There were times last night you couldn't tell which team was the home one and which one had set up for a point. We chant about being top of the league, but from the last two home performances you couldn't tell. Either Chuba or Dio needs to be in that starting line up to give Abel a better strike partner. Diame has bags of quality but he leaves Abel far too isolated and with two markers on him, he's got little chance of doing anything. If Diame came on as a sub to stretch opposition defences when tired he could be more effective, but as it stands he is a central midfielder playing as a central midfielder in a strikers position on the field. He either needs to stop dropping deep and supporting Abel when he knocks the ball down, or play behind two strikers. We've been doing so well, I just don't want to see the old Hull City ways of cautious build up play and passing in the opposition area that we saw before Christmas.
He should have come on at the point that Akpom did last night if not before as a forward. I just wish SB had the gonads to dare to be different. We tried to play through them and couldn't, it would have at least given their CB's something to think about.
All I can say is I'm glad you're not part of the management. Maguire up front, Snodgrass on the left, what next Abel H in goal?
To be fair why couldn't snodgrass play on the left ? He's left footed by that theory clucas shouldn't be playing there either . Ps I'm also sure Steve Bruce once toyed with and played McGuire upfront for about twenty minutes once !
How many times has it been said, square pegs in round holes & everyone criticising SB. Yes Snodgrass can & does switch sides & plays on the left, but not starting with him, especially for Elmo on the right, he has been poor, unless he starts performing. Maguire up front if we're chasing a game, but at 0-0 is it really an answer? IMO, no! Akpom scored a hat trick the other week, there were lots of shouts for him to start over Diame who, "has been poor," he then score the winner at Ipswich.
I wasn't agreeing with playing maguire there I was simply pointing out Bruce has thought and indeed played him there , last night in my opinion elmo should of been brought on earlier ,
As I've said before, Elmo at the moment isn't the answer, I have no idea who would be on the right side though & it would seem limited options mean Elmo is the go to player. Diame could go there late in the game is the only other option I can think of.
I wasn't suggesting starting him I just think as the game went on snodgrass was getting less joy due to Wednesday forcing him onto his right foot hence the reason I would of brought elmo on 15-20 mins earlier
Hebrought Elmo on as Snodgrass was losing his head a bit. We did change our tactics didnt you see Powell come on on 60 minutes? Bruce gets slated for taking Harnandez off, top scorer etc. He leaves him on. Diame was a wonder and a class act 4 days ago now he shoulda been hooked off as he's disinterested according to some on here. We drew get over it. Its like whining Man U fans on here.
Akpom came on and did **** all. Looked completely lost. You can keep saying Diame is a CM all you want but he isnt. Allardyce wouldnt play him there and neither does Bruce. He doesnt have the discipline to track back and defend. He's in the right position for him now.
You are correct. Last season in the PL. My memory may be letting me down here BAFAICR it was an away match, which I watched on TV, played in the first part of that season when we had a bad injury run. He initially partnered Dawson as a centre back but after a striker injury was switched up front for the period you suggest, before being swiched back. Others reading this will remember the exact match and cicumstances.
Powell coming on was a change, not for the better though. He looks class. BUT too often ended up picking the ball up off the back 4, often with another midfielder along side him, which meant 7 of our men behind the ball, leaving 4 players ahead of the ball versus 11 of theirs. Either he didn't follow instructions or else the instructions were ridiculous. I don't think we particularly miss Maguire, but we for sure do miss the way he's prepared to bring the ball out of defence himself. Dawson and Davies need to do the same, not just pass it 2 yards to a midfielder or sideways to full backs (bar the very occasional 50 yard Huddlestone-esque pass). Diame is also class. Of course he'll score the occasional goal, but the fact is he's not a striker. Why does Bruce persist? Because he doesn't see it, or because he's ****ed up yet again with the striker signings he's made? Bruce's style is far too predictable and pedestrian. His strength is setting us up to be difficult to defeat. Of course we all want City to be top 2, and that's probably the be all and end all at the moment, but it's mostly painful & frustrating to watch, even more so when we know he has so much talent at his disposal. However, persevering with his style could well end up costing us very dearly if we miss out on the top 2 places, something that is once again looking increasingly possible, which would be absolutely criminal
Well, he is. He just hasn't been playing there for us. It's where he plays for Senegal and it's where he played for Wigan and West Ham. If he is to be played up front, he needs to stop dropping so deep, it's isolating Hernandez, who is already being marked out of the game anyway.
As well as your constant ****ing whinging and wailing, you're **** at maths too. Go top yourself and do us all a favour
That's not changing the tactics though is it, it's just making a substitution, bringing on a midfielder for a midfielder. Nobody is complaining that we got a point, just bemoaning the lack of a plan B and the ability to unlock these teams that turn up for a point. Because a lot of them will do it, so we had better get used to it quick.
No it wasnt. He was tried there and Fat Sam wouldnt play him there again as he wasnt disciplined enough. Mo was shunted around in his words, used out wide and he didnt like it. Again he was a class act against Ipswich a few days ago playing exactly the same role. Now cos we havent won it of course doesnt work.
Ah the old plan B line. Always gets trotted out that. So you're saying there was absolutely no change of formation when Powell came on? Really? You didnt see diame play further up and to the left? what about when Akpom came on? Still the same?
