Hughes last night (SWP + Richards)

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Ricster

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Was disappointed to see us revert back to a 4-4-2 last night, and thats where the negativity stops, but after a few minutes it was clear to see that we were playing more like a 4-2-4. Attacking and pressing high up the pitch from the off.

The first thing i noticed about Hughes was he was on the frontline with his team. Too often for me this season he has been sat in the dugout, arms folded with the negativity for all to see. NOT LAST NIGHT! He gave the team the lift they needed from the manager, he worked with the players, he encouraged, he even berated Wenger, all of which got the crowd onside and that gave the team a boost too.

Secondly, Hughes' first substitution. Tevez off, Kompany on. For the last couple of games i've had a moan about this type of substitution. Ahead in a game where we should be looking to hold what we have got. Finally Hughes tried it and guess what, it worked, it atually worked very well as we scored a 3rd.

Weiss, it was great to see Hughes give Vladi some time out there, even if i felt it wasn't long enough for him to make an impact. He didn't get into the game as we know he can, but i though he took his goal really well and its nice to see Hughes have a possible selection headache.

SWP + Richards - both looked back to there best last night. with Shaun putting in a great performance. Since Zab has been dropped, Micah and the right side of the defence looks far better not only in defence but in attack also. He brings pace and an ariel threat going forward, aggresion and height at the back. Its about time some sections of the City faithful got behind there 2 homegrown lads.

Overall i'd just like to say, that while im under no illusions that we faced an Arsenal reserve team last night, you can only beat what is put in front of you. I'd like to congratulate Hughes and his side on a solid win last night in a match we dominated, and a result that has no put the run of draws behind us.

No reason why we cant go into the Chelsea game wanting all 3 points and with Robinho and DJ to come back in, there is no reason why we cant take them either.
 
Credit where credits due, I Can't fault anything MH did last i've only just managed to watch the highlights as i was at work. I was very impressed with the team and MH last night every single person in the ground seemed up for it and i take my hat off to all who was there players, management and fans. The team and management have set the bar now and i hope they approach every game like that from now on.

Now bring on the reds :)
 
Since Zab has been dropped, Micah and the right side of the defence looks far better not only in defence but in attack also. He brings pace and an ariel threat going forward, aggresion and height at the back. Its about time some sections of the City faithful got behind there 2 homegrown lads.
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Can't articulate that better.
 
Have to agree. Was good to see Hughes involved - needs to do that more. Only usually stands up when we're in front.

I know Micah has had one or two shaky games but I cannot understand the clamour to fuck him off. Terrified if he goes to United, because he will undoubtedly turn into a fantastic player and could stay in that side for a long, long time. Must keep hold of him for me.

SWP was magnificent. And credit where it's due, Lescott was a rock.

Let's see a similar level of performance now against a proper team. We have the players to do that to anyone - reserve team or not, so let's see it on Saturday.

Buzzing about the draw too.
 
SWP was electric last night, Richards was alright. I do like him, he's so powerful and doesn't do anything complicated...so in full flow he's a beast - i still have reservations about his postional play though.
 
Hughes got off his arse and was funny when Wenger had a pop when he left his area to kick the ball to a city player for a throw in. Read his lips...."Fuck off". thats probably when Wenger never shook his hand...what a dick.

Anyway a much better performance by all and Lescott+Toure had their best game. Richards looked pretty vulnerable at times but the rest played well. Ade needs to stay on his feet.

I doff my cap to Bellers,SWP,Ireland,Tevez etc....Barry looked knackered late on but DJ is one yellow from a suspension so he kept him for chelsea.

Bring on Vlad. He came,he scored. :O)

Well done City
 
Richards looked good last night only slight issue I still have and it showed a fair few times was his positioning Arsenal would attack his area he was in the middle of the pitch. As for SWP hats off to the lad that shoulder drop and race away was back and what a finish for the goal. And praise to Hughes I didn't realise SWP had a knock till I saw the highlights on Sky took no chances got him off then asked what was wrong.
 
Bellers was back to his best too.

I just wish we'd stop the long hopeful punts up to Ade who struggled to win the ball all night and gave away far too possession. Chelsea will punish us if we do that against them. Get it on the ground and play football. We have the players to do it as all three goals showed.
 
Ricster said:
Was disappointed to see us revert back to a 4-4-2 last night, and thats where the negativity stops, but after a few minutes it was clear to see that we were playing more like a 4-2-4. Attacking and pressing high up the pitch from the off.
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Played the same way last weekend, just that the wide players of the front four are expected to do a lot of work getting back into defence.

Then it comes down to the state of the game, our mentality and the opponents whether or not it's an attacking or defensive formation.
 
Balti said:
Bellers was back to his best too.

I just wish we'd stop the long hopeful punts up to Ade who struggled to win the ball all night and gave away far too possession. Chelsea will punish us if we do that against them. Get it on the ground and play football. We have the players to do it as all three goals showed.
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I noticed Niedzwiecki get up a few times gesturing for us to keep it down so looks like they have noticed the problem!
 
Simon Le Tom said:
SWP was electric last night, Richards was alright. I do like him, he's so powerful and doesn't do anything complicated...so in full flow he's a beast - i still have reservations about his postional play though.
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Totally agree. No problem at all with players getting out of position for set pieces or even in play, but Richards takes to long to get back and it's gonna cost us. That said, his form last night was better than I've seen him this season, hopefully this will continue.

SWP was a complete joy last night. His pace and change of direction make him able to trot past players as if they weren't there. Arsenal could do nothing but fowl him which is a complement of sorts. In one two minute period SWP was fouled twice, took the free kick and then was the first man in our penalty area for the break. I could watch him forever.

