Level headed analysis (or an attempt to)

[mr_nool]

Our midfiled just doesn't cut it. It doesn't matter if we play 4-4-2 och 4-3-3.
Since Barry slumped in form (VIlla game), we've not been able to control one single game, bar the second half today (home gainst fucking Burnley). Ireland still hasn't found his form. He still can deliver a great pass every now and then, but he's not in any sense commanding the midfield. de Jong does a decent defensive job most of the time, but isn't a player to rely on for winning the midfield battle. Our wingers are either are also having a bad patch or are attackers in disguise - only contributing when we're on the fast break or in posession at the last third of the pitch. We either need new blood in central midfield, or both Ireland and Barry need to fucking wake up.

The defense is not playing well as a unit. It might be down to them not gelling, it might be down o bad individual performances (Lescott, I'm looking you way), and it might be down to us losing posession too easily in midefiled. What to do about it I simply don't now. We already replaced Richards with Zabba (rightly so), but Ned is out injured, and we're simply low on options. Garido or Sylvinho for Bridge? I dunno ... Don't think that will do too much good. Kompany instead of Lescott? Might be the right solution.

Attack ... Well we do scor goals, but I'm not enttierly happy. One of our problems, in my opinion, is that when playing 4-3-3 (or actually 4-5-1), either Ade or RSC wonders off from their designated area. They go too deep to meet he ball, they go wide, etc. THey are the ones we need in the penalty area to bury the crosses coming in...

I seriously don't knwo how to solve this. We're in a horrible slump of forma th the moment, and I can just pray that things will magically solve themselve during the break, and that we will come back a different team.

[Vhero]

I agree with most of that their I think we are a jigsaw but the pieces are just not fitting together correctly. We have players who like to play too differently. Lescott, SWP, Barry and Tevez all need dropping for a few games as they are costing us like you said however considering there's nearly 80 million worth of players there MH would NEVER get away with it. Hes fucked up big time mate and he has no idea how to fix it. I just hope he thinks of something FAST.

[blue66]

Our midfiled just doesn't cut it. It doesn't matter if we play 4-4-2 och 4-3-3.
Since Barry slumped in form (VIlla game), we've not been able to control one single game, bar the second half today (home gainst fucking Burnley). Ireland still hasn't found his form. He still can deliver a great pass every now and then, but he's not in any sense commanding the midfield. de Jong does a decent defensive job most of the time, but isn't a player to rely on for winning the midfield battle. Our wingers are either are also having a bad patch or are attackers in disguise - only contributing when we're on the fast break or in posession at the last third of the pitch. We either need new blood in central midfield, or both Ireland and Barry need to fucking wake up.

The defense is not playing well as a unit. It might be down to them not gelling, it might be down o bad individual performances (Lescott, I'm looking you way), and it might be down to us losing posession too easily in midefiled. What to do about it I simply don't now. We already replaced Richards with Zabba (rightly so), but Ned is out injured, and we're simply low on options. Garido or Sylvinho for Bridge? I dunno ... Don't think that will do too much good. Kompany instead of Lescott? Might be the right solution.

Attack ... Well we do scor goals, but I'm not enttierly happy. One of our problems, in my opinion, is that when playing 4-3-3 (or actually 4-5-1), either Ade or RSC wonders off from their designated area. They go too deep to meet he ball, they go wide, etc. THey are the ones we need in the penalty area to bury the crosses coming in...

I seriously don't knwo how to solve this. We're in a horrible slump of forma th the moment, and I can just pray that things will magically solve themselve during the break, and that we will come back a different team.

Won't be anything to do with the management though.

[kinkylola]

drop lescott for kompo to start.

Lescott wasn't ready to be a 20+ player and he hasn't earned a place in this team yet as far as I'm concerned. Vinnie has shown what he can do over a season, and even put in performances playing with a fucked up toe. He's done nothing to lose a spot to lescott except he wasn't a 20m purchase by hughes. I feel like him and toure could make a great partnership, with ned coming off the bench if he can get fit. Lescott has to earn it.

442 doesnt work.

