I know our manager isnt as nice and cuddly as his media persona seems to be. But i think he's put too much faith in a set of ****s who've left him down. Surely if Mike Phelan is coming in then he needs to be bad cop to Brucey's good cop. If there's one thing this set of players needs its a kick up the arse. Far too comfortable. Shek em up Mike they ****ing need it.
I don't think they lack application. Most of 'em anyway; Ramirez didn't look arsed today but he was the exception. They're maybe too confident at times. They're always talking to the media assuring us we aren't going down, but performances on the pitch contradict that.
Ramirez was the best player on the pitch for us. The only one who showed any application going forward. Ye they're confident, cocky in the extreme, thats the trouble they need shaking up. Ince and Aluko swaggered about without a care in the world while we were losing comfortably.
The amount of times Ramirez meekly lost possession to someone just overpowering him was unacceptable. Dunno who it was but at least one player was badly at fault for the third goal. He cut in from the wing to the edge of our box unopposed.
3rd Goal was made by a great off the ball run from Ameobi dragging Dawson out of position creating the space for Gouffron to run into, if Elmo had thrown himself into the tackle/block it wouldnt have deflected in, half hearted poke of his foot was no use at all.
As I said on another thread, Norwich had won only 1 of 10 before he went in. They won 5 of the next 7 (one draw). He must have done something. Hopefully a similar effect on us.
IF they bring Phelan in hes possibly our best hope of digging ourselves out of the mire. On paper were a decent side. pity is we play on grass !!!Weve far too many players that have the skill/talent but for whatever reason are not performing to that level Mc Gregor, Davis, Huddlestone. Livermore to name but 4,Phelan needs to come in bang some heads and get them playing, at least to their ability......if he does weve half a chance, but it begs the question what the fcuk are we paying Bruce a kings ransom to do ?
Phelan will have 15 games to turn us into the side capable of staying up, thats a massive task. How do you to turn a squad low of confidence around in such a short space of time?? The Villa and QPR games really are MUST WIN, but we all know QPR will come here and get there first away victory that is what City have done for as long as I can remember hand struggling teams on a bad run points at home.
We're already a side capable of staying up. He needs to get the players believing that, as well as playing like they believe it. We do not have a squad of rag tag misfits who can't play together or aren't good enough to be in a mid table PL team. They just need a kick up the arse, a bit of belief and to apply themselves for longer than 20 mins.
TBH, I have no idea what Phelan will add or how he can come in & miraculously turn us around, but if he can then it'll be the best signing of the season by a country mile! It'll also make me wonder why he's the assistant, but that's a bridge to cross another day!
I think it'll be a fresh pair of eyes for Steve Bruce. He's going to come in and ruffle a few feathers. The players have obviously got too comfortable with Bruce. For example how did Huddlestone stay on the pitch?? We clearly lack any drive or guile from centre midfield. It ruins Livermores game playing alongside Hudd. I realise Meyler isnt the most gifted but contrast yesterday and the effort against Everton from him and Jake. Why did we let Newcastle knock the ball around like that without pressing them? Where ws the skipper, the leaders in the team? Bollocking the lads and pushing them. where was the pride? Also. Where were the ****ing fans? No support whatsoever, we gave in just as meekly as the team. That isnt right. We needed to lift them. Nothing.
I've just seen their second on MOTD. Where the **** was McGregor?? I thought it was right in the corner, it wasnt.
Our supporters acted like customers, which many of them are. The entertainment on offer was poor so they walked out. Added to that we have the slow death of everything Hull City. We lost a significant number of core supporters when they were evicted from E1 to E3, and many who did renew, are considering not renewing next season. Yesterday we had no shape and our players looked like rabbits in headlights. To me yesterday showed why Middlesbrough were prepared to give Steve Agnew a much better contract then he had with us. Our loss is their gain. Mike Phelan may be able to replace him, if he can we may stay up, just.
I know some of you don't like it, but two centre halves simply doesn't suit us. We look much more composed with 3 centre halves, as we play with attacking wing backs, we just continually leave the back two exposed. I am concerned that some of you think Newcastle played well! Seriously? Newcastle were terrible, they were aided by our defensive and midfield no show. I thought McGregor was incredibly poor again - particularly for Ameobi's goal. A PL goalkeeper should not be getting beaten from that distance by a shot that didn't seem to move in the air. There are problems all over the pitch, and it will be a difficult one to sort out. But the players need to know that the minimum requirement is effort. I don't mind defeat if they come off at FT and they have ALL bust a gut out on the pitch and given everything. Yesterday, they ALL looked like they were going through the motions. Not one player could look himself in the mirror and say they grafted yesterday. That disappoints me.
Huddlestone looked absolutely ball bagged. Not because he covered every blade of grass and ran himself ragged, it's because he's carrying excess timber and isn't fit enough. Did anyone hear Souness say he was too good for a team like Hull City before the West Ham game?
