Just back from St Andrews

[AFKAE]

Haven't read the matchday thread yet, it'll be interesting to see a different perspective.

Clearly Given was outstanding, but it would be hard to say much positive about the others. Plus points I thought were a couple of crunching tackles from De Jong, and I thought Lescott looked a bit more settled than he has before. Didn't really see what happened for the penalty it was at the other end.
RSC was hopeless, it's very hard to imagine he once scored a bagful of goals.
Both substitutions were completely ineffective and changed nothing.
I sometimes wonder how much of the problem lies with SWP (unfair to pick on him maybe), but a lot gets channelled to him and after a bit of pace and trickery there's just no end result-he's beginning to remind me of Aaron Lennon.
Tevez needs to stay behind for more shooting practice.

[The Original Special One]

Haven't read the matchday thread yet, it'll be interesting to see a different perspective.

Clearly Given was outstanding, but it would be hard to say much positive about the others. Plus points I thought were a couple of crunching tackles from De Jong, and I thought Lescott looked a bit more settled than he has before. Didn't really see what happened for the penalty it was at the other end.
RSC was hopeless, it's very hard to imagine he once scored a bagful of goals.
Both substitutions were completely ineffective and changed nothing.
I sometimes wonder how much of the problem lies with SWP (unfair to pick on him maybe), but a lot gets channelled to him and after a bit of pace and trickery there's just no end result-he's beginning to remind me of Aaron Lennon.
Tevez needs to stay behind for more shooting practice.

Fair points all

What did you think of Bridge's performance?
Admittedly it was only against Birmingham but he's finally looking like a 'player'
And, more importantly, a defender!

[AFKAE]

Thought Bridge had a reasonable game. Zabs not too bad also.

It's the midfield that really isn't working.

[CITYTILLIDIE11]

Thought Bridge had a reasonable game. Zabs not too bad also.

It's the midfield that really isn't working.

Not surprised by that, he plays 2 Defensive midfielders De Jong and Barry against a shite Birmingham side, Ireland is on the bench and he is exactly the type of player who can make a killer pass forwards and not backwards.

Brings Ireland on with half an hour left excpecting him to pull him out of the shit.

I am hearing rumours all is not well with Ireland and Hughes,he knew last Wednesday he wouldn’t be starting today make of that what you will.

The future looks so good forward with Sparky………………..

[The Original Special One]

Thought Bridge had a reasonable game. Zabs not too bad also.

It's the midfield that really isn't working.

Not surprised by that, he plays 2 Defensive midfielders De Jong and Barry against a shite Birmingham side, Ireland is on the bench and he is exactly the type of player who can make a killer pass forwards and not backwards.

Brings Ireland on with half an hour left excpecting him to pull him out of the shit.

I am hearing rumours all is not well with Ireland and Hughes,he knew last Wednesday he wouldn’t be starting today make of that what you will.

The future looks so good forward with Sparky………………..

We all know what kind of a 'rattle throwing out of the pram' type Ireland is!

[Geo123]

This is directed at both if ye??

1 How do ye know ireland knew he wudn be starting

2 And regarding rattle and pram comment what problem has he ever had at city.....

[Original Dub]

Thought Bridge had a reasonable game. Zabs not too bad also.

It's the midfield that really isn't working.

Not surprised by that, he plays 2 Defensive midfielders De Jong and Barry against a shite Birmingham side, Ireland is on the bench and he is exactly the type of player who can make a killer pass forwards and not backwards.

Brings Ireland on with half an hour left excpecting him to pull him out of the shit.

I am hearing rumours all is not well with Ireland and Hughes,he knew last Wednesday he wouldn’t be starting today make of that what you will.

The future looks so good forward with Sparky………………..

Yep, fourth with a game in hand.

[Mase]

Thought Bridge had a reasonable game. Zabs not too bad also.

It's the midfield that really isn't working.

Not surprised by that, he plays 2 Defensive midfielders De Jong and Barry against a shite Birmingham side, Ireland is on the bench and he is exactly the type of player who can make a killer pass forwards and not backwards.

