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Match Report: City scrape point but don't enjoy the Lions share


Olé

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After three straight defeats and faced with talk about a collapse of their season, City mustered the bare minimum to keep their campaign - and belief - alive, stealing a point from a one sided game at Millwall where early fight turned to grim survival.

In fact Johnson's men had a clear penalty ignored with their one attack of a terrible second half, Weimann's cross handled in the box, but for City to steal into this much needed lead would've been extraordinary, battered by their hosts all second half.

Once again a much changed side lacked end product or threat and despite a quick opener from a deflected Pereira shot, the organisation that characterises City away from home disappeared after half time as Millwall threw everything at us for a win.

City started with huge changes, Johnson making good on his dismissal of his new signings by dropping all three of them, reverting to four at the back and with two defensive midfielders in the pivot position, with only Diedhiou on his own up front.

In the 2nd minute O'Dowda toyed with his marker before slipping Pereira in who cut back for Nagy who miscued and shanked into mid air. But on 9 O'Dowda won a first corner which was half cleared but Pereira slammed if back, off a defender, and in.

The perfect start for City who haven't had an advantage to defend for weeks. And it could have been more - after 13 Diedhiou sent a delightful flick through on goal and Nagy ran on, slipping O'Dowda in - so well covered he laid back to a retreating Pereira.

Just after a quarter hour Millwall hit back, Romeo getting clear on the right and cut back for Mahomey to miskick - but they kept pushing and the second ball into the box found Gregory at the far post, under pressure, heading just wide of the post. 

Just before the 20 minute mark Diedhiou again out muscled a defender on the right and sprinted clear as City put their hosts under a succession of pressure. His swift cross found O'Dowda drifting in from the left wing only to easily stab the ball wide.

The game settled and Millwall probed but  past the half hour City had a chance to box their opponents in yet the press failed - Romeo coming away to feed Mahomey on the right, who slipped a Dasilva tackle and flashed a close range cross past goal.

City were clinging onto their narrow lead whilst Millwall were building all the time - and on 37 ex-City target man Matt Smith headed straight at Maenappa from a well worked move that again found room on City's right to produce the killer cross.

Suddenly just before the 40 minute mark Paterson got clear into the channel and swept a ball into the middle with the back line tracking back but the home defenders were quickly on hand to clear behind for the rarest moment City threatened.

It all changed after half time as City were penned back by a Millwall side stung into action after a terrible first half. Manager Gary Rowett had obviously had words as the Lions side came roaring out, winning a succession of corners by going direct.

And within five minutes they were level. A right wing corner saw Tomas Kalas under pressure from Smith at the back post who bundled into the City defender in a bid to divert the ball, crashing it in over the line as the hosts deservedly found a leveller.

From then on it was all Millwall and after a succession of further corners Mahoney drove in from the right wing and stabbed into the side netting at the near post, then ex City man Smith headed it straight at Maenappa from a deep left wing cross.

For City just getting out of their own half was a relief and they rarely managed it as cheered on by home fans Millwall pressed the visitors all over the pitch. On 64 home striker Bradshaw again wriggled clear left of goal only to fire into the side netting.

Looking for any kind of reaction City sent on big January signing Nahki Wells for an anonymous Paterson. On 79 they broke down the right and in their second wave Weimann exchanged with Diedhiou and darted into the right channel to cross.

Weimann was convinced of the penalty as his centre cannoned off a Millwall player's arm - but the obvious infringement quickly waved away by a referee who if anything had been charitable to the away side for a majority of the game, so hard to complain.

City added Eliasson for O'dowda and with three minutes of normal time left he won and took a free kick from the right into the sun, which he looped over defenders and an anonymous Wells met near post, albeit as home defenders quickly hacked behind.

Suddenly talk of a smash and grab win as City won a couple of corners but on 89 the hosts broke to claim their own dangerous flag kick, from which just inside the box a Millwall player meeting the cross seemed to be clattered, more claims for a penalty.

In injury time home substitute Bodvarsson went close and deep into time added on Wallace jinked into box from the left and as the ground breathed in, he fired wildly over, Millwall failing to find the winner their dominance threatened, City bagging a point.

After a run of defeats and with their hosts able to leapfrog them with a win, the early City threat was much needed, as was the rearguard action led by Baker and Kalas - but in truth it was just another game that Johnson's side looked badly second best.

