Hayden has now been instrumental in starting the move for Clucas goal against Huddersfield. It was his tenacity that created Aluko's goal against Fulham and now today with Hernandez goal. Pity Huddlestone doesn't take note.
McGregor for that save. Looked ridiculous from the far end. Aluko - best attacker for us although our shape didn't help him. Meyler. Individual performances weren't the problem today.
Some poor performances today. We improved when Hernandez came on and Clucas gave us width on the left that Aluko had failed miserably to do. Hernandez Meyler McGregor
Abel H, he looked like he wants to play well to get a move. McG for that save! Hayden simply because he seemed to move forward. It seems weird that SB has started Hudds & Hayden, then Hudds & Meyler. Next time he'll probably start Hayden & Meyler. I have no idea what Hudds does in training but he doesn't do it on the pitch! Same goes for Jelavic. I can't believe he stayed on for the full game! Maybe we're all being a bit harsh on him as he didn't get much service & when he had a chance the defender blocked well, his header wasn't as bad as his miss against Lichester last year. Abel H & Akpom should start next game! The Jelavic situation is weird. I don't know if SB is hoping he has a game of his life & every team comes up & takes him away, right now he doesn't look like he can be bothered, more like Abel H will be gone if he starts playing well regularly! However one game is not a gauge. When he first came in last year I thought he was the real deal. So let's not go OTT!
1.Hernandez 2. Hayden 3. McGregor Defence was pathetic (excluding McG. who tried to bounce back & restore his confidence). Midfield was equally pathetic and created bugger all. Jelavic is a lumbering wantaway, what was that attempted clearance doing not going into row Z ? - did himself no favours & cost us a goal. Generally the passing was atrocious (Meyler especially, Hudds not far behind, or Robertson for that matter). What happened to Elmo, was he playing ?. Hernandez at least showed some desire, he should have started - bugger Swannie's analysis.Sadly he showed desire at least to put himself in the shop window,for the wrong reasons if you're a City fan - but he was at least professional. Akpom didn't get a sniff today, no feed at all. Aluko started off trying to release the ball - but reverted to trying to beat everybody to get no end product. Very disappointing. Beginning to think Bruce has lost the plot. Attack, attack, attack is not in his lexicon. 85 minutes of dross. It's gonna be a long season.
Hayden Hernandez McGregor - purely for his save at 1-0 Where are the partnerships? Up until today we at least had a solid defensive partnership in Dawson and Davies but even that seemed to fall apart, possibly partly due to the added pressure of having a totally ineffective central midfield partnership of Huddlestone and Meyler in front of them. Robertson & Aluko, didn't work. Elmo & Dave, didn't work. Jelavic and Chooooba, didn't work. Football is a team game, today we didn't look like a team.
Same as last week. I hope they all have 'buy-out' clauses in their contracts of about three and four-pence.
Robertson?! He was dreadful, constantly getting found out defensively and every cross he put in either went out for a goal kick or a throw in on the opposite wing. Worst game I've seen him have in a city shirt...
Clucas looks every bit a lower league player, he was a complete waste of a shirt yesterday, I don't want to see him anywhere near the first team until he's regained some confidence, he was like a frightened rabbit.
1. Hernandez, good anticipation for his goal and it's a shame he didn't check the line before the ball was played for the offside one, as it was a well taken header! (I'd start Luer and him in the cup on Tuesday, let him score a couple of goals to give him the confidence he needs!) 2. McGregor, didn't put a foot wrong at all and saved us from deservedly going 2-0 down, that's more like it! 3. Hayden, I think the fact that Charlton sat back and let us have the ball when they scored helped him have an influence on the game, but nevertheless he played well!