Barry is not putting in the work required of him and lots of times looks like he doesn't know where he's supposed to be, and I think that's a problem with hughes trying to shoehorn players into his formation, which doesn't suit us despite him going out and buy players. You might think dejong is only mediocre, but he has been our strongest mid this season, even if he doesnt contribute to attack. Barry playing a defensive minded mid puts too much pressure on him and that really isn't his role. Ireland likewise IS NOT A CENTRAL MID.

right now I think 433 is our best bet ... dejong sitting back at dm ... and barry and ireland given the freedom to roam and link up with who they need to. this 442 is too stiffling and uses roles that don't fit our squad. Everyone suffers.

[mr_nool]

Our midfiled just doesn't cut it. It doesn't matter if we play 4-4-2 och 4-3-3.
Since Barry slumped in form (VIlla game), we've not been able to control one single game, bar the second half today (home gainst fucking Burnley). Ireland still hasn't found his form. He still can deliver a great pass every now and then, but he's not in any sense commanding the midfield. de Jong does a decent defensive job most of the time, but isn't a player to rely on for winning the midfield battle. Our wingers are either are also having a bad patch or are attackers in disguise - only contributing when we're on the fast break or in posession at the last third of the pitch. We either need new blood in central midfield, or both Ireland and Barry need to fucking wake up.

The defense is not playing well as a unit. It might be down to them not gelling, it might be down o bad individual performances (Lescott, I'm looking you way), and it might be down to us losing posession too easily in midefiled. What to do about it I simply don't now. We already replaced Richards with Zabba (rightly so), but Ned is out injured, and we're simply low on options. Garido or Sylvinho for Bridge? I dunno ... Don't think that will do too much good. Kompany instead of Lescott? Might be the right solution.

Attack ... Well we do scor goals, but I'm not enttierly happy. One of our problems, in my opinion, is that when playing 4-3-3 (or actually 4-5-1), either Ade or RSC wonders off from their designated area. They go too deep to meet he ball, they go wide, etc. THey are the ones we need in the penalty area to bury the crosses coming in...

I seriously don't knwo how to solve this. We're in a horrible slump of forma th the moment, and I can just pray that things will magically solve themselve during the break, and that we will come back a different team.

Won't be anything to do with the management though.

Of course it fucking does. He's the one placing the chess pieces, isn't he? You can't blame a pawn for being knocked off the board. Is the guy playing you need to look at.

[david yearsley]

We´ve supposedly got a squad to deal with loss of form with players pushing for places!

[Socrates]

drop lescott for kompo to start.

Lescott wasn't ready to be a 20+ player and he hasn't earned a place in this team yet as far as I'm concerned. Vinnie has shown what he can do over a season, and even put in performances playing with a fucked up toe. He's done nothing to lose a spot to lescott except he wasn't a 20m purchase by hughes. I feel like him and toure could make a great partnership, with ned coming off the bench if he can get fit. Lescott has to earn it.

442 doesnt work.

Barry is not putting in the work required of him and lots of times looks like he doesn't know where he's supposed to be, and I think that's a problem with hughes trying to shoehorn players into his formation, which doesn't suit us despite him going out and buy players. You might think dejong is only mediocre, but he has been our strongest mid this season, even if he doesnt contribute to attack. Barry playing a defensive minded mid puts too much pressure on him and that really isn't his role. Ireland likewise IS NOT A CENTRAL MID.

right now I think 433 is our best bet ... dejong sitting back at dm ... and barry and ireland given the freedom to roam and link up with who they need to. this 442 is too stiffling and uses roles that don't fit our squad. Everyone suffers.

We play even worse with De Jong on the pitch as we are still shit at the back but much less effective coming forward. 4-3-3 I can go for but make Barry sit in the hole, like he does so well for England.

[bluemoon]

Pretty much spot on, but in all fairness it's obvious for most to see where the problems are. Shame it doesn't seem to have been addressed by the management. There's also a pyschological aspect to this and I'm wondering where all that talk of winning mentality has gone!?! It amazes me, that after spending over £200 million we can still look so wank.

[blue66]

Our midfiled just doesn't cut it. It doesn't matter if we play 4-4-2 och 4-3-3.
Since Barry slumped in form (VIlla game), we've not been able to control one single game, bar the second half today (home gainst fucking Burnley). Ireland still hasn't found his form. He still can deliver a great pass every now and then, but he's not in any sense commanding the midfield. de Jong does a decent defensive job most of the time, but isn't a player to rely on for winning the midfield battle. Our wingers are either are also having a bad patch or are attackers in disguise - only contributing when we're on the fast break or in posession at the last third of the pitch. We either need new blood in central midfield, or both Ireland and Barry need to fucking wake up.

