City v Northampton Sept 7th

Devine was awful

 

Any 4-3-3 nonces still not convinced wingers are the way to go?

Connolly impressed today. Stretched with his raw pace and Ismael did well when he came on

Well done City, superb second half and a fully deserved victory.

 

Certainly hope Cooke starts, maybe he’s just getting match fit or something as I can’t figure out otherwise how he doesn’t get in over Devine and Akpan.

 

Yeh I think that's exactly what it is. Bowyer has said a few times he didn't have many minutes in pre season.

 

Wouldnt go as far as to say Connolly impressed personally. Hes clearly quick, but he needs to be more direct when he has the ball. Something there though, for sure.

Ismail is the one on the right. Need him fit and firing. And I thought Pritchard had a good game on the left.

 

Cooke was far better than Devine. Got to start. Thought Connolly looked decent. Ishmael changed the game and looked delighted with his assist for the goal. Shame it wasn't a straight red and we could appeal. Woukd have been great to start him at Walsall.

 

The refs are garbage.

But I'll have more sympathy with the view that they need to clamp down on time wasting if we play with more urgency and tempo ourselves.

 

That’ll come with fitness. He hugged the touchline thoughout and created plenty of corners and throws when stretching them. Much better than having Anderson and Devine faffing about in the middle, losing possession in a narrow set up

 

No arguing on that point. Danny Devine is never going to be good enough. Nor is Anderson.

 

Not the best phrase to use.

 

Very good summary that and agree with you about Wood. Not the first time he's done that this season yet some still argue he can't defend.

 

You and @Rcbantam need to get a room.

How was the second half poor?

 

Yer he was very outspoken on the Refs performance in the post match interview

 

Result better than the performance, enjoyed the effort from Dylan and Pritchard and Ismail when he came on.
Will he stick with two out wide next week away from home as our central players are so weak?

The sending off, how do you get two yellow cards when their player has grabbed Zeli by the neck?
Ref unaware of what went on with no help from a lino.

 

I'm slightly hesitant to commit to a Cooke/Palmer midfield pairing, though why not?

They looked fine when we were battering Northampton, the question is will they be effective when we're under the cosh?

 

As others have said that was more like the city we know In they second half, crosses, shots galore. The game changed once we subbed the woeful Devine. The lad is nowhere near good enough and never has been imo

BRE an absolute beast and MOTM by a street

Whilst it was all city we still had to rely on OD for a brilliant save yet again

Anybody know Goode’s number asking for a friend

 

Definitely better going forward, let's not forget his slip that Northampton inexplicably messed up with an offside pass when two were through completely unopposed.

 

Only one way to find out. Weve seen enough of Akpan, Devine and Anderson to know they're not the answer.

A 442 with cooke in for Devine could easily become a 433 with Palmer sitting, Pritchard dropping into central midfield and Donaldson pulling wide.

Though If we start 433 at Walsall I'd be tempted to start AoC in midfield behind Palmer and Cooke and maybe use Donnelly from the bench.

 

Reading Bowyers article, I think the sudden influx of wingers who generally all looked good means we're going 4 4 2 for the foreseeable.

Plus, Bowyer will outsmart many fans simply by starting 4 4 2, then fans not noticing when we switch it up