The first twenty minutes emphasised why Joe Bryan played..Scott Goldbourne does not offer the same ability in the final third. Both full backs looked very good in their third.
As a full back all you get is the odd few minutes on the ball. The opportunities are limited. People expectations of full backs are unrealistic, the nature of the position means there is less opportunity to impress. Yesterday as soon as Bryan put in a poor ball you could hear fans forgetting quickly the good balls and decisions he had made. His delivery yesterday was excellent v two poor crosses, all forgotten because players did not get on the end of them. Repeat that over games, players will. That's the margins between good and getting slagged off for yesterday at times playing very well.
Could it be that there is some discontent in the dressing room and even cliques have been created somewhat like several years ago when it almost destroyed us a fully functioning outfit? There are many players at all levels who take it very personally when they are dropped or put on the bench, and then they throw their toys out of the pram. Not everybody in the squad would like what Lee does but for now he is the boss.
I wasn't there, I'm just making comments off of the back of the general theme of whinging. When I've seen him I really like Joe Bryan, something must be off this season of course, but he's clearly a good athlete and there's a reason why so many clubs were interested in him.
He has looked in poor form this season.But yesterday he did more in twenty minutes than Tomlin and Freeman combined. The full backs contribution in Bryan first half and Mathews second half I see as positives.
Sorry Clifton we see the game differently, only Tomlin and below par Freeman were trying to do something.
Everybody will have a different slant on the game and individual performances and that's what this forum is intended for and we all should accept that.
Yes when Tammy Abraham hit the post and Joe Bryan beat the full back x3 I do see that as a case of trying to do something.
Maybe Joe should be a midfielder full stop? Golbourne Saturday was he dropped or injured? or was it his turn to go shopping .... As for Reid .. I look back and think LEE has a premeditated plan ... the whistle blows and the game starts .. come what may he makes the subs .....excepting for injury ... it may be a plan A ( we are losing so bring on Wilbs ) and a much less clear planB ( we are not winning so bring on Wilbs and uuuuuuuuuuumm ) I said in the chippy after the game to someone who said LEE is a good manager ...really? did you see his suicide subbing! he went very quiet as a couple more City faithful chipped in ....
The team.selection saturday agsin with two holding midfielders leaves City quite narrow. Joe Bryan offers far more width as a full back than Scott Goldbourne does. A bottom line is would we see Scott Goldbourne take on his opposing player like Bryan did Saturday ... Probably not Crossing abilty? Bryan again. Modern fullbacks should be doing more than heading kicking etc.
So only two players were trying? Nothing against Freeman but what did he actually do during the game? apart from kill others space what did Tomlin do?
trying to get momentum going,the team is playing at a snail's pace at present. The whole set up needs to be geared to quick passing and move football,something the players are not doing at present.
So what did Freeman do? when did he beat his man? when did he put a cross in first time? shots? you are coating Bryan and the team off but cant point out what this something Freeman and Tomlin were doing was. Say it again Tomlin was killing others space by dropping off into midfield which slowed the game down. something Tomlin does very often
The problem is LT is backtracking for the ball from the snails that are bringing it out, ahhh slow coach Bryan that stops at the halfway line, and passes sideways or back. He then has to travel from the halfway line which is not where we need him,he needs to be up in the final third of the pitch in my opinion. I thought Matthews and Freeman were one of the better things happening against Preston,but hey it was bloody shocking.
Bryan carried the ball several times to the edge of their box, beat players, put crosses in and worked their keeper with a shot from his full back position. Bryan cant be in the final third constantly from full back can he? LWB more yes, left midfield more yes. Left back no he will be starting deeper. Mathews had less shots and crosses than Bryan and didn't go past anybody which is hardly surprising as he plays quite deep but did have a decent game but according to your earlier story only Freeman and Tomiln were trying something so what was it that Freeman and Tomlin were doing? how many times did Freeman beat a player, put in a first time cross, had a shot? I remember one cross one shot screwed wide amongst little else. Tomlin was killing the space of O'neill and Pack limiting their options doing what they were doing and slowing the game down further and leaving Abraham isolated. spot how long he is on the ball O'neill takes one two three touches to move in on while Tomlin takes an age in it. doing it all the time. I would have still kept him on unlike the poor Freeman but he has to play higher far quicker and stop slowing play down.
The crux of it is. the whole team needs to up the tempo,get the ball moving forward quicker,passing and moving,the whole team looks so slow when attacking the opposition. Who is at fault manager or players. For me the manager manages his players,surely he can see how slow the team are going forward.
