After mentioning I'd like to see stats for when Macheda starts up front for us I realised I had 10 minutes spare so I worked some out (Can you imagine the fun you'd have with me at a party?). I excluded Macheda's involvement as a sub as it complicates the issue beyond a point I had either the time or the appetite for. League games only. So games he's started. 11 Won 5 Drawn 1 Lost 5 Average points per game 1.36 Win percentage 45% Games he hasn't 24 Won 7 Drawn 10 Lost 7 Average points 1.29 Win percentage 29% The average points shows were fairly **** with him in the side or without but we knew that anyway. The win percentage is the more telling stat imo, now it's fair to say there are many factors at play aside from the selection of one player however...... His finish on Tuesday was inspirational, we have very few players capable of making and scoring goals out of little or nothing. He does, not all the time, but sometimes. Maybe that ability is why we've won almost as many games in the 11 starts he's had as we have in the other 24 he hasn't maybe it isn't .
Here's his match history below Stevo - he's actually appeared 8 times in the league as a sub as well as those 11 starts. Apart from that wonder strike on Tuesday and his cool finish against Forest, he's been consistently crap as far as I'm concerned and his overall ratings reflect it. He can't head a ball - all too often he ducks out of the challenge - and he's so slow over the ground he'd have a job to give Whitts a race. Funny how we all tend to take a view and stick by it........... http://www.whoscored.com/Players/71330/Fixtures/Federico-Macheda
Well it looks like he's set for a run in the team, unless Messer Slade has more random plans (likely) so we'll sure to find out more!
Opinions, like arseholes....... The starts are a better reflection IMO than the sub appearances as almost all of those have been brief cameos. I do like the bit where that site says about style of play. Basically Kwj wins flick ons and scores from indirect free kicks. He doesn't tackle and does **** all else whilst being weak at passing. Who said stats don't work! Macheda mean while is **** at winning aerial battles but is good at retaining possession and dribbling. We'll hopefully get to see how Macheda does as BS says. He's still young. He's a player that will come back to haunt us if we offload him to another championship club in the summer, I hope he does enough to be retained for next season.
Remember that he scored 10 goals in 18 appearances for Birmingham last season, so he has the ability at this level. The main failing is on the part of the team and is something that all our strikers have suffered from, we don't get the ball into the box enough and create chances. Under DJ we may have been shaky at the back which was costly but at least it was entertaining as we usually created a bucket load of shots.
I am a tad surprised at the negativity toward Macheda. Remember the days of big Leo. Couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo, but had a cult following and was well liked. The american guy on loan, name eludes me, even worse than Leo. He also had a cult following. How come Macheda, who seems to put them away, gets such a bad rap? Just asking like.
Eddie Johnson. What a player Scores his first goal against Derby then goes down the other end and sticks it in his own net. Hilarious. Because both of them have a better work rate than Machada. At least Alf worked despite his inability to put the ball in the net.
They weren't all cameos. Coming on as a substitute for a striker isn't about seeing the game out. You're put on there for a reason not just to make up the numbers back to 11. I can remember him coming on for Jones quite a few times at home with at least 20 minutes or more to go. He was crap every time - like a fish out of water and totally off the pace. He also came on at Blackpool on the tele that Friday night - he was as useless as the rest of them on the night - Kenwyne in particular....... At the other end of the pitch Morrison took unnecessary flak earlier in the season and I stuck up for him at the time and said so. Looks to me that he's fast becoming a rock at the back and a positive threat up front. Morro and Macheda are about the same size, so on that basis, if Macheda could head a ball like him........... The diverse opinions on here are a breath of fresh air unlike some forums where you have to follow the mantra of the leader.
I'm not as negative as some on Macheda. Contrary to Sheep and compared to KWJ I think he actually does a lot of work in chasing and closing down defenders. When he broke into the side he was clearly unfit (puffing like a 30 ***s a day man) but as his fitness improved so he worked harder. What he doesn't do is chase lost causes so can be seen to pull up early rather than haring around like Noonie and the other smaller guys. Apart from KWJ he is the one other striker who seems to know where the back of the net is - when given the chance.
I've liked Morrison pretty much from the start. He's quick and unbelievable in the air. I don't feel like we use his attacking strength's enough on set pieces. We should be using others as decoys/blockers to get him the free run more often. Now agree with that or I'm ****ing off and taking my ball home with me.
I think that bit might be referring to me (and not as a footballer).............. Never had any complaints though!
Dare I say it but I am looking forward to tomorrow's game with a bit more hope for a good game of football from City; winning away is one thing but it would be great to see a decent home performance, something not seen IMO since the 2nd half v Leeds.
Stevo's ball was originally white with a few black spots but now it is all dirty and wrinkled from too much kicking about. Not sure if it is his left or right one though.
