Negatives (5 Viewers)

[Otis]

Okay, weren't many at all and today is very much about the positives, but I do think we still need to be worried about a couple of things and cannot be blinkered just because we bagged the victory.

Concerns;

1. We seem to only play well for one half. Very weird. It's like two different teams and this is something been going on before Thorn's days too. Tis a puzzler for sure. Fitness? inexperience? Nerves? Lack of confidence? A combination of all these factors?

Anyway, we were very, very average first half, as we were against Blackpool. This is something we need to address otherwise one of these days a team will be out of sight against us before half-time.

2. Too many times we have been clinging on at the end of games this season. Resulted in a number of goals against us and points lost. Something that is a concern for sure and again today it was all hands to the pumps at times.

Players wise today there were no negatives of course, so that makes a big change and is excellent news.

Loads of positives, Wood and Keogh playing really well, so too Deegan and Platt and good performances from Christie, Hussey, Juke. Even Bell had a decent game which was nice to see.

Just a couple of worries. We need to iron those out otherwise it could cost us further lost points as the season wears on.

 

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[covcity4life]

we rearely put more than 2 passes together

it was a drab 0-0 performance that we won

thats a positive i guess but overall there are many negatives that still need to be addressed

 

[TheParsonsHose]

I dont get the first half performance one bit. Maybe its the pressure of the league position or the weight of being one of the longest under acheiving clubs in this division that makes our players nervous.

I hate this sitting back attitude we seem to adopt where we invite pressure, when were going forward and knocking the ball around we can look very comfortable at times but it still comes back to haunt us. Maybe it takes a long time to get the previous managers out of the systems and minds at the club?

Loving Christie's performance today and agree with the cments about Bell, if he played like that every game he would be a favorite for sure. Good to see all the players fisting the crowd at the end as well (not in that way)

Lets see if we build on this or fall to pieces at Leeds now.

 

[shy_tall_knight]

Big negative - some of the Cov fans around me - Juke was lazy and Hussey couldn't do anything right - why not support them, stop moaning, if we had been losing and Hussey had been subbed the cheers around me would be deafening.

 

[rob9872]

Spot on mate. I had a big row with people around me slagging Hussey. It seems we must jave a boo boy,. but this lad is still young and inexperienced at this level. He'll be ok and doesn't deserve the level of criticism. I don't think he did as well as some are saying but we have limited options and in our state he is fine. He works hard and if commitment is offerered thats all we should ask. I'll fogive anything except non-triers like Best, Eastwood and Stern John. All have enough talent but nothing more frustrating than people not working hard.

As for the fans, its nice that the guys in Block 15 do try and make for a good atmosphere although have Forest become new rivals all of a sudden? Until we scored all the songs seemed to be anti-Forest rather than pro-City. I don't mind the odd one but its a bit too much on the balance imo. Btw does anyone know what the new song was later on? Wasn't audible enough over the drum for mer to make out the lyrics.

 

[Otis]

Hussey did well today. Okay his crossing wasn't brilliant but that is not his main role in the team is it. His main role is to defend and he did that excellently this afternoon.

 

[wingy]

I still wish the rest of the ground would at least try to generate some attmosphere,we score are absolutely buzzing second half,and we get one rendition of sky blue song ,not even finished off witha CITY CITY CITY,why nare most fans so reluctant to vocalise on behalf of their team ,i feel like a freak most of the time trying to show some support.

 

[Otis]

Well, chicken and egg. When the team start off like a wet blanket like today it must be hard for any fan to get going and start chanting.

Spent most the first half thinking about how I am going to cut down some overhanging branches of the pear tree in the garden. The rest of the half I was trying to decide what I was going to eat for my tea when I got home and whether or not my trousers needed ironing.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

I still wish the rest of the ground would at least try to generate some attmosphere,we score are absolutely buzzing second half,and we get one rendition of sky blue song ,not even finished off witha CITY CITY CITY,why nare most fans so reluctant to vocalise on behalf of their team ,i feel like a freak most of the time trying to show some support.

Same here, I sit in block 33 in the JSB zone and I often get funny looks from the children when I am shouting my head off like a lunatic, don't worry I don't use bad language.

 

[JazzCat]

It's getting to the point were if we are still 0-0 at half time i'm confident we'll get something from the game

 

[wingy]

I dont think we were that awful first half , we bedded in first 15-20 ,and then we got about our work ,murphy only had to make two routine saves that half,and i have to say anyone who doubts him,take alook @ that save where he got knocked out ,it looked superb from the tele stand

 

[TheParsonsHose]

From an atmosphere point of view...

Have sat in block 16 for the past two games but moved back to my real seats in the Telegraph stand today due to a minging hangover.

Hangover or not it's a shame I can make that choice knowing that all around me will be quiet eh?

I was going to move seats but never have because...,well with so many spare seats you can sit where you like.

 

[Otis]

Should think most home games you could sit in Ken Dulieu's seat.

 

[TheParsonsHose]

Or Brody's come to think of it...

