Seems to be a theme building up. Solid start with few chances with more attempts on goal later in the game. Luck, or judgement?
Backs against the wall there but the defence holding out. Adams looking a bit dodgy. Maybe NG should switch to his normal position on the right with Panzo or Ralls on the left.
Decent enough first 45. Bright start but Boro definitely on top for the last 20 mins... Ref a little iffy with his cards but all still to play for, certainly on a par with our hosts..
It was always going to be difficult with so many enforced changes and a resurgent Boro. Important to keep it in perspective and use the positivity from the previous four games to bounce back.
Bang on Clingo. The squad is being tested to the full already and picking up more injuries this evening won't help. I do question Adams at RB and switching Ng to LB but it is what it is, I'm not going to question Buluts choices too greatly given our overall start to the season. 10 games is the traditional indicator of where you should finish up supposedly... if we end up in or around the top 6 that would be quite some achievement.
Disappointing but not surprising with a makeshift team. Strange substitutions again. Tanner seems to be our main threat yet he’s hooked? Ideally get something from Saturday and hope the time off for the international break eases the injury crisis.
Watched the game. Good first half hour but then lost their way. Same old problem - no creativity in the middle of the park. Wintle is not the answer playing in front of Ralls and Siopis. Badly missed Ramsey or similar - Etete hung out to dry. A fit Ramsey and/or January window can't come quick enough. Grant energetic but eratic - Ollie a real threat on the break and also very good dropping back to tidy up. Colwill looks too languid for me and is wasted out wide anyway - why does Bulut persist with that? Robbo needs more game time or he'll dissappear from the scene through neglect. Naturally down after that result but we move on.
Bulut blames the lino as reported in the press. If Grant had slotted home a one v one and/ or Tanner’s shot had been a foot lower I’m sure we’d have got at least a point. Meite missed a one v one at Leicester which ultimately cost us a point at least - City can’t afford to not convert these golden chances. So this season it’s our home form keeping us in the mix whereas our away points haul is meagre - albeit against 5 difficult opponents. Major concern is the injuries and having to piece together teams with players out of position.
There's no easy away games but you're right about our tough away programme so far. We shouldn't have lost either game at the top 2 Leicester and Ipswich, and Leeds were let off the hook in extra time. Also although we got the points at Sunderland, these two north east clubs are going to be thereabouts come Easter. Reason for hope rather than dejection and very much work in progress, but we're still missing that final element of game control.
Let's face it, on another night we could have come away with a point with a little more composure or luck. It's hard to see but their opener does look a little iffy from the highlights (possibly offside) and if Grant squares to Tanner instead of shooting, we could be 1-0 up instead (again, no guarantees Tanner would finish if you think back to his chance v Sunderland late on) and if Tanner's shot that hits the woodwork goes in, again, what difference could that of made?? We do however have to take the positives. Our patched up side held their own for very long periods away at one of the more fancied teams who are just finding some form of their own and one that was in the play-offs last season. We've won 4 out of 5 games through September, with the only defeat being a bit of an unfortunate one away at the team that is currently topping the table. We have a few potentially tricky fixtures coming up (erratic Watford, Blackburn away again and the equally erratic Wurzels at home) but if we can get 7 points or more from the next 4 games I think we should be reasonable happy..
I know Bulut (sky presenters say Balloo) says Colwill needs to move the ball quicker and dig in with his defensive duties, but he's the most natural 10 we have after Ramsey. Either that of put Robson in there. We're back to changing shape if someone is injured, or putting a square peg in a round hole. Bulut still has credit in the bank with me, but he still seems to point the finger elsewhere when things aren't going right. Some of his tactical changes are also nibbling away at that credit. Just as Colwill has things to work on, so does he.
After playing at right back all season in an established and improving back line, it was nonsensical to switch Ng across to the left. Ebou Adams is no right back. The solution was to find a viable replacement for Collins without disrupting something that was working just fine. Left footed Panzo should have been started as a direct replacement for Collins and left the rest of that "clean sheet" back line as it was. Colwiil instead of Wintle would have been bold, but it's sink or swim time for him. I'd even have considered Robbo to start as a No.10 because Wintle definitely isn't one.
Agree with all of that Sparks. I hate full backs playing on their "wrong" side. Panzo should have been next choice LB.
