Good god, that was bad.

[Pigeonho]

Whilst I make it clear from the off this isn't an anti-Hughes thread, (i'll never be anti-anyone as long as they are in charge), my opinion of his tactics last night came into question as soon as Lennon got hold of the ball. A blind Sunday League manager could have seen Sylvinho was going to get skinned, and thats even before a ball was kicked. If it were me I would have looked, (especially at half time), at putting Barry at Left Back and bringing Kompany on inplace of Sylvinho, (with him going into Barry's roll). Adebayor looks like he's already thinking about his 1st class flight to the ACoN, and Robinho looks like he has zero relationship with his manager. I reitterate, I am not slagging any of them off as its not in my nature to do that to any of the staff, but to say i'm disappointed is an understatement. I believe that Hughes should be given to the end of the season as it would be pointless bringing in anyone else, whether there's a Jan window or not, because not many big-name players will move in Jan, and any new manager will want those big names to join him, especially with an open cheque book. If our owners were watching that last night though, they must be wondering how such a rich base of talent looked like a Championship side, (except perhaps Tevez). Saturday is going to be interesting and for the first time this season, i'm not looking forward to 5PM cum Saturday night, as right now I simply can't predict what we will do on the pitch. My gut says we will come out firing and show we can play and perhaps demolish Sunderland, thats my optimistic side, however the display last night has brought me a bit of pesimism which I haven't had all season, and that side suggests we may well go onto lose 2 on the bounce, purely because the pressure is now fully on. Again though, just so no-one says i'm now joining the Hughes Outers, which i'll never do, I am saying this as a sign that yeah, I can see things are not all rosy after last night, but I hope Hughes has it in him to prove many wrong and put on a display to bring some glee back to our faces on Saturday.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Well said Pigeon. But show me a Prem team where all is rosy. There ain't one. No team is running away with the points. Chelsea are beatable and by teams you least expect to beat them. United lose at home. Liverpool can barely get their noses in front.

What IS disappointing is that we can change from a team firing off CFC and The Arse, to one which looks as though they have boots on the wrong feet. It's this up and down yo-yo-like existence from one match to another which is difficult to understand or put your tactical finger on. Injuries apart, the only thing that crops up is initial deployment of the troops, but if an infantry man gets put in charge of a howitzer he should still make a decent fist of getting off a few salvoes. The cunning plan doesn't work because I think players are pulling neither their individual nor collective weights.

 

[Anonymous]

Well said Pigeon. But show me a Prem team where all is rosy. There ain't one. No team is running away with the points. Chelsea are beatable and by teams you least expect to beat them. United lose at home. Liverpool can barely get their noses in front.

What IS disappointing is that we can change from a team firing off CFC and The Arse, to one which looks as though they have boots on the wrong feet. It's this up and down yo-yo-like existence from one match to another which is difficult to understand or put your tactical finger on. Injuries apart, the only thing that crops up is initial deployment of the troops, but if an infantry man gets put in charge of a howitzer he should still make a decent fist of getting off a few salvoes. The cunning plan doesn't work because I think players are pulling neither their individual nor collective weights.

So has there been any progress made from the heady days of last season when we were equally capable of yoyo like inconsistencies?

 

[m27]

Whilst I make it clear from the off this isn't an anti-Hughes thread, (i'll never be anti-anyone as long as they are in charge), my opinion of his tactics last night came into question as soon as Lennon got hold of the ball. A blind Sunday League manager could have seen Sylvinho was going to get skinned, and thats even before a ball was kicked. If it were me I would have looked, (especially at half time), at putting Barry at Left Back and bringing Kompany on inplace of Sylvinho, (with him going into Barry's roll). Adebayor looks like he's already thinking about his 1st class flight to the ACoN, and Robinho looks like he has zero relationship with his manager. I reitterate, I am not slagging any of them off as its not in my nature to do that to any of the staff, but to say i'm disappointed is an understatement. I believe that Hughes should be given to the end of the season as it would be pointless bringing in anyone else, whether there's a Jan window or not, because not many big-name players will move in Jan, and any new manager will want those big names to join him, especially with an open cheque book. If our owners were watching that last night though, they must be wondering how such a rich base of talent looked like a Championship side, (except perhaps Tevez). Saturday is going to be interesting and for the first time this season, i'm not looking forward to 5PM cum Saturday night, as right now I simply can't predict what we will do on the pitch. My gut says we will come out firing and show we can play and perhaps demolish Sunderland, thats my optimistic side, however the display last night has brought me a bit of pesimism which I haven't had all season, and that side suggests we may well go onto lose 2 on the bounce, purely because the pressure is now fully on. Again though, just so no-one says i'm now joining the Hughes Outers, which i'll never do, I am saying this as a sign that yeah, I can see things are not all rosy after last night, but I hope Hughes has it in him to prove many wrong and put on a display to bring some glee back to our faces on Saturday.

