I noticed Sheepy suggesting on his Reading prediction thread OP that the Charlton game could have been a "blip" and perhaps we should ignore it. Sorry Sheepy, not having a go at you in any way, but how the hell can you ignore it. It was hardly a "blip" - more like the norm for the season. Agree before today the last 3 results have been an improvement before on the points gathering front, but Brentford and Bournemouth showed us how far we're behind them in footballing terms, and Brum were just very poor on the day. Now we have this performance at Reading. I listened to it on City Player and to say that Shep and his sidekick were unimpressed is an understatement. I was also watching the game real time graphics on my B365 account, and the number of times that Reading turned us over on the ball was atrocious. We had no right to anything from the game and got a smash and grab point that we didn't deserve. Doyle and Ralls were poor and needed to go, but even when Kennedy and Mason joined the fray, we had no idea how to feed them. Kennedy and Mason caused them hardly any problems and it makes you think more than ever it's the lack of both midfield guile and particularly energy that's letting us down. Slade has no idea how to solve it. I keep mentioning Adeyemi and he was on the bench again but sat it out. It was obvious that Peltier had a problem long before he went off. It should have been Ralls back to left back earlier and switch Fabio to the right instead of bringing on Malone. That would have allowed Adeyemi to play through the middle in support of the front runners. I realise that's far too radical for Slade and in the end he just more or less changed like for like. That's the mark of a manager devoid of sufficient tactical nous to run any Championship club let alone ours. He really needs to go before we start the summer shopping.
Best described as 90 minutes of my life that I can never get back. To call us clueless would be a compliment. We gave Reading the freedom of the park for the whole game and we were lucky that they had even less idea than us what to do with the ball. We didn't press the ball at all. We had no constructive play through the midfield. Whitts spent most of the game either just in front of the centre backs or playing between them. How the hell is he supposed to hurt the opposition from there? The only bit of quality in the whole game was our goal, taken cleverly and curled well beyond their keepers reach. Funniest part of the day was Slade standing in his 'technical' area for the whole match. That was a waste of time.
Ha Sparks I was looking more in terms of the results of late rather than performances. Got back from Reading bout 2 hours ago, slight problems with the trains, and have to say that Reading must be seriously pissed that they didn't come away with a win. They weren't anything special but City were the poorest I've seen them. One of my mates compared it to the rugby, we certainly spent a large amount of the time passing it sideways and backwards and then hoofing it long (to Doyle/Mason who were at least a head shorter than their defense). Until Macaleny decided to pull that stunner out of nowhere, Federici could have pulled out a sunbed and got his tan on for his forthcoming holiday. Anybody who thinks we're improving needs to next a trip down to the CCS (whatever the result may be) on Monday to see the steaming pile of **** that our performances have become.
Bit harsh on Ralls Sparkey. When he's been in for Gunnar he's got good reviews and he's done a job at full back. He's suffering from the same thing the team is, a crap set up. I still think Ralls has a lot to give in the middle of the park.
I've got no problems with Ralls remote. I like him and he's going to form an important part of the club's team ongoing - but not as he was played yesterday. In fact, I suppose neither him nor Doyle were actually poor, they were poorly used rather than poor - that could have been a mistake in my description. We had no midfield structure to play two "smaller" men up front. The setup was wrong again and Whittingham was anonymous when he should have been influential in that arrangement. I don't know if it's just him or Slade's "tactics" (sic), but the sooner one of them goes the better and then we could find out.
Hope Pilkington is fit soon so Noone can be given a very long rest. He was a liability. Pulling out of challenges and offering no help to Peltier. No threat going forward either. I don't know what the answer is with Fabio. He should never be played at full back. He can't tackle.
Minimal contribution yesterday except for the pass that lead to the goal. Too slow and passes straight to the opposition too often.
Gunnar is a Viking and fearless. He has no equal in the side who'll put his foot/body/head in where it hurts. He'll give his all for the cause but frequently has lapses of vision when on the ball and makes the wrong choice. His biggest downside is that he's slow over the ground and playing him in the middle with Whitts is a major cause of our lack of dynamics in midfield. We're far too slow to move the ball to the front runners when we gain possession. He's also been tried further forward in a sort of No. 10 role but doesn't have the quick feet and brain of a natural in that position. His forte is definitely in front of the back four in the typical Gary Medel role. There's no doubt when he does get forward he'll run at defences and create problems like yesterday and has scored plenty himself going in hard where it hurts - remember our first ever Premier League goal against Man Citeh? All in all he's well worth his place in the team, but the midfield setup has got to change if Whitts is going to play in there as well. If we can't pick out the front boys with killer passes, we need a runner in there who can get forward quickly in support. When is Slade going to give Adeyemi a chance?