 

Maenappa 7 Clean in his handling and got the ball out quickly

Pereira 7 Was involved a lot early and his goal rewarded movement, but got exposed as the game went on

Dasilva 6 Always City's best chance to move the ball, was picked on by Millwall and most of the threat behind him

Baker 7 Kicked and tackled everything that came near him, makes you wonder why he ever gets dropped

Kalas 7 Kicked, tackled and diving headed everything that came near him, was unlucky with their goal, but at least led by example

Smith 7 At times the pick of City's players and provides much needed composure in midfield to control the ball and skip away from challenges

Nagy 5 Is badly out of form, still miscueing passes to the opposition, as well as tame on the ball going forward - bags of energy but very short on quality

O'Dowda 6 Some driving runs throughout but end product is still suspect and as always squanders several good positions by being lightweight or hesitant

Weimann 5 Really is the most mercurial player - runs around a lot and should be a threat but seems so rarely to be on the same wavelength as teammates, yes he is an outlet, but almost a token one, chasing forlornly behind defenders

Paterson 5 The Jamie Paterson Renaissance stopped here. Man of the Match last time at the Den, utterly anonymous this time

Diedhiou 7 Zero service as per usual and single handedly ran himself into the ground winning flick ons and dropping back to defend

 

Wells 4 Despite family in the away stand he looks a weird mix of confidence shot to pieces and doesn't want to be here. Has seen his season fall to pieces quickly, no service and having to drop to win the ball, often dispossessed for being too casual  

Eliasson 5 Got clear once and sent in a dangerous free kick into the sun (why we didn't make more of the keepers struggle with the sun I don't know) but otherwise easily dealt with by Millwall

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Realistic report, LJ really is delusional if he thinks this game has given us something to build on, more like his positive spin is to try and fool SL.

1 shot on target all match, desperately lacking any creativity whilst arguably our two most creative players miss out, Eliasson on the bench and Palmer not even in the squad. It's woeful.

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One point ok, we did ok in the first half. Hudds away was more than awful so the game yesterday was good compare to Hudds. Smiths return is important and the defence looked good with Baker and Kalas. A big worried about Dasilvas defence play and forwards we were not creative. Think it will be better If Eliasson and Wells start vs Fulham. The other results are going our way and we have it in our own hands. To be top six we have to step up. Really hope we can find a play that is creative and solid. What that play is coming from is hard to believe at the moment. We have some good players and still is the hope there. 

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2 hours ago, Olé said:

After three straight defeats and faced with talk about a collapse of their season, City mustered the bare minimum to keep their campaign - and belief - alive, stealing a point from a one sided game at Millwall where early fight turned to grim survival.

In fact Johnson's men had a clear penalty ignored with their one attack of a terrible second half, Weimann's cross handled in the box, but for City to steal into this much needed lead would've been extraordinary, battered by their hosts all second half.

Once again a much changed side lacked end product or threat and despite a quick opener from a deflected Pereira shot, the organisation that characterises City away from home disappeared after half time as Millwall threw everything at us for a win.

City started with huge changes, Johnson making good on his dismissal of his new signings by dropping all three of them, reverting to four at the back and with two defensive midfielders in the pivot position, with only Diedhiou on his own up front.

In the 2nd minute O'Dowda toyed with his marker before slipping Pereira in who cut back for Nagy who miscued and shanked into mid air. But on 9 O'Dowda won a first corner which was half cleared but Pereira slammed if back, off a defender, and in.

The perfect start for City who haven't had an advantage to defend for weeks. And it could have been more - after 13 Diedhiou sent a delightful flick through on goal and Nagy ran on, slipping O'Dowda in - so well covered he laid back to a retreating Pereira.

Just after a quarter hour Millwall hit back, Romeo getting clear on the right and cut back for Mahomey to miskick - but they kept pushing and the second ball into the box found Gregory at the far post, under pressure, heading just wide of the post. 

Just before the 20 minute mark Diedhiou again out muscled a defender on the right and sprinted clear as City put their hosts under a succession of pressure. His swift cross found O'Dowda drifting in from the left wing only to easily stab the ball wide.

The game settled and Millwall probed but  past the half hour City had a chance to box their opponents in yet the press failed - Romeo coming away to feed Mahomey on the right, who slipped a Dasilva tackle and flashed a close range cross past goal.

City were clinging onto their narrow lead whilst Millwall were building all the time - and on 37 ex-City target man Matt Smith headed straight at Maenappa from a well worked move that again found room on City's right to produce the killer cross.

