Connolly

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Agreed - appeared totally out of his depth.

Hope Brayford is a massive improvement, but I stiil think the defence needs another tweak outside what we already have.
 
Don't know how we can carry on with such a player, not at this level, was dodgy in the championship.
Not a lot to write home about today and it don't help when you have such a weakness.
 
He isnt a Right back, yes he can cover that position and imo was put in today to cover the Ariel threat west ham usually pose.

Anyway we can only lick our wounds and move onto the next one <ok>
 
I thought the CBs could have bone more to snuff out the 2 shots at goal. Cole's goal was quality but no one near him. The same for their 2nd. Think Huds needs to step up and take back the armband. Bellamy was poor by his standard.
I thought Whitts had a good game and Medel seemed very comfortable.
 
Agreed, given a game or two whitts will shine at this level, and medel will improve game on game, back four four for me would be Taylor Hudson Caulker and Brayford, I felt sorry for Faz up front as he really relied on scraps, I felt we could have done with a 442 or a 433 formation and started with Rudy and Faz up front, then again im not the manager.
 
I don't think we'll see too much of Rudi this season, I wasn't overly impressed when he cam on. We need 2 up front, we can't rely on one striker, I think we sat too deep on occasions and didn't close down quick enough. On the performance yesterday I think the Man city game could hurt us. I think Huds needs to be brought back in, he can talk to the back four and help tighten it up, a little short on pace but we need his experience.
 
Agree that Hudson needs to be given a chance. He organises people which we didn't see yesterday, too much long ball yesterday aswell. We're better than that, didn't even play as well as we did in Championship last year!
 
Probably right Nat about Hudson and long ball but we played a side better than any we played in the Championship last year.

I listened to the game on Absolute as opposed to Radio Wales. I think you generally get a fairer reflection on the radio as they have to be more descriptive and a little less ensational than tv. Inevitably the commentary was biased towards West Ham (they couldn't even get the names of some of our guys right). First half we were definitely second best but it was obvious that in the second half we were much improved with everything we go goning through Whitts. In fact until Downing came on it seemed to me that we were getting back into the game. However, Bellers seemed to be making lots of good runs but with poor end product, Kimbo was guilty of poor decision making and we didn't give Campbell enough support.

It looked like both our full backs were in trouble but that they focused mainly on young John. Tayls will be back next week. As for right back I guess Brayford will get his chance although his defensive qualities will be heavily tested when going forward seems to be his strength. If we are going to rely on defence then surely McNuggs is the man. Rarely lets us down as a defensive right back just loses the plot going forward.
 
I came away from London on Saturday slating Conelly. He looked out of his depth, the only thing I can say in his defence was that whereas John had Witts doing a good job defensively in front of him Conelly was hung out to dry by our tactics and Bellers. We need better at right back though, I'm pretty sure he's the worst 1st choice RB in the PL which is a problem.

I thought Diame was different class for WH, he was everywhere and we just didn't deal with him. I'd be very surprised if we're the last team to go down fairly tamely at the Boleyn ground this season. fat Sam has a very effective bunch and I don't think the top 8 talk is unreasonable.

I expect Turner Caulker to start against MC, the understanding improved as the match went on and to change after one very though away game would be premature IMO.

I thought Medel was excellent overall but he was slightly to blame in both goals. He dived into Nobel who then went on the run before passing to Nolan (who Conelly should have moved across to cover).
The first goal Medel adopted a CB position which resulted in him and turner defending the same ball/space whilst Cole was unmarked 14 yards out. It was a PL quality turn and finish but Medel dropped too deep for me. Carragher highlighted a centre mid doing the same thing in the MNF match analysis.
I do believe things could have been much worse without him particullar in the first half. I thought he was very neat and tidy in possession and moved the ball quickly which is always good to see.
 
Stevoldinho said:
I came away from London on Saturday slating Conelly. He looked out of his depth, the only thing I can say in his defence was that whereas John had Witts doing a good job defensively in front of him Conelly was hung out to dry by our tactics and Bellers. We need better at right back though, I'm pretty sure he's the worst 1st choice RB in the PL which is a problem.

I thought Diame was different class for WH, he was everywhere and we just didn't deal with him. I'd be very surprised if we're the last team to go down fairly tamely at the Boleyn ground this season. fat Sam has a very effective bunch and I don't think the top 8 talk is unreasonable.

I expect Turner Caulker to start against MC, the understanding improved as the match went on and to change after one very though away game would be premature IMO.

I thought Medel was excellent overall but he was slightly to blame in both goals. He dived into Nobel who then went on the run before passing to Nolan (who Conelly should have moved across to cover).
The first goal Medel adopted a CB position which resulted in him and turner defending the same ball/space whilst Cole was unmarked 14 yards out. It was a PL quality turn and finish but Medel dropped too deep for me. Carragher highlighted a centre mid doing the same thing in the MNF match analysis.
I do believe things could have been much worse without him particullar in the first half. I thought he was very neat and tidy in possession and moved the ball quickly which is always good to see.
Click to expand...

Agree with the rest of the post as well, but this is a must. For goodness sake, don't split Caulker and Turner after the first game on the assumption that Hudson would be an improvement.

If Malky drops either of those on the one game performance, he should ditch Bellamy as well as Connolly. This is about building on what we have, not destroying the confidence of players. Unless they commit some catastophic errors, Caulker and Turner should have half a dozen games together - THEN consider other options.
 
Spark!
I don't see it so much as destroying confidence at this early stage, I see it as squad rotation and selection the right team per game. We lacked leadership at West Ham and I will agree the finger could be pointed at Bellars, but if your captain bellows and players still don't respond you need to review the captaincy.
 
In a back four you need a talker, someone who runs the line. Hudson is the best chap we have to do this but if he is out of form we need someone else to take that responsibility.

Caulker should be that man but he likes to get forward so that's a no there. Big Ben seems to be a little unsure of himself though I thought he played well second half v West Ham.

Our defence does best when the wide mid field players track back, Conway is very good at this and Noone is getting there.


I'm not to worried at the moment, we have a hard 1st 6 games but it will bind our new boys into Malkeys thinking and I think we will come out the other end a far better team.
 
Full back position was always going to a problem.
McNaughton & Connelly are clearly not up to this level.
Too early to comment on John.
Cannot comment on Lappin as he only played twice last season.
Cannot comment on Brayford yet. It was strange that Brayford wasn't even on the bench at West Ham.

City need full backs who can stop the winger getting crosses in.

Mind you it didn't help that Bellamy did not track back to help his full back at all on saturday.

Full back position is a real cause for concern.
 
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