Tremendous effort by the players, but in reality the way City were overrun again, they probably would have lost that game 98 times out of a 100. A case of smash and grab and hold on for dear life. Slade cannot expect too much credit for that win. I hope he realises that.
I fear you might be right. Winning the game was a credit to the guys out there who battled for it, but in my view casts no light on Slade's management skills. I'm not having a go at Slade for the sake of it, but Macheda was gifted his goal and Revell got his reward for his effort with great skill lobbing their keeper who cost them both goals with very poor judgement. Other than that, and to use one of Malky's favourite lines, on another day it could have been different. In reality they were all over us playing some lovely football right through and around us. How the ball didn't go in for them a few times I don't know. If we repeat that sort of rearguard action against Bournemouth tomorrow, we'll need them to have a similar frustrating game in front of goal.
That will be the problem Sparks. Bournemouth are much more clinical when given chances. We need to up our game in every position. Are we capable of that?
Be nice....! 3 in 3 starts I totally agree with the thread. There's no disgrace in battling to a tough away win but it means very little in terms of the progression required to compete at the right end of the table. Lets see what Tuesday brings.
Come on guys lighten up! Brentford were also gifted their goal. Football isnt just about playing lovely attacking football and peppering your opponents goal with shots. Its also about defending well and putting your body on the line for the cause, fighting for every ball and taking the odd yellow card occasionally for the team. Keeper error may have played a part in our goals but dont let that detract from the strikers instinct of Macheda and Revell who put them away. We made life a lot harder for ourselves in having not one but two players sent off, however I thought that with the introduction of Harris at half time we were actually the better side until he walked.
Come on Barry - Brentford were a different class in pace and skill, and all three goals were keeper errors. Having two players sent off wasn't the problem - neither sending offs were a case of "taking one for the team", they were stupid tackles. Morro also got his yellow card for a stupid bit of "seconds" that gave them the chance that Moore fluffed. Especially when you remember we had all eleven on the pitch for the first half and were completely mullered in all but scoreline by a far better side. Defending well and putting your body on the line may be all some aspire to, but there's a lot more to the game that we simply don't possess.
The first and most important thing for any manager is to instill a team and work ethic, to get every member of the squad working together and for each other, as well as for the manager. This was sadly lacking in Slade's team. We do now appear to have that togetherness and work ethic, and have had over the last half dozen or so games. The next stage is to improve the quality of the football. Whether Slade had the tactical/technical nous to do this I'm not sure. However, you've got to give the guy credit for the togetherness and spirit he's instilled into the team.
Not so much papering over the cracks as painting over them with a very thin, watered down emulsion. BT is always positive Sparks. I try to instill a dose of realism but rarely succeed. Then again you need guys like him to compensate for miserable old gits like you and me. I agree with Whiffle's comments up to a point but whether or not Slade has the nous (personally I doubt it) I feel we haven't got the players to take us to a higher level of performance. As ever the key lies in central midfield where we are crying out for a Jordan Mutch type of player who can attack the opposition at pace through the centre of the pitch. And before you start Sparks, Adeyemi is not the one.
This sense of togetherness and playing for the team was lacking in any of Slade's teams up until Trollope came in. Seriously doubt it has anything to do with Slade.
Agree, Trollope if anyone should take credit. Any quesses here for possession stats tomorrow night? 65%-35% to B'mouth.
Sheep....you may very well be right...also reintroduction of Magna seems to have made a difference. Trouble is, you can't really blame the manager when things go wrong without giving him some credit when things improve.
If we get anything our of the game tomorrow evening I feel it will be in a similar style to Saturday. Set up tactically not to lose as Bournemouth have already shown this season that they are far superior to us. This is our setup for every game though. Even games that we are at home and should be winning. Yes, Slade has had a tough job having to cut 12 million off the wage bill and clear out the crap left over from Ole's time at the helm. But this is still a decent squad that should be finishing higher than it is and playing a better style of football. Don't want to turn this into a Mackay debate but at least we had a style under him. It wasn't pretty but it was effective. Slade (or Trollope) is now beginning to put something together and all I suppose we can do is back him cos he ain't going anywhere. It's just frustrating to watch. Suppose it could be worse, look at Fulham
A 'battling' display is the least I expect from a bunch of overpaid very average players. I hate the expression 'putting bodies on the line'. They are actually doing what they are paid to, getting in the way of a plastic coated ball.
It's a fair point Whiffle, if everything wrong is his fault then the it has to be a least a bit true in the other direction too
Bit skint are you Masky? You shouldn't have bought all those bananas pal...... I'm weighing up the options at the moment with City to win 3-1 on offer at 28/1 - would that be a mad punt or worth the odd 50p? Oh for crystal balls eh? Anything in Tescos that'll give you those?..........
I have no shares in them Masky, and certainly no need for their spiders - the mere thought of Nora Batty does it for me pal.