Mmmm, come over to dark side Pidge, we've got all the good stuff here...

In all seriousness, you have been a staunch supporter of Hughes and I admire you for that, but I was one also last season before I came to the conclusion this season that, actually, he isn't very good at being a manager. I can sense a change in your attitude, and that's nothing to be ashamed of, but it does give a good indication that Hughes is starting to lose his grip.

 

[moomba]

I wouldn't have made a change, but would have got Barry much closer to Sylvinho to help out.

Couple of times Lennon ran at Sylvinho got past him and Barry was in the box waiting to cut out the cross, I would have had him right there as the second man ready to stop the cross coming in.

Then you look at the rest of the midfield, if we're getting overrun there then maybe it's time for a change (or drop Tevez back a bit).

 

[Pigeonho]

Well said Pigeon. But show me a Prem team where all is rosy. There ain't one. No team is running away with the points. Chelsea are beatable and by teams you least expect to beat them. United lose at home. Liverpool can barely get their noses in front.

What IS disappointing is that we can change from a team firing off CFC and The Arse, to one which looks as though they have boots on the wrong feet. It's this up and down yo-yo-like existence from one match to another which is difficult to understand or put your tactical finger on. Injuries apart, the only thing that crops up is initial deployment of the troops, but if an infantry man gets put in charge of a howitzer he should still make a decent fist of getting off a few salvoes. The cunning plan doesn't work because I think players are pulling neither their individual nor collective weights.

So has there been any progress made from the heady days of last season when we were equally capable of yoyo like inconsistencies?

I think there has been progression, but the majority on here have their own beliefs and disagree with me. For me I am ready for the long haul this project will take, and so I tend to look at tiny steps rather than huge leaps which, as Leeds proved, can become too much too soon. Last season we got beat off Villa away and Fulham at home, for example. This season we didn't, and that, (whichever way you try and disect it), is factual and statistical progression. I have not been overly-disappointed all season, as blips will occurr and I believe we will raise more eyebrows in a positive way, like beating Chelsea, than in a negative way, like going 2 down to Burnley, but thats just cos I like to see things in a positive way. Last night though, after truly believing we had a good chance to prove our worth, I was whole-heartedly pissed off at the lacklustre display which 90% of the team showed, live on cameras as well. It was just plain awful and uncomfy to watch.

 

[Pigeonho]

Whilst I make it clear from the off this isn't an anti-Hughes thread, (i'll never be anti-anyone as long as they are in charge), my opinion of his tactics last night came into question as soon as Lennon got hold of the ball. A blind Sunday League manager could have seen Sylvinho was going to get skinned, and thats even before a ball was kicked. If it were me I would have looked, (especially at half time), at putting Barry at Left Back and bringing Kompany on inplace of Sylvinho, (with him going into Barry's roll). Adebayor looks like he's already thinking about his 1st class flight to the ACoN, and Robinho looks like he has zero relationship with his manager. I reitterate, I am not slagging any of them off as its not in my nature to do that to any of the staff, but to say i'm disappointed is an understatement. I believe that Hughes should be given to the end of the season as it would be pointless bringing in anyone else, whether there's a Jan window or not, because not many big-name players will move in Jan, and any new manager will want those big names to join him, especially with an open cheque book. If our owners were watching that last night though, they must be wondering how such a rich base of talent looked like a Championship side, (except perhaps Tevez). Saturday is going to be interesting and for the first time this season, i'm not looking forward to 5PM cum Saturday night, as right now I simply can't predict what we will do on the pitch. My gut says we will come out firing and show we can play and perhaps demolish Sunderland, thats my optimistic side, however the display last night has brought me a bit of pesimism which I haven't had all season, and that side suggests we may well go onto lose 2 on the bounce, purely because the pressure is now fully on. Again though, just so no-one says i'm now joining the Hughes Outers, which i'll never do, I am saying this as a sign that yeah, I can see things are not all rosy after last night, but I hope Hughes has it in him to prove many wrong and put on a display to bring some glee back to our faces on Saturday.

