I think today showed me why we need Dawson. Before today, I'd have said he was an expensive luxury. McShane, as much as I like his relentless enthusiasm and his cavalier style, just wasn't good enough today. He did some good work in the melees, but his positioning and picking up of their players was awful at times. We were lucky that Stoke were too rubbish to take advantage.
A man after mine own heart Anal...(now there's a saying I didn't think I'd say when I woke up this morning..ha!) - Macca's enthusiasm & effort cannot be faulted but, dare I say it, that's what we were all saying about 2/3 years ago - effort & enthusiasm is fine but it's not enough at this level....
Jake Livermore looked to be labouring a bit today and didn't provide much quality. I have to say that I at the moment I would select David Meyler over Livermore for the challenges that he puts in and he appears more comfortable on the ball and doesn't give away possession as easily.
I thought the irish messi only had a couple iffy moments and overall did an incredible job out there today. After the red card he hardly put a foot wrong that I could see.
I don't know why we're even talkiing about defenders today. We defended brilliantly. The problem, apart from going down to 10 men inside 15 minutes, was that we had no replacement for Jelavic who always tires in the second half. We ended up having to stick a combination of Elmo and Boyd up front and neither of them held onto it for any length of time. Aluko would have been no better in that position. Seems to me like we need a striker more than anything.
hi ellewoods - think the telling words hers are "as far as I could see...." off the ball & 10 yards away from the play (which with the utmost respect you can't see on TV) Macca doesn't read the game - he comes steaming in to make what looks like a saving tackle or a timely interception...little thought of the fact that if he'd read the situation better or not missed the man coming through in the first place he wouldn't have to be tearing back & making last ditch challenges, etc.,.. The comments I make are only what most were saying 2/3 years ago - for sure Macca has improved his game but to me it's just less worse - not for a club striving to be what we are trying to aspire to....
PLT - I hear you, I was just being facetious - the point I'm trying to make is that Macca may have been good enough for us 2/3 years ago (debatable) we now strive to be so much more than that,a club that goes to FA Cup Finals, plays in Europe & aspires to mid-table (dare I say top half) EPL side - Macca is nowhere near that level - of course he works,of course he shows enthusiasm but, sorry, that just isn't enough....God knows, how many have players we levelled that accusation at in previous years ...there'll always be an Ash, dare I say it a Waggy who as I recall got **** loads of flak in his early City days (fat twat & all that) who will rise above it but we are more than that now - surely..?
At the moment Macca is doing a job and isn't even our worst defender. I'm not worried about him at all.
Completely agree Kellen. Macca was immense out there today...other than the one obvious mistake. His best game in a City shirt IMO. Definitely a MOM contender. In addition to his strong defensive work he made some penetrating runs forward and excellent passes to his wingers and into the box. The criticisms by one poster on here just seem totally unjustified. He has improved enormously from the erratic player he was a few years ago. Hardly put a foot wrong is an accurate description of his performance. Great job Ginga Ninja!!
This. At this moment, he'd be first choice alongside Chezzy and Davies for me. (Until Dawson signs anyway)
Oh look, MOTD pundits highlighting a number of occassions that McShane broke up Stoke's play. And blaming Livermore not McShane for the incident that led to Chesters dismissal.
Nah, you must be wrong - McShane always makes these mistakes! Why would Livermore do such a thing? It must be the bloke who USED to make loads of mistakes...
Macca's pass was a bad idea and put Jake under pressire but Livermore's was just plain **** and he's better than that.
I can't believe Roger Melly is criticising Paul McShane, Melly should stick to the Viz. The defence were excellent today - probably the same muppets saying Jelavić should have been running the channels when we had ten men. When Jelavić really had to do EXACTLY what he did, play the width of the box and hope for a chance.
