Flinty might not be the most skilful on the deck but he don't have know how to use his head, he'll do I...
Flint has been at fault for more goals than any other player in the team this season along with doing well but his football going fowards is limited and some. The five pillars are gone and Cotterill has spent a lot more to get more in other positions and a very obvious thing that can push City on even more is a central defender who can bring the ball out from the back or play it to feet quicker. City are close to having a team of footballers in all positions. Had City down as champions at the start of this season and seeing all the games bar one now feel City should not just win it they can walk away with it with a bit more in an very obvious position.
Would also like to point out I know Ivanovic is more of a wide defender, just used his name as an excuse because Terry is a cock and you English don't rate Cahill
Five pillars is still in place, just Cotterill got some older players in as well in Wilberham and Elliot (whose complaining there?) All the rest are young players. Even the god like SoD had older players like Marlon ****ing Harewood. Bryan is making a good run in the team, and Wes Burns is also a fringe player. But Sod bought Flint. who a few on here was pining for and saying we are looking like a young team going for it. But Cotterill got the best out of Flint Laws of averages would point that the central defender is more likely to be at the centre of blame for conceding a goal.
Didn't complain didn't know who Wilberham really was as the five pillars along with Keith Burts job was already binned. As soon as Steve Cotterill came into the job as he stated he wanted to be in charge of everything. There are no guidelines at City anymore to keep to which is why City are spending bigger and older. The job Steve Cotterill is doing now he would not be able to do say 18 mths ago because Jon & Steve Lansdown had instructed everybody they were going to follow what they said. Now Steve Cotteril is instructing them on what he wants.
But as some have told me, it's nice to have a manager stand up to Lansdown and say he wants this and that. You just got to hear Cotterill's interview saying the chairman shouldn't of said anything regarding Agard to 20pence. Maybe this is the reason we are seeing an upturn in fortune. Like many I wasn't thrilled with Cotterills appointment but I kept quiet wanted to see what he could do. Because I didn't give SoD a chance didn't want him, spoke to a forest fan who confirmed my doubts. When he was here it felt I was losing my love of City because of him. But I read up on Cotterill and realised the teams he played at before stated he likes hard work etc and we are seeing it.
I would not have given Steve Cotteill a chance under the pillars. He would not have joined. I think we are seeing the value of cash on the pitch. Steve Cotterill has spent the more there to spend now well. Thankfully the football is better than what he has played elsewhere as that was not football although v Rochdale City stopped playing and smashed it long and it took Fielding to save the game. No need for that no excuses as there are players all over his squad who can do better. I expect City to win the league and win it well. I want to see City ran far better long term and that does take a club with a strong hand telling the manager what is what. Smaller clubs than City have done a lot better than City have and for longer with less cash. Burnley seemed to have spent eras above City and that can't be down just to attendances and wealth.
the best thing is........................we will still get better i think, but the big test will be when we lose and how quick we react/get over it?
Until an opposition team really pushes City, I don't think we will see how good they are. They have beaten all but 'Dale and the O's so far with seemingly relative ease. The MK game will be a decent yardstick as I don't think they will come to our place and sit back.
On paper I'd say there's around 5-6 "hard games" .. we'll be playing teams like notts county and Sc**thorpe most weeks.. but when we play the likes of Preston or MK dons then we will see if the players can push themselves
I thought we were lucky against Sheffield United to be honest - they had their chances and didn't put them away. I suppose first game of the season is a bit 'random' though. It's nice to see all the positivity on here, with us enjoying being top of the league. However, there is plenty of the season left for the wheels to come off and as I think Banksy said in another post, the real test will be how we bounce back from a defeat.
If Fleetwood won today they would be joint second - this was a decent point (and I would have taken it if offered before the game) Of course it's disappointing to draw when 3-1 up, but the unbeaten run continues (as does my beard growth)
I felt the same. I thought we would draw today. Fleetwood hadn't scored in 4 but had had a good start otherwise- Didn't expect us to concede 3 but I hear their 3rd was pretty unstoppable- Disappointing to surrender a 3-1 lead but hopefully the team will learn from it- Still 21 from 9 and unbeaten.
All of us would have taken 4 points from 2 away games, but its still criminal to throw away a 2 goal lead But as others have said, the unbeaten run goes on
Like most City fans, my delight at being top of the league and unbeaten, yet tinged with disappointment that we could not see the game out at 3-1. It will not get any easier from now on with another "match of the season" next Saturday with MK Dons. At least it's good to be back on the success roller coaster instead of falling off before the journey starts.
Just a thought/comment on a match which I did not see or hear on radio. Last season SC used Burns as an impact sub when we were playing catch up in games and desperately trying to avoid relegation. Reading comments on OTIB that we changed Agard and Freeman for Pack and Wagstaff, clearly trying to bolster the midfield. Yet we still conceded. Perhaps it changes the shape of the team too much and allows opposition defence/midfield more time on the ball to probe for openings. So would it be better to keep our shape and sub JET or Burns for Agard to keep their back four more occupied?
In hindsight I don't understand the substitution's but packing the midfield is a normal tactic teams take when winning. It was a gamble but it didn't come off when it should of protected a bit better.
