Same old same old just like last season. Defense not up to scratch and ole has not learned from last seasons diabolical defense strategy that got you relegated. that's yet another 3 goals let in by marshal continuing on from last season where he was the 2nd worst stopper of the season......Ole needs a defensive coach and quick if he has any ideas of going straight back up as there is more chance of a relegation battle the way ole organizes his defense....
decent turnout today. le fondre showed decent link up play, and i thought both left backs (fabio and john) showed promise going forwards. i'm not convinced by bray ford, if sheffield want him i'd sell as he is average going forwards and average to poor at defending.
Not a bad workout against a useful Wolsburg side. We need another left footed centre half as connolly looked awful on the left hand side. We need to get digakoi in as Gunnarson and Whitts offered no protection to the Back four, Happy with the fullbacks Brayford and Fabio thought they had pretty decent games after the first ten minutes. Really do have some fantastic options up front now and nice to see Harris getting a run. Roll on Friday and a little trip to Blackburn.
Agree about Brayford - doesn't inspire me with confidence at all. If we could get a couple of mill for him from Clough, I'd take it. Problem would be getting someone to replace him at RB - Connelly if we get these couple of CBs rumoured to be coming??
Everyone ive spoken to who went had Brayford as their man of the match and he seems to have split opinions on CCMB as well. Weve the best keeper in the UK and we are still shipping goals. Ole should have brought in a defensive coach. Someone dominant in the middle is needed to protect the back 4 (maybe even 2) Gunner simply isnt good enough. The defence is a major worry particularly if Ben Turner isnt fit. On the plus side 3 goals against a good German side. Surely its Maynard and le Fondre up front v Blackburn.
A week back, I'd have said it must be a Macheda/Guerra combo up front in an Ole favoured 4-4-2 setup - now I'm sure it will be the Maynard/Le Fondre pairing for Blackburn. Maynard looks like a new signing, and although Le Fondre missed a glorious chance that even Campbell would have scored, he must start alongside him. Back 4 is the real issue. Looked hopeless for 40 minutes and only got better after we scored. Don't know what all the press talk and official City site is saying about Kenwyne hitting the post/crossbar with that header that Kimbo scored from - he had it bang on target. Their keeper made an excellent parry save that ran to a following up Kimbo to put away. That was the most significant thing - Kimbo got in the box to take it.
Made the same comment myself Sparkey. On many occasions we had 3-4 in the box and anticipating the ball coming to them, more in expectation than hope. A totally different mind-set. Have just re-watched the game on the big screen. More positives than negatives though the defence does need sorting. Burgstellar lacks pace but looks an intelligent player. Takes up good position and has a variety of passes including some accurate cross field passes, good vision. La Fondre looks as if he'll make himself first choice. Good first touch, strong and knows where his team mates are. Good looping cross for Maynard when he hit the post and a well flighted ball to Jones who mouthed 'great cross' for the Kim goal. Maynard and Guerra looked capable also. Yesterday I said Eikrem made a difference when he came on and I haven't changed my mind after the second viewing. Brayford seems to blow hot and cold within a single match. One thing for certain, he needs to sort that barnet out. He might be trying to make a fashion statement, but buggered if I know what it is. Think Lewis might be on his way out as Moore looks to have snatched 2nd spot. Confident 20 minutes. Sorry to be repetitive, but I'll be happier when Ole gets the squad down to 25 or so senior pros.
On the bench and not used. Don't know why??? My questions are where were Hudson and Dikajcoi. Neither played nor were on the bench and both were clearly in need of proper football matches (not training) at the Yeovil game. Unless injured it seemed a waste to leave them out. If Connolly and a. n. other are cb's at Blackburn I have real concerns as Gestede will give them a really hard time if they get good crosses in and Rhodes will be lurking to pick up the pieces. Brayford looked good going forward but seems to have the "Taylor" problem of switching off from time to time when defending. However, for their third goal he, correctly, stayed with his guy the No. 11 who moved inside. Harris should have tracked back with their No. 7 who put the cross in for the goal. Harris will learn and he impressed with his little 15 minute cameo. Clearly has pace and skill, just needs to get his head up before crossing to pick up our players. That is an issue for most young wingers. All in all we improved as the game went on after a poor start. Whitts dominated for the middle third of the game, Fabio looked very good going forward and Le Fondre and Maynard look like they have the makings of a real partnership. Just the usual problem with 2 smallish strikers - stop lumping the ball up in the air to them!!!! They will win not a lot against the usual giant defenders we see in the Championship. In saying that KWJ again looked sharp and caused Wolfsburg problems - was unlucky not to score from close in when the keeper stopped the ball at his feet.
Just looked at that 3rd goal of ours again. I said their keeper had got a good block on Kenwyne's header, but I was wrong - it did indeed come back to Kimbo off the post. Not that important though - the main thing as said earlier was that we were getting players in the box to pick up these sort of things and Kimbo obliged this time. Get guys like Maynard, Le Fondre and supportive midfielders in and around the goalmouth and we'll score plenty this year. Now let's stop them going in the other end - the reported expected signings this coming week will be crucial. All the signs are that Hudson will go to Leeds as soon as some expected signatures are on paper. Marshall as captain would suit me. I think it could spoil the re-emergence of Whitts as a very influential Championship player if it was given to him - he's just not the type.
i just don't think he's a good player. he had the odd good moment but to me looked error prone and nervy. he seemed more interested in flicking back his awful haircut then playing football yesterday! plus the defence looked like 4 individuals, anything but a unit, i have to agree the defence will be our weakness this season……..
