I think DM, you are confusing possession and shots for dominating the game - we may have had more of both but I certainly don't feel we dominated the game because Reading looked really comfortable defending against us. We tend to keep possession and do very little with it. I agree that Reading weren't very good but I thought we were rubbish. RE Turner: His central defence partner changes every game, and his teammates make too many mistakes. It's difficult for him to shine in such a shady defence but I think if I were to rate our defenders over the last 10 games it wouldn't be good reading; Martin (at right back) - 6, (At centre back) - 4, Whittaker - 3, Cuellar - 5, Olsson - 5, Hooiveld - 4 and finally Turner - 7. I genuinely think he has played well despite the results, he's just dragged down by everyone else. Even Tettey has been below par but for me the defence isn't the only problem - we're not creating/scoring enough clear cut chances. Something HAS to change.
It might even be enough to get you promoted - then the smile will be wiped off your faces quite rapidly
Even David Mcnally agreed with the fans after that shameful performance yesterday - but not being there, I didn't see the reaction of the players at the final whistle - anyone care to enlighten me please?
I didn't see any player reaction but I did see McNally taking abuse outside the City stand at the end of the match, I think that is the reason for his tweet. I'm pretty sure that he knows that his neck is on the line as much as the manager's and he won't piss about like he did a la Hughton
I don't think that Adams will be sacked just yet. Surely they'd never bring in Phelan and sack Adams in the same week? What would be the point of sacking one guy with limited managerial experiance to replace him with a guy with none? I know Phelan has a huge amount of experiance as a head coach but he's in tried in management, for me that would be crazy ! If DM did have it in his mind set to fire Adams surely he'd never have sanctioned Phelans appointment ?
He started with Hooiveld and Turner when Hooiveld arrived. Played 4 games together, got 10 points and than he started to change the defence every week. Did not and don't unsterstand why he did so. Only reason can be that Martin wanted his CB position back. So think Martin is the problem...
If that is indeed the case, and I'd go along with it, then the appointment of Adams, having "scoured the universe and then some", (my words, not Bowkett's ) was flawed from the onset. What the hell is the point of retaining the nucleus of a solid premier league squad - and then fail to get anywhere near the best out of them? We might just as well have sold Ruddy, Olsson, Redmond and started from scratch
But what's to say the next manager would want Phelan ? Most have there own tried & trusted staff ! It would make no sence to bring him in if he was going to fire Adams.
Right now what team would everyone go with next game? I would say: Ruddy Martin-Turner-Miquel-Garrido Tettey-O'Neil Murphy-Howson-Redmond Hooper Subs: Rudd, Cuellar, Olsson, Johnson, Jerome, Grabban, Lafferty It's quite clear that persisting with two strikers is not working. In our home games we are not controlling the midfield so we should go back to the 4231 which did work for a part of this season. The problem with that is that we don't have enough wingers really. My main criticism of the club's transfers this season was always not bringing in a winger to replace Snods or Pilks; a problem exasperated by loaning out E. Benno... We've tried playing square pegs in round holes out wide i.e. Grabban, Lafferty and Howson but with the exception of Lafferty who looks comfortable they all look lost playing in the wing. Rusty is NOT a good centre back, we can all unanimously agree he plays better at right back can't we? He's not been brilliant defensively there either but he's sure as hell better than Whittaker. We've tried rotating right backs, I think it's time to rotate left backs and give Javi a chance. Javi could be a good shout for taking set pieces too.
It's a complete balls up, that's why. The board have totally lost it. There doesn't seem to be any kind of a plan. It's just a catalog of errors since keeping Hughton on at the end of the season when we stayed up. I genuinely have very little trust in them these days.
adams is a lame duck as far as i'm concerned. i hope i'm wrong but i think phelan is the contingency plan more than anything
I think: Ruddy Martin Turner [whoever's fit] Garrido Johnson-O'Neil Redmon-Howson-Lafferty Hooper Subs: Rudd, Cuellar, Olsson, Tettey, Jerome, Grabban, Murphy I thought Tettey isn't quite looking fit and Johnson is much more disciplined in front of the back four than any of our other CMs. If we're going one up top, we still need an outlet so I agree that Hooper has to start, but that means Lafferty should be out on the left. If Jerome was on his own, then I'd agree with Murphy and Redmond. The tricky one is at CB. Miquel doesn't seem to be ready, otherwise he surely would have played by now. Hooiveld must be desperately unfit because when he's played we've usually been ok (or at least better than Martin-Turner). I'd be inclined to play Cuellar actually. As for right-sided wingers - we have plenty. I thought sending out E Bennett was fine. What we don't have is an out-and-out pacey left winger.
Best will in the world, Pilkington wasn't particularly pacy, but he was a far better option than Lafferty in that position. And why would you send E Bennett and Jacob Murphy out on loan before being sure the wide Lafferty 'experiment' was working properly for NCFC? Why not try Garrido at the back and push Olsson ahead of him - the one 'magic formula' that hasn't been tried yet this season
I'm not so sure Pilks was a far better option. Aside from the fact Pilks was too often injured, he would invariably have a ten minute spell where he was awesome and then be missing for the whole of the rest of the game. Lafferty, while he's ahd some questionable performances and picks up yellow cards like they are going out of fashion, is always putting himself about. I would take the Lafferty of September over Pilks. I do think putting Olsson up is an excellent idea though. That at least is something different and allows us to have more traditional wingers. For all the flak Garrido has taken, he's a very adequate left-back at this level, but more importantly I think his delivery is probably the best in our team now that Snodgrass isn't with us. That's something that has been distinctly missing from our set pieces generally this season and not only does it mean we're no threat there, as was alluded to yesterday it puts us under pressure by giving the opposition team great chances to counter-attack.
Cuellar Hooiveld(or Turner if not fit) Miquel Garrido And a midfield that incorporates O'Neil as captain, probably with Redmond/Murphy on the flanks. I may be accused of throwing the baby out with the bath water but I think a lot of our problems are down to character and mentality. Last season left them bereft of confidence and some of them look like their heart just isn't in it. Players coming in start brightly but get dragged down. Id like to see us build a team around the new guys who can remember how to play without fear, and who have chosen to come here for a reason. Let the others earn their way back into the team. Anyone who says Martin has to be captain because he has played 200 games and been club captain needs to examine whether those facts really count in his favour after two dismal seasons for the club.