Suddenly just before the 40 minute mark Paterson got clear into the channel and swept a ball into the middle with the back line tracking back but the home defenders were quickly on hand to clear behind for the rarest moment City threatened.

It all changed after half time as City were penned back by a Millwall side stung into action after a terrible first half. Manager Gary Rowett had obviously had words as the Lions side came roaring out, winning a succession of corners by going direct.

And within five minutes they were level. A right wing corner saw Tomas Kalas under pressure from Smith at the back post who bundled into the City defender in a bid to divert the ball, crashing it in over the line as the hosts deservedly found a leveller.

From then on it was all Millwall and after a succession of further corners Mahoney drove in from the right wing and stabbed into the side netting at the near post, then ex City man Smith headed it straight at Maenappa from a deep left wing cross.

For City just getting out of their own half was a relief and they rarely managed it as cheered on by home fans Millwall pressed the visitors all over the pitch. On 64 home striker Bradshaw again wriggled clear left of goal only to fire into the side netting.

Looking for any kind of reaction City sent on big January signing Nahki Wells for an anonymous Paterson. On 79 they broke down the right and in their second wave Weimann exchanged with Diedhiou and darted into the right channel to cross.

Weimann was convinced of the penalty as his centre cannoned off a Millwall player's arm - but the obvious infringement quickly waved away by a referee who if anything had been charitable to the away side for a majority of the game, so hard to complain.

City added Eliasson for O'dowda and with three minutes of normal time left he won and took a free kick from the right into the sun, which he looped over defenders and an anonymous Wells met near post, albeit as home defenders quickly hacked behind.

Suddenly talk of a smash and grab win as City won a couple of corners but on 89 the hosts broke to claim their own dangerous flag kick, from which just inside the box a Millwall player meeting the cross seemed to be clattered, more claims for a penalty.

In injury time home substitute Bodvarsson went close and deep into time added on Wallace jinked into box from the left and as the ground breathed in, he fired wildly over, Millwall failing to find the winner their dominance threatened, City bagging a point.

After a run of defeats and with their hosts able to leapfrog them with a win, the early City threat was much needed, as was the rearguard action led by Baker and Kalas - but in truth it was just another game that Johnson's side looked badly second best.

 

Maenappa 7 Clean in his handling and got the ball out quickly

Pereira 7 Was involved a lot early and his goal rewarded movement, but got exposed as the game went on

Dasilva 6 Always City's best chance to move the ball, was picked on by Millwall and most of the threat behind him

Baker 7 Kicked and tackled everything that came near him, makes you wonder why he ever gets dropped

Kalas 7 Kicked, tackled and diving headed everything that came near him, was unlucky with their goal, but at least led by example

Smith 7 At times the pick of City's players and provides much needed composure in midfield to control the ball and skip away from challenges

Nagy 5 Is badly out of form, still miscueing passes to the opposition, as well as tame on the ball going forward - bags of energy but very short on quality

O'Dowda 6 Some driving runs throughout but end product is still suspect and as always squanders several good positions by being lightweight or hesitant

Weimann 5 Really is the most mercurial player - runs around a lot and should be a threat but seems so rarely to be on the same wavelength as teammates, yes he is an outlet, but almost a token one, chasing forlornly behind defenders

Paterson 5 The Jamie Paterson Renaissance stopped here. Man of the Match last time at the Den, utterly anonymous this time

Diedhiou 7 Zero service as per usual and single handedly ran himself into the ground winning flick ons and dropping back to defend

 

Wells 4 Despite family in the away stand he looks a weird mix of confidence shot to pieces and doesn't want to be here. Has seen his season fall to pieces quickly, no service and having to drop to win the ball, often dispossessed for being too casual  

Eliasson 5 Got clear once and sent in a dangerous free kick into the sun (why we didn't make more of the keepers struggle with the sun I don't know) but otherwise easily dealt with by Millwall

I actually thought after his first interview he didn't want to be here. His whole body language . 

The concern is, he was very happy at QPR and the only reason he didn't stay there is they couldn't afford him. He was almost forced here 

The lad would have needed a bit of extra TLC from club, and to hit the ground running .....looks like he has had neither of the Huddersfield changing room rumours are anything to go by 

Yet another player this Head Coach will suck the life out of sadly. 

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Lee keeps changing the team in the desperate hope to get decent performance, let alone a win, and it doesnt happen.

