Match Thread City v Walsall| League 2 | 20 October

Don’t agree with that I thought their goal was against the run of play but they controlled it after that till half time. But we were very much the better side second half lost count the number of times the ball flashed across goal particularly from some very good corners. But Wallsall have Avery good defence which has been shown against other teams and they defended very well but there was only one team going to win that match in the end

 

The corners would have been better if we had someone on the second ball. No point in heading across goal, if there's no one there.
Novak and Donaldson just doesn't work for me. Both are decent hold up players, but together they defeat the purpose. Donaldson seems to have picked up form recently, but I was worried when he went down twice last night that he wouldn't get back up again. Bringing Guthrie on to replace him was just baffling. For me, Samuels needs to be the first sub now, ahead of Guthrie, who once again did absolutely nothing except lose possession and give fouls away. And Cooke - what's happened to him? I was hoping that now we have Watt in the anchor role, Cooke would feel he has a little bit more freedom on the ball to drive forward. For most part of this season, he's been non existent.
Yesterday, both teams were similar. All it needed to win the game, was someone with the ability to run from midfield at the defence. Just like their lad did with the goal. If we hadn't have won a penalty, I don't think we'd have scored in open play.

 

Said it before and last night changed nothing, we will be a mid table side at best. A decent enough point last night but game was there for the taking I felt but we just don’t have enough going forward to beat enough sides for a serious promotion push.

Another tough side who can defend at the weekend in Newport and I can’t see a city win based on what we’ve seen so far

 

Anybody got a link to McCall's interview? I can't find it for some reason.

 

The positive for me so far is, bar the Lincoln game, we haven't looked like getting a hammering. I'll excuse the Harrogate game as hopefully a one off formation *@?$ up.
There's a feel of something that can be built on, just a shame our transfer windows still hold us back somewhat.

 

Anybody got a link to McCall's interview? I can't find it for some reason.

Thank you

 

I think it stands out a mile that Hosannah has come from a club higher up. His first touch, first time passing and his movement when he lays a ball off are a class above anyone else.
With regards Cooke, I thought he really got stuck in second half, but his first touch is poor, as is some of his passing. I meant to comment after the Mansfield match. AOC was just outside our area and passed to Cooke's feet....Cooke laid it back to AOC at head height!

 

Maybe Samuels is the same? Shame McCall is hesitant to find out. Any news on the Hosannah injury? X-Ray doesn't sound good. Hopefully he's ok, and he can kick on his two good starts with more.

 

I see what you are saying and I don't think a complete reshuffle is needed. We are just too one-paced - workmanlike even. We need someone who can beat a man, either by sheer pace or speed of thought/feet

 

On games like last night it is fine margins and most of our games will be like it this season. In our promotion season that fine margin was Nahki Wells, without him that team would still have been in league 2.

 

Every time he speaks about Guthrie the more I am convinced he was behind that signing.

 

I never thought of that Fordy, maybe you are onto something

 

Those stats show the game that I watched.

There's been a couple of people saying our passing was dreadful - compared to what? Certainly not Walsall.

Impossibly high standards again.... Yes Cooke frustrated with a few misplaced passes, but it was hardly an overall impression of the game.

 

There is a lot of room for improvement in all areas of the pitch. Will we see it and ehat potential does the squad have? I guess if we can get some good victories and go on an unbeaten run the confidence will build.
We have to stop conceding first at home and build from that - at the moment we always appear to slip up with a loss of concentration as players forget what their defensive tasks are or do not cover for a colleague who is out of position.

 

He was talking about scapegoats and he was right to dismiss it. People will always have them but the manager shouldn’t be joining in.

 

Think you need to listen to the interview again. No one suggest he was a scapegoat just McCall. It was a good question considering we signed the lads from Wolves on loan.