WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

[john68]

12 games gone, around a third of the season played, a transfer window opening in a matter of weeks. An opportune time to look at the 1st third and assess "WHAT WE'VE LEARNED", CHANGES WE'D MAKE" and "AREAS WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN"

GOAL... No major critique for me here, GIVEN has done the job pretty well. Some great saves and the expected couple of mistakes.

DEFENCE...TOURE and LESCOTT have not gelled into a unit that dominates and we have been woeful defending set pieces. Toure seems less at fault but Lescott sometimes seems to switch off and we have been badly punished. Both seem to be similar players and maybe we need a Watson type player to take control. I'm not calling time on Lescott, but think we need to accept he hasn't yet done it for us.
I'm reasonably happy with BRIDGE, he seems to have improved of late and hopefully that will continue. Neither MICAH nor ZABBA seem to have been defensively secure and Zabba particularly has been costly, giving free kicks (at much cost) away.

MIDFIELD...BARRY has gone backward recently and doesn't seem to be quite the same player that started the season so securely. Maybe it time to start to give JOHNNO some game time to build up his fitness and give us options. IRELAND needs to be put back into the role he played last season when he was out of this World. Playing the deeper role leaves a huge creative gap for us.
On the wings, SWP has suffered a loss of impact, lots hard work but relatively less final product than we would have expected. On the other wing, we have lost both ROBBIE and his replacement PETROV. Hopefully that problem will be solved shortly.

ATTACK...We have always scored goals so there are no major worries up front.

CONCLUSION...I would be tempted to look for a truly dominating central defender in the transfer window. At full back, I would look at the availability of A replacement for both Micah and Zabba. Most important, I think we are desperate for a truly World class creative midfielder in the mould of Ali Benarbia, who could control the midfield and lead the team round the field.

[Vhero]

12 games gone, around a third of the season played, a transfer window opening in a matter of weeks. An opportune time to look at the 1st third and assess "WHAT WE'VE LEARNED", CHANGES WE'D MAKE" and "AREAS WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN"

GOAL... No major critique for me here, GIVEN has done the job pretty well. Some great saves and the expected couple of mistakes.

DEFENCE...TOURE and LESCOTT have not gelled into a unit that dominates and we have been woeful defending set pieces. Toure seems less at fault but Lescott sometimes seems to switch off and we have been badly punished. Both seem to be similar players and maybe we need a Watson type player to take control. I'm not calling time on Lescott, but think we need to accept he hasn't yet done it for us.
I'm reasonably happy with BRIDGE, he seems to have improved of late and hopefully that will continue. Neither MICAH nor ZABBA seem to have been defensively secure and Zabba particularly has been costly, giving free kicks (at much cost) away.

MIDFIELD...BARRY has gone backward recently and doesn't seem to be quite the same player that started the season so securely. Maybe it time to start to give JOHNNO some game time to build up his fitness and give us options. IRELAND needs to be put back into the role he played last season when he was out of this World. Playing the deeper role leaves a huge creative gap for us.
On the wings, SWP has suffered a loss of impact, lots hard work but relatively less final product than we would have expected. On the other wing, we have lost both ROBBIE and his replacement PETROV. Hopefully that problem will be solved shortly.

ATTACK...We have always scored goals so there are no major worries up front.

CONCLUSION...I would be tempted to look for a truly dominating central defender in the transfer window. At full back, I would look at the availability of A replacement for both Micah and Zabba. Most important, I think we are desperate for a truly World class creative midfielder in the mould of Ali Benarbia, who could control the midfield and lead the team round the field.

Agreed a RB is what we need and if Robbie really wants to go then maybe we can replace with a creative midfielder.. However I think he fills that void.

[Beefymcfc]

I know what you're saying John, but for me they haven't had enough time together to make an accuarte opinion. We have a near enough new back four who need to play together for at least 6 months before we can assess the pro's and con's and that from a person who didn't want to get rid of Dunney.

