I'm going to post my thoughts on today as I didn't really on thursday after Juve, as I thought that was a dissappointing result and performance in a winnable game but realised a point was still a good result and that we can't play well every game.
However(the following may be unacceptable to certain posters who believe we should only be grateful about where we are and therefore cannot voice any other opinion, no matter the result, btw guys, it's called criticism, and often it is constructive, not moaning, that's what you do when we voice our opinion)...like I said, however I went today and for a while I thought I was back in 2006.
Now, I firstly want to post a stat. Possession-City 43%, Newcastle 57%. This to me says that our passing was awful, and the viewing backed this up. It was clueless, disjointed, delayed, mistimed, inaccurate, I was amazed at how poor we were on the ball, not even comparing to Newcastle who were quick, driven, incisive and are no offence, a newly promoted team. Today was a very bad day in that respect. Too often we dallied on the ball, stood still then either gave it away or passed sideways, sometimes there were 3 players stood together and we still lost the ball, or we carelessly passed it away without looking, the really amusing times were when players were running away and the pass ended up hitting them in the back of the leg because they weren't looking, it was really awful for about 30/40 mins, nobody wanted to take a gamble with a through ball over the top, and on the rare occasion they did, the attacker wasted the chance.
Then Ade came on. He held the ball up well, ran at the opposition, had some nice interchanges with Tevez and Silva and we improved in that area of the pitch, still not quite enough.
Then AJ came on, we were completely different. He added dynamism and intensity and ran at players, took it upon himself to beat men and shoot, and we scored. Silva, Barry, Milner, learn the lesson, if you've got a shooting opportunity, have a pop, don't always try and rely on Carlos or try and pass to him. Have a go yourself. There seemed to be a mentality when we got in the box that we had to pass to Carlos, the other lads couldn't take responsibility and have a punt, until AJ came on. I feel that on the 1-on-1s in particular those guys need to have a go.
What I'm basically saying there is that Mancini got his subs right, even Paddy, because he made some important tackles in the last 10 mins. For the first time this season I can walk away saying Mancini made the right changes, alright they were quite obvious, but he made them, and that's all that matters, we went attacking and it worked, and I'd like to see us make that move more often at home, but today we got the result even though quite frankly we didn't deserve it. I thought our penalty was soft and they should have had one, I was also surprised they didn't start with Carroll, I was relieved at the start when they played Ameobi instead.
Now onto the players. I understand that they don't know each other very well and that they need to gel, but some of the passing and play today was inexcusable. There was no pass and move, it was so slow, delayed, careless and devoid of idea for a long spell, and it wasn't good. Hopefully Mancini can rectify that. I think the defence looked shaky but I think that was down to the full backs, ok Kolo made a poor clearance but he didn't get much help. Boateng looked out of sorts but he didn't look fit and I don't think he's used to our style of play and maybe back in Germany he didn't need to hoof the ball clear, hence his loose passes out of defence. I think he will learn, improve and understand his role better once he's settled into the side. For me it was clear nobody had faith in Joleon, they would never pass to him or dink it over the top when he made a run, it seemed weird but maybe that was just a one-off. I think it's clear the back 4 will need time to gel, but that's nobody's fault, injuries are unfortunate and just have to be managed.
In midfield well, what can you say. Yaya looked off the pace and out of sorts, I think he needs a fitness regime over the international break and obviously can't play twice in 4 days for whatever reason, he was a dead weight in midfield. Then we had Gareth "one pace and seven touches" Barry, who either didn't have the confidence to be more expansive or was instructed not to be, because I think he can spread the ball quicker and accurately and create, and I think he needs too to give balance and improve the team. On Nigel, he seemed reserve after that tackle, maybe it affected him and he didn't want to get stuck in, but he needs to keep breaking up play and being tough, I think Newcastle controlled the midfield once he stepped off.
Milner, ah, I don't think he's working very well at the moment, I don't like him on the left, he slows up play and he isn't quick enough, his passing seems off to. Maybe he just isn't in great form, but I'd like to see AJ get a run ahead of him now. Silva and Tevez I think lacked supply and got frustrated and I still think Silva needs to settle and get a bit of confidence, a goal will do him good but he seems scared to shoot. Ade & AJ did really well for me.
So a dissappointing performance, but we got the result which is all that really matters. I am worried about the lack of chances(only 9 today, Liverpool had 19 for example) and it needs working on, but maybe after a little break after a tough week we can come back invigorated and ready to get stuck in, we're 2nd, that's great, it's still early but if we can stay up there hopefully the performances will come, we are in a very positive position.
On a side note, my first venture into the club shop this season, looked good and efficient but am annoyed they've stopped producing the player postcards :(. Went to the cafe in City Square, food was nicer(and a tad cheaper than in the ground), but I think there's room for improvement. Either make a proper cafe with a load of benches and tables and a big choice of sit down as well as take-out food, and incorporate the bar the other side, and cover the whole area, as half the benches were soaked today. I think making it bigger, covering it and adding to it with choice and facilities would be the next step hopefully, and get rid of Hugh Ferris, get a proper blue and do things properly.
On a side note to the stewards on here, CB L3 there was a lady who brought up a pint to her seat. Unless protocol has changed I'd like to inform you so that you can tighten that bit up. I think if you're going to ban alcohol in seats, like the smoking, please enforce it properly. Service in the ground was quick today, better in that area than Chelsea.
So all in all, good result, less than impressive performance. But oh well we won, Liverpool and Arsenal lost, haha, 2nd in the league :).