In every game we are shaky at the back, overun in midfield and create nothing upfront.

He is out of his depth and I am tired of it and wont be satisfied till he goes.

 

 

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Thanks for the usual fantastic report @Olé

One big point not mentioned is that Mäenpää was solely at fault for the goal. He flapped and didn't get a strong hand on it, allowing the cross to drift to the back post. He deserves no more than a 6 on that basis.

And as I said on another thread, Wells came on with a really positive attitude, a "busy bee". Not sure what you saw that wasn't clear on Robin's TV?

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Good report as ever, I was not calling for positive subs, was happy just to get a point and did not want to see it chucked away. Big problem is that the weak midfield makes it difficult to accommodate a second striker, or a luxury player like Nic. At least Pato, COD and AW offer something defensively, and Fam is both good at defending set pieces, and a handful as a lone striker. 
 

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Always enjoy Oles real world report. It echoes exactly what I heard on radio Bristol and comments of the excellent Gary Owers. 
so frustrating that LJ praises a good performance when under cosh and totally bossed through out majority game. 
respect 1200 made that trip, at least got a point. 

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Great report Ole, spot on.

Thought Nagy maybe worthy of a 6 and Paterson maybe a 4.

Baker and Kalas outstanding.

To me it seemed that the angle of The Sun seemed to affect us more than them on the rare occasions we attacked second half.

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Great write-up as usual, Rob.  Exactly as I saw it on Robinstv.

2 hours ago, Top Robin said:

Lee keeps changing the team in the desperate hope to get decent performance, let alone a win, and it doesnt happen.

In every game we are shaky at the back, overun in midfield and create nothing upfront.

He is out of his depth and I am tired of it and wont be satisfied till he goes.

 

 

That’s how I feel this morning.

I was really positive at the end of the window.  Feels nothing like that now!

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1 hour ago, DT The Optimist said:

Always enjoy Oles real world report. It echoes exactly what I heard on radio Bristol and comments of the excellent Gary Owers. 
so frustrating that LJ praises a good performance when under cosh and totally bossed through out majority game. 
respect 1200 made that trip, at least got a point. 

Agree. Better then match reports you read online or in papers. 

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5 hours ago, Olé said:

After three straight defeats and faced with talk about a collapse of their season, City mustered the bare minimum to keep their campaign - and belief - alive, stealing a point from a one sided game at Millwall where early fight turned to grim survival.

In fact Johnson's men had a clear penalty ignored with their one attack of a terrible second half, Weimann's cross handled in the box, but for City to steal into this much needed lead would've been extraordinary, battered by their hosts all second half.

Once again a much changed side lacked end product or threat and despite a quick opener from a deflected Pereira shot, the organisation that characterises City away from home disappeared after half time as Millwall threw everything at us for a win.

City started with huge changes, Johnson making good on his dismissal of his new signings by dropping all three of them, reverting to four at the back and with two defensive midfielders in the pivot position, with only Diedhiou on his own up front.

In the 2nd minute O'Dowda toyed with his marker before slipping Pereira in who cut back for Nagy who miscued and shanked into mid air. But on 9 O'Dowda won a first corner which was half cleared but Pereira slammed if back, off a defender, and in.

The perfect start for City who haven't had an advantage to defend for weeks. And it could have been more - after 13 Diedhiou sent a delightful flick through on goal and Nagy ran on, slipping O'Dowda in - so well covered he laid back to a retreating Pereira.

Just after a quarter hour Millwall hit back, Romeo getting clear on the right and cut back for Mahomey to miskick - but they kept pushing and the second ball into the box found Gregory at the far post, under pressure, heading just wide of the post. 

Just before the 20 minute mark Diedhiou again out muscled a defender on the right and sprinted clear as City put their hosts under a succession of pressure. His swift cross found O'Dowda drifting in from the left wing only to easily stab the ball wide.

The game settled and Millwall probed but  past the half hour City had a chance to box their opponents in yet the press failed - Romeo coming away to feed Mahomey on the right, who slipped a Dasilva tackle and flashed a close range cross past goal.

City were clinging onto their narrow lead whilst Millwall were building all the time - and on 37 ex-City target man Matt Smith headed straight at Maenappa from a well worked move that again found room on City's right to produce the killer cross.

Suddenly just before the 40 minute mark Paterson got clear into the channel and swept a ball into the middle with the back line tracking back but the home defenders were quickly on hand to clear behind for the rarest moment City threatened.