In my opinion, we have to wait until January and further before looking at the playing staff as anything other would be detremental to the team as a whole.

QUESTION: Are you now subscribing to a change every opportunity?

[lets all have a disco]

Need world class midfielder like 68 said a young Ali B would be nice
Right Back, maybe a spare left back im giving more time to Lescott and Toure they deserve it.

Oh and we need to give the management team a bit more time to gel the team.

[CityGer]

Good summary Mr 68.

In Jan we will see Robbie swapped for Yaya and Henry. We'll also sign Maicon.

The other hole left, based on your summary and my own view, is centre mid and the only potential name that springes to mind is Guorcuff.

[shawzy]

After seeing Lescott for England and the scouse game today..I can see some class and confidence coming out him.
Right back - I prefer Zabba over Micah but he does need to stop giving away these needless fouls and putting us under pressure.
MF..We have Johnno to create attacking play.He will be back,fully fit in a matter of weeks.
After watching Tevez today.He murdered the scouse..Does anyone think he could play in MF as a creative player? I think its possible.

[failsworthblue]

That we are not good enough.

We cannot defend.

Gareth Barry needs to be benched.

We need a manager who can inspire players.

We are blowing the biggest chance we have had for nearly a qtry of a century.

[john68]

Beefy,
I have tried to look at where I think weaknesses have been over a periond and looked at options to stregthen them. I can't see any defensive improvement with Zabba or Micah in the short term but I have not given up in the longer term. The same with Lescott, we know he is a class player but his partnership with Toure has proved costly.

I understand that we need patience and that we are still "work in progress" but whatever is decided in the next transfer window, only a few weeks away, will define the rest of the season.

Change and strengthening where necessary and continue working with what we've already got to improve it.

[john68]

That we are not good enough.

We cannot defend.

Gareth Barry needs to be benched.

We need a manager who can inspire players.

We are blowing the biggest chance we have had for nearly a qtry of a century.

That was eloquent and comprehensive...and?.......

[lets all have a disco]

That we are not good enough.

We cannot defend.

Gareth Barry needs to be benched.

We need a manager who can inspire players.

We are blowing the biggest chance we have had for nearly a qtry of a century.

That was eloquent and comprehensive...and?.......

Where are Failsworth's answers?

[Beefymcfc]

Like I say mate, I understand where you are coming from but the team is never going to get settled whilst we keep bringing players in. Yes, if it is dire then we get another player who is going to take 6 months to fit in, but when you have already got world (losely) class players in those spots, at least give them time to fit in.

We have a very good squad of players and we need to give them time to get themselves together. It will come, it's just a matter of how long it will take!

[CityGer]

That it is highly likely that we will churn out mediocre results all year whilst the media/mcf.net/positivepolice_org concentrate on us 'doing some good'.

[edge275]

That we are not good enough.

We cannot defend.

Gareth Barry needs to be benched.

We need a manager who can inspire players.

We are blowing the biggest chance we have had for nearly a qtry of a century.

What this man said.

[john68]

Like I say mate, I understand where you are coming from but the team is never going to get settled whilst we keep bringing players in. Yes, if it is dire then we get another player who is going to take 6 months to fit in, but when you have already got world (losely) class players in those spots, at least give them time to fit in.

We have a very good squad of players and we need to give them time to get themselves together. It will come, it's just a matter of how long it will take!

I agree that time and patience are needed to create stability and I also agree that we have the players to potentially deliver the silverware we crave.
However, I have never thought that this 1st squad we have put together was the definitive squad to take us into the future. I always believed that this squad would evolve, slowly with the addition of players to strengthen weaknesses.

It took Mercer and Allison 3 years to finally have the likes of Book, Bell, Coleman and finally Lee in place. The team that won the League was not the one they started with.

[everyonehatesus]

I think after the hull game (which we will win) the team will get some confidence back and with no international breaks for a bit we will have a better chance to see what stage we are realy at. I still believe that come christmass things will be looking very good indeed.