 

[shmmeee]

Okay, weren't many at all and today is very much about the positives, but I do think we still need to be worried about a couple of things and cannot be blinkered just because we bagged the victory.

Concerns;

1. We seem to only play well for one half. Very weird. It's like two different teams and this is something been going on before Thorn's days too. Tis a puzzler for sure. Fitness? inexperience? Nerves? Lack of confidence? A combination of all these factors?

Right there. That's the problem.

Look at the difference in how we play when we're level/behind compared to when we've scored.

No-one moves from their position to make runs, no one tries to beat a man, passes go astray, we stand off the opposition for fear of being beaten.

Score and suddenly we've fluid, there's movement, players are taking men on, one touch passes, triangles, players get stuck in, etc.

We desperately need a little run of results and we'll kick on. The worry is we keep on the 1 win in 5 trend and never pick up a head of steam...

 

[Lord_Nampil]

Totally agree!!

 

[stupot07]

Right there. That's the problem.

Look at the difference in how we play when we're level/behind compared to when we've scored.

No-one moves from their position to make runs, no one tries to beat a man, passes go astray, we stand off the opposition for fear of being beaten.

Score and suddenly we've fluid, there's movement, players are taking men on, one touch passes, triangles, players get stuck in, etc.

We desperately need a little run of results and we'll kick on. The worry is we keep on the 1 win in 5 trend and never pick up a head of steam...

thats the power of confidence and belief.

 

[shmmeee]

thats the power of confidence and belief.

Problem is we need that to win games with this style. There's no hiding, unlike Boothroyd where we could win ugly.

I was speaking to a Leicester fan the other day and he was saying the best thing about O'Neill's team was that they still won through set pieces and ugly defending if they weren't playing particularly well. Our set pieces are worryingly poor, especially when you consider the height in the team.

Not that I don't prefer watching us under Thorn mind.

 

[TommyAtkins]

Okay, weren't many at all and today is very much about the positives, but I do think we still need to be worried about a couple of things and cannot be blinkered just because we bagged the victory.

Concerns;

1. We seem to only play well for one half. Very weird. It's like two different teams and this is something been going on before Thorn's days too. Tis a puzzler for sure. Fitness? inexperience? Nerves? Lack of confidence? A combination of all these factors?

Anyway, we were very, very average first half, as we were against Blackpool. This is something we need to address otherwise one of these days a team will be out of sight against us before half-time.

2. Too many times we have been clinging on at the end of games this season. Resulted in a number of goals against us and points lost. Something that is a concern for sure and again today it was all hands to the pumps at times.

Players wise today there were no negatives of course, so that makes a big change and is excellent news.

Loads of positives, Wood and Keogh playing really well, so too Deegan and Platt and good performances from Christie, Hussey, Juke. Even Bell had a decent game which was nice to see.

Just a couple of worries. We need to iron those out otherwise it could cost us further lost points as the season wears on.

Otis - not too fussed. At this stage, we just need to garner points.

A good win, with some decent and promising performances.

McDonald remains an engima though

 

[stupot07]

Otis - not too fussed. At this stage, we just need to garner points.

A good win, with some decent and promising performances.

McDonald remains an engima though

When they told Brody that they were going to sign a player called McDonald, he said "great McDonalds is the sort of global franchise (player) we need!":claping hands:

 

[TommyAtkins]

Or Brody's come to think of it...

You're not having my seat

 

[cloughie]

Should think most home games you could sit in Ken Dulieu's seat.

All board members seats are available for every game as none attend other than onyiy swede what ever his name is ,ah but he likes to sit with the fans with his son as he as previously stated.

Love to know if anyone has ever seen that happen

 

[Otis]

Otis - not too fussed. At this stage, we just need to garner points.

A good win, with some decent and promising performances.

McDonald remains an engima though

Disagree, Tommy. Think now is exactly the time to look at such concerns. So easy to just sweep them under the carpet and think things are all rosy, but if we were to be a couple of goals down by half-time on Tuesday we will all be saying that in those two games against Blackpool and Forest we too were very poor in the first 45 minutes.

Bottom line is you can't keep only playing for 45 minutes and expect to get results. That's 3 points against Forest and 1 against Blackpool, but we all know if we continue in this vein the results are just as likely to go the other way.

 

[TheParsonsHose]

Otis - not too fussed. At this stage, we just need to garner points.

A good win, with some decent and promising performances.

McDonald remains an engima though

Interesting comments on the radio on the way home re Cody making reference to thorn seeing something in him etc and that perhaps he is not quite ready. That's easy to say now but you cannot escape the fact he had a few starts so did we make a bad call?

I personally think he is one to watch but it quite an enigma just yet.

 

[skybluesteve76]

Two very poor sides on show today that need a lot of work!

 

[stay_up_skyblues]

Spot on mate. I had a big row with people around me slagging Hussey. It seems we must jave a boo boy,. but this lad is still young and inexperienced at this level. He'll be ok and doesn't deserve the level of criticism. I don't think he did as well as some are saying but we have limited options and in our state he is fine. He works hard and if commitment is offerered thats all we should ask. I'll fogive anything except non-triers like Best, Eastwood and Stern John. All have enough talent but nothing more frustrating than people not working hard.

