Most liked posts in thread: Shrewsbury Town (A) - Saturday 4th

Really impressed by city and Collins today, thoroughly professional performance.

Payne is a class act, Shrewsbury couldn't get near him, excellent finish too. Scannell worked his tits off 1st half, finally got put out wide 2nd half and like Payne they couldn't touch him.

What a player O'Connor is though, absolute Twit of a centre half, wins everything and doesn't care if he goes through the player first. If he's not in the league 1 team of the season I'll be shocked.

I'm a big critic of Chicksen but he was very good today, not much going forward but much better defensively. Mellor looked much more comfortable at RB than centre half. Riley I thought was very good too, got up and down well and a good tackler.

As for the game, I thought we dominated the first and final 30 minutes, but got sloppy and let them back in it 15 minutes either side of HT. Collins played 3 different systems in that game, and with every change came a positive impact on the pitch. Very good to see. As the game went on we wasted time well, drew fouls and managed the game very well which is something we haven't done well since parky left.

The togetherness in this side is there to see, O'Donnell's reaction after the goal a prime example.

Delighted with that, great result, top atmosphere by the city fans.

 

Good first away day of the season. Shrewsbury must be the most tedious ground to get to. 1st half fairly even, Payne is a class apart, reminds me of Robbie Blake. Impressed with the tactics of Collins 1-0 away from home & he bring on 3 forwards. I don’t think McCall or Grayson would have done that last season. Good performances and Scannell will be a clear favourite when he is up to full match fitness.

Final point, we have some strange folk following City away. Who was the muppet in the green top who spent most of the game walking up & down the front of the seats getting into stewards faces and clearly looking for a fight? He was clearly off his tits and was rightly dragged out just after half time. Gents, if you are middle aged, have a belly built by curry & tetleys, the topless look isn’t a good one, you are just frightening the kids...⚽️

 

O'Connor was my MoM, fantastic throughout. Fair play to Chickson though, had a torrid time first half then turned it around, and though he was excellent in the holding midfield role of all things. Wasn't really a bad performance over the 90.

Just a comment on the last 7-8 minutes, Shrewsbury didn't have a sniff and barely touched the ball fantastic man management from the players. Good subs from Collins as well, helped us retake the impetus when they were getting on top, and very positive changes.

Still a lot to improve on but you'd expect that first game of the season, haven't enjoyed a football match as much for a long while, you can keep your World Cup semi finals.

 

Just watched the full 90 c/o Dimitry

I won’t add to the previous posters comments and player scores as they seem reasonable to me

Timings approximate
First 20 Salop were chasing shadows
Rest of half even, if not in Salops slight favour, but little in the way of goal threat from them
First 25 of second half Salop in charge which produced a number of chances for them
Collins changed it by bringing on Doyle to partner Miller. What a refreshing change that was as it gave them less time on the ball at the back and left them punting aimlessly up field.
I liked the way we managed the ball in the last tiring 20mins
Bit of luck we could have got another

Standouts Payne, wow! First 5 mins left two defenders going in the wrong direction on the right touchline. He’s class
Scannell will be a real handful when fully fit
Mellor, good throw on him and timely in the tackle. Positionally sound but needs to get match fit and we will see better
Akpan and Wright did all the dirty stuff well in front of the back 3/4
Seedorf cameo role really, but he will be like Scannell when fully fit
The rock was O’Connor didn’t put a foot wrong and certainly let those that did, know! A leader!

Special mention for Miller. Ran his legs off. Not a target man but an outlet running the channels. He missed the”sitter” yes but I can see what Doyle was trying to do but Miller was offside at least a yard . Hindsight says Doyle is kicking himself for not taking on the keeper!

Great start and a refreshing system on display. Match fitness is key now as both teams were really blowing hard at the end. Anyone would in that heat though!

Barnsley will be a test for sure so let’s not get carried away just yet!

 

She has a lot in common with City currently then



Lacking quality in the box

 

Can you imagine when Rupp comes over to do the monthly 1-1's.

10:00 Head of Football
11:00 Head of Recruitment
12:00 Head of Coaching

Edin will be like Robin Williams in Mrs Doubtfire.

 

Good result and a mixed performance, which is to be expected so early. First 25 mins we were good, bright, used the ball well and Scannell and Payne were a threat. Then Shrewsbury got on top without really hurting us. When not in possession there was an uncertainty about positions and when to press. NKP and Chicksen struggled and half time came at a good time.