Mmmm, come over to dark side Pidge, we've got all the good stuff here...

In all seriousness, you have been a staunch supporter of Hughes and I admire you for that, but I was one also last season before I came to the conclusion this season that, actually, he isn't very good at being a manager. I can sense a change in your attitude, and that's nothing to be ashamed of, but it does give a good indication that Hughes is starting to lose his grip.

Did you breathe heavy when typing that, like Lord Vader?!!

I don't think my attitude is changing so much, it is just having my ears pricked up at what some have been saying, however I must stress that if we turn over Sunderland and put on a good show over the next 3 games, which includes a trip to Wolves, I will instantly believe Spurs was just a blip, which I really hope it was.

 

[Neil McNab]

Well said Pigeon. But show me a Prem team where all is rosy. There ain't one. No team is running away with the points. Chelsea are beatable and by teams you least expect to beat them. United lose at home. Liverpool can barely get their noses in front.

What IS disappointing is that we can change from a team firing off CFC and The Arse, to one which looks as though they have boots on the wrong feet. It's this up and down yo-yo-like existence from one match to another which is difficult to understand or put your tactical finger on. Injuries apart, the only thing that crops up is initial deployment of the troops, but if an infantry man gets put in charge of a howitzer he should still make a decent fist of getting off a few salvoes. The cunning plan doesn't work because I think players are pulling neither their individual nor collective weights.

So has there been any progress made from the heady days of last season when we were equally capable of yoyo like inconsistencies?

I think we've been consistently bad actually, simple really if SWP, Tevez and Bellers are out of sorts or not there then we will not score but at the back we'll always let goals in with Tore in charge.

 

[Anonymous]

Good points all.
But if we beat Sunderland and Stoke (which I'm not totally convinced about TBH) the whole process will begin again.
If we don't,then I really expect him to be in real jeapordy...mind you,I think I said that a year ago....;-)

I've been sat on the fence this season up to last night-last year I thought he was a bull in a china shop after the takeover,apparently at war with some of the squad and constantly complaining about needing "his players" before he could be judged... a luxury afforded to no other manager in history I can ever remember.
But seeing as how he was given the vote of confidence and backed by the owners,I had a look at the situation,looked at the signings he made and thought "we can't really fail here."
The first few games we were excellent,then for me the honest truth is that we've never really recovered from that unlucky defeat at the swamp.

There are still persistant questions to be answered.

Barry looks a fraction of the player he was at the start of the season,we still have the same old defensive frailties down the left we had when Ball and Garrido were playing there,Robinho is still an enigma...we're still amazing going forward at times but until the fundamanetals and basics that were wrong 18 months ago and are still wrong 18 months and £200 million later are sorted-then Hughes and his coaches will continue to divide fans like us right down the middle.

The most devisive manager in our recent history-at least we all agreed Ball was crap....;-)

 

[Vincents Shadow MCFC]

Hi Pidge!

Come over here from 606, the facist highly sensored load of bobbins!

Well, what can I say, Im a Hughes backer, always will if the guys in charge, yet seriosly, last night it embarrased me to watch, I cant say I seen a left back of ours get skinned so much, so easily, all game. Also why Hughes did not change that I will never know, I would have risked, Zab there, at least he has more pace and guile than the old silver haired Brazilian.

It was hurting me to see the lack of pace, no width, we were off the mark all game, Ade looked uninterested, Robinho looked lazy as usual, Barry crazy back passes re-emerged, Ireland was to far forward, Toure looked helpless, without Sweep and Bellers we really are a one dimensional side.

Disgusted, and I do hope its just a blip, yet I feel it is the real City, yoyo style antics aplenty.

Regards Vince