that line up came out was, where are chances going to come from. I thought Fer might be able to do it, but I wasn't exactly impressed with him today, although he wasn't as bad as Tettey. Incidently that paragraph I wrote about decision making was not aimed at Hughton etc. that was just an observation I had from the game which our players need to work on. I just happened to add it to that same post. Saying all that, I do think that the players were just as much to blame if not more. Hughton should have expected a lot better from them and they let him down as well as the fans. I just think he got a couple of calls wrong myself.
Last week we played a very good Everton team, the whole team had to knuckle down and defend and counter, this week the onus was on us to attack, but most of them were not performing to the best of their ability! That will come in time, but not if most of you are going to turn into Canary callers!
When 11 v 11 it is always dodgy pressing - leaves too much space. And as I said, we did press after the player went off, or at least after half time once Hughton had the chance to tell them to. Completely agree about Hoolahan, but it was a difficult decision. I just think the players were too poor to point to some ifs and buts with Hughton's decisions. Also agree about Fer, very disappointing.
Spot on Dave, we will get better. If everyone were to beat the bottom teams, they would all sit on 0 points (until they play each other, before someone chirps in )
Think for the next game I'd like to see Ryan Bennett and Olsson to start, not having a go at Turner but I think Bennett finished last season off strongly. Also hope Bassong is back and we should have Snodgrass from the start. At least after this game, the players will be pretty fired up for the Southampton game and to make amends.
Someone should have told the players this at about 2:45 today, in fact, someone should have told them we were playing a game today How can an entire team have an off day Seriously, who came out of that game with any credit (in a white shirt)? RVW perhaps as he did little wrong, just couldn't get in to the game because what was going on behind him, Ruddy was faultless but everything between those two was shambolic. Do I now qualify as a Canary caller?
I think it's reasonable to say he can run, dribble, beat players and sometimes get a shot off but when he is not is a shooting position, perhaps 8 times out of 10, he makes a questionable choice of ball. He did it today too. He is exciting but frustrating at the same time and I hope he can eventually emulate Rule Fox or better him, but for now we must wait for him to mature and learn a little more
So you don't think he'd be better off trying to utilise some of the space and movement created by our new £8.5m striker? You ask "what did Redmond do wrong"? Pray tell what did he, or in fact any of them actually do well today?
I can offer nothing in the way of any positivity, it was extremely disappointing, but for anyone to start self-flagellation and calling for CH's head is absolutely ridiculous!
Thought Rusty was worse than Turner today. Would start Bennett against Southampton for him to be honest. Hopefully Bassong will be fit though.