Bellers was on good fighting form and was unlucky a few times. Tevez was brilliant. Kompany was great when he came on, started giving the Arse a bit of the rough stuff back which was what they needed. A few surprised faces from their young boys when they came up against big Vin. I walked past him after the match, he's a big fella.

Our defence looked fragile at first, parting whenever anyone ran at them and giving away corners far too easily. They seemed to organise and strengthen as the game went on and looked convincing by half time. Sorry to say there's still a way to go, but certainly getting there.

Credit to Hughes for getting involved through the game. He was even seen rowing with the 4th official for both of our red card decisions. I hope he gets better at this; the refereeing last night was shit at times, and I reckon a few more decisions would have gone our way if the men in black were as scared of our manager as they are of Wenger.

Minor gripes aside (well it is football) this was one of the best games of football I've seen. Biggest cheer of the night was for the next round draw. Can't wait!
 
I also noticed when we started getting lazy after scoring and sitting back that Hughes got to the touchline and seemed to bollock Richards and SWP to press on the players on Arse left side. I think thats the first time I have seen this happen this season.

I hope its not just the quarter final enviroment that brought this on. Hope he feels free to get up in a league game now.

Richards was a beast at times. But other times I noticed him miles out of position, even when Shauny was struggling with the knock he was left on his own. But its something he will only learn by playing against the better teams.

Lescott at long last is showing what I believed he had.

Roll on Saturday and beyond.
 
good op.this system suits our players much better,when in possesion its 4 2 4 with our attacking men doing the work bellamy,tevez,ade and swp.when play breaks up we look far more solid.Richards seems to get more out of swp than zab.
 
One thing I noticed was that every good piece of defensive play was clapped by either Lescott or Given. Almost like a back to basics thing, giving credit for when we get things right.
 
Ricster said:
Was disappointed to see us revert back to a 4-4-2 last night, and thats where the negativity stops, but after a few minutes it was clear to see that we were playing more like a 4-2-4. Attacking and pressing high up the pitch from the off.

The first thing i noticed about Hughes was he was on the frontline with his team. Too often for me this season he has been sat in the dugout, arms folded with the negativity for all to see. NOT LAST NIGHT! He gave the team the lift they needed from the manager, he worked with the players, he encouraged, he even berated Wenger, all of which got the crowd onside and that gave the team a boost too.

Secondly, Hughes' first substitution. Tevez off, Kompany on. For the last couple of games i've had a moan about this type of substitution. Ahead in a game where we should be looking to hold what we have got. Finally Hughes tried it and guess what, it worked, it atually worked very well as we scored a 3rd.

Weiss, it was great to see Hughes give Vladi some time out there, even if i felt it wasn't long enough for him to make an impact. He didn't get into the game as we know he can, but i though he took his goal really well and its nice to see Hughes have a possible selection headache.

SWP + Richards - both looked back to there best last night. with Shaun putting in a great performance. Since Zab has been dropped, Micah and the right side of the defence looks far better not only in defence but in attack also. He brings pace and an ariel threat going forward, aggresion and height at the back. Its about time some sections of the City faithful got behind there 2 homegrown lads.

Overall i'd just like to say, that while im under no illusions that we faced an Arsenal reserve team last night, you can only beat what is put in front of you. I'd like to congratulate Hughes and his side on a solid win last night in a match we dominated, and a result that has no put the run of draws behind us.

No reason why we cant go into the Chelsea game wanting all 3 points and with Robinho and DJ to come back in, there is no reason why we cant take them either.
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That's a very good and balanced thread, Ricster. I too was disappointed witht he 4-4-2 and you could see it's limiitations at times. We looked a bit soft at the back of midfield once or twice and Tevez ran down too many blind alleys.

But it was a bit like the West Ham game - and in fact Burnley and Fulham to a degree - we just wore them down and the goals came. I thought the sub was the right one and at 4-5-1 you could suddenly see what a good side we are.

I'm with you on SWP and Richards but was particularly delighted with Lescott. He was magnificent.
 
Richards is still being caught out of position far too much for my liking. He's good going forward but he can't get back to perform the job he's there for in the first place.
 
Dave S said:
Richards is still being caught out of position far too much for my liking. He's good going forward but he can't get back to perform the job he's there for in the first place.
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This to me has become a cliche.

If you're an attacking fullback there may be times when the opposition break at you. the key is the rest of the defence cover for you.

He had a very good game.
 
Didsbury Dave said:
Dave S said:
Richards is still being caught out of position far too much for my liking. He's good going forward but he can't get back to perform the job he's there for in the first place.
Click to expand...

This to me has become a cliche.

If you're an attacking fullback there may be times when the opposition break at you. the key is the rest of the defence cover for you.

He had a very good game.
Click to expand...
but again there were times when he is walking back into position, even when he was only 10 yards up-field
 
I thought Richards was improved, but is still not good enough imo. Neither is Zabaleta- both have flaws that will cost us points when we can't afford to lose them. He was better last night, but he is still out of position far too often for my liking. Good to see Lescott and toure give him a bollocking when he let one of the Arsewipes get a free header at one stage.

Generally though, our back 4 looked much better (As I thought they did for most of the Hull Game) then they have been. lescott was excellent last night and is finally beginning to hit his straps. Much improved at the back, and perhaps just perhaps they are starting to get it together. Chelsea on Saturday naturally is the test with 2 top draw strikers to deal with, but I think they are finally on the right track. Totally agree about the 'back to basics' comment made earlier in the thread, that was obvious to me watching on a net stream as well.
 
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