cityexile

Sit back, use Sterling as a pacy centre forward and hope to catch them on the break. That’s it. Foden not at the game, Germany as rubbish as we are. In fairness, we have created the better chances but it’s pretty dull. Only hope is our players cannot be arsed with all this and are waiting for the WC to start. Possible I suppose but not putting my mortgage on it.

1-0 at half time, Morgan on 29 min. Only frustration is that it is only the one.

Two teams, two relegations.

Final whistle. Last 20 were maybe marginally better, but we are a poor side. Southgate just far too comfortable with this group of players and will not change some who are clearly out of form, or the way he sets them up.

Better couple of minutes from England. Sterling still trying to beat at least one man too many.

72' Substitution, Ghana. Antoine Semenyo replaces André Ayew. Ghana three nil down to Brazil when he came on.

When I forget how bad we were to watch under late LJ, I shall just replay that half back.

Agreed. Its an entirely personal gut feel, but it is worth remembering the first three games in the league we started with Martin and Weimann up front. We were ok but not great in those matches. I think NP kind of looked at what happened at Coventry in the EFL, threw in Conway and Wells up front, and it worked. Nothing against what Martin brings to the side, just a different type of player. I would argue that it is only really the last seven matches we have played exciting front foot football. That is the first baby steps in football terms in coming up to speed with the style he wants, as it is baby steps for Naismith as the centre of a back three and often the last defender. NP persists if he thinks they can be good enough. Semenyo was far from perfect in his first season.

Looking at our games so far, we have had six away and four at home. In terms of who we have played four currently in the top third (3 points), two in the middle third (4 points) and four in the bottom third (7 points). 9 points from 4 at home, 5 points from 6 away. Fair to say I think given how we have played, we have played well enough to have more points on the Board. In the pack a point out the top six, and four points out of the relegation zone. It’s tight. Only Hull, looking at the table now, looks an outright poor result, and enough said about that one. On the upside, settle down a bit in defence and cut out 50% of the mistakes, we are scoring more than enough to make a real push for the top six. Downside has to be if we lost say Scott and one of Conway or Semenyo in January we look a very different side (although we presumably would also then be able to strengthen). The big big upside is it’s fun to watch. We are joint top scorers, and there have been 35 goals in our 10 matches so far, the next blessed set of fans is Hull with 32 the only other team in the 30’s (although they may feel less blessed having let in 21 of those). The only minor bug is I would have liked one of two of the promoted sides to be struggling, as it means at the bottom it looks like it might be a real dog fight, but we kind of knew that anyway. Any team other than maybe the top few on any kind of poor run will start looking over their shoulder very quickly, No easy games. Could be a lot worse.

O well. Cannot complain about the result today. Last two games been in it to up to the last kick, but just falling a little short. We know where we are weak, NP I am sure does as well, it is what it is. Looked a bit tired today and not quite clicking up front, but for all their possession they managed 6 on target to our 5. A break and a chance to regroup.

Funny old game. Gave Norwich a real test and thought we were unlucky overall, even if somewhat self inflicted. Burnley given us as good a going over that half as we have had this season, and we are level. Hard to get the ball off them. Bite your hand off for a point, but having been down very early, at least making a game of it.

Get in. The term against the run of play is over used, but that was 100% it.

Sunday league. One of the advantages should be of keeping a stable back line is they get to know eachother, partnerships build etc. That goal looked like they had never played together before. Ho hum.

Great game, but please please do not watch the goals we conceded. You will be straight back on the beer.

Last three away games, 8-8 I think. Not dull I guess. Last season we lost at Fulham 5-2 trying to play this way. Today 3-2. Getting closer. Difficult not to be bloody irritated about some of the football we play alongside our tendency to shot ourselves in the head. So close to being a bloody good side. No lack of effort today. Minor gripes, Williams just got everything wrong bless him, and short corner in the last minute with 63 forwards on? Well done NP and the side, but still kinda annoyed with result.

I mean. Last minute. What goes through their minds. Decent effort. Just really really frustrating we deserved more and yet deserved nothing because of our inability at the back. Only in the last 20 did they really create anything off their own bat. We are so close to being a cracking side. Love what NP is doing, just do the bloody basics at the back right.

Williams, what you doing mate.

In lots of ways yes. Defending is however a critical part of ‘better sides’. It is fun tho.

3-2. How the frigidity frig do we make sense of this game. Lots of ‘we are playing well’, and we are, but defence is part of the game as well. At least if we are going down it’s firing some shots.

For sure. They have not relied on that today. Our defending has been poor. Does not matter who we were playing.

Think Bentley will be disappointed as well. Seemed to see it late.

It’s difficult to watch this and not be very impressed by the progress NP has made with just about no money, and the way he wants us to play. We are close, the frustration is obviously the self inflicted wounds.

I mean the second one is a screw up, but maybe 5% a function of how we are playing such a high line. The first one is just absolute pants. It’s just a long ball, He can head it, he can belt it clear. I assume he tried to bring it down and control it. He needs to learn quickly what he can and cannot do.

Pick the bones out of that. We have for long periods looked really good. Had more efforts than them and restricted them to just two shots on target. Sadly both of them came from huge cock ups. First one particularly, head it, boot it, anything but what he did. They are far to good to give those type of chances to. Much actually to be pleased about but cannot afford to give away those type of chances. Could end up any score.

Odd game. Playing ok, but just giving really soft goals away. Soul destroying.