I think we are now starting to struggle with gelling players, as the team changes. With so many options on personnel / formations, were now seeing different combinations thrown together without a consistent pattern of play.
For example, on our left side; Bridge / Bellamy where a real understanding was forming, now Bridge / Petrov where there is little understanding. Now I put this down to Petrov's individualistic attitude versus Beller's team mentality. That is, Bellers supports Bridge properly whereas Petrov pays lip service - looking like he's defending - but not really (Petrov doesnt like physical contact - see how he flinches, even when the ball is cleared past him) Petrov is only interested in the flair parts of the game.
Now then, this isn't all one way traffic, as much as I am critical of Petrov's defensive work, I thought Bridge was poor at Wigan in support of Petrov's attacking needs, by constantly overlapping Petrov he took up the space behind the defender which Petrov looks to attack, meaning we never got beyond the full back as that area on the left was always congested.
Compare this to our right side where we have a more "in tune" combination of Zab and SWP - they rarely get in each other's way because they understand each other and are both intelligent footballers, they often play each other in, or make runs behind the full back which Tevez, in particular is good at exploiting,
We clearly also have the problem of how to accomodate Stevie in a formation that suits him and benefits the team
In conclusion. IMO we have had the honeymoon, it is now when we see if Hughes can sort this, he has his work cut, I hope he gets it right
