1. The visit to Accrington in midweek gave us all a handy, welcome reminder of how going to City can be, and should be, much more than just viewing a meagre football match. The camaraderie, kinship and capability for humorous self-deprecating that goes with a visit to a new place is invaluable. The whole evening, from convening in the pub to being dragged through Lancashire’s back streets when the motorway was closed, was wonderful. 2. Do we include the football in that? In the end, yes. The 90 minutes were vapid, barren, lacking in redemption, but what’s not to like about a four-goal extra time romp and eventual victory on penalties? 3. It’s a good thing we did win, though. Steve Bruce picked a very strong side but too many high calibre pros didn’t take it seriously. Defeat by any means to the side regarded as the smallest in the league would have been unthinkable. Too many players need to check their egos at the door before we play Rochdale at home in the second round. 4. Our goalkeeping situation is horrendous. Eldin Jakupović has one massive error in him per game, and was culpable for Accrington’s second goal. Saving a couple of tired, Division Four penalties at the end does not make him a better, more dependable keeper. 5. The Wolves game was a thoroughly fascinating and absorbing encounter, one that jangled the nerves as we defended with a combination of resoluteness and luck, created a remarkable amount of goalscoring chances despite being under seemingly constant attack, before essentially chucking one in our own net courtesy of another goalkeeping brain fart. A draw against a highly thought of Wolves side was probably the right result in the end, and suggests that we’ll occupy a Townsendian ‘in or around’ position regarding the play off spots at least this year. 6. Was playing so deep a designed approach, figuring the defence good enough to cope with Wolves’ high octane attack and seeking to hit them on the break with nippy wide men, or just the consequence of a powder puff midfield that waved their counterparts through? Either way the midfield was our weakest unit by far at Molineux. 7. David Meyler’s introduction had a hugely positive impact on the game, he gave the defence needed respite by stemming the tide of Wolves attacks and allowed City to enjoy some possession. Akpom and Jelavić (though seeming to loathe each other) we’re able to truly work together when we had the ball more, and instead of just meaning to survive the game we started trying to win it. Meyler also nipped any Huddersfield resurgence in the bud when he came on last week and warrants inclusion from the start in upcoming league games. He’s an underrated player, albeit no penalty taker. 8. As equally overrated is Tom Huddlestone. There are those who’ll tell you that he drives us forward, or that he plays a quarterback role, dropping back and spraying long passes all over the park, and that it is essential for our promotion chances that we hold onto him in the face of interest from West Ham. Is he really irreplaceable? When was the last time he drove City forward in a game? He played well against Huddersfield but to claim he ran the game is stretching credulity, and the quarterback analogy? Please! If we’re to run with that description, then he lacks pocket awareness and all too often his passes are off the mark or intercepted. The game passed him by at Wolverhampton, his first real chance to show he’ll be a phenomenon at Championship level as some claim. Steve Bruce won’t want to lose anyone before the transfer window closes, but he could probably cope just fine if QB Troy, sorry Tom Huddlestone were to decamp to Upton Park. 9. We need a new goalkeeper to challenge Allan McGregor, for his own sake. The mistake at Wolves, which must have been a knife to the heart of his defence who’d performed heroics, doesn’t mean he’s done at City, but the first team ‘keeper spot can’t be his just because the alternative is Jakupović. 9a. Kenny Jackett didn’t think the shove on Curtis Davies warranted a penalty. Kenny Jackett would have cried foul if that much force was applied to one of his men in our penalty box. No doubt about it. 10. Jake Livermore needs help, not condemnation right now. We hope that footballing and financial concerns are secondary and tertiary issues for the club in dealing with him, and that helping improve his mental wellbeing is the priority. http://www.ambernectar.org/blog/2015/08/things-we-think-we-think-194/
From the Wolves forum 'The penalty was down to a Premier referee and a relegated team. We would never have got it. It was no way a push. Hause had his hand on his back and Davies threw his hands in the air and arched his back like an extra in a B Movie shot by a sniper. An outrageous dive. Justice was done in the end.'
As is usually the case with TWTWT there's not much to disagree with. I just hope that (9) happens sooner rather than later, although our management should certainly never have allowed the situation to develop in the first place.
Accrington being the best away day experience for a few years should tell us all everything we need to know about the Premier League.
To my memory he attempted one shot yesterday, he spotted the keeper off his line from thirty yards and went for it, the ball landed on the roof of the net. It was a very good effort, had it been maybe a foot lower the keeper wasn't getting near it.
That was a brilliant shot, there wasn't another player on the pitch that had the technique to hit a ball like that.
How come his goals to shots ratio is so poor then? I think one reason is it's always obvious when a Huddlestone shot is coming. There's little element of surprise. Also he so often drags his shot wide. If he really had a great technique for shooting he might you know, er, score regularly.
there was also the free kick over the bar, and I'm pretty sure he dragged one wide in the 1st half but maybe that's just poor recollection on my side.
It's just the football version of being hipster. We had some amazing away days in the Premier League, anyone that says different either wasn't there or is lying.
Going to guess you never went to Accrington then. Or any lower league ground. Away days outside of the Prem > Away days in the Prem.
Being Hipster? Bollocks. I prefered the lower leagues when hipsters were nothing more than **** undercrackers. At least you got to drool over Rooney, personally I'd rather have a crack with Mooney.
I've been to plenty, far more than you given you were probably under 10 the last time we played in the third tier or below. Both have their merits and both have their drawbacks, to say ones always better than the other based on the division is ridiculous.
I went to away days in the fourth tier, so age means **** all mate. There are two very good reasons why lower tier away days are better than ones in the Prem: 1. Price 2. Atmosphere These two things are key components to fans when it comes to away days. Both are much worse in the Prem.
From a wheelchair accessibility point of view, lower league grounds are a nightmare. Except, North Ferriby which gives a wonderful view of Billy Heath's fat head
Swansea away in our first PL season was brilliant. Probably one of my favourite footballing memories from my trip aside from the 6-0 over Fulham and 3-1 over Liverpool.
First time ever I find myself agreeing with them on everything. It's really better when they just stick to actual football mind. The reverse snobbery in this thread about real grounds and proper games is comedy gold. Personally I don't care who we're playing, or where.