The defense is not playing well as a unit. It might be down to them not gelling, it might be down o bad individual performances (Lescott, I'm looking you way), and it might be down to us losing posession too easily in midefiled. What to do about it I simply don't now. We already replaced Richards with Zabba (rightly so), but Ned is out injured, and we're simply low on options. Garido or Sylvinho for Bridge? I dunno ... Don't think that will do too much good. Kompany instead of Lescott? Might be the right solution.

Attack ... Well we do scor goals, but I'm not enttierly happy. One of our problems, in my opinion, is that when playing 4-3-3 (or actually 4-5-1), either Ade or RSC wonders off from their designated area. They go too deep to meet he ball, they go wide, etc. THey are the ones we need in the penalty area to bury the crosses coming in...

I seriously don't knwo how to solve this. We're in a horrible slump of forma th the moment, and I can just pray that things will magically solve themselve during the break, and that we will come back a different team.

Won't be anything to do with the management though.

Of course it fucking does. He's the one placing the chess pieces, isn't he? You can't blame a pawn for being knocked off the board. Is the guy playing you need to look at.

Sorry if my sarcasm went completely over your heqad.

[ruralblue]

We´ve supposedly got a squad to deal with loss of form with players pushing for places!

We have Mr Yearsly but Hughes isn't making the changes. I would honestly give Weiss a few runs out. Defences have SWP sussed again, they just bang two players on him each time he gets the ball in the knowledge he will run at them rather than taking advantage of pulling away two players and making a early killer pass.

[edge275]

We´ve supposedly got a squad to deal with loss of form with players pushing for places!

It helps though when we use them. You've got player of the month sitting on the bench. Loss of form players starting every match.

SWP, Lescott, Barry and possibly Tevez all need dropping to make way for players like Kompany, Weiss, De Jong and Petrov.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Pretty much spot on, but in all fairness it's obvious for most to see where the problems are. Shame it doesn't seem to have been addressed by the management. There's also a pyschological aspect to this and I'm wondering where all that talk of winning mentality has gone!?! It amazes me, that after spending over £200 million we can still look so wank.

NO MANAGER WOULD HAVE GOT A BETTER CHANCE TO GATECRASH AND MAKE A SERIOUS PUSH FOR THE PREM THIS YEAR THAN HUGHES HAS GOTTEN WITH ALL THE MONEY AT HIS DISPOSAL AND THE NEVER ENDING SUPPORT HE HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN.

EVERY TEAM HAS FUCKED UP AND DROPPED SERIOUS POINTS........AND JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS DONE IT....SO DO WE!

I CANT WORK IT OUT MAN..I SERIOUSLY FUCKING CANT.

[mr_nool]

Our midfiled just doesn't cut it. It doesn't matter if we play 4-4-2 och 4-3-3.
Since Barry slumped in form (VIlla game), we've not been able to control one single game, bar the second half today (home gainst fucking Burnley). Ireland still hasn't found his form. He still can deliver a great pass every now and then, but he's not in any sense commanding the midfield. de Jong does a decent defensive job most of the time, but isn't a player to rely on for winning the midfield battle. Our wingers are either are also having a bad patch or are attackers in disguise - only contributing when we're on the fast break or in posession at the last third of the pitch. We either need new blood in central midfield, or both Ireland and Barry need to fucking wake up.

The defense is not playing well as a unit. It might be down to them not gelling, it might be down o bad individual performances (Lescott, I'm looking you way), and it might be down to us losing posession too easily in midefiled. What to do about it I simply don't now. We already replaced Richards with Zabba (rightly so), but Ned is out injured, and we're simply low on options. Garido or Sylvinho for Bridge? I dunno ... Don't think that will do too much good. Kompany instead of Lescott? Might be the right solution.

Attack ... Well we do scor goals, but I'm not enttierly happy. One of our problems, in my opinion, is that when playing 4-3-3 (or actually 4-5-1), either Ade or RSC wonders off from their designated area. They go too deep to meet he ball, they go wide, etc. THey are the ones we need in the penalty area to bury the crosses coming in...

I seriously don't knwo how to solve this. We're in a horrible slump of forma th the moment, and I can just pray that things will magically solve themselve during the break, and that we will come back a different team.

