Ted Hughes wrote:After the initial fervour of last night (good effort from the fans involved to try & create an atmosphere), once the players had half killed it with one of the most pathetic pieces of team play seen since the 1st div relegation season, I really tried to detatch myself from the proceedings & just figure out exactly what we were doing. One major factor, tbf, is that several players are clearly knackered & are pushing themselves to stay with the pace; Nasri/Zabba to name but 2. Fernandinho is also boderline buggered. That is outside the Count's control & a big problem. BUT, all the tactical evolution from early season & the improvements on it during the season have pretty much gone & in its place is what can only be described as a dog's breakfast. This is absolutely no different to Moyes' rags team, just better players. The system, doesn't exist anymore, it is a complete & utter mess. We have a 'high line' apart from when we don't. We have overlapping fullbacks who don't overlap, & if they did, they would have nobody to pass to because we have two up front but sometimes nobody up front. One slow, average, midfielder trying to patrol 50 square yards of space in front of the defence (who gets a huge cheer every time he manages to actually do it). One of the West Brom midfielders yesterday, made a pass inside Zabba, to a runner who ran behind him (this was how teams tore us apart pre season on both sides). A mate said: 'great ball that' . It was, but it is a pass almost any Premier League midfield can play. Usually, at that level, a player doesn't get the time to get himself perfectly positioned, look up & see a huge gap between cb & fullback, thus stick the ball through it. This is testimonial match level team defending. When you see this kind of stuff happening, as a manager, & we are in a title run in, you just act to fix it. One time, Aguero & Nasri were stood, marked, 50 yards up from the rest of our team & West Brom had the ball. Our defence was split from the midfield; it was like watching England in the heat in Mexico in 1970. Pellegrini has just sat & watched this kind of thing happen for 3 games in a row; oppo midfield/attack collecting the ball at the halfwayline in acres of space & running at our back 4. The 'pressing game' only happens for about 5 mins per match; it is failing. Then we are just left with nothing. We need to adapt, tighten up, play proper title fighting football & win these fucking games. If we do, we will probably be champions. Football philosphy & development is fine, but the players are fucked & they have stopped doing most of it. We have spells of brilliance where we take hold of the game, then we flag. We are getting in 'result' positions in these games then risking being torn apart. The Utd game even, was the same. When the effort level drops, we need to get them into a simple, solid shape & battle for the title, not worry about looking good. We have better players then anyone who we will play against & can get our noses in front. Do it, then form up, then counter attack. We can go back to the non defending everybody goes forward stuff next season. Am I the only one who is noticing this ?
I went last night, spot on observations.
Not at all promising, too much reliance on silva, yaya and Aguero to make magic things happen. Not enough following of the tactics we presume the team are told ore-game.
Also Nasri was hiding, even when Silva went off, receive ball - pass - hide behind defender.
