That's the only word to describe the state of our game under Slade. There is no alternative plan let alone the confidence to apply one when something needs to change. This afternoon we were good value for the 2-0 half time scoreline although there were some worrying signs that last 10 minutes before the break. The second half was Sheffield Wednesday's from the moment they came back out and Slade did nothing about it. They changed their shape with Hooper coming on and they took the game over - it was inevitable that they would score. Slade's answer was to bring on Ameobi for Jones. No problem taking Jones off, he hadn't had his strongest hour of football, but Ameobi - really!! We'd lost control of the midfield by not acting sooner and Ameobi in a like for like role for Jones was a scandalous decision at 2-1 up. Their second half midfield diamond formation had us on the ropes and we couldn't cope with Wednesday's good management decision - Slade had no answer and for the second time in succession we've thrown away 2 points. At times like these we can look for excuses - the referee was a ****ing disgrace that second half, but no one can deny that twice in a row now we've brought this on ourselves. Fragile in playing methods, fragile in tactics and fragile in management leadership. Wednesday are an average enough outfit but they wont finish in the top 6 - on this sort of performance neither will we.
Nobody on the radio could understand Jones going off....how long do we have to wait for this guy to play a full match? Should return 50% of his pay as a gesture! Could have lost it at Bolton too, but they were so poor!
Slade is an old school 442 manager. Not good enough. Arguably our 3 best defenders are not in the team which doesnt help. Turner is on loan but its time for Fabio and Manga to start.
It was so obvious from the moment the 2nd half kicked off that SW had changed formation but Slade just hoped we'd get a killer 3rd goal which we should have done but for poor finishing by Jones and Gunnarrsson, and then just sit back and let them come at us, and hope we'd see it out. What was then maddening then was that City actually upped their game after they equalised and so nearly scored a 3rd. Mind you the backing away for their first goal was scandalous. Someone who understands football management in the club needs to tell Tan now before it is too late, that this season is a golden opportunity to get out of this division - and with it his best chance of recouping his investment - that Slade is out of his depth, and needs replacing with someone who understands the modern game.
Whiffle and Nin - I get so frustrated when we throw away winning positions to a side who are no better - just better managed. Having gone 2-0 up at half time, I'm sure we could have won that game comfortably with a capable management team who can manage a team for the 90 minutes during a game and not just manage it before kick off. Taking training, assessing the players, setting out the game plan and choosing the starting 11 and subs bench is where it stops for this lot we've got in charge. They can't think on their feet and reorganise to counter opposition tactical changes. It isn't that they haven't got the player resources - they are just hopeless at using them. The sooner Tan realises that the Slade/Young leadership (still not sure about Trollope) are not a "winning" team for this club the better - it can't come soon enough. There are 6 teams above us and all are far better managed. Actually, there's not much to choose between their squads and ours - the difference is in the leadership at the club. Any one of those managers along with the likes of Carvalhal and Mowatt below us given our squad would have had us firmly entrenched up there by now.
It is a problem you see often in sport. Captains and managers need to be able to react to what is in front of them and the situation they find themselves in during a match. Wednesday obviously saw they needed to change the way they were playing at 2-0 down and did it successfully. We failed to react to that change. Another case of us needing to stifle the middle of the park to stop them playing, but we didn't. Wales rugby blew the chance to beat the Aussies in the World Cup because they didn't change their attacking style when playing 15 vs 13 and the spaces were out wide. Poor decision making, poor leadership. To re-iterate Sparkey's comments, good managers and captains react to the changing nature of the game during the 80 / 90 minutes not just go out and do what was last said in the changing room before kick off irrespective of how things sit part way through the game. Surely there must be some analysis of scenarios as a blackboard exercise during the week. You don't have to make it all up on the fly, just implement things you've talked about previously. If scenario A, do this, if scenario B do that, if scenario C do the other. Standard planning, just like in business! It's the ability to react and adapt that set the good managers apart from the rest
But when will someone at the helm realise it and change the manager? It just won't happen, and sadly we will just have to out up with humpty dumpty. ps. Seen the extended 23 minutes highlights. Makes it even more frustrating - chance after chance going begging and such poor defending. That referee in the 2nd half was a joke. pps OS, Noone, I thought looked much more with it and had 2-3 decent efforts, and created a golden chance for Pilkington who fluffed his header. Tomorrow night replace Fabio for Malone, and Manga for Connelly.
Must admit I thought Noone had his best game this season - not a lot to beat though. His setup for Pilk's header should have been a doddle - bad miss to be honest. If Noone can repeat that sort of showing for the rest of the season he'd be in my team, but if Slade should have a brain storm and sacrifice a wide man for a 5th true midfielder, I'd keep Pilks over him every time.
What is it I am missing, everybody seems to talk positively about Fabio? Every time I see him he seems to be caught out of position, and offers nothing going forward. Also seems to be knocked off the ball too easy. So,yes I don't see all games thank goodness, but I would never pick him from what I have seen!
Fabio could be out of position from time to time when Ralls would cover from left midfield. That won't happen now, I hope, with Ralls doing well in the middle. What Fabio brings positively is enthusiasm, pace and the ability to get the crowd going. His attitude is first class. Malone brings a little more balance and is perhaps a better defender. His final ball seems to be improving and he has scored twice. In saying that their second goal came from his side as did Burnley's. I would stick with Malone tomorrow. As for Manga for Connolly, Morrison would have to play left side which has not worked so well before. Why not play Manga for Gunnarson? Just saying.