It all changed after half time as City were penned back by a Millwall side stung into action after a terrible first half. Manager Gary Rowett had obviously had words as the Lions side came roaring out, winning a succession of corners by going direct.

And within five minutes they were level. A right wing corner saw Tomas Kalas under pressure from Smith at the back post who bundled into the City defender in a bid to divert the ball, crashing it in over the line as the hosts deservedly found a leveller.

From then on it was all Millwall and after a succession of further corners Mahoney drove in from the right wing and stabbed into the side netting at the near post, then ex City man Smith headed it straight at Maenappa from a deep left wing cross.

For City just getting out of their own half was a relief and they rarely managed it as cheered on by home fans Millwall pressed the visitors all over the pitch. On 64 home striker Bradshaw again wriggled clear left of goal only to fire into the side netting.

Looking for any kind of reaction City sent on big January signing Nahki Wells for an anonymous Paterson. On 79 they broke down the right and in their second wave Weimann exchanged with Diedhiou and darted into the right channel to cross.

Weimann was convinced of the penalty as his centre cannoned off a Millwall player's arm - but the obvious infringement quickly waved away by a referee who if anything had been charitable to the away side for a majority of the game, so hard to complain.

City added Eliasson for O'dowda and with three minutes of normal time left he won and took a free kick from the right into the sun, which he looped over defenders and an anonymous Wells met near post, albeit as home defenders quickly hacked behind.

Suddenly talk of a smash and grab win as City won a couple of corners but on 89 the hosts broke to claim their own dangerous flag kick, from which just inside the box a Millwall player meeting the cross seemed to be clattered, more claims for a penalty.

In injury time home substitute Bodvarsson went close and deep into time added on Wallace jinked into box from the left and as the ground breathed in, he fired wildly over, Millwall failing to find the winner their dominance threatened, City bagging a point.

After a run of defeats and with their hosts able to leapfrog them with a win, the early City threat was much needed, as was the rearguard action led by Baker and Kalas - but in truth it was just another game that Johnson's side looked badly second best.

 

Maenappa 7 Clean in his handling and got the ball out quickly

Pereira 7 Was involved a lot early and his goal rewarded movement, but got exposed as the game went on

Dasilva 6 Always City's best chance to move the ball, was picked on by Millwall and most of the threat behind him

Baker 7 Kicked and tackled everything that came near him, makes you wonder why he ever gets dropped

Kalas 7 Kicked, tackled and diving headed everything that came near him, was unlucky with their goal, but at least led by example

Smith 7 At times the pick of City's players and provides much needed composure in midfield to control the ball and skip away from challenges

Nagy 5 Is badly out of form, still miscueing passes to the opposition, as well as tame on the ball going forward - bags of energy but very short on quality

O'Dowda 6 Some driving runs throughout but end product is still suspect and as always squanders several good positions by being lightweight or hesitant

Weimann 5 Really is the most mercurial player - runs around a lot and should be a threat but seems so rarely to be on the same wavelength as teammates, yes he is an outlet, but almost a token one, chasing forlornly behind defenders

Paterson 5 The Jamie Paterson Renaissance stopped here. Man of the Match last time at the Den, utterly anonymous this time

Diedhiou 7 Zero service as per usual and single handedly ran himself into the ground winning flick ons and dropping back to defend

 

Wells 4 Despite family in the away stand he looks a weird mix of confidence shot to pieces and doesn't want to be here. Has seen his season fall to pieces quickly, no service and having to drop to win the ball, often dispossessed for being too casual  

Eliasson 5 Got clear once and sent in a dangerous free kick into the sun (why we didn't make more of the keepers struggle with the sun I don't know) but otherwise easily dealt with by Millwall

Very harsh on Nagy imo.

He was always in the game (unlike Paterson), always available for a pass.

He is better than what we've seen recently as, like a few others, he is not in form but if O'Dowda gets a 6, Nagy gets a 7. 

Paterson faded badly and just didn't show for the ball, nowhere near the performance level of Nagy.

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Yeah very harsh on Nagy. He faded in the 2nd with mis-placed passes but was at the heart of everything we did right in the 1st half. I also say scores for Kalas and Baker are OTT - too many times sending the ball out for cheap throws or corners inviting the strengths of Millwall onto us.