Brings Ireland on with half an hour left excpecting him to pull him out of the shit.

I am hearing rumours all is not well with Ireland and Hughes,he knew last Wednesday he wouldn’t be starting today make of that what you will.

The future looks so good forward with Sparky………………..

Yep, fourth with a game in hand.

What he said!

[bluej]

For those of you banging on about Ireland making a difference - what did he actually do when he came on?

[mcfc1632]

Haven't read the matchday thread yet, it'll be interesting to see a different perspective.

Clearly Given was outstanding, but it would be hard to say much positive about the others. Plus points I thought were a couple of crunching tackles from De Jong, and I thought Lescott looked a bit more settled than he has before. Didn't really see what happened for the penalty it was at the other end.
RSC was hopeless, it's very hard to imagine he once scored a bagful of goals.
Both substitutions were completely ineffective and changed nothing.
I sometimes wonder how much of the problem lies with SWP (unfair to pick on him maybe), but a lot gets channelled to him and after a bit of pace and trickery there's just no end result-he's beginning to remind me of Aaron Lennon.
Tevez needs to stay behind for more shooting practice.

Yeah - I have just got back (Berkshire) - I was right behind the goal in the away end - I could hardly see anything up the other end - so p 1st half and I am glad I have recorded it. Do not know why but the view seemed much worse when behind the goal at other grounds - that said I could see de jong's hand go up for the penalty - so that seemed a correct decision - I have also not read the match thread - but come on - surely that was a penalty to us towards the end when Tevez was hauled down and the ref bottled it - their player seemed to stay down just to hope the ref gave him some leniancy??

Do not know how it looked on telly but it seemed a totally bitty game and nothing great to watch - but fans on phone-ins made it sounf much better?? Too much long ball - we needed the ball on the ground - Stevie and Martin on at half time - and I would have given Vlad a run in SWPs place towards the end - but I guess hindsight is easy

[CITYTILLIDIE11]

For those of you banging on about Ireland making a difference - what did he actually do when he came on?

I see Stevie Ireland has now become a favourite for the boo boys,

I thought most our victories had come with Stevie in the side and our run off poor results coincided with his omission.

I Can hardly see the lad pulling his guts out for a bloke that has treated him like a piece of shit, destroyed his confidence frozen him out and reduced him to being a bit part player at City.

Has funny morals does Hughes and a short memory.

[MaineRoadMemories]

Just got back myself and agree with most comments on here. The point I'd like to bang home is from our decent postion high up behind the goal we got to see the formation clear (or should I say lack of formation).

When the ball was dead we would line up in a traditional 4-4-2. However, when the ball was active and us in possession you couldn't see a shape at all. Everyone was everywhere. Positional discipline was as appauling as our short range passing.

When we lost the ball you could literally park the QEII through the gap in the middle of the park. De Jong and Barry no where near the middle and Lescott and Kompany nowhere near the centre either.

The amount of times a crap Brum team could play simple through balls or over the head balls through our middle was shocking.

Today was an awful day at the office and I'm grateful for a point. The players let themselves down badly today.

[bluej]

For those of you banging on about Ireland making a difference - what did he actually do when he came on?

I see Stevie Ireland has now become a favourite for the boo boys,

I thought most our victories had come with Stevie in the side and our run off poor results coincided with his omission.

I Can hardly see the lad pulling his guts out for a bloke that has treated him like a piece of shit, destroyed his confidence frozen him out and reduced him to being a bit part player at City.

Has funny morals does Hughes and a short memory.

Eh? I'd probably be classed as a 'happy clapper' or a 'licker' if anything - I can't keep up with what groups there are now.

Ireland had his virus, a poor run of form (by his own high standards) and then played well during midweek and I expected him to play today. But like I said, what difference did he make when he came on?

But you can't ask a question about a players bad form - it must be Hughes destroying them / the club / the world, the filthy rag b@stard.

[Socrates]

Just got back myself and agree with most comments on here. The point I'd like to bang home is from our decent postion high up behind the goal we got to see the formation clear (or should I say lack of formation).