[Beefymcfc]

Like I say mate, I understand where you are coming from but the team is never going to get settled whilst we keep bringing players in. Yes, if it is dire then we get another player who is going to take 6 months to fit in, but when you have already got world (losely) class players in those spots, at least give them time to fit in.

We have a very good squad of players and we need to give them time to get themselves together. It will come, it's just a matter of how long it will take!

I agree that time and patience are needed to create stability and I also agree that we have the players to potentially deliver the silverware we crave.
However, I have never thought that this 1st squad we have put together was the definitive squad to take us into the future. I always believed that this squad would evolve, slowly with the addition of players to strengthen weaknesses.

It took Mercer and Allison 3 years to finally have the likes of Book, Bell, Coleman and finally Lee in place. The team that won the League was not the one they started with.

I think we are in the same realms of thinking mate. Just to mention that I was lucky enough to meet Colin and Tony recently in a natural setting (when they were pissed off with signing autographs). They were both great guys who seemed to want the same as us, a period of winning trophies. They actually seemed to want to get out of the limelight and believed if we could deliver, that they could get peace. Reminded me of many of my family, great guys!

[CITYTILLIDIE11]

I keep hearing clichés “like time and stability” as an excuse for more time

However even the most avid Hughes supporters must now be having serious doubts about his abillity16 months on.

What has Hughes learned over that period?, evidently nothing, new season world class players and we still have the same old problems.

Some debate the merits of a 4-4-2 4-3-3, it doesn’t matter what system we play, we can’t defend, why?

Because the coaches are shite that’s why.

I also don’t like the new team drawing mentality that he has instilled in the side, there is almost a reluctance to play any sort of football going forward on the ground until we concede a goal, its bloody criminal, for 20 minutes today in the second half we looked like we were going to murder them, before regressing to the hit on the break mode, which never bloody works and we always concede, granted we drew 2-2, but I swear we have had some luck this season.

I don’t think Hughes knows what he is doing half the time, struggling to work with a plethora of talent at his disposal, it has sort of blown his mind, Its to much for the poor bloke anybody can see it, but us being City it is only right that we amble along in second gear give him a proper chance and go through the motions before taking action.

This season is going to be one of missed opportunity, we were good enough to be up there challenging for the title, we have beaten Arsenal, with better management we would have at least drawn at the Swamp, and we could and should have beaten Liverpool today if we had made a fist of it from the off I swear we would have done them, we have been far to negative this season with one off the best squads in the Premier League.

I keep hearing we would have lost these games last season.

Try looking at it this way

we would have won all these games this season with a decent manager managing us, our squad is excellent we don’t need any more fcuking players come January, we just need the class players we have got managing much better, playing as a team for 90 minutes

Like I said in another post, progress made will be in spite of being managed by Hughes.

[BlueMoonAwoken]

I keep hearing clichés “like time and stability” as an excuse for more time

However even the most avid Hughes supporters must now be having serious doubts about his abillity16 months on.

What has Hughes learned over that period?, evidently nothing, new season world class players and we still have the same old problems.

Some debate the merits of a 4-4-2 4-3-3, it doesn’t matter what system we play, we can’t defend, why?

Because the coaches are shite that’s why.

I also don’t like the new team drawing mentality that he has instilled in the side, there is almost a reluctance to play any sort of football going forward on the ground until we concede a goal, its bloody criminal, for 20 minutes today in the second half we looked like we were going to murder them, before regressing to the hit on the break mode, which never bloody works and we always concede, granted we drew 2-2, but I swear we have had some luck this season.

I don’t think Hughes knows what he is doing half the time, struggling to work with a plethora of talent at his disposal, it has sort of blown his mind, Its to much for the poor bloke anybody can see it, but us being City it is only right that we amble along in second gear give him a proper chance and go through the motions before taking action.

