SikhInTrinity

Also proved why he is captain, very important for him to stay injury free, him and Clark compliment each other well, though at times both did go walkies.

Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Amavi, Gueye, Sanchez, Ayew, Gestede will be away on international duty, which is kind of a blow considering they all played some part yesterday.

Yes we had luck in the game which no-one is doubting however if you cannot be impressed that this manager has only had 3 training sessions, in those sessions he managed to have some sort of organisation to stop City, players following instructions and being very disciplined. There will not be a team in the Prem that City don't cut open. This is just the base to work from, we can keep shape and I'm sure against the lesser sides we will offer more of an attacking threat. Lets not forget this group of players confidence, everyone predicting a defeat. As many have mentioned if Tim or KMac were in charge it would have been a mauling.

I have just read something that said Fergie sold Stam because the Opto Stat boys at United said he was making less tackles, running less and was clearly getting old. Stay of course went on to be fantastic at his next club. Fergie has since said that what actually was happening was that Stam was getting smarter, running less because he was taking up better positions, and because he anticipated play better he made less tackles. I'd believe all that but then he went and signed Laurent Blanc haha.

Agree on that, just believe Cissokho would be a better understudy than the other prat we have. Amavi tired towards the end and did well to contend with Navas IMO.

Our best player!

Yesterday wasn't the game for him, think Garde will work on him in the coming weeks and would be very surprised if he isn't featuring over Xmas.

So it's -5

I honestly think Garde may look in to bringing back Cissokho if it is at all possible, stupid decision letting him go and keeping Richardson.

It's a clever tactic, if you press, you need to press in numbers but worry is if you get caught out, City will punish you. So what Ayew did was drop off and let Kompany and the other CB have the ball while he marked the space.

Yes first game since Stoke, playing against one of the toughest midfields in the league and you expect him to be bossing it, give him 5 or 6 games on the bounce.

Which were caused by tactical decisions. Not marking you man and as a goalkeeper coming out of your goal and totally missing a cross is not tactical, that's just shit play. Just like Guzan and Lescott's contribution at Chelsea which was also shit play, as was Amavi's error at Palce, as was Clark's defending for Tottenham's first goal. None of those goals have anything to do with tactics I don't know if you watched the game, but a non-league manager could have seen we were going to concede if we weren't careful, at times Sanchez was left on his own which mean't we were overrun, and by that happening errors occur. I agree errors have been a downfall however tactics, fitness and decision making is the major reason of where we are. For e.g. take Monday's game against Spurs, at the start of the game I stated whatever they do, Clark should not play right side of defence, because he has no right foot and will be completely uncomfortable playing there, so for me again that is a decision which effectively resulted in a mistake on the pitch.

I disagree with the bolded. Advocaat changed Sunderland at half time. They came back into the game then. That's how they got the result. Sherwood changed nothing. He didn't need to. Toivonen took apart Sanchez in the midfield battle (Advocaat's change) but we still battered them. It was ridiculous. From memory, Richards missed an absolute sitter too. I'm certainly not putting that on Sherwood. Leicester, sure. Stoke, sure. Sunderland? Nah. The marking and the goalkeeping for Leicesters 3rd goal was criminal, thats basic player error to let Dyer of all people score from a header. Sherwood made plenty of tactical mistakes but the players individually have cost us a large number of points. Which were caused by tactical decisions. Leicester he should have bought on another midfielder and closed it out, take his comment after Swansea, he said the players were tired and leggy at the end, a manager could see that the players were tired, so you have another sub to bring and tighten up and get a point. The problem with Tim was, tactically he hadn't got a clue, then he was just trying anything to stop the rot without any thought process as well as destroying the confidence of his players.

At the end of the day its another bloke picking 11 players from 25. - He's been training them only since Tuesday - Im really not expecting much on Sunday. Just look at what has been wring wwith the team, playing with no confidence and seemingly devoid of any planning - showing a lack of faith in the managers plans. Words alone could haxe a profound impact.. I disagree. He has to choose 11 players from 25 - everyone on here would pick a different 11. But picking player xxx won't suddenly cure all our ills. Likewise the confidence thing, you can't actually GIVE a player confidence. That comes from winning games, and playing well in those games. The most obvious thing to me is organisation and some sort of system of play. But lets be honest - I don't we have a squad of worldbeaters, just waiting for some new messiah to lead us to the promised land.....I really don't think it is that easy. No one here has said we have a squad of worldbeaters but we also don't have a squad of deadbeats, we have many talented players in that squad who are being mismanaged and underperforming.

I also think his character shows he wouldn't be one lacking in training.

if Remi uses the 4-1-2-1-2 diamond formation in the middle with Sanchez role just to protect the back 4 with Veretout and Gueye being the runners and Gil as the No10 behind Ayew and another. We will see Sanchez playing better if he's just given that role, win and pass it on, similar to what he does for Colombia, issue here we either play him in a two or he's completely left on his own in there.

Indeed. A man does not get to be such a unit without being absolutely dedicated to his health and fitness. I have never once watched Richards play and thought "he's flagging here". He's surely the type who will absolutely love a 5am run? I think people are being a bit harsh on Gabby. I recall him responding well to Duverne last time and he looks after himself, no doubt. I still think he's done as a player, so it's most likely irrelevant. I don't think anybody wants him to go Felix Mcgath on them. He did respond well to Duverne, Houllier and GMac were impressed with the work they were doing together Not true if you actually read this.

What are the rules around this now being as Cole is no longer here? Can we fill his space I don't think we can register him until Jan, plus Cole only on loan for a few weeks.

We cannot bring him back till Jan, he's not been registered to play we left him out for Joe Cole.

The problem we've had is our youth sides play different to our first team, Watch a youth team or a reserve game with the likes of Bannan and co, they played teams off the park, passing movement the full works. I honestly think Houllier though i don't like the bloke was getting the best out of them however we then and employed Alex McLeish who effectively killed alot of our hopes in the youth players.

Looks like he has arrived today to give the manager a pep talk.

Richards has played abroad and under foreign bosses so don't think it'll be a shock to him at all.

You have to win that amount to stay up, always said our games from Nov 28th to Feb are the crucial ones.

I remember sad but specific things about Duverne, he was very regimented in the pre-match warm ups, no-one was pissing about. Our recent coaches have been lax to the point some of the players don't even bother with the warm ups and I've always compared it to when Duverne was here, he expects high standards and rightfully so. I think the two week break for us has come at the right time for Garde and coaches.

Just not making the squad, this signing is definitely Paddy Reilly, signed the guy for Liverpool too. But can see him getting a run under Garde.