Drop Whitts..............

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I thought it was Whitt's job to get "quality deliveries into the box".

Maybe not from the very wide byeline pullbacks that out and out wingers provide, but quality diagonals should be food and drink for him. Sadly, he's not providing them from where he's being played, and with someone like Kenwyne up front and runners like Le Fondre, Maynard and Guerra to aim for, at least he's got targets this season. He's not even close to his past standards on set piece and corner deliveries.

Sorry isawronnie - how anyone can say they'd never drop Whitts because he's a gifted player is beyond me. It's no good having all the gifts in the world, if they're not using them. Like I've said before, Ole continues to play him because what he's capable of, not what he's actually doing.
 
Swamp said:
. the thing that frustrates me with dahli is that he dwells on the ball before playing the pass. he invariably makes the right decision but takes 2 or 3 touches which takes the edge off it, thats something he can certainly improve upon.
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He though always takes 2 defenders with him, but unfortunately City lack the ability to take advantage of.

Where are the killer balls along the deck for Le Fondre to latch onto? When did we last see a City midfielder thread them through like Mcphail used to do for Chopra? Probably Mutch's ball to Campbell to net v Man U last season.

Watching City is maddening for the past 2 seasons and part of this; too negative.

A bit more of Craig Noone like he played at Man City last season would not go amiss. Really hope he is fit for the Norwich game.
 
Hilts mentioned before a ball was kicked we'd struggle if played 4-4-2 as we'd be overwhelmed in the centre of the park.

That problem is magnified however many times by playing Witts as one of the 2 cm's. Witts can be a huge asset at this level but you need to let him play to his strengths and cover his weaknesses. Playing him holding mid actual does the exact opposite of that.

If we play 4-4-2 then the middle should have Adeyami, Dika (when fit) type players who'll run all day and put in a shift. They have to cover each other, I think Ralls has the legs to play the position too.
IF we cannot put an energetic 2 in there then we should play 3 cm's particularly away from home.

I think KWJ and Macheda combined could be an absolute nightmare for defenders at this level. They are both mobile enough to not worry about the very outdated big/little concept.
I'd still like to see us play a 4-2-3-1. We could play Noone, Pilks and Daehli behind KWJ or Macheda with 2 holding mids and our fb's doing what they're best at and giving us the width.
 
ninian opinion said:
Where are the killer balls along the deck for Le Fondre to latch onto? When did we last see a City midfielder thread them through like Mcphail used to do for Chopra? Probably Mutch's ball to Campbell to net v Man U last season.
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The pass Daehli threaded through to Jones on Saturday?

If Daehli or Whittingham played in a side where they had all the time in the world on the ball wed totally smash sides.

Unfortunately sides play 3 in the middle and give you little time on the ball. Mcphail certainly struggled when Jones sides were figured out and those balls soon dried up with backwards passing and it was the back 4 who were soon seeing the ball and not Chopra.

Ole needs mobile midfielders who can pass and move it quickly. Can we do that in a 4 man midfield? I have my doubts.
 
Hilts24 said:
The pass Daehli threaded through to Jones on Saturday?

If Daehli or Whittingham played in a side where they had all the time in the world on the ball wed totally smash sides.

Unfortunately sides play 3 in the middle and give you little time on the ball. Mcphail certainly struggled when Jones sides were figured out and those balls soon dried up with backwards passing and it was the back 4 who were soon seeing the ball and not Chopra.

Ole needs mobile midfielders who can pass and move it quickly. Can we do that in a 4 man midfield? I have my doubts.
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that excited me personally similar ball to Kenny "couldn't hit a cows bum" Miller through for Mason in the Carling cup final
 
whits is a good pro. He may be past his best but can still put in a good shift. his experience alone is worth keeping in the starting line up. He has served cardiff well...<ok>
 
Swamp said:
this is where OGS earns his keep!

so many quality players, i want to see macheda start, he looks top drawer to me. pilkington is an excellent wide player IMO, and he would start ahead of le fondre if it came to that. its a waste of ALF's talents to stick him wide. put him up front or bring him on at 60 mins.

pilkington adeyemi whitt noone
macheda jones

that would be my team, full of class and quality. dahlia got praise for the pass v fulham but was poor for most of the game, thats why i would definitely start pilkington ahead of him. people remember him by the odd flash of brilliance but not him losing the ball or getting shoved off which happens multiple times a match. the thing that frustrates me with dahli is that he dwells on the ball before playing the pass. he invariably makes the right decision but takes 2 or 3 touches which takes the edge off it, thats something he can certainly improve upon.
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Were we watching the same game?
Daehli was by far the best of the midfielders on saturday, how anyone can say that was a poor game from him and praise Pilkington is beyond me. Pilkington was utterly forgettable and definitely hasn't done enough to earn a start ahead of Daehli.
I would drop Pilkington now that Noone is fit, Noone and Daehli together offers creativity, vision and pace, they could be very exciting together. Who else? I guess i can't see any obvious choices. Didn't think Whitts had a bad game, he offers stability and experience, but then again Ralls was really positive when he came on. Adeyemi has a great engine, we need that, but then again he couldnt pass water if he tried, Dikgacoi on the other hand can pass the ball, but isn't fit. Tough choice.
Id give Guerra or Macheda a go with Jones.
 
against wigan, pilks came on for dahli and was an instant improvement. full of running, quality and desire. yes dahli provides flashes of brilliance but over the course of the season i think pilks will help us grind out more wins&#8230;..

dahli also has no pace and doesn't defend. yes i sound like a party pooper when everyone (who here went to the game?? i only comment on games i see) is remembering the pass or good dribble, but it wasn't a 90 minute performance&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.
 