This season is going to be one of missed opportunity, we were good enough to be up there challenging for the title, we have beaten Arsenal, with better management we would have at least drawn at the Swamp, and we could and should have beaten Liverpool today if we had made a fist of it from the off I swear we would have done them, we have been far to negative this season with one off the best squads in the Premier League.

I keep hearing we would have lost these games last season.

Try looking at it this way

we would have won all these games this season with a decent manager managing us, our squad is excellent we don’t need any more fcuking players come January, we just need the class players we have got managing much better, playing as a team for 90 minutes

Like I said in another post, progress made will be in spite of being managed by Hughes.

You make me laugh sometimes!


anyway jonh68

i agree but about your idea for a commanding , calm under pressure center half. I think we have that with nedum but he gets injured too much :(

But midfielder in the mould of ali b? I dont agree we need a midfielder in the role of gerrard at the scouse. Look at the game today and he wasnt that great today but still he makes the whole team tick everything goes through him. He constantly wants the ball , he never stands still.

I see too many players standing still , as if there waiting for SWP, Teves or ireland to beat 3 men and then lay it on a plate for them. Early in the season the movement was there , city reminded me off arsenal but more SCARY!

I think hughes needs to tinker with lescott and toure , maybe try a diffrent partnership nedum or kompany. I really dont think lescott and toure have that understanding. When we Gel at the back and it wont be long ( hopefully ) i can see that 4th spot with citys name on it.

[Manx Blue]

Good evening all,
I think there is a very good cross section of oppinons and Ideas, some of which I agree, with some not so. However I RESPECT EVERYONES OPPINIONS.

For me, I'm not happy with Bridge (I missed the game today)...his preformance against Burnley was truly shocking.

Defensively I would agree with thoughts regarding set pieces. I think if we can get Onouha back on a consistent basis and shit Lecott to left back that may work.

Midfield wise we are lacking something, whether its Ireland Role, constant swapping of De Jong and other players to find a blend which is actually knocking peoples confidence etc, I don't know. Upfront we are scoring goals. However I think we as supporters need to calm down a bit. All this money has been spent which isn't ours, and we are expecting results...and sometimes after results, answers.

Its disappointing we've drawn six on the bounce, but I for one am glad to see the team showing resilience, and remind everyone that an extra three goals would have netted an extra 6 points and we'd be just behind the Shit with a game in hand. It hasn't been the case, but If you'd have told me prior to the start of the season that we'd have one defeat going into the arse end of November I'd have snatched your hand off.

However, we can say we need this or that or whatever. The most important thing is we keep behind the team/squad/management...this run of results is frustrating, but it must also be bringing a certain confidence that many of the players already with the club haven't really experienced before, other than the first 4 months under SVEN

I'm not pro Hughes by a long chalk, however we have a good opportunity of winning a cup this season, and within touching distance of Chumps qualification. Rocking the boat so close to the Arsenal cup game, and the FA Cup game just a bit further down the road could wreck the whole season. The team is still gelling...lets keep our chins up, keep relaxed and roar the chaps on next Saturday against HULL.

Everyone is going on about us not winning a game in Six...I actuallly tell people we haven't lost in NINE

[ronk]

I think we're a very different team in a lot of ways compared to last season. We have a good attack and a defence that's mostly solid but is still leaking goals, to be expected. Losing Dunne was always going to involve short term pain but with hopefully long term gain. We're about where I thought we'd be.

Robinho has been a huge loss for us, the changes in the team should have brought out the best in him. We've also had plenty of disruptions in the team, disruptions we can ill afford with the need to bed down. A side effect of that has been that we've also been somewhat less willing to experiment and introduce new players. I can't help thinking that Weiss deserves more of a chance.

If the right players become available then we might be able to strengthen. A midfielder might be a good idea, a winger who can play both sides and as a wide forward would be really useful and would do a lot of damage to opposition teams (even in addition to Robinho). More usefully, we could do with a right back, if there's an option out there who's really world class.