When the ball was dead we would line up in a traditional 4-4-2. However, when the ball was active and us in possession you couldn't see a shape at all. Everyone was everywhere. Positional discipline was as appauling as our short range passing.

When we lost the ball you could literally park the QEII through the gap in the middle of the park. De Jong and Barry no where near the middle and Lescott and Kompany nowhere near the centre either.

The amount of times a crap Brum team could play simple through balls or over the head balls through our middle was shocking.

Today was an awful day at the office and I'm grateful for a point. The players let themselves down badly today.

Thanks for that. Very informative.

[mcfc1632]

For those of you banging on about Ireland making a difference - what did he actually do when he came on?

I am a big Stevie fan - but the answer to your question from where I was stood was none - but for me he was not helped by the team continuing to boot long balls without Ade or RSC on the pitch - I think a lot of it passed him by

[bluej]

For those of you banging on about Ireland making a difference - what did he actually do when he came on?

I am a big Stevie fan - but the answer to your question from where I was stood was none - but for me he was not helped by the team continuing to boot long balls without Ade or RSC on the pitch - I think a lot of it passed him by

Yeah exactly, I mentioned about our distribution in another thread.

[dazby]

For those of you banging on about Ireland making a difference - what did he actually do when he came on?

I am a big Stevie fan - but the answer to your question from where I was stood was none - but for me he was not helped by the team continuing to boot long balls without Ade or RSC on the pitch - I think a lot of it passed him by

I was going to start a thread on this but here will do. I thought Stevie touched the ball 5 times in his 30 minute cameo. 5 times.

Was he open? Was he available? Or did the defense just lob it over his head or out wide. It makes no sense to have a playmaker who doesn't receive the ball. Particularly when Leslie made a proactive change to get him on the field.

[Slim]

For those of you banging on about Ireland making a difference - what did he actually do when he came on?

I am a big Stevie fan - but the answer to your question from where I was stood was none - but for me he was not helped by the team continuing to boot long balls without Ade or RSC on the pitch - I think a lot of it passed him by

I was going to start a thread on this but here will do. I thought Stevie touched the ball 5 times in his 30 minute cameo. 5 times.

Was he open? Was he available? Or did the defense just lob it over his head or out wide. It makes no sense to have a playmaker who doesn't receive the ball. Particularly when Leslie made a proactive change to get him on the field.

12 times.

And it was a reactive change, not a proactive change. English dazby, never to late to learn.

[dick dastardley]

ireland must start every game, the guy thrives on the crowd that support him, hes citys best creative player but he starts on the bench!!!
sorry to piss on everyones chips but i just dont see it with De Jong, ok he makes a few tackles but he doesnt create doesnt score!!

santa cruz more like santa claus slow not much skill and certainly doesnt close defenders down!!

bridge getting better and better

given best in prem by far

bellamy has to be upfront not left wing

swp plenty of huff but no end product

we need Ade back quick!!!

[dazby]

For those of you banging on about Ireland making a difference - what did he actually do when he came on?

I am a big Stevie fan - but the answer to your question from where I was stood was none - but for me he was not helped by the team continuing to boot long balls without Ade or RSC on the pitch - I think a lot of it passed him by

I was going to start a thread on this but here will do. I thought Stevie touched the ball 5 times in his 30 minute cameo. 5 times.

Was he open? Was he available? Or did the defense just lob it over his head or out wide. It makes no sense to have a playmaker who doesn't receive the ball. Particularly when Leslie made a proactive change to get him on the field.

12 times.

And it was a reactive change, not a proactive change. English dazby, never to late to learn.

Thanks mr fucking pedantic. Yes, it was a proactive change. Taking off GazBaz for having a mare would have been a reactive change. But no, Leslie was chasing the game and took off the better of the two midfielders. A proactive change.

Please don't take this opportunity Slim to bore us all shitless with dictionary definitions and the like. Just call me a fucktard or whatever crap you have in your arsenal of witty repartee and be done with it. If anyone else would like to discuss Stevie's contribution I'd love to debate it with you.