Match Thread Newport County (H) @ 15.00 26th March

That's the laziest prediction I've ever seen.

 

Because his second touch is a tackle.

 

What could Hughes have achieved with these players if he had a full season with them? It shows that they are capable of much more than they have shown. I lay much of that at Adamszzzz door. It borders on ridiculous as to what he did with this squad. im not saying we don’t need better. We do. But based on the turnaround of style and pressure I’m enjoying watching city again and the bond between the fans and players when they have a good go is there.

 

I assure you he ain’t.

 

We have improved a lot defensively so far with Hughes he is getting the best out of all the defenders. I the last few matches we have been up against the best forwards in the league and kept them quiet

 

Both last summer and during the recent January transfer window, the club failed to adequately strengthen its forward line. The consequences were on full display yesterday against Newport, as they have been virtually all season.
Every remaining game of this season will be played out by a squad full of players who have failed to entertain more often than not.
Yesterday's encounter seemed to just pass me by with thoughts about summer recruitment more to the fore.
It was reported Stefan Rupp was at the game.I wonder what his take is on summer recruitment?
Big summer ahead for Mark Hughes and his staff.

 

Thats not far off wrong on many occasions.

 

One thing I noticed yesterday, stood out a mile. Every time they had a corner four City defenders stood line abreast at the edge of the 6 yard box. I’ve not noticed it before. Rather than man marking and shirt pulling, stand still and mark your area. It worked!

That’s where bringing in Hodges is showing a be a class move.

They threw a lot of dangerous crosses in at these set pieces but strangely I didn’t think we felt threatened by them.

 

“ Ish” but I get your meaning.

Stands out a mile though …your frontman has to have pace and mobility….Sadly Cook cannot give that, imho, he is far too immobile. Our defence has struggled against pace , especially under the dinosaur, , we need pace and fluidity, next season. Cook will be back up Im afraid.

 

After watching the games played yesterday on Quest today, it is amazing how many teams, when attacking have three/four men in the box waiting for the cross/shot coming in. We hardly have anyone there.

An example was Jamie Walker who broke into the penalty area, had a good hard low shot parried by their 'keeper - but where was the player(s) following up??
No one there for the tap in - that's criminal, no wonder we can't score.
It took until the 38th minute yesterday before we had a shot on goal. Second half was better but hell, let's have some bodies in the penalty area when attacking.

 

Yes I noticed it; normally it is panic stations when the oppo gets a corner

 

Never went yesterday so didn’t know how we played and tbh ain’t gonna read to much into the results going forward ......... a lot of these lot will be going anyhow so it’s difficult to judge anything now ........... just hope Hughes looks at the bigger picture and doesn’t reward players who are trying now because there contracts are up in the summer ............ or maybe they have been ok all along but Adams just simply couldn’t or didn’t know how to get the best out of them just a crying shame that we aren’t in the mix when in all honesty the league on a while is weak ............ out of the teams we have played only Exeter home Mansfield home have looked like something ......... the rest of the time it’s just poor team after poor I mean if FGR are the best then it show how badly the club have got it wrong this season

 

None of our players naturally want to be in the penalty area.

They all want to do the frilly, tippy tappy stuff in the middle of the pitch but then don't actually think about running into the box.

Walker is the only one who guesses at flick ons from Cook or runs ahead and into space. The rest of them just stop at the edge of the box.

 

Im surprised how little positivity there is on here for Alex Bass.
He now has a collection point saving/match winning worldies including another one yesterday.
Makes me think we are generally poor judges of goalkeepers all round.
He will do me and I hope MH agrees.

 

Luke Hendrie was excellent yesterday particularly going forward.
Last week he had the complication of Pereira playing in front of him and the combination was not working no doubt due to lack of time working together.
Without the problem of a player on his side he saw acres of open space to run into and was free to see and make interceptions and carry the ball forward at pace.
Who needs wingers.

 

Frankly, three kicks straight in to touch is crap!

 

I can't agree. The space there was a gift to Port Vale. Their full back Norman, the irritating number 2 had nobody to cope with and this allowed him to get forward. The lack of width made it harder for us and easier for them. It improved a lot after the substitutions, but I thought it was a problem, not an advantage.

 

He is an excellent shot stopper and anticipates the play. He is still a bit raw for me and there always seems at least one poor decision per match in him, but promising, I agree.

 

Not sure Bass is available is he? He seemed to be highly rated at Pompey but just came for gametime?

 

Pickfords career appears to have peaked, we might catch him on his way down...