On another point have to say great vocal support in the 1st half by us , shame we were given such a disorganised insipid display in the 2nd. Interesting reaction from most of the away fans barely able to raise an applaud at the end whilst heading for the exits. Myself included in that and genuinely cant recall a time where an away point felt so immaterial to where we are at the moment.

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Thanks Ole for your definitive report,  I say, roll on the summer, when this season can be analysed and studied.  I see us finishing around 9th place?  They have to reassess LJ's position as manager, I sincerely hope that SL has the cojones to seriously look at a change of management/coach to bring some fresh impetus and ideas into what has become a stale and underperforming football team?  Here's hoping!   PS. Build on what Mr Johnson?

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3 hours ago, mozo said:

And as I said on another thread, Wells came on with a really positive attitude, a "busy bee". Not sure what you saw that wasn't clear on Robin's TV?

I saw the total opposite - he was really lazy. He is not getting any kind of service but even still that was a poor effort by him.

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Great report again Ole save for those who haven't seen us in months you might reference all the dead-ball situations we've had but never exploit. Corners where the big blokes go up only for us to play it short and lose before it gets to the box. Ditto free kicks in forward positions which, again, we knock short and thereafter backwards toward the keeper. Of the corners, why at one stage were we leaving TBFK up when he's clearly our best defensive header of the ball? It took three close calls before Patterson dawdled forward and instructed him to drop back. Ditto throw-ins. I've 'joked' over the past few months that when we have a throw in we should let the opposition take it as we give it away anyway, save it ain't funny from where I stand. Yesterday, I'm not sure we retained one possession from our own thrown-ins and the corner from which they scored originated from an innocuous throw in our half that we lobbed straight to them.

The above has sod all to do with the opposition and everything to do with our ineptitude and the way the players have been coached to play.

Midfielders who hang on to it too long, who cede possession too easily with their lack of anticipation and vision, their insistence on always playing the short ball and nothing expansive. It might have been Nagy but there was one cracking example first half where the whole of the left side of the park was one on one and either a very wide lateral or a long diagonal over the top would have caused them real problems had DaSilva been able to capitalise (worst case the ball would have run harmlessly to touch,) save he tried to play the inch critical, short ball to feet, easy interception for them, DaSilva wrong-footed kippered and them in dangerously on goal. It's basic, percentage stuff. We can't play it or aren't being coached to play it - either way it shows we're a pretty poor outfit for all the dosh Lansdown's invested (sic).

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1 hour ago, BTRFTG said:

Great report again Ole save for those who haven't seen us in months you might reference all the dead-ball situations we've had but never exploit. Corners where the big blokes go up only for us to play it short and lose before it gets to the box. Ditto free kicks in forward positions which, again, we knock short and thereafter backwards toward the keeper. Of the corners, why at one stage were we leaving TBFK up when he's clearly our best defensive header of the ball? It took three close calls before Patterson dawdled forward and instructed him to drop back. Ditto throw-ins. I've 'joked' over the past few months that when we have a throw in we should let the opposition take it as we give it away anyway, save it ain't funny from where I stand. Yesterday, I'm not sure we retained one possession from our own thrown-ins and the corner from which they scored originated from an innocuous throw in our half that we lobbed straight to them.

The above has sod all to do with the opposition and everything to do with our ineptitude and the way the players have been coached to play.

Midfielders who hang on to it too long, who cede possession too easily with their lack of anticipation and vision, their insistence on always playing the short ball and nothing expansive. It might have been Nagy but there was one cracking example first half where the whole of the left side of the park was one on one and either a very wide lateral or a long diagonal over the top would have caused them real problems had DaSilva been able to capitalise (worst case the ball would have run harmlessly to touch,) save he tried to play the inch critical, short ball to feet, easy interception for them, DaSilva wrong-footed kippered and them in dangerously on goal. It's basic, percentage stuff. We can't play it or aren't being coached to play it - either way it shows we're a pretty poor outfit for all the dosh Lansdown's invested (sic).

Agree with this; we even had a free kick when the two big defenders went up into the box and we played it sideways! Plus, why do we give away corners and free kicks so cheaply against sides like Millwall who get most of their goals from them. 

There was a very similar lack of vision to play the balk forward to Dasilva, in acres of space, second half; pretty sure that was Korey Smith. So frustrating. 

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55 minutes ago, italian dave said:

Agree with this; we even had a free kick when the two big defenders went up into the box and we played it sideways! Plus, why do we give away corners and free kicks so cheaply against sides like Millwall who get most of their goals from them. 

