This is pretty much it. Today was a reality check though. We aren't much better than Palace are (who aren't as bad as their position suggests by the way) and we certainly aren't a mid-table side in this division. We'll compete for the rest of the season I'm sure but I think we're in a false position. The game was **** and they came to sit back but as the home team it's our responsibility to break them down and make a game of it. We can't do that. The last two home games have shown we really struggle when a team has men behind the ball. We can't get behind the midfield never mind the defence. Fair play to Palace they got behind us once and scored the only real chance they had. We had one real chance and missed it with Sagbo but I don't blame him, it took ages for the ball to get in front of him and then Speroni was immediately on top of him. I can't explain what happens with our crossing though. We put loads of balls in and some of them are good quality. One Boyd corner in the second half in particular was a perfect ball and everyone missed it. I just don'[t understand why the strikers can't get near the crosses.
Trust me to go to the worst game of the season. Awful passing play, finishing was non existent. We were that bad we made palace look ok. Appalling that the stewards tried taking the flag, nice to see everyone in East helping out to get it back
Absolutely dire game of football. Very similar to the Sunderland game where we can't break down a poor team set out to counter-attack. Why do we insist on putting in so many floated early crosses when we don't even have a target man? Graham was yet again horrific. He points where he wants a ball but only starts moving if it gets played. Half of a strikers job is to stretch the opposition and create space for others. Elmo is not good enough as a right back or a right mid. He is completely non-inventive and has one trick in taking a heavy touch past the defender and trying to run after the ball. Koren is not a player we can afford to carry in the premier league. We are basically playing with ten men for most of the game. The best caller on Humberside was a Palace fan who said that Huddlestone was playing too deep and I completely agree, he was like a centre back at times and couldn't have anywhere near his usual impact. Sagbo looked very good and tried to do things differently but there was nobody predicting what he would do and latching on to his flicks, although he should have definitely finished the chance he had one on one. Livermore was my MOTM, he got himself around as usual and looked to pass and move unlike nobody else. Boyd was good, but he doesn't have the pace to be a winger and he isn't really a 10 either. I think a creative player could be more important than the striker we have been demanding for years as even RVP wouldn't have had many chances to score today. On the point of the protests, what morons think that chanting 'City Til' I Die' will have a negative effect on the players. All they hear is noise and the only possible outcome is that it will lift them. The only thing they will have noticed is the inept stewarding, but if you seriously believe the protest caused them to be **** on the pitch you need to question your sanity.
There's an argument City are suffering from successive managers who were defenders. We haven't had a clue in attack for a long time now and I think SB needs some help in this area.
I don't like questioning the manager but I'd love for him to explain to me what the plan is with all these crosses. Is he telling them to do it or is it just a lack of ideas/patience?
I think clearly the right flank is our weakest area and this needs to be addressed. Our ability to link the midfield and the forward is none-existent at the moment and if Aluko is going to be missing for a while we need a replacement. Sagbo is decent and holds the ball up well but no one is making the runs in behind or providing support. Should have buried his chance. In January we need a RM, AM, ST as a priority. First XI _____________McGregor Rosenior - Chester - Davies - Figueroa ______Livermore - Huddlestone X______________X___________Brady _______________X
The main strategy is about neutralising better teams, keeping tight at the back and relying on crosses because there's at least a chance of a free-header. The trouble is players can't just get out of that mind-set and attack in a free-flowing style when we play lesser teams. SB needs to take the shackles off, play two up front at home and tell them to get the ball on the deck.
It hasn't worked for a while now, I can't remember the last time we scored a header that came in from a cross. If it wasn't working after 45 mins, why didn't Brucey give the order to play it on the ground, maybe drill the crosses across the face of goal (which actually increases the chance of an OG) in the hope that Graham/Sagbo can get on the end of it? Poor today, they're the worst team in the division and we could've done with the three points to give us momentum. Graham didn't offer anything again, not sure why he was restored to the starting line up but I'm sure Brucey has his reasons.
Someone would try a low cross but we can't get behind the full back to do it. Elmo and Brady last year in the 3-5-2 used to do it a lot since we couldn't get through teams down the middle but it's impossible without getting to the byline first. The problem we've got now is we can't get through teams down the middle, or on the wings. Figueroa got to the byline once today that I can remember. Apart from that it was just crosses floated in from deep.
Yeah, it's become far too predictable. The 4-3-3 was a positive move, but it's a formation that requires patient build up and support, not deep crossing and it's something we're going to have to address. I don't know why Sagbo kept drifting wide; he's the tallest forward on the park and yet he's the one putting the ball in. If you were going to have a target man, surely it should be Proschwitz? I mean, this isn't his level, but the tactics we're using would suit him more than any other forward we're using at the moment. So, with that in mind, I think it's time for a bit of a change. With Chester back next week, could we risk going 5-3-1-1 against Liverpool? McGregor Rosenior McShane Davies Chester Figueroa Koren Huddlestone Livermore Brady Sagbo Just think that'd give us extra protection against Suarez and would allow Brady to drop to left wing and make it a 4 man midfield to stifle the likes of Coutinho.
I disagree Tommy I don't like the 4-3-3 unless you've got real attacking wingers. Our team is too defensive for me. Our strikers play on the wing, our wingers play too deep and our midfielders play on halfway. How do we expect to score. Boyd and Brady are decent players but those two alone are not going to get us goals. I'd like to see a return to 3-5-2 when Chester is fit.
Poor performance. Like a championship game. Nobody showed the class needed at the top level. The worst performances were from Elmo, Koren and Sagbo. Awful. Everyone else merely mediocre. If we don't sort this quick then we'll be in a relegation scrap by Christmas.
Not so sure Allam sent them, I tend to think they were CTID sympathisers looking to maximise TV coverage for the campaign.
Is it time to consider thoughts on Charlie Austin? How many games through injury has he missed this season? It's not hindsight, so many posted we'd live to regret this one.... I don't understand this. From the moment we got promoted we were ALWAYS going to be in a relegation scrap until a point mathematics says otherwise.
You are right of course and we all know it. Its just that we dont like to be in it,if its at all possible. Seems that that is not going to be the case. Re the game you could sense as time went on that it was going to end up that way.
Bloody depressing today, but hands up all those who saw it coming. We always struggle against no hopers. Peterboro and Bristol last season spring to mind. Whilst I am not about to press the panic button the signs are there. Never one to criticise Koren but did he turn up today...Awful.. Still plenty of faith in Steve to sort it out. PS... The off the field antics did more harm than good and any sympathy by the fence sitters as now surely gone...Talk about a counterproductive protest. Brainless..
Long way to go yet. As I said to Mr Hat, we were going to hit poor form at some point and we'll see over the next few weeks how we will deal with it. We wouldn't say we were safe by this point, so in no ****ing way can you say we're heading for the Championship already when there's so much more football to play.
