Players get injured then hobble about a little bit all the time. It's rare that there's an occasion where they don't. Anton looked no different! Nothing about his movement once back on the pitch would suggest he was struggling. Is Hughes supposed to be a mind reader? If a player indicates he's okay to continue, then you'd be daft to withdraw him. Why weaken an already stretched defence by subbing one of your CB pairing if he insists he's fit to continue?
he has managed to bring in players other managers would not of been able to and we are improving every game I thought we were ok today overall
He held his arm and shoulder into his chest the entire time!!!!! What did you NOT see? I saw him leaned over to one side EVERY time he took a breath on a break!!!!! And that was RIGHT after he came back on!!!!! As for the 2nd part, TACTICALLY, one would hope that the manager has somebody on the bench to replace the injured player!!!!!!! And then shift the tactics to suit! There was nothing wrong with Onuoha. He looked fine, just as good! What was so hard about that subbing at that point in the game?
Truth is, Ferdinand didn't need to get clattered to start struggling. He was struggling from the off. He's the weak link in the defence.
A massive variation on the tactics needed and deployed in the last game against the champs. Then, he had to park the bus. This time he went for a much more expansive approach - and nearly got something out of the game. City were always going to keep coming at us. They have that depth of quality. But for once that didn't force us on to the back foot. Much more energy going forward and more players available to receive the ball and keep City guessing. Not saying MH is tactically astute but certainly much better than he's been painted on here of late. Subs were okay too. Taking Granero off had me doubting for a moment but with the versatile Dyer on already, there was clearly sufficient quality cover in place to give Cisse a go at joining AJ and BZ and us a chance of another goal. And that's just tactics on the pitch. The signings of quality such as Diakite, Park, Hoilett, Granero, Cesar and M'bia (not to mention Ryan Nelsen and one or two others) shows our gaffer has plenty more influence in the game than some other clubs - and much more than we've had for decades. Sure there'll come a day when no doubt I'll be calling for his head - but that day's a fair way off by the looks of things atm.
Totally agree, our performance was based on the footballing ability of our individual players. As the TV said most our defence was based on individual heroic blocks and not a system. Have never had any time for Hughes and never will, I don't begrudge him being a poor manager as that can happen to anyone but can't stand his miserable and aggressive behaviour. Shouldering that official out of the way was out of order. Hope TF and AB come to their senses asap and show him the door. I repeat I have nothing but praise for our players today.
He's a footballer, occasionally holding a shoulder that's just taken a bump doesn't suddenly set off alarm bells that "oh my god this man needs to be subbed!!". Loads of players do that kind of thing as a gesture to the fans that they're still in pain thus weren't faking it.. Tactically having a consistent CB pairing is crucial to maintaining a watertight defence. Are you suggesting there's absolute nothing undesirable about disrupting this pairing during a game against the best attacking side in the league? Yes onouha did look fine, and he did look good, but that can only be said retrospectively. It's never a good idea to meddle with a CB pairing mid game unless it's absolutely necessary, because there's alwasy every possibility that it will go wrong. edit: and you STILL haven't adressed the defensive performances last year?! We beat spurs/liverpool/arsenal and almost city whilst down to 10 men. We'd have drawn if it wasn't for the bench reacting to the bolton score.. (that's without even mentioning swansea/stoke)
Yup. A couple more games are needed, obviously, to see all of our new signings play and see what we can do, before TF can decide what to do from here on. But if we can't win in the next 3 to 4 games, he will be gone, as people will say, anybody can spot a good player all over the world, it's totally different when one has them in one's own squad and have to play them for victories.
Hard to argue with any of that. Good summary Brix. Lots of promise. Time needed, but looking very promising going forward for me. Having said that I was ****ting it for first 15 minutes. But we were much better in the second half and were really pressing in stages.
Look, say whatever you want, hold onto whatever belief you want to stand-by, but the man was on the ground, IMMOBILE for 5 minutes, struggling to breathe, struggling to stand up straight with his chest out in defense after he came back on - and subsequently, they scored. You don't have to attack me. I'm not the only one who thinks that Ferdi's a bit of a lead weight.
Some definite positives. Grenaro looked good will partner well with faurlin when he is match fit. Lacked width on the left. Biggest negative is Anton. I felt last season he is too slow to react to things especially closing down around the penalty area. Yet again for the first two goals he was at fault. Subs bench at best
Yeah, especially seeing Green do a howler punch on a ball that he could've caught. But we've got Cesar coming in, so hopefully that settles a few things at the back.
It would be agreeable if you told us why. You keep slating him quoting "dodgy dealings" but you won't tell us exactly what he's done to turn you against him. Your reasons are probably valid but there's suspicion when you won't tell them to us.