Won't be anything to do with the management though.

Of course it fucking does. He's the one placing the chess pieces, isn't he? You can't blame a pawn for being knocked off the board. Is the guy playing you need to look at.

Sorry if my sarcasm went completely over your heqad.

Sorry mate, am a bit wound yup at the moment, and don't respones well to sarcasm. Dunno why, though. The last beer must have had a bad effect on me ...

[9secondlegend]

I agree with most of that their I think we are a jigsaw but the pieces are just not fitting together correctly. We have players who like to play too differently. Lescott, SWP, Barry and Tevez all need dropping for a few games as they are costing us like you said however considering there's nearly 80 million worth of players there MH would NEVER get away with it. Hes fucked up big time mate and he has no idea how to fix it. I just hope he thinks of something FAST.

hughes is a bluffer
he got this job and luckily fell on his feet when all the money came in. the first season he spent loads but we were all told we need time.
this season he has bought world class players. who couldnt with money like that available? and at 1st before he had managed to brainwash them with his tactics and motivational skills we were good. like we should be with that much money spent and the talent brought in.
but now , what is wrong? he is making his mark on the team. personaly , i believe we have by far the greatest squad i have ever seen but the managaer can not get these players to play .
dont tell me lescott is shit , tevez is shit , richards is shit. they simply are not. they are great players but this manager does not know how to play this squad we have.
i dont have answers on how to do this as i am not paid £1000s a week but neither does hughes.
i know people will start saying but we have only lost 1 game and we shouldnt have lost that but the teams we are playing we should be winning. that is not being big headed. that is fact. man for man every player on citys team today was far superior to burnleys. as they were last week against birmingham and the week before against wigan etc etc
if people believe these players signed for hughes they are deluded. they signed for the money and they must be thinking what the fuck is this clown telling us to do? what has he ever done as a manger?
this job is to big for him and he his just blagging his way through this.

[Dubaimancityfan]

Our midfiled just doesn't cut it. It doesn't matter if we play 4-4-2 och 4-3-3.
Since Barry slumped in form (VIlla game), we've not been able to control one single game, bar the second half today (home gainst fucking Burnley). Ireland still hasn't found his form. He still can deliver a great pass every now and then, but he's not in any sense commanding the midfield. de Jong does a decent defensive job most of the time, but isn't a player to rely on for winning the midfield battle. Our wingers are either are also having a bad patch or are attackers in disguise - only contributing when we're on the fast break or in posession at the last third of the pitch. We either need new blood in central midfield, or both Ireland and Barry need to fucking wake up.

The defense is not playing well as a unit. It might be down to them not gelling, it might be down o bad individual performances (Lescott, I'm looking you way), and it might be down to us losing posession too easily in midefiled. What to do about it I simply don't now. We already replaced Richards with Zabba (rightly so), but Ned is out injured, and we're simply low on options. Garido or Sylvinho for Bridge? I dunno ... Don't think that will do too much good. Kompany instead of Lescott? Might be the right solution.

Attack ... Well we do scor goals, but I'm not enttierly happy. One of our problems, in my opinion, is that when playing 4-3-3 (or actually 4-5-1), either Ade or RSC wonders off from their designated area. They go too deep to meet he ball, they go wide, etc. THey are the ones we need in the penalty area to bury the crosses coming in...

I seriously don't knwo how to solve this. We're in a horrible slump of forma th the moment, and I can just pray that things will magically solve themselve during the break, and that we will come back a different team.

Won't be anything to do with the management though.

Of course it fucking does. He's the one placing the chess pieces, isn't he? You can't blame a pawn for being knocked off the board. Is the guy playing you need to look at.

I think blue66 knows what he's talking about. The management is clueless, so its either new management or a miracle (which are very rare these days).
Consider what MH did today. We are 3-2 up, Barry is doing bugger all but he keeps him on. We need to hang on to the win, so why why not bring on DeJong for Barry to shore up our defence which was miserable today ?? Ireland was finished in the last 20 minutes, so why not bring on Johnson or Weiss for fresh legs to run at Burnley's medicore defence.
And as for the 1 substitution he made, Petrov comes on and proceeds to play on the right with SWP going to the left, both out of position WTF !!!