Interesting opinions guys. I agree with Hampshire on Noone. Not the player of previous seasons. Perhaps his injury has robbed him of the pace he had. Also afraid to go outside. Their left back had him in his pocket. Disagree on Fabio. Had a poor first 10 minutes but got over that well. In my view and of those around me he put in some great tackles. Tends to dive in a bit and that is risky if mistimed. Like Whitts Gunnar suffers from being played too deep. We don't have a natural defensive midfielder so Gunnar amd Whitts share the role to the detriment of both. Historically they have done their best for us in attacking roles and being goal threats. We need Whitts or someone like him to ensure we have some ball retention. Without him our possession stats would be even worse. He rarely concedes possession. But he needs to play 15/20 yards further forward to be the attacking and goal threat he once was. Doyle and/or Mason woild also thrive with Whitts able to play sharper, shorter passes into channels not hopeful lobs or Hollywood balls. Ralls is another enigma. He is at his best with a definite role and does not have this alongside Gunnar and Whitts. Remote was right in saying he is not at his best when playing with Gunnar. He needs a clear central role or even at left back where he has done well. He was poor yesterday and had to be subbed. But, hey, we are only fans who watch the team every week. What do we know?
Can fully understand that description. On the Gunnar topic, the only way him and Whitts are going to play well together is if there is someone else in there with them. 451, 4231 would work. Arrrrgggghhhhh, we've been saying the same thing for months.
No point starting a new thread - this will do and says it all - I'd only repeat myself. The last time we'd gone 3-0 down was at half time against Brentford and I left. Today I managed another half hour until the 3rd one went in, but that was enough. I'm not even going to start on individual performances - it's pointless having a go at players who are labouring under this dour regime. That was a pathetic clueless peformance from all concerned and the bulk of the responsibility must rest with Slade. He has no idea how to set this side up during a game. In essence, he's a manager in title only and takes the pre and post match media stuff. During a game he's a passenger to events. The game passes him by and he hasn't a clue how to resolve things on the hoof. I've just read that Dalman has scotched the rumours about that Ribeiro bloke which is fair enough, but the worst thing he said was adding that Slade would be our manager next season. That appears to have been before today's game and I hope he has the balls to recount that statement.
You're right to simply add this to your Reading comments. I wonder what pearls from the 'management speak' handbook he will come out with tonight. Probably use words like consolidation, improvement and take the positives. Is it too much to hope that he will start with the words 'I resign'
Given that Mackay has been sacked by Wigan we can only hope Slade will be next. It won't happen though unless we suffer further heavy losses between now and the end of the season. http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/news/a...uncement-malky-mackay-april-2015-2379484.aspx
Are the players so confused they don't realise they should pass to their team mates - the ones wearing blue!!! The stupid thing is we could easily have been 2 or even 3 up at half time.
So pissed off with the way this club is heading that I haven't been bothered to write on here, and it's so quiet it looks like there are quite few feeling the same way. Bluey - we should certainly have been in front at half time - Bolton were very poor and reminded me of Brum in the previous home game. They were there for the taking for the first 45, but therein lies the rub of what's wrong with our management. Lennon could see it, and as a half decent manager did something about it. They upped their game and took over, whereas we looked stale and sorry for ourselves, especially after their first went in. I've never seen our side look so directionless as to what to do under a previous manager - even Solskjaer with his multi shuffle routines at least TRIED something. All Slade could manage was a bloody shuffle in his technical area and say in the post match interview that "he didn't see it coming". So is that it then? FFS, when it starts to go wrong that's when a manager worth his salt sorts it out. Forget about Tan off the pitch, this bloke is killing this club on the pitch. If he's still here to start next season we won't get "official" 15K crowds let alone the mythical 20K attendances at the moment.
So true Sparks. I said during the game that we could have been up but there were signs at the end of the first half that Bolton could do just what they did second half. I'm only a paying fan but have been going to football for over 50 years and I can see it. Why can't those who are trained to and paid to deal with such issues see it and bloody well do something about it!!! Don't make me angry, you won't like me when I get angry. Grrrrr!!!!
I'm just waiting for our very own uncle Fester to get that magical light bulb moment and sort it all out............. please log in to view this image
