Can't argue with any of that Nin. Lots of lessons to be learned. Lets hope we get the opportunity to show we have taken them on board, if not next season then the season after.
Agree you can't argue with facts. Our season has been dire as a spectacle, and salvation in the form of 5 more wins from the final 11 games looks a long way off. As concerned as I am about our plight, I'd be far more dejected if we were being overun by teams like Hull and Villa with no attempts on goal. Saturday was just not our day and Hull exploited it - Bruce played a blinder off the pitch and taught Ole a lesson in management. However, If Zaha's shot had gone anywhere other than down the keepers throat, and Jones had got a little bit more on that sharp heading chance etc, etc, we could have gone in at half time well on top. Huddlestone's deflected strike went in at our end, someone's (can't rememberwho it was) strike for us was deflected outside the posts. That's the way it's going. No excuses for poor play though. Norwich showed yesterday that they are a far better side than they appear on paper. Our win against them a couple of weeks back was very lucky, but they have a horrendous run in. We can and should beat the other three teams I mentioned at home - there is no reason to expect them to be any better than us on the day - Hull certainly weren't.
Tottenham Sunday.. 0 points from that - I'll bet my balls on it.. All the teams around us will be well up for it as well, then Chelski (could be the decider match) - not optimistic at all. Keeping faith though
Bruce brought in better players than Malky in the close season, there was talk that we were after Livermore & Huddlestone but we got Cornelious & Odemwingie.
OGS sadly does not know his best team or tactics. 4-4-2 cannot work unless the 2 full backs and wide men are good enough to work as a team. Hull flooded midfield. City were overrun. I repeat that missing 3 key players was a blow but honestly playing 4-4-2 , and playing Cowie as the engine in midfield was naïve. Gunnarrson would have done a better job surely? It was not only a must win game, but also a must not lose game. A draw would have been better than nothing but City are so inept at attacking. Where were the Huddlestone & Livermore players hovering outside the box like they did for their goals? How many crosses were headed first by Hull defenders? Ok we should have had a pen, and Huddlestone's goal was cruel but the defending for the 2nd & 3rd goals was parks standard. City can mathematically survive for sure, but cannot rely on illusory home wins & other teams results. I repeat that the whole season has been a c*ck up from pre season to date. So avoidable, so unnecessary, so naïve, so incompetent. I would have preferred City hadn't had so much money to spend, and do what Palace have done; try to survive on a shoestring with clever signings, and a smattering of experienced PL players & a street wise manager. Watching Hull's team come out, they looked bigger, stronger, fitter and as the game unravelled, had better shape, commitment, pace and skill. This same Hull club who City were streets ahead of last year. That is what is so painful. Hull had a more experienced manager, and bought better players across the whole team suited for this sort of league in 2 windows. I could go on all afternoon but what is the point? We all know the deficiencies. Painful beyond belief.
Very short 2 letter word answer there Dai - No. As someone else said Rosenior had a stormer of a game, not only getting a 60/40 balance on Noonie but also getting forward well. We don't have a full back - yet - who can do that but give Declan time. He did okay when he came on.
I thought Cowie and Eikrem were fine hence the dominance of possession and chances. Individual terrible defending and Eikrem giving the ball away once cost us.
I cant comment on the performance due to a long drive home and not being able to bring myself to watch the one sided highlights on MOTD, however, Eikrem giving the ball away for the 1st goal was a very silly mistake, But from the radio commentary, from what I heard he didn't have a bad game - and they were absolutely praising Cala!
Longer answer YES. The fact we dominated the game for long periods suggests 3-5-2 might not be the answer but the only big issue I'd see with our current side is where to play Noone. Marshall Cala Turner Caulker Fabio Medel (Eikrem/Cowie) Mutch John (Zaha/Bellers/Noone) KWJ The second striker position would be more of a free role. Both wing backs have the pace and ability to get forward. Mutch would run into the space the second striker would create when he drops wide. You could even bring back Witts if you're playing a midfield 3. Away from home I could really see it working. I would say a formation change could upset the defence but it is almost impossible for them to be worse than Saturday so there is nothing to lose on that front!
It was very poor but if Taylor hadn't ducked away from a shot rather than standing up to it Marshalls superb save would have been enough to get us out of that problem. Cala must be wondering what the **** he has done right now because he looks capable and I couldn't isolate a mistake from him in any of the goals.
Neither got near enough Hull's area to consider shooting. Eikrem is the water carrier, and Cowie is like a wind up cuddly toy. Mutch is such a loss in that area.
I wont disagree with the Mutch part Nin. He's the only PL quality attacking midfielder we have (not counting wingers). I think Eikrem is starting to settle ok bearing in mind he didn't cost much and has arrived into a **** team in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
Have to question why City were trying to compete with free spending Tottenham for Capoue when Huddlestone could have come with Caulker to Cardiff in the same car. Long + Jelovic = Cornelius + Odemwinghie or Jones in pounds. shilling and pence all but.
Not right there Nin. Eikrem had a couple of pops that Hull did very well to block. One in particular was a class drop of his shoulder to go past the defender and get his shot away - someone threw their body in front of it and it was cleared. If that had been the other end, it would probably have been deflected in. No doubt Eikrem cost us the first goal with that mistake, but I've got a feeling he's coming on to his game. Played some tidy stuff around the box with Daehli, but we have no killer mentality at the club. Cowie is something of an enigma. Busy player who goes about his business but nothing spectacular. Got some goals for us early in his City career when Malky played him further forward. This is the Prem though, and no amount of running around the park can hide his limitations at this level. I like the guy and think he can do a job for us short term in place of Medel, but that's about it. I was told back in August, and I put it up on here a couple of times that Huddlestone was lined up to come here with Caulker. The shenanagins waiting for Capoue to make his bloody mind up allowed Bruce to step in and take him along with Livermore on loan. The rest is history and tells its' own story about value for money and the lack of awareness about it at the club at the time. We had too much money for our own good. Moving on from that, I was wondering how far we should go with "system tinkering" given our obvious fullback problems - I'll stick up a thread.
And you think YOU LOT got problems!..............Come and sit in MY chair for a while lol. Hope all my old mucka's are well over here and I am sure OGS will sort it out...just!
easy to be wise in hindsight. those hull players were a gamble which paid off, as huddlestone had never made it at spurs. i would have been underwhelmed had we signed those 2. as for odemwingie he had the potential to score the goals to keep us up and i for one thought he would. you've got a point on cornelius, but you certainly wouldnt have been saying that last july.
Hi Caldicot - good to hear from you. Aye mate - problems, problems, but at least we both play in red now - who said it was bloody lucky?...... I hear the Ashtip is having a makeover. Will it be ready in time for the Conference or are you banking on staying in League Two next year?
I always thought a player like KJ was the answer, but I would drop him now and play Bellamy and FC, I think the way we are relying on through balls to our strikers suggests 2 strikers who can get on them balls would negate the need for a holding/knock-on player like KJ. Work on Zaha, Bellamy, FC and Noone getting it together to create enough to get the ball in the sack.
Not 100% sure but I think it was Sparkey who eluded that Huddlestone was on our radar. I remember posting that I hoped he came to CCFC.