There was a very similar lack of vision to play the balk forward to Dasilva, in acres of space, second half; pretty sure that was Korey Smith. So frustrating. 

@BTRFTG Italian Dave beat me to it.  Hugely frustrating.

As for throw-ins I was joking with an old team-mate on twitter about blocking off, and how this was drilled into by Brian Speedy Drysdale.  This was Somerset senior level.  If we could do it, surely City could do it, notwithstanding the opposition will be wise to it.  But on the counter, other sides do it to us.  It’s really surprising that two full-backs as assistant head coaches can’t sort this out, let alone a CM who ought to know how to show from a throw.

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3 hours ago, BTRFTG said:

Great report again Ole save for those who haven't seen us in months you might reference all the dead-ball situations we've had but never exploit. Corners where the big blokes go up only for us to play it short and lose before it gets to the box. Ditto free kicks in forward positions which, again, we knock short and thereafter backwards toward the keeper.

I agree - there were some stunning moments of retreat contrived by City on the rare moments of getting into dangerous attacking positions - I can't remember if it was a free kick or simply the excitement of a player getting into a lot of attacking space, but I seem to recall when in one good position second half we ended up working it back to our own keeper.

I get that the strategy was not to risk possession after giving it away so cheaply and seeing it come back at us time and again at Huddersfield, but surely we have to be willing to take some risk if we're to win a game. Also wasn't Eliasson's free kick late on one of our rare moments of genuine threat, so why did we use so few chances to get the ball in the box. 

What underlines the point more than anything - and not just in relation to set pieces - is that with about 20 left the Millwall keeper (who showed at Ipswich last season he has a few flaps in him per game) looked totally blinded by the sun from a City left wing cross, as it finally set in the gap between North and West stands and arched across the final third.

Did we throw the kitchen sink at getting balls onto the left to exploit this obvious advantage from? No, we didn't produce a single additional left wing cross for the rest of the game, in fact I think Wells gave it away cheaply the only other time we even got into the left channel for the remainder of the day. Millwall showed what getting balls in the box looks like.

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Exactly Ole, we thought the same. Keeper and defenders were totally dazzled (we puzzled the keeper wasn't wearing a cap) and as you say that anything could happen with balls into the box we exploited the situation by doing, er, nothing.

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Thanks @Olé - always look forward to reading your view on the game. And normally it's pretty much mine, but this week I'm a little more positive than you are! I really didn't think it was that bad: I saw it as the proverbial game of two halves, and I actually thought we played as well in the first half as we've done for some time - and yes I know the bar's not very high!

I thought the team selection was about LJ going back to the basics of the things we've done well in the past: fill the midfield with 4 (5 with Weimann dropping back) real midfielders (as opposed to wingers) so that there are more bodies there, more options, and try to move it around with a bit more pace and purpose. And in the first half I felt that worked - even Paterson I felt was effective (and more than a 5)  in that half, and we pretty much dictated the pace of the game. It's a while since we've seen opponents booed off at half time.

Second half a completely different story, and yet again we've failed to dictate the game. They went more direct and we lost our composure, lost our pattern and became far more reactive, letting them control the pattern and tempo. Not help by giving away sill free kicks (and even corners) to a side that knows how to use set pieces.

So, after leaving Huddersfield thoroughly depressed, I actually felt I'd enjoyed the game yesterday, and we'd done OK. Nothing more, but OK. I certainly didn't feel that we "scraped" a point - we took the first half, they took the second, and a draw was a fair result.

What I found odd about the starting line up was sticking with the 4 at the back: 3 seemed the more obvious, given our intentions above. But I think we have a lack of balance at the back now: we've got one right back who's better in a 4 (Pereira) and one better as a wing back (Hunt). But on the left we don't have a Periera equivalent (last season that was Lloyd Kelly) and Dasilva - great at going forward - gets too exposed in a 4.

And I also thought the subs were very odd - again, if we're going for the 'busy bees' in numbers in midfield - and it worked first half - why not stick with that? Instead, we take off two of them and bring on an out and out winger and a forward. We totally lost the midfield from that point.

I'd largely agree with the scores though - and to me those numbers reflect a better performance than your report reads. But I'd give both Nagy and Paterson a 6 on the basis of the first half - I thought Nagy had a decent game, until he got clattered into touch and that seems to unsettle him thereafter.

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