After our recent performances I was very doubtful about getting into the Premier League. Bruce changed the formation and it also seemed to give the players confidence or they just collectively seemed to perform well. Faye was fantastic so it's sad that he was responsible for the two goals conceded. I expect him to be the new Wayne Brown though. Why doesn't Bruce get a grip of the penalty taking? I was shocked that Simpson was allowed to take the penalty against Wednesday and also Proschwitz against Cardiff. A right footer kicking to the right of the goal always signposts where it's going unless it's a tap in after the goalkeeper starts to move. My choice would have been Meyler as Koren wasn't playing. Proschwitz isn't going to be the answer to our striking problem so I think we need to pay what it takes for an established striker or two. We shouldn't try to move somebody from midfield or wing to do a job permanently up front. I looked at the highlights and Faye's handball was clear although Bruce would have been going by the live view which seemed less obvious. Given City tried to throw it away in the last minutes it was good that Watford had so much bad luck. They should have had a penalty and the second goalkeeper injury was a clear push. The first Leeds goal was the result of a defender error and the second Leeds goal was the result of a goalkeeping error. But Leeds played magnificently. So, although City played a lot better my idea that we would have to rely on Leeds was correct - although it can be argued that Watford's luck was the main cause. It would have been nice if the fans hadn't come on the pitch before the penalty and somebody else had been given the penalty. Brady was off by then wasn't he? The match finishing at 3-1 would have been a great finale but when do City do it easy? We need at least a new player in every position even if some will just be cover for what we've got. We can save some money with people like Bruce and McShane who are flexible. Ideally I would like no rugby on the pitch but that would involve a good deal for Hull FC. How did they manage to make the pitch look better for the Cardiff match?
We will spend very little in the summer. There is no financial sense in buying new players. We will get loanees and free agents.
We will get plenty of new larkers and to be honest we need them. Just hope we can avoid the Bullard/DJ Campbell types who **** up the dressing room. I hear what people say about not spending much but we also have to avoid an on pitch meltdown because that will **** up the club too if we get humiliated and become a national joke due to our ineptitude.
Steve Bruce used his squad to change tactics, he should have done it earlier against far worse sides than Cardiff. Penalties were introduced for those who know better to say why they are missed, perhaps the knobs running on the pitch wanted to take it? Someone's team worked damned hard to get the pitch in that condition - well done them!! Good luck, bad luck, we've had our fair share of both; guts we got in abundance from all concerned, players, management team and, last but not least, the owners - so yes we are very lucky, but in a very good way!
The Cardiff pen was very harsh, I've seen a replay, hardly intentional. Luck is part and parcel of all sports, you can't account for it, it's what makes sport so gripping. I'd have chosen James Chester to take the pen, the kid's got coolness. But it doesn't matter now. Don't forget we lacked our 3 best strikers & Koren & still did it.
Robbie Brady could barely walk yesterday at about 80 mins. Colossal performance this season from that man. I expect a fair bit of squad shuffling in the summer, but I think we have learned lessons from the past and will be shrewder.
