Having had time to reflect, we were beaten by a better side who if they carry on like that will go up with Newcastle-Frankly, I thought 2-0- flattered us. 3 or 4 might have been nearer a fair result. They were a better side but we made it far to easy for them. Our habit of losing possession was there in spades last night and when we did break, it was almost as though the play paused to think what options there were .Im not sure if we would have scored if we were still playing this morning. Tomlin and Paterson were the only 2 to show any flair or imagination. I do agree with several others, Little is not championship. Bryan too inconsistent. Smith, very poor game for him and it seems that him and O'Neill cant play in the same side. Why didn't Reid start? Poor Tammy had no service all night. Magnusson distribution has been questionable for a few games now, but is a solid defender.h If we were using Brighton as a yardstick, I think we might need to consider more realistic targets right now.
Having watched it several times, fair play to Sam Baldock for anticipating the pass from G. O'Neil to Korey Smith for their first goal by closing Smith down really quickly and contributing to the mistake.
Yet we've spent umpteen million since. Brighton have a distinct way of playing, we patently don't, it's knit one purl one. We're in a terrible run of form - relegation form.
It is a normal position to take. He is cutting the distance down. If the players need to start again or go home he would be in position, and was. Another way of looking at it is what the hell was Smith doing in space but with his body closed? Why not play the way (wrong) he is facing? Why not start again? Why not go home? That type of thing is coached to children. Not match fit? Maybe only he will know but its the keeper who gets criticised. Two goals were conceded quickly from City losing possession when they should not have. Its a team game and generally the team standard was second best v opponents as it has been now for weeks. Mr Johnson was being lauded on here a month ago. Personally I would like to see less changes each week e.g. Joe Bryan (poor yesterday) being played in one position.
I truly believe now Smith and O'Neill are our equivalent of Lampard and Gerrard. Not in the same league mind but just can't play in the same team. Tomlin as much as I think he's first player on the team sheet is not helping the team where we play one up front. To me we need to play a midfield with --------------O'Neil Paterson-----Tomlin -----Reid With decent players left back and right back Bryan and Mathews or buy some better ones in January. Either that or play Tomlin far up the field as a forward not midfielder and put Pack in the centre. But as much as I always rated Smith it's not working with the two of them together. We can play two up front and that's not Wilbraham and Abraham as they play too close to each other and too similar. So that means Engval or Tomlin. Kodjia was the better as a loan striker as he knows how to take players on down the flanks and make something out of nothing. So even though he's gone we need that sort of forward again!
We lacked the cohesion to string passes together that got us in the danger areas. Tomlin is too slow and can't fit in with o Neil and smith. We never really looked interested in going forwards, too many deep players
Tomlin rushed his shot? it certainly should have been closer to goalie.. penalty without a doubt and ref yards away ... you cannot change the final result as it happened as it happened had Tommo scored it would have been a completely different 85 mins or so that followed ... might have won 5-0 or still lost 1-5 and Sidwell would never have popped one in from 48 yards