Have to agree with Swamp, Daehli is certainly skilfull but decorates a game when out wide. Great pass to KWJ for the goal - was right in front of me so I could see the intent in his eyes. But against that he is not quick over more than 4/5 yards and gets muscled off the ball too easily. As has been said elsewhere perhaps his best position is in the hole behind the strikers where he might find a little more time. He is still young and has plenty of time to develop.

I think Pilks was playing to orders last Saturday to reinforce the centre of the park and give cover to the defenders. When he is known for his direct running with the ball and threat to defences that seems like a waste of resource to me.
 
BluefromBridgend said:
Have to agree with Swamp, Daehli is certainly skilfull but decorates a game when out wide. Great pass to KWJ for the goal - was right in front of me so I could see the intent in his eyes. But against that he is not quick over more than 4/5 yards and gets muscled off the ball too easily. As has been said elsewhere perhaps his best position is in the hole behind the strikers where he might find a little more time. He is still young and has plenty of time to develop.

I think Pilks was playing to orders last Saturday to reinforce the centre of the park and give cover to the defenders. When he is known for his direct running with the ball and threat to defences that seems like a waste of resource to me.
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^^^^^^^^^^^This in a nutshell - another example of the square peg from Ole. Pilks is no defender and was making up the numbers in there. He was wasting his and our time - we have better equipped players to do that.

Disagree about Daehli getting muscled off the ball though. His balance and skill make him very difficult to dispossess with a fair tackle. Reckon we'll get a fair few penos or direct free kicks around the box this season through frustrated defenders taking the legs from under him.

Will agree that he certainly needs to bulk up though - a bit like Chris Burke when he came to us - 9 stone soaking wet and looking a bit fragile. He's young and will only get better.
 
Not as quick, nimble and fleet of foot as Burkie (or Noonie) though.

I can only say what I see. Defenders are doubling up on Daehli and taking the ball off him. In theory this should free up others but as we know we just don't move the ball on quickly enough. Daehli finds himself channelled into blind alleys and gets mugged.

We'll only get pens or threatening free kicks when he gets in and around the box and that isn't happening.

However, he is young and will have every chance to improve.
 
I don't think it's him that's got to improve - it's the system and players around him that are as much at fault.

Daehli not being further up the pitch and threatening (tempting?) defenders around and in the box is a nailed on function of the way Ole is setting the side up.

The one thing that Ole knows for sure is that he's aware what this lad can do in the right circumstances. It's up to him to provide that platform for Daehli to perform on.
 
BluefromBridgend said:
Not as quick, nimble and fleet of foot as Burkie (or Noonie) though.

I can only say what I see. Defenders are doubling up on Daehli and taking the ball off him. In theory this should free up others but as we know we just don't move the ball on quickly enough. Daehli finds himself channelled into blind alleys and gets mugged.

We'll only get pens or threatening free kicks when he gets in and around the box and that isn't happening.

However, he is young and will have every chance to improve.
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I agree. Daehli reminds me of Ian Gibson (for those old enough to remember him) but needs to toughen and bulk up to reach his level. When that happens he will be a force but not quite yet.
 
I gotta agree with Oldsparkey here.
Swampy, I would agree that Pilkington was an improvement against wigan but that was the worst game i have seen Daehli play, ever, so that isn't necessarily a good reference point.
Pilkington does not have much pace either so to level that at Daehli in particular seems a bit unfair. Not to mention Burgstaller is decidedly slower. Pilkington and Burgstaller are certainly better defensively and physically though. But for creativity id take Daehli any day.

He is not consistent over 90 min sure, but most players that young aren't, he started well then went quiet with the rest of the team. In the second half he was at the centre of everything we did going forward, you could see the opposition doubling up on him. When i spoke to some fulham fans after the game they felt that magath made a mistake by going more direct in the second half which allowed Daehli to get on the ball and subsequently we got back in the game and they lost a point. I think you are massively underestimating his importance to our attack in open play, i literally see no one else that is positive on the ball, we don't have anyone else that aren't scared to have a go as long as Noone is out. Of course there are games you might wanna park the bus and you'd rest him, but i reckon you will see him get better and better as the seaons wears on. Its all about getting used to this league. Cant wait really i think he gonna be one hell of a player as he gets older and stronger.
 
whoops said:
I agree. Daehli reminds me of Ian Gibson (for those old enough to remember him) but needs to toughen and bulk up to reach his level. When that happens he will be a force but not quite yet.
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I can see the likeness to Gibson but he needs to toughen up a hell of a lot to be like 'the rat'.
 
fair do's tob.

he needs to bulk up physically, and his best position given his eye for the pass is centrally, thats where he can do damage. in a 4-4-2 on the wing i think we are overrun in midfield when he plays&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.out wide i think its a waste of talent anyway, and if its him or a more direct player like noone i'd play noone.

will OGS be bold and put him in behind a striker or two? i personally think he'll keep playing him wide but tucking in with bray ford overlapping&#8230;&#8230; against the weaker teams we will score goals but i think with stronger teams we need to change the tactics&#8230;&#8230;..<ok>
 
Gibson was a warrior, a Scottish pit bull; Daehli is like a daffodil floating in the wind in comparison.

Daehli's best position is IMO playing just behind the front 2; the position where has been able to slip in Jones' for 2 goals already this season - he is wasted on the flank.
 
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