The case for the defence.

[morty]

Sooooo, was at the game last night, and I think Alex Neil has some real dilemmas!

Wisdom looked okay, Whittaker looked better.

Bennet and Bassong looked pretty comfortable together, neither really put a foot wrong.

Olsson looked fine.

I thought Rudd was excellent!

 

[It's Character Forming]

Me too Morty, although I arrived 20 minutes late due to work problems and I was sat in Row 6 level with the pitch, so had a superb view of the action in the corner near us and a limited view of the rest of the pitch !

I agree Bennett and Basso looked good against some quality strikers, so for me this has to be our starting CB combo.

At RB, I think Whitts is the best player we have in the position except that he is such a slow player he's vulnerable if he's up against anyone with pace - fortunately Everton didn't exploit this much, although I did notice soon after he came on they created an opening which I thought Wisdom would've been quick enough to prevent.

I agree that Rudd looked very good all round, for me I would feel more confident starting with him in goal than Ruddy now.

The major negative for me last night was Grabban - showed why he is our 3rd choice striker, had plenty of openings but never looked like scoring.

It was a shame in extra time we couldn't work the ball to Jarvis more, he looked sharp and totally up for it !  Also Dorrans looked excellent when he came on.

 

[morty]

Me too Morty, although I arrived 20 minutes late due to work problems and I was sat in Row 6 level with the pitch, so had a superb view of the action in the corner near us and a limited view of the rest of the pitch !

I agree Bennett and Basso looked good against some quality strikers, so for me this has to be our starting CB combo.

At RB, I think Whitts is the best player we have in the position except that he is such a slow player he's vulnerable if he's up against anyone with pace - fortunately Everton didn't exploit this much, although I did notice soon after he came on they created an opening which I thought Wisdom would've been quick enough to prevent.

I agree that Rudd looked very good all round, for me I would feel more confident starting with him in goal than Ruddy now.

The major negative for me last night was Grabban - showed why he is our 3rd choice striker, had plenty of openings but never looked like scoring.

It was a shame in extra time we couldn't work the ball to Jarvis more, he looked sharp and totally up for it !  Also Dorrans looked excellent when he came on.

You must have been near me! Row 7, seat 4!

 

[GJP]

I've made this point more than once before but when we had that 10 game unbeaten run Martin was a bit part player. 

We've never looked as hard to beat since then yet he has become seemingly almost undroppable.

I'm not saying he's a bad player but he's not so good we can't leave him out. It's also not fair on the other lads that they have to accept they'll miss out to keep him in the team - which happened to Whitts against WBA.

 

[morty]

I'm not Martin bashing, but I think that Bennett is a better CB, and Whittaker is a better RB.

Tough choices for Alex.

 

[gerryinromania]

Agree with you Morty. Bennett and Bassong looked a good partnership on the Romanian telly.Commentators thought we were the better team,overall. Guess AN will dump Bennet again. Be interesting to see if Mulumbu gets the call over Howson

 

[morty]

I thought Mulumbu was an excellrnt defensive screen, and it would be more likely that Tettey would be dropped?

Not that I am advocating that, Tettey was excellent against West Brom.

Am slightly averse to maybe playing them together as it could be seen as a bit negative, but it could well be an option for Man City.

 

[brhdodds]

I remember one thing a WBA fan said when we got him, that we got much more than just a combative defensive midfielder with Mulumbu, and that often he is best as a box-to-box midfielder with more than a few goals and assists in him. A goal and an assist in his first appearance for us against FC Augsburg would back that up.

I could certainly see Tettey as the defensive screen, with Mulumbu playing box-to-box and then *hopefully* Wes as the creative spark. Not sure Howson or Dorrans are really doing much to be considered at the moment.

 

[morty]

I remember one thing a WBA fan said when we got him, that we got much more than just a combative defensive midfielder with Mulumbu, and that often he is best as a box-to-box midfielder with more than a few goals and assists in him. A goal and an assist in his first appearance for us against FC Augsburg would back that up.

I could certainly see Tettey as the defensive screen, with Mulumbu playing box-to-box and then *hopefully* Wes as the creative spark. Not sure Howson or Dorrans are really doing much to be considered at the moment.

Thats probably a bit of ignorance, on my part, assuming Mulumbu is more defensive than I actually know.

I have seen more of him played deeper, but if he has the ability to get forward, it wouldn't surprise me if Howson's place is under threat.

 

[Canaryboy]

Am slightly averse to maybe playing them together as it could be seen as a bit negative, but it could well be an option for Man City.

What if playing Tettey and Mulumbu together gave us more scope to play Hoolahan and Redmond on the pitch together though, something worth considering.

I think Howson has been below par recently, much like Martin I don't think he should be considered undroppable for a period. 

I also saw West Brom fans say that Mulumbu can bomb forward with the ball and is a box to box player, a bit like Damien Francis I guess. 