[david yearsley]

[quote][/I think blue66 knows what he's talking about. The management is clueless, so its either new management or a miracle (which are very rare these days).
Consider what MH did today. We are 3-2 up, Barry is doing bugger all but he keeps him on. We need to hang on to the win, so why why not bring on DeJong for Barry to shore up our defence which was miserable today ?? Ireland was finished in the last 20 minutes, so why not bring on Johnson or Weiss for fresh legs to run at Burnley's medicore defence.
And as for the 1 substitution he made, Petrov comes on and proceeds to play on the right with SWP going to the left, both out of position WTF !!!quote]

I think this sums up why I have always had reservations over Les - tactically inept

[Dubaimancityfan]

[/I think blue66 knows what he's talking about. The management is clueless, so its either new management or a miracle (which are very rare these days).
Consider what MH did today. We are 3-2 up, Barry is doing bugger all but he keeps him on. We need to hang on to the win, so why why not bring on DeJong for Barry to shore up our defence which was miserable today ?? Ireland was finished in the last 20 minutes, so why not bring on Johnson or Weiss for fresh legs to run at Burnley's medicore defence.
And as for the 1 substitution he made, Petrov comes on and proceeds to play on the right with SWP going to the left, both out of position WTF !!!quote]

I think this sums up why I have always had reservations over Les - tactically inept

Glad you agree mate.

[The Original Special One]

I said after the Birmingham game that Barry should be dropped, and today's game only serves to confirm it: I was delighted when we signed him but whether this is a run of bad form or that he just can't click with our current set up remains to be seen.

Ireland gradually started finding his feet in the second half and the number of times he raced back to defend, and either win the ball or upset the opponent in possesion is telling enough for me.
He and De Jong should start in central midfield for our next game: if nothing else it will serve to shake Barry up and I think Ireland showed enough signs today of rediscovering his form and an extended run will help him bed down the playmaker role

I've been critical of SWP for the greater part of this season and although he played very well today, probably our best performer, we have to remember who his direct opponent was.

Bridge clearly must be dropped, if nobody else is: although he might be too old, Sylvinho i arguably our best bet to 'steady the ship'
Eventually we may have to play Lescott at left back if he doesn't get his act together, by which time Nedu will hopefully be fit to partner Toure, easily our best defender.

Zabaleta is honest, wholehearted and committed, but too often an accident waiting to happen.
I don't think Kompany is quite up to Premier League quality centre back, but he might be tried out at right back
(Micah Richards should be farmed out to a Championship team until he learns his craft, or sorts out his lower body musculature, or both)

Tevez is starting to confirm why Ferguson didn't give him enough game time last season: for at least two consecutive games now he's all huff and puff with no end product.
Petrov does well as an impact sub, but we all know what he's like when he's a confirmed starter.

I hope Robinho gets an extended run at his old left flank slot when he recovers from his latest injury, by which time Garrido, perhaps, might be given another opportunity to show what he can do

Shay Given saved us against Birmingham, but I have to wonder just how much he's shouting at his defence to get their act together, as this is an important part of a goalkeeper's job
(just ask Peter Schmeichel)

[Bojinov's left foot]

With all the money spent and the great start to the season expectations are high for a top 4 finish and so they should be.

Today's performance and result is not good enough. The previous 4 league draws prove there is still some way to go before we can consider ourselves genuine top 4 material. The side will take time to gel and if this current form is a blip for the next few months then we can go into the New Year in a top 4 position. Hughes will need to improve his tactics though and the players will have to show more of their desire and ability to be major Premier League players.

Today against Burnely I was surprised on a number of things. Why did Petrov & SWP swop. SWP was destroying the left back & Petrov is left footed and has pace to burn - use them to their best advantage! Adebayor - why was this guy on the wing so much when he should be in the centre, did he win a header?

Hughes and his substitutions are strange most of the time. Petrov on and he plays on the right? We needed to win the ball more in the 2nd half and I thought Kompany coming on for Barry would have improved us. I just don't see Hughes making the changes early enough or today making the right changes. Do we have Plan B & C even though we have a far better squad than last season. Shame not to see Weiss today, could have come on for SWP for the last 15 minutes to offer something different, especially as SWP had been taking a battering all day.

Bring on Liverpool!

[paulh]

didnt go today( im a seasonticket and luckily go all games when others are not as fortunate) in my opinion we need a gio type player to link midfield to attack and thread ball around park