Yes yes it would. In fact yes it did. When we palyed with Abel and Dio we actually had a go. Did you miss that?
It's crying out for 2 strikers anyone can see this. Mason needs a rest as well. Not sure what his position is meant to be.
I think he has looked absolutely dreadful. Our best player almost week in and week out has been a bargain buy from Chesterfield.
Marshall needs dropping too. 19 goals in 5 games? Jesus, that is dreadful. It looks like he has lead diving boots on.
Elmo's performance today was disgraceful. Out of a dogshit team today, he wad particularly bad. I'd drop him next league game and go 3-5-2 with Snodgrass on the right and Clucas on the left, Mason, Livermore and Henriksen in the middle and Hernandez and Dio up front. Also, Marshall was a waste of money. Jakupovic, Kuciak and Mannion was adequate until McGregor returned. The money spent on Marshall would have been better spent on a full-back. Completely unnecessary signing and hasn't improved the squad.
This. I dont understand it. I bigged Jake up pre season. i really expected him to step up this season and dominate games. He's nothing like the player he was.
Phelan should have started 3-5-2 today, I think deep down he knows that despite not saying it when pressed by Burnsy (really good questions from him by the way). We looked better when we switched to that formation, not that much better, but better, and I think the team that finished the game today will start against Watford, except maybe Henriksen for Huddlestone. Starting Keane on his own again felt like a bizarre decision, however I genuinely think he's done a tad better in that role than Hernandez has, he worked his nuts off, chased everything and actually tried to win headers, whereas Hernandez doesn't jump and leans into the defender, hoping to win a foul, and has a little sulk when he inevitably doesn't get it. However, when he came on today, helped by having a striker alongside him which he needs at this level, he seemed to have a bit more fire in his belly. He made some good runs, had a couple of shots and had a goal disallowed. I'm confident that Phelan has learned now and will play 3-5-2 in our upcoming games, hopefully Hernandez will continue from where he left off today and if he does, we will have more attacking threat if nothing else. I seem to recall some people last season saying that our squad was one of the best to ever grace the Championship on paper and how it was a travesty that we got relegated to it in the first in the first place, and couldn't piss the league like Newcastle did a few years ago. Now our squad is **** and can't possibly compete in this league, can't possibly blame Phelan or the players for anything. Losing Diame was a blow, but with the signings we eventually made our squad is arguably better now, though injuries haven't at all helped. I completely agree with most of you on how terrible the Allams are for the name change, membership scheme, treatment of Steve Bruce, lack of signings until the last minute etc etc, but Phelan really hasn't covered himself in glory recently no matter what excuses are made. However, as I say, I'm confident he'll make the right calls now, and if he does and we still keep getting beat whilst giving maximum effort, fine, I can accept that, our squad is arguably the worst in the division, and it wasn't that long ago that we were approaching the Leicester game wondering if we'd be worse than Derby, our expectations have only been raised a bit thanks to that performance against Leicester along with the performances against Swansea, Man Utd and Burnley, but they did show that we're capable on our day.
Snodgrass was shocking today, looked as if he didn't give a ****. Elmo well usual stuff ****e crosses to nobody or never beat his man. Livermore very poor in midfield, Meyler constantly gave the ball away. Face facts our squad is nowhere near good enough, Stoke have quality and have finished mid table every year. Anyone thinking we wont finish in the bottom 6 are deluded. We need to go 3-5-2 as we haven't any fit fullbacks left.
He's played spectacularly well at centre half, but have we now broken him as a midfielder? He was guilty of countless misplaced passes, out of possession, dispossessed easily. Barely recognisable from the player in the first three games.
Does anyone have Burnsys interview with him they can post on here. I saw him looking about 90 in a Sky interview saying he thought we might have been nervous after previous results... I think mark Hughes had a bit more at stake after their start!!
Of course you're right. Coaches shouldn't concern themselves with passing. All a manager has to do to ensure pin-point passing is sign "seasoned pros", it's that simple. Did you ever wonder why Arsene Wenger teams seem to pass the ball better than Tony Pulis teams??? Phelan has coached City since February last year. He's had plenty of time to stamp his standards on the team, so If they are technically inept his training methods come into question. If we don't press the opposition (allowing them total freedom to build attacks from the back) his training methods come into question. If our players haven't got a clue what to do when they cross the half way line his training methods come into question. Managers and coaches shape teams to play football in the style (and with the skills) they favour until the team reflects the manager. So what does that say about Phelan?
When I turned on the TV at 6.45 am this morning on a typical rainy Canadian West Coast October day I thought I was still dreaming when I saw the line up that Phelan had chosen to play the mighty Stoke. After last weeks debacle at Bournemouth I was sure that this was a golden opportunity to get back on track against a bottom-3 team. Huh???? I had to double check that we were again playing the fragile Keane, who had scored an impressive 3 TOTAL goals in 50 Championship games, and looked completely out of his depth at Bournemouth, as a lonely sole striker against the Stoke redwoods at the back. Phelan apparently still felt sorry for the young lad and needed him "to feel part of the team". Awwww!! Even worse the leaden-footed Marshall, past whom 17 shots had entered our net in 4 previous games (has any GK had a worse 4 game record in our checkered past?) was yet again preferred to the spritely Jak, who must be wondering what he needs to do to claim the starting role (like 3 goals in 4 games and 7 points - our ONLY points this season, and two GK of the week awards - EPL and all-Europe). Ah well I sighed, the cunning Phelan must have devised some sneaky plan to take the points. Unfortunately I gave him too much credit. For the next 70 minutes I watched what surely must have been one of the most inept lackluster displays ever by an EPL team. Stoke which until 3 weeks ago had not won a single League game, and had in fact also lost to us in the Cup, were made to look like Barca, dominating possession 65-35 at the 70 minute mark, and putting another 2 past the hapless Marshall from 30 yards out, although in all fairness the defensive cover was non-existent. Suddenly it seemed that Phelan had a flash of inspiration, two up front!! Off came the hapless 3 in 50 Keane, off came the diminutive Mason, and on rumbled the hefty Diomande and the fleet-footed Hernandez, our 22-goal striker . As the mighty duo put themselves about, striking terror into Stokes back-4, possession swung to almost 50-50. Suddenly the Stoke goal was under siege and we were looking impressive. But sadly too little too late. So on Tuesday Mr.Phelan at Bristol lets carry on were we left off. 3-5-2 up front. And Jak back in goal. PLEASE!!!