 

[Canaryboy]

Dammit, my post became irrelevant between starting it and publishing it, we've said the same thing about Howson.

 

[morty]

Dammit, my post became irrelevant between starting it and publishing it, we've said the same thing about Howson.

Great minds and all that

The best thing about last night is that I think we have some viable options for change. I thought Ofoe looked tidy too.

 

[eatonparkboy]

To be honest, I think more than Martin need to be looking over their shoulder. Agree wholeheartedly that Bennet/Bassong must remain and wouldn't be unhappy with Wisdom at right back either.

I thought one of the major pluses last night was the balance of the side. I have queried in the past the reason for two wingers and only one striker. Last night, with VOO taking Bradleys position from last season, I thought with his physical presence as well, that the team looked far more balanced and allowed to Ollson far more opportunity to take their full back on rather than running to halfway and then having to stop if Brady or Jarvis was in front of him.

We moved the ball precisely and quicker than recently and Wes was allowed to play further up the pitch with only one winger and not having to compete for an empty middle of the pitch because Howson was out of position. VOO, an impressive Mulumbu and tight O'Neill kept their shape and allowed Wes to roam.

Rudd looked safe and composed apart from a rush of blood toward the end and could easily replace Ruddy.

Grabban moved well but doesn't look physical enough for a single striking role and should have buried that header.

But for me the real disappointment was Redmond and not just the absurd penalty. I can't understand why he stops so much instead of taking on his man. If it is in their last third then surely that is his job. Have we had a penalty this season? We won't get one from shirt pulling at corners. We get them for skilled players putting defenders on the back foot in their own eighteen yard box. And some, if not most, of his crossing was woeful.

The final paragraph doesn't detract from a thoroughly entertaining evening though and although we lost, it didn't feel like it and the bonus was the good performances from those who haven't played regularly.

I just hope AN is as tough and brave as he says he is leaves out Martin and also Howson (or restore him to his proper place).

 

[morty]

Good points.

I wonder if Redmond is having his head messed with a bit here. I think that, at times, he can push forward too much, and leave the right back dangerously exposed. Against West Brom he definitely looked like he had been told to hang back a bit, so I do wonder if he just lacks the judgement himself sometimes. Could also be playing in front of the third different RB in three games though.

For whatever reason, I think that when Wes plays well, we play well.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Good points.

I wonder if Redmond is having his head messed with a bit here. I think that, at times, he can push forward too much, and leave the right back dangerously exposed. Against West Brom he definitely looked like he had been told to hang back a bit, so I do wonder if he just lacks the judgement himself sometimes.

For whatever reason, I think that when Wes plays well, we play well.

120+ minutes last night and didn't look to sit back and rest, he kept prompting and moving. I remember speaking to my son on the phone and we both watched and marvelled how he ran the full width of the pitch, unchallenged admittedly, just keep a move flowing because his team mates were out of position.

People can moan about him as much as they want, he won't excel in every game but as you say he is the key to us staying in this division. (Thank god he didn't take a penalty like that against those who musn't be named in last seasons play off).

 

[Canaryboy]

I do wish that Redmond would try and beat his man on the outside and whip in a quick cross sometimes (when we've got bodies in the box), rather than cutting inside when it isn't always the best option, but he has improved massively as a player under Alex Neil and I hope Redmond realises enough to pen a new contract. His decision making has improved and he has added goals to his game. 

I think he'll continue to improve under Alex Neil if he is smart enough to realise that whilst he is undoubtedly annoyed to be sitting on the bench some weeks, he is having more of an impact now than he ever has for us and he's developing here far more than he would if were to become a Man City reserve player too soon like Jack Rodwell. 

 

[It's Character Forming]

You must have been near me! Row 7, seat 4!

Not far - row 6 seat 31, so a bit of a better view but not much !

I should say I felt Dorrans had a very good game last night after being introduced.

 

[morty]

I don't think anyone had a bad game last night, to be honest.

 

[Dubai Mark]

Its great having feedback from those who went to the game! I have a question,  was the improvement just about individuals or, was it more about the team getting back to working harder in defending as a unit and generally just working harder?

Oh, and a second question,  would anyone really put Rudd in vs Citeh when considering they score so freely at home and this would knock Rudd big time. ?.. surely better having him play at home against one of the lesser sides first?  Maybe I am just getting soft in my old age!

 

[morty]

It was a good mix Mark. Players who want to prove themselves, players who want to get into the team, bit of pressure off, it was an away game to a decent team in the cup.

No real negatives for me. Rudd was good, as was the general defensive mix, bassong and bennett looked to have good understanding, olsson looked like he had a point to prove, wisdom looked okay, but whittaker looked better.

Mulumbu looked very good, ofoe caught the eye.

For me, Rudd looks ready to step up. Its soon, or never.