That was a hard watch!

[FromTheDarkness]

lack of physicality we are awful a defending set pieces, corners all defensive players are small weedy boys against men. None of them have the strength to protect the keeper, who himself gets pushed and bounces off their men when jumping. When Cork is the only "big" "strong" player in the defensive line on set pieces.. its always a lost causes, there is a reason why short, skinny players who get pushed off the ball are cheap to get in.. technical ability is not enough.
- Reaction to the ball - slow
- Physically - soft
- desire to win the ball first - poor
- wing back - leaving the man, lack of concentration, players allowed to get in front of the ball.
- Leadership- it is only apparent when we have a bad game - CORK does nothing, passive - poor captain!
- Gudmundsson - huge wages for championship - never offers anything, waste of time.
- Roberts - " " " " " " " " " "
- Bench - Lack of quality, unable to change a game.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

lack of physicality we are awful a defending set pieces, corners all defensive players are small weedy boys against men. None of them have the strength to protect the keeper, who himself gets pushed and bounces off their men when jumping. When Cork is the only "big" "strong" player in the defensive line on set pieces.. its always a lost causes, there is a reason why short, skinny players who get pushed off the ball are cheap to get in.. technical ability is not enough.
- Reaction to the ball - slow
- Physically - soft
- desire to win the ball first - poor
- wing back - leaving the man, lack of concentration, players allowed to get in front of the ball.
- Leadership- it is only apparent when we have a bad game - CORK does nothing, passive - poor captain!
- Gudmundsson - huge wages for championship - never offers anything, waste of time.
- Roberts - " " " " " " " " " "
- Bench - Lack of quality, unable to change a game.

No wonder Barnes stormed off, our Number One $hithouse would at least have engaged with the enemy.

[Supersub6]

INteresting that many on here had been saying that we should get rid of Rodrigues, Barnes, JBG, Cork, Taylor and Roberts because they were Dyche players and not good enough to play in VK's team.
Today we started without Rodriguez, Barnes, JBG, Taylor and Roberts so we only had one players from the above starting, so we should have wiped the floor with Sheffield United with our all star team ---what went wrong?

[alfinyalcabo]

We came out for the second half Ashy..😁

[FromTheDarkness]

INteresting that many on here had been saying that we should get rid of Rodrigues, Barnes, JBG, Cork, Taylor and Roberts because they were Dyche players and not good enough to play in VK's team.
Today we started without Rodriguez, Barnes, JBG, Taylor and Roberts so we only had one players from the above starting, so we should have wiped the floor with Sheffield United with our all star team ---what went wrong?

I would agree apart from JRod, he is still class if just used as a Sub going forward.

Where as the other lot offer Zero off the bench.

So yes they are not good enough, and yes we need some stronger players. Cork is not combative enough, he is like a Labrador when we need a Alsatian.. not a good leader. yet he does a average job, I do not think he is good enough for a top Championship team.
we need a few 24-27 year olds that are big and strong, we are a gang of young lads the balance in the team is not right. Being technically good going forward is only half the game, staying strong, winning individual duels, giving as good as you get, commanding your area on the pitch,
We need some physically stronger players...dont forget, this rebuild job 7 of these players are going back at the end of the season... so how much of a rebuild is happening? then are we going to develop our players? and buy some? transfer window will show the boards true intentions for the season.

[wanderlust]

lack of physicality we are awful a defending set pieces, corners all defensive players are small weedy boys against men. None of them have the strength to protect the keeper, who himself gets pushed and bounces off their men when jumping. When Cork is the only "big" "strong" player in the defensive line on set pieces.. its always a lost causes, there is a reason why short, skinny players who get pushed off the ball are cheap to get in.. technical ability is not enough.

Agreed.....and having seen that, it's likely other teams will set up to bully you.
This argument has raged on my team's forums for months as we also try to play like City without the same level of quality, so whilst it all started off well the opposition has realised that athletic strength, combatativeness and power can trump "the beautiful game" unless the midgets are brilliant. We also have a manager who is reticent to change his belief in his system and it's going tits up as every team we play against now has a back 10 and focuses on counterattack or lobbing balls into our box from throw ins/set pieces.
Hopefully VK will be flexible enough to concentrate on the requisite resilience and earn the right to play pretty football rather than trying to start with it every game.

[Supersub6]

I would agree apart from JRod, he is still class if just used as a Sub going forward.

You are saying that a player who has started 16 matches for us, in which we have won 9, drawn 7 and lost 0 should only come on as a sub.
That is a very interesting thought, particularly when you consider he has scored 9 goals and has 1 assist.

[FromTheDarkness]

You are saying that a player who has started 16 matches for us, in which we have won 9, drawn 7 and lost 0 should only come on as a sub.
That is a very interesting thought, particularly when you consider he has scored 9 goals and has 1 assist.

No mate - I said "going forward" which I meant the next few years..
Tella is a good player - clearly not a striker or a number 9 - of which we need - All the young lads are not ready, JRod is the only one, Barnes legs have gone.. Thats not good enough for promotion ambitions.. I think every single other team we have played have better number 9's even Blackpool, I would take Yates any day.
And Jrod was never ready a number 9 in his prime. A number 10. He was second fiddle to weghorst and woods, before those two played along side Barnes who was a 9.

[warminsterclaret]

We've lost 2 games in 20. FFS.

[outwoodclaret]

We've lost 2 games in 20. FFS.

Went for a beautiful stroll yesterday in the Barcelona sunshine. From the drop off point in town with cable cars whizzing overhead, then past the magnificent Christopher Columbus monument onto the market stalls of La Rambla. Returning to the ship I discover we have been stuffed 5-2 by the Blades. I have only been away for one week and this utter Shambles has been perpetrated in my absence. I will be back by next Sunday so you had all better sort this mess out. Only two games in 20 it may be but we cannot afford another slip up next weekend.