Hit the wood versus West Ham, swansea, Villa twice and now Spurs in recent games. When will the ball get deflected in? (Sunderland's equaliser and Hull's opener anyone??) When will the ball bounce to a City player in the box? (Sunderland's equaliser again and umpteen goals conceded inside the area) City albeit limited in possession and chances, were magnificent yesterday. Like at Arsenal. Ok they lack the cutting edge and have no midfield presence (Gunnarsson & Kim were woeful and cost us their goal by letting Soldado go) but full marks for endeavour and effort. City deserved a point again from both their away North London fixtures. City probably will go down, but looks like they're going to now give it everything.
Nin, we must have used up our supply lf good breaks for the season against Norwich. Seriously though I have thought this for some. It's what happens to sides who are on a downward slide. Great to see a team battling again yesterday after the Hull debacle. You have to make your own luck and fighting your corner is the way to do it. Something to do with the return of Bellers and Medel as well.
I thought Medel was man of the match, i also thought we played well, plus i thought we should have had a draw, with a little more luck that is !!
We battled more because we had a battling selection imo. I've been saying it for weeks but we have a much better chance against the lower teams by battling first then trying to find the goals, but only leaving ourselves needing 1 or 2 max. That type of selection will give us the best chance against Brom, Sunderland and Newcastle away. I hope we ditch this all out attack selection nonsense at home too.
We really need to attack Fulham though. They are worse than us at defending. Perhaps not so gung ho as v Hull.
The fact they're so bad at the back means that if we can keep it tight we'll only need 1 or 2 mistakes from them. Concede a couple by being too open and we're hoping our goal shy strike force can score 3. I've said before I don't want to park the bus. Just a selection like Sunday that has enough work rate and defensive responsibility in it to not gift the other side easy goals.
OGS has said he won't pick that type of team at home this Saturday. It shows he does have some ideas and thought but sadly the personnel aren't quite good enough. Unsure who'll drop out of the 3 centre halves. Turner did nothing wrong yesterday. Hopefully Noone will be fit and Mutch will play 90 with Dahli, and Zaha with just Campbell up front. Please no Gunnarrson or Cowie - total passengers.
If we play Daehli, Zaha and Noone I'd bet on us to concede at least 2. I think you have to pick 2 from them max. Maybe get away with it if Zaha is played at 10. Who you choose at FB has a big effect too, Fabio + a winger = BIG PROBLEMS
zaha is useless "ohh look the attacking player is running past me, i know ill just stand here and flap my arms because no one passed the ball to me, i dont need to follow him because he wont score, or create a chance, im too good for defending"
Whoever brought in Fabio as a fullback needs to rethink it, not his position at all. Should have Zaha running into the box a bit more, we might get that elusive penalty then. I think we need to shoot more (where have I heard that before?) 2 or 3 of our good strikers of the ball on the edge of the box and let them have a blast, eventually one might go in. We need goals guys, and to keep playing against the lower sides as we do against the cream of the PL, treat it all the same.
Ahh, someone of a like mind to me at last. We don't need or want show ponies, we need tryers and people who are playing for the club not their pay packet. I can live in hope, can't I?
Cheers Steve. I wouldn't have bothered if Edo hadn't mirrored my opinion. Let's leave it until the end of the season and if Zaha's performances become key to us staying up or even nearly staying up, I will admit I was wrong. Don't think I will be though. Lol!!!!!
Lot of money to pay for someone to sit on the bench. He must surely play versus Fulham who's defence is as porous as City's.
Who would you play Nin, him or Noone? I know who I would want and I don't think we can start with 2 outright wingers especially if Bellers starts.
City need to play their match winners. City cannot play defensively. Zaha and Noone out wide, Bellamy off Jones. For 60 minutes we were in the game versus Swansea and Bellamy had 2 great chances by drifting in - one he crossed to Jones who nearly scored but would have been better shooting and then secondly hit the bar. Medel and Eikrem in midfield. Not either Gunnarrsson or Cowie. I fancy Noone to crack one in from distance and Zaha to at last get his Ronaldo his step overs right and knock one in. Campbell runs around a lot but does not get into scoring positions often enough and when he does, he's like Kenny Miller most of the time. At the back, Fabio is a liability. KTC likewise. Taylor is off the pace and McNaughton is forgotten man. John should start. Centre backs? He won't play all 3 at home but Cala could play midfield instead of Eikrem? I'll probably change my mind tomorrow!
zaha as an impact sub when we need some pace or some magic only.... otherwise leave him on the bench.. would like to see rhys healy given 10/15 minutes see what he can do at this level because he bangs them in for the development so why not give him a blast
we've had some rotten luck, but a team isnt relegated on luck. we have been punished when other teams attack and dropped points, those 2 against sunderland at home we could live to regret, thats for sure. as for tactics, just read ninion's opinion and thats 100% what i think - cant add any more.....