I think the pattern and results of the last few games show that City are getting the maximum they can from the current team / formation. Unfortunately 'the maximum' is the ability to match decent teams but not to beat them. After the result and performance tonight I think that we are still in with a decent chance of the play-offs, but NB needs to make one or two big manager's calls. He has persevered with the same attacking players, formation and system for a long time, but it's time to admit that it's not working. Something big has to change and Nick has to have the balls to do it, otherwise the opportunity this season offers will be wasted.
It's not over till it's over, but 1 goal in the last 4 games tells its own story and it takes the shine off the unbeaten run. If we do want to get into the top 6 the lack of goals has to stop soon. It's just a shame to see our defensive talents going to waste with poor finishing which is leaving us just outside the top 6. Stick the front line of West Ham or Southampton in with our defence and midfield and we'd be laughing.
I wouldn't say it's poor finishing as such, just total failure to create proper clear cut chances, we can't get behind a defence and through on goal if our lives depended on it.
Yep, it's not the taking of chances that's the problem. We're not creating chances, that's the issue.
The first thing that's likely to change is Stewart being dropped, we might as well have been playing with ten men tonight.
It's worse than 1 in 4, take the Bristol game out and we've scored 3 in the last 10 league games, even with the Bristol result, we've only got 6 in 11. I can't remember us ever struggling for goals like we are at the moment, thank christ we're solid at the back.
Never known us struggle for goals so badly, from when Barmby took over until Boxing day we didn't do bad for goals (12 goals in 7 games) then we've dropped off since. Like last season our goals against column is screaming automatic promotion, yet out goals for is relegation like.
Lets be fair this same tactic is used all around the world by the best sides in the world and works wonderfully, and it is also used in this division to great affect. And how can you say Stewart did not have a clear cut chance in the first half? Their keeper also made three great saves, where they not chances? Second half we didn't create chances, but to be fair first half we did, don't let the second half blind you. Leeds sucked us in, in the second half. However we don't score enough goals. Mclean, Stewart, Mckenna, Brady, Evans, King, Cullen anyone other than Koren and Fryatt don't score, we need more goals from the whole team. Thats our problem.
Exactly what I said leaving the ground, he's had plenty of chances over the last few weeks and delivered nothing, what summed his recent performances up tonight was when King ran the ball out of defence the full length of the pitch(never had the ball under control mind)Stewart rather than supporting his run left him isolated and just stood on the half way line applauding!!!! (We're there to applaud Cameron, you're supposed to be breaking sweat to earn your wages).
the problems started over xmas when we didnt score in 3 games in a row, think its 8 out of the last 13 in all competitions we havent scored in, you can dress it up as unlucky, frustrating whatever you like...bottom line is , its rubbish and something needs changing, not just the same old response every week and same old tactics, why was chester the only one who looked like making a penetrating run in the 2nd half!?..the whole 2 midfielders sitting at home is bollocks, i keep saying it...koren and mckenna in a 4-4-2...2 up top!
I agree it's the formation (as you all probably know, seeing as I've been banging on about it for about 6 weeks ) There are too many players in the centre of the park, 2 yard passes between Evans and McKenna before playing it back to Hobbs/Chester.. it's tiring to watch. Switch to a 4-4-2, don't ask me who the hell you drop (On recent form I'd suggest Koren but we all know he can score out of nowhere). We now have 5 strikers if you include Cullen, none of which are likely to be capable of having any real impact with no partner in the final third. We've played the exact same formation, almost the exact same players and the exact same tactics week in, week out for a long time, and time and time again we fail to score. Accept the need for change now or forget about the playoffs.
mclean i'm sick of sticking up for the usleless **** now. runs about and does ****all.hes a ****ing ghilas with muscles. stewart hasn't been the same since his agent twitter. start king and cullen they deserve it more.
Everyone moans at Stewart but at least he's had a couple of efforts tonight. McLean does nothing, his first touch is poor, he can't take players on and he has no final ball. He adds more defensively than Stewart but we don't require that with our formation as we have the two holding midfielders which effectively means we have 7 defensively minded players on the pitch when McLean plays. Maybe to improve our scoring we could drop one of the holding midfielders, drop koren back one and put another striker in. However the way i see it, were playing good, attractive football, we've got a good young squad which is only going to improve. If we don't go up, we don't go up but you've got to admire the faith that barmby has in his players.
except run about in defence gets forward walk backwards into a defender spray a pass and just generally be ****
You're perceiving that too literally. They mean he does nothing to contribute to the final result. I could get on the pitch and do a lot more than do nothing, it wouldn't mean I was good. I'm not a McLean basher myself, just making a point.
Of course i don't mean he does literally nothing, yes he works hard and tries hard but thats not enough for a winger in this formation, i wouldn't mind see him partner fryatt up front if we do play a 4-4-2 but at the moment, with him on the wing, the balance isn't quite there
