Played his best game for a long time in my opinion. Suited the 5 man midfield. Still can't tackle and is way too slow but his range of passing was brilliant, especially in the first half. The free kick that set up Peltier's missed header was a sublime ball.
We've all said it - Whitts has class in abundance but has never had pace. His presence in Slade's chosen 4-4-2 system this season has been a waste of time and has actually had a detrimental effect by pushing Ralls out wide to accommodate him. Ralls can't play out there and thank God Slade has come to that conclusion as well. I've suggested including Whitts in a 5 man midfield to play to his undoubted strengths rather than him being overrun by more energetic opposition midfielders in a 4 man setup. He has qualities we can still utilise but it needs a manager to recognise that and that applies to all the players at his disposal. Jones going could be a blessing in disguise if it forces Slade's hand.
"The free kick that set up Peltier's missed header was a sublime ball. " Pity Peltier's forehead has a triangular shape. If it had hit the point not the side he would have scored. Peltier couldn't believe he missed it either. Now if Connolly had got to it then I would have scored an extra point in the prediction league in fact 2 points if we had won.
Just seen the cityplayer highlights. Marshall Pilkington og Referee has kippered us - that was a penalty Still cannot see how Peltier missed that header, why Noone cut back to pass to nobody when in sight of goal and how Manga did not hit the target from 10 yards. 4,5-0 would have been the outcome 9 times out of 10. Oh as for Whittingham, yes he has no pace and yes he can cross a lovely ball.
Do we play a 5 man midfield? I saw a 4-4-2 with Pilks playing upfront and Whits on the left. Whits benefited from the huge amount of defensive attention Noone was attracting. His delivery is different class. Having Pilks, Noone, Whits, O keef, Ralls, Connolly, Manga on the pitch means we're a lot happier in possession as there's a lot of players who're very comfortable on the ball. Og aside Pilks was a revelation in the 9 role. His movement, touch and finishing was different class. Very promising if he can keep that level up. It seems Marshall must be happy in Cardiff because he'd have had a few money men questioning their managers desire to sign him with Saturdays performance. Peltier's miss was next level, if he'd smashed the header into the keeper you'd have accepted it but to get it wide from there! As an aside was I the only person in the ground who thought the ref was spot on to send Peltier off? It was a ridiculous challenge for a player that had been booked for another very aggressive challenge. He can have no complaints, if he'd made proper contact it would probably have justified a straight red imo having only seen it once live.
That Peltier miss was a difficult one compared to Ameobi's against Bristol Titty....hmmmm Fug me Masky how did he miss that one pal?
I think I'd managed to erase that one from my memory! What I can't help thinking watching us play like we are is that we are very, very close to being a play off challenging side. As Nin says we should have won 4/5-0. Now are Marshall, Pilks and Peltier's (red card and miss) totally unforced errors Slade's fault? Or has he put out a selection and tactical plan capable of comfortably winning the game and been let down in a way no manager could control?
Yes Stevo, we were playing an effective 5 man midfield without Jones and Watt at the club. The difference being that Ralls was left to play his natural game in the middle. Having Manga at the back makes us more mobile in defence and tends to compensate for the lack of a Medel type in front of them. That has allowed O'Keefe get forward to support rather than just sit. All in all with Pilks taking the initiative up front, it looks a good set up. Mason needs to get his confidence back because he could turn out be the one weak link.
Sorry I don't agree. Pilks may be a midfielder but he played as a 9. Mason played up there with him. Whits was on the left, okeef and ralls played central. We were very narrow as Whits played inside as you'd expect him to. Who's the 5th midfielder?
I thought Mason was assuming that role in the main playing behind midfielder Pilks - a sort of role reversal. Maybe not purist but effectively the same. Very narrow I agree, but mobile players at the back can create width. Fabio for Peltier would be a better fit for that system if you're going to go for it - especially at home.
I think it was a harder working 4-4-2 with both Mason and Pilks more defensively aware than natural out and out strikers. Mason and Pilks swapping who was in the 9 and 10 role meant we had a 10 who put in more of a shift than we've been used to. What hasn't changed imo is that Slade and co. are still sending out a pretty traditional 4-4-2 selection. I have no issue with Whits playing narrow and allowing Malone or Fabio the space to play. Noone really made that work against Rotherham by demanding so much defensive attention (2 or even 3 players at times). Hopefully we'll put in a good performance with Fabio and Malone next time out and Slade will stick with 2 attacking full backs rather than his safety net of one who plays like a 3rd centre half.
With Peltier's enforced absence for the Huddersfield game, Fabio must come in and probably should have for Rotherham at home anyway playing the formation Slade was. It will be interesting to see if he goes with a similar setup away from home this time. No reason not to - it's just a question of whether he keeps faith in Mason if Pilks is not out with that alleged hamstring problem. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Gunnar doesn't get the call to play in there with Pilks at Huddersfield. Where does Immers fit into all this? Incidentally I've noticed that Mark Hudson is banned for 2 games - he's picked up 10 yellows before February.
I think we've signed Immers as a front man. If Pilks is out I'd expect to see him replaced by Immers. I'd probably select Gunnar in front of O keef away from home but it's a bit of a 50/50 call.
I was suggesting that Slade might go with Gunnar as well as O'Keefe. Gunnar has played up there behind a front man before and I wouldn't rule out that option particularly if Pilks is crocked. Mason needs to find another gear.
Maybe but that would be a genuine 4-5-1 as Gunnar doesn't have anything like the creativity to be a 10 or false 9. I haven't watched Slade set up a side without 2 players in striker roles, if Pilks is out Immers, Macheda, Revell or maybe even Saadi will fill a striking berth IMO.
If Whitts has had 2 or 3 good games lets hope someone comes in with a bid. We can no longer allow him the luxury of 5 or 6 games a season
Just seen Saadi's goal for the Development Squad v. QPR yesterday. Nicely taken but has been on the same diet as Dikjacoi?
Stocky is the word Bfb Doesn't look like he's going to set the world alight with pace which is what we need. Bring back Watt Watt Watt.