First 15 of the second half we struggled. We gave them too much time and space and they hit the bar. A goal looked on the way and it was an early test for Collins - which he passed. Bringing on Doyle turned the game back our way. We then missed 2 great chances which should've killed it. We had more chances on the break which we should've done better with.

Very early days but All in All, lots of promising signs. When this team gels, it could be a threat. All of the new players offered something - O'Connor was excellent and Payne and Scannell were a different class. If we could get Sharp in this side, he'd have a field day.

A few were blowing towards the end, but that's a really good first days work. Much more to come I think.

 

I would put Chicksen's performance up there with anyone elses yesterday, the lad had a good day at the office. Shaun Whalley was the best player on the park first half, Shrewsbury faded when Whalley became less of a threat and that allowed Payne to run the show. Loved the latter part of the second half, we looked more of an attacking threat than i'd seen for a long time.

 

Lets be fair, Before the game and all week there have been those that were nervous and predicting a poor showing and those predicting we might do quite well, The fact is that our newly signed side and new manager acquitted themselves well and came away with a spirited win, Whatever happened in the game was just that every team has misses in most games,
Lets now stop some of the more downbeat posts and start getting behind this team both the players and management, You never know we might do really well!!

 

Now you are stating the obvious....

Just enjoy a hard earned win instead of griping.

NOTHING wrong with grinding out a win especially against Shrewsy

 

Re subs

It’s refreshing to see he understood how and why, in a TIMELY manner, it was to get the subs on.

Something perhaps we all agree Stuart was not so good at?

 

Bloody hell mate your hard to please, I was lacking energy after 70 minutes in that direct sun and I was just sat watching the game. God knows how the players got through 90 +minutes credit to both teams great end to end football, today we rode our luck but worked very hard whilst doing it.

 

Hate is a very strong and emotive word, i would say a sizeable section of supporters are unhappy about how he has gone about certain things, I don't think anyone hates him. If you are looking to be liked don't become the owner of a football club. Even with all the stuff Dean Hoyle has done for Huddersfield there have been sections of fans in years gone by who have voiced their displeasure of his leadership. With his appointment of Collins, Rahic has left himself wide open to criticism if things go wrong. I think Collins will get a certain amount of leeway from supporters because of his lack of experience and the way he came about the job, Rahic will get double helpings of stick. Lets hope the season starts with an encouraging performance.

 

Strange reading this thread. So much negativity and lack of enthusiasm. I’m excited. I actually like the look of the squad we’ve assembled. I still think we’re short a striker but I have a good feeling about the way the squad has taken shape. The management team is a total unknown (along with some of the players) but that makes it fun and interesting.

If it fails and we come mid table (can’t see us being lower than that) then so be it but it could go well and, with the team we have that, could mean a good shot at promotion. That’s so much more exciting than being one of those teams just marooned in mid table all season. At least we have a real shot at promotion if we can get this squad clicking.

Roll on Saturday and let the fun begin!

 

RIGHT OKAY, THIS IS IT EVERYONE!!

The start of a brand new season.


WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND START SMASHING IT FROM DAY ONE!!!

Shrewsbury might as well go home now, because we are going to beat them.

I'll be attending the game myself (pending more tickets go on sale tomorrow like the ticket office said) and I'm so excited as this'll be my first time attending Shrewsbury away. My last match against Shrewsbury was a goalless draw at Valley Parade.

I'm hoping for more action this time round.

I've made my prediction and it goes as follows:
SHREWSBURY 1 - 0 CITY HT
SHREWSBURY 1 - 2 CITY FT

COME ON CIIIITTYYYY!!!!

 

Apart from Rupp being the money man, what you are conveniently forgetting is that Rahic received all the plaudits for his first season in charge. The wage budget was then slashed the following season and he was rightly criticised for the crap we had brought in. The signing have improved dramatically this pre season and you'll notice how the criticism has decreased significantly. It's how these things work.

 

Dennis, as one of the Mods on here and one of the biggest critics for taking threads off track, can I ask what your obsession is with arguing with Edin Rahic (How)? If you two want to continue your debate, can you not open a thread for it and move all of this into there.

Isn’t that what you normally do when others go off topic? Oh and give yourself a warning too, for going off topic. Just to remind you, this thread is all about the opening league game, not how much or little the new owners have invested SINCE they bought the club (for what it’s worth, I agree with you)

 

Though we did have a couple of dodgy moments I thought we were good for the 3 points, and this team can only get better.

 

For crying out loud! It's the first game of the season, we aren't up to speed yet and the team are still getting to know each other but guess what? We still won away from home in hot weather against a very good side!