Not quite sure if this is serious Gunnarrsson & Ralls has been (with Watt) the main reason City have looked better in midfield as an attacking unit since Whittingham was dropped. Gunnarrsson going off v Burnley at 2-0 injured for O'Keefe was a major factor in the end result, and he was helpless when Wednesday changed formation last game up - Slade should have shored up midfield.
I think there's a real case for bring Manga back but only as a centre half. When our defence was pretty solid I was totally on board with the "it isn't broke" approach but we're conceding 2 a game. It's obviously to do with our more attacking philosophy which is why were scoring from open play again. However Manga is a strong defender who's very good 1 on 1. With less cover this type of defending is more important, Connolly was poor on Saturday and if I was Slade....... first I'd start a diet, then I'd pick Manga to start tonight. I think were on the edge of getting a good balance to our play, our wingers are as good a pair as anyone in the division and the KWJ, Watt partnership is a really good fit. Just need to shore up the back a little. I'd still rather sit and watch 2-2's than 0-0's even if we do struggle to see out a few wins
Stevo - I really wouldn't mind the 2-2 results if it were us coming from behind, as it is throwing away a 2-0 lead is unacceptable all round. I'd obviously still prefer us to see a game out 1-0 and come away with the 3 points rather than walking out of the ground with a sense of "if only". If things aren't right (and they aren't) then the manager has to make the call on players and systems - I wait with bated breath for tonight.
Yes, tongue in cheek Nin although a number of people said Manga should have come on in midfield towards the end of the Burnley game. I agree we have looked much better in the middle with no Whitts. Ralls is quicker and more physical and he gets the ball out wide a lot quicker. However, the Wendies targetted him in possession second half Saturday and he got caught in possession a number of times. Once that was obvious Slade should have done something different in the middle even if it meant going 5 in the middle and taking off KWJ or Watt. There's none so blind as them that cannot see!!!! As for Manga at cb, we mustn't forget he has errors in his game as well and we conceded a couple of goals as a result last season. For a big guy he can be out muscled occasionally. So Connolly has had a couple of games below the high standard previously set - both since he went off injured - was that the Derby game? Perhaps he is still suffering a little from that. However, everyone has a form dip now and then. It's how and when they get back on track that counts. He shouldn't start tonight if not 100% but I still believe Morrison/Connolly is a better balance than Manga/Morrison with Morrison on the left. Brentford aren't the team of last season with no Pritchard or Grey but they are unbeaten in 5 and lost only 2 of last 9, versus Derby and Hull after a poor start to the season. They will be a test and we will need to be on our game.
It obviously kills me to see us throw away 2-0 leads but overall the attitude of attacking, looking to score from open play and having a number of players on the pitch who possess attacking threat is a good thing. The 2-0 is a difficult one. If he'd gone defensive, changed the shape and we'd not won he'd be slated for changing the side that had for the most part dominated Wednesday. If Gunnar volleys in, instead of over we'd have cantered to the win. It was a lovely move that created that chance. Likewise if Pilks had listened to Watt and left him to dink the ball to the back post for KWJ we could have wrapped it up before half time. Watt was yelling at him to leave the ball as he was so obviously offside. Ifs and maybes but there's little doubt the spectacle of watching City has vastly improved from an entertainment point of view IMO
I agree about our improved more fluid game particularly since Watt arrived, but goals from open play shouldn't be at the expense of leaking them at the back. We all want entertainment but the frustration of what we're experiencing right now is difficult to bear. If we need to use someone to "sit in" in front of the back 4 to protect them like Medel used to do to get a result, then it should be considered. Only winning games will get us out of this division - a point a game is a waste of time especially at home. Sacrifice an out and out wide man for a fifth true midfielder and tie down the middle third - Jones, Watt and Pilkington will do enough damage between them to win games if they get the ball enough - unless we're going to go back to lumping it, only control of the midfield will make that possible.
Sounds more like 4-3-3 which could work with KWJ, Watt and Pilks/Noone. It would allow Whitts back into the 3 with Gunnar and Ralls, Or a much more defensive option of Dika, Gunnar, Ralls. Malone in particular should mean we'd be able to keep our width. Your suggestion involves dropping Noone which would be harsh in the extreme based on Saturday.
Harsh it may sound Stevo, but Noone's game on Saturday was hardly typical of his season - too many times he's failed to deliver as first choice wide man. I'd prefer to bring him on off the bench for impact maybe as a change for Pilks - Whitts back in the side as the 5th midfielder would be my choice. The arrangement on the pitch could well evolve into a 4-4-3 from a 4-3-2-1 depending upon what the oppsition throws at us - I just doubt Slade is capable of that sort of radical thinking during a game let alone before it.
"The arrangement on the pitch could well evolve into a 4-4-3 from a 4-3-2-1 depending upon what the oppsition throws at us - I just doubt Slade is capable of that sort of radical thinking during a game let alone before it." And therein lies the problem. Not just Slade but can't Trollope grasp the benefits of this also. Plan A, plan B and even a plan C of good old 4 - 4 - 2 if all else fails. Flexibility and being able to adapt are the keys.