As for the fans, its nice that the guys in Block 15 do try and make for a good atmosphere although have Forest become new rivals all of a sudden? Until we scored all the songs seemed to be anti-Forest rather than pro-City. I don't mind the odd one but its a bit too much on the balance imo. Btw does anyone know what the new song was later on? Wasn't audible enough over the drum for mer to make out the lyrics.

New song was just cant get enough - du du du dudud du du du du when im at the city, I go out my head, I just cant get enough, I just cant get enough. It sounded good tbf.

Also - boom boom boom let me hear you say Gael, Gaeeel is ace.

It was like a morgue at the ricoh last season even with the extra few thousand fans but the atmosphere this season has been superb (from my seat in blk 17 anyway).

 

[stay_up_skyblues]

Also we should point out even though we only won 1.0 camp made a world class save, we hit the bar and there was one cleared off the line so to say it was a 0.0 that we won is harsh.

 

[@richh87]

Also we should point out even though we only won 1.0 camp made a world class save, we hit the bar and there was one cleared off the line so to say it was a 0.0 that we won is harsh.

Yep - and Bell missed a fantastic chance to score first half.

We didn't play THAT badly first half. Most teams play better one half than the other. Think we're being too picky in expecting perfectly symmetrical performances in each half.

PUSB!

 

[wingy]

Interesting comments on the radio on the way home re Cody making reference to thorn seeing something in him etc and that perhaps he is not quite ready. That's easy to say now but you cannot escape the fact he had a few starts so did we make a bad call?

I personally think he is one to watch but it quite an enigma just yet.

I'm not totally convinced of andy's involvement in this deal,or that there was much or any monies involved.i see his signing coming through the board ,with Juke going the other way come Jan or the summer

 

[johnniericoh]

Yes this Cody thing is becomong an enigma - if he is not match fit how does he get match fit when he's not playing matches ???

Surely he could have made one or two cameo appearances say for the last twenty minutes in the games he has missed.

Don't get it - very enigmatic and mysterious me thinks - have we bought a pup ???

PUSB

 

[Otis]

Okay, weren't many at all and today is very much about the positives, but I do think we still need to be worried about a couple of things and cannot be blinkered just because we bagged the victory.

Concerns;

1. We seem to only play well for one half. Very weird. It's like two different teams and this is something been going on before Thorn's days too. Tis a puzzler for sure. Fitness? inexperience? Nerves? Lack of confidence? A combination of all these factors?

Anyway, we were very, very average first half, as we were against Blackpool. This is something we need to address otherwise one of these days a team will be out of sight against us before half-time.

2. Too many times we have been clinging on at the end of games this season. Resulted in a number of goals against us and points lost. Something that is a concern for sure and again today it was all hands to the pumps at times.

Players wise today there were no negatives of course, so that makes a big change and is excellent news.

Loads of positives, Wood and Keogh playing really well, so too Deegan and Platt and good performances from Christie, Hussey, Juke. Even Bell had a decent game which was nice to see.

Just a couple of worries. We need to iron those out otherwise it could cost us further lost points as the season wears on.

Well, here we are again. Apparently by all accounts Leeds could have been 2 or 3 goals clear and out of sight by halftime. We then went on to play really well in the 2nd half, but we really need to do something about this. This playing for only one half per match is going to really come back and bite us on the bum if we're not careful.

Could understand it more if we played well in the first half and then faded each game in the 2nd due to tiredness etc. By how can we explain not turning up in the first halves? Think someone mentioned confidence as being a factor. Well, on Saturday we won. Surely we should have been filled with confidence going into last night's game.

Is it Thorn who is getting things wrong tactically and that it's only when he adjusts the style of play/formation/line-up during a game that we start playing better?

It's a puzzler.

 

[Astute]

Any chance it was anything to do with us playing one of the best sides in this division at their own ground? Beating Forest at home and playing away at Leeds are two different games altogether. Our away form will not be helping the younger lads for confidence when playing away. We started shakily but then started playing well in the 1st half. This only stopped when Leeds scored as we were on top. We were not second best all the way through the first half. That goal willhave hit the confidence levels again.

 

[Otis]

Only going by what posters were saying on GMK and the Sky Sports reporter last night. They were all saying that Leeds were well on top in the first half and were missing a stack of chances and that City were not at all playing well.

Take it you went then.

There have been a number of games this season where we have been poor in the first half and much better in the second.

 

[TheParsonsHose]

That will be pretty much every game then IMO

A goal that late on in a game that we looked like losing can only give the team confidence. Sounds like Murphy kept us in the game though.

 

[Otis]

Chuffed to bits we got the point for sure. That should give the whole club a real boost.

Just the two things need addressing, that of scoring at a rate better than the average of less than one goal a game we have at the moment and playing for the 90 mins.