The previous 2 league games were ones we were always going to lose ( shoestring squad against mega-million squads with immense depth). We had done very well in all games so far this season ( except for the first half against Stoke on Wednesday perhaps). Why demoralize the players who had shown great togetherness so far ? We tampered a little - Marshall & Mason in for Jak and Meyler were logical replacements after the last two games. Liverpool were awesome today, as were Arsenal against Chelski. Lets face it, on their form very few teams in the bottom half of the league are going to beat them, especially if they are a man down. This gives Phelan the opportunity to tamper even further, WITHOUT demoralizing any of the starting players from the first 4 league games, as they are all pros and will recognize they need to utilize the whole squad to rectify/fine tune their performances. It's the bottom 10 teams we need to overcome to stay in this division, not the top 7 or 8 powerhouses. We were totally outplayed today, but no doubt in my mind that the effort was definitely there by our boys. I only have one criticism of Phelan today - after we went down 3-0, he should have brought on our new lad Mbokani to either relieve Hernandez or replace Snodders to experiment with a more forceful front line. Nothing to lose at that point. From what I've seen of the season so far ( I've watched every game played by every team this season) we are undoubtably going to survive the drop. The spirit is far superior, the players seem to have more freedom to express themselves than under the Bruce regime. Bring on Chelsea.
I'm no longer sure if you're trying to be funny, or if you've just turned into the boards biggest tosser.
its no shame to lose if its 11 v 11. but to be handicapped by a player being sent of? thats a handicap we dont need
See the OP blindingly ****ing obvious Hudd wouldnt cope in midfield against liverpool. What you dont like someone criticising the manager. ****ing live with it. Or put me on ignore .
We are still a work in progress, the midfield hasn't been sorted at this point (it wasn't under Bruce either though). We did dominate Burnley (and I'd guess - though I didn't see the game - Exeter) but all the other games we need to soak it up and break away. Again, that's nothing new, we were better on the break with Bruce as well. And it works well against impotent teams like Swansea and Stoke. And off form teams like Leicester. Against others not so much.
This squad is lacking in quality and depth; Liverpool are not. We're playing for survival, nothing else.
Was at work yesterday on a break in the canteen during the match.2 bright spark Liverpool "fans" where rattling on about the messiah Klopp and his Gods so much it was stomach churning.. At the point where city scored one actually said oh " they have scored". "they" for ****s sake. I said who are they. Hull was the reply. Oh i said your hometown club. Yeah but their **** so we support Liverpool. After pointing out they where in fact "followers" and not supporters and that there allegience to Klopp and his band of Gods was in fact and extension of their small penuses they then cheered the following 2 Liverpool goals as though they had won the Lottery. May god one day turn this city into a "big" team free zone and rid us of these ****wits
Agreed, I can accept that we will get turned over by some inform teams, last two weeks, but these teams don't need any help from us, moving on we do need to learn from these games. If we back off and back off, letting them into our area unopposed, by the time we try and press they are too slick and fast, we lose the runners and the ball is in the back of the net. I accept that we cannot go toe to toe skill wise, but we do need to press much earlier, higher up the pitch. The handball mentality/situations also need nipping in the bud, as MP said, better if need be to let them score and keep 11 men on. Anyway, a satisfying consolation yesterday, Danny Graham, the one and only, popping up for Blackburn to score the winner against Derby! Also, Ince's face, like a slapped arse, on the bench!
Definitely, there's things in the last 2 games we've done which were completely avoidable. Although next weekend is another free hit, it'd be a sign of progress if we'd tried to right the errors we've made, especially from yesterday. I felt before this run of games that Chelsea would be our hardest game. However, as things have turned out, the way Chelsea have played recently they look the most vulnerable from the trio of teams in this run of fixtures. Even if we don't get a positive result next Saturday, I'm sure it would give everybody a boost if we could head into the games after the international break on the back of a more composed performance. Really surprised to see Derby struggling like they are. That, however, just sums up the Championship!
It was.we will learn from this about Phelan. What he does from here on should show us wether he can manage at this level.i thought hernandez was a bad choice up front in this game.we will be under similar pressure from Chelski .if it's a similar set up then we will get a similar result
The question needs asking why the **** would he go with the line up he picked? Clueless, indecisive, naivety, unable to make a decision? Not like he doesnt know the team is it. Not only was it poor selection. The tactics were a disaster. Sit back and defend deep and deeper and deeper. We were pushed back into our 6 yard box, should never happen.
