A rash tackle in a dangerous position and we’re 1-0 down. Another near the end and it’s 3-0. Sandwiched in between a clinical finish means that this year we leave the Etihad empty handed. Pete Sixsmith was there and his verdict is here.
Oct 6 2012 Manchester City (1) 3 SAFC (0) 0 Never gave up but City simply better.
Sept 29 2012 SAFC (0) 1 Wigan Athletic (0) 0 Scrappy performance but a win’s a win
Sept 25 2012 Capital One Cup 3rd Round: MK Dons (0) 0 SAFC (0) 2 Second goal settles nerves for comfortable win
Sept 22 2012 West Ham United (0) 1 SAFC (1) 1 Need to be more positive when ahead
Sept 15 2012 SAFC (1) Liverpool (0) 1 More than happy to take a point
Sept 1 2012 Swansea City (1) 2 SAFC (2) 2 *Lack of ambition against 10 cost points
Aug 28 2012 Capital One Cup Round 2: SAFC (1) 2 Morecambe (0) 0 Shrimps potted as we stroll to victory
Aug 18 2012 Arsenal (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 Gritty, determined and a well earned point
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Ian, there’s no question that we miss Cattermlole’s contribution and that may be the case again next week, but having said that, one of his biggest weaknesses is the fact that he loses the ball far too easily and far too often. This is what causes him to be so reckless with his challenges. He is actually one of the worst culprits when it comes to losing possession. We seem to have lost the ability to carry the ball. Larsson can do this wide on the right (and not in the middle), while the jury has to be out on whether McClean is a half season wonder. as his willingness to run at full backs has all but disappeared.
I think we didn’t offer anything. I must admit that although we defend well , our creative midfield seems to be lacking and sloppy.
However much you criticise Lee Cattermole, he does bring steel and fight to our midfield and can break up play. Vaughn on his day is very useful, but he’s inconsitent. And McClean is in a bad run of form.
Next match I would like to see AJ on the left wing and Larsson on the right. 4-4-2.
We do seem to lack something in midfield these days.
Gardner should be in midfield and I hope the Bard is back so he can move up. Trouble is with Gardner tho is that he runs with his head down and lacks the instinctive right pass to play our forwards in.
We just need to get AJ in the game more. He’s maybe got to come and look for the ball more. He’s arguably our best technicl player. We’ve got to get him in.
Ramble over….
I don’t think this is about ambition or necessarily the way that MON wants the team to play. It’s more to do with a lack of quality a) to retain the ball for any significant time, and b) the appalling lack of ability within central areas, which is required to force the opposition back into their own half.
When you are left hoping for some substitution which may change the game, Frazier Campbell comes on!
MON in his post match statement said:
‘We lost possession after just a couple of minutes, which led to the free kick and [Aleksandar] Kolarov is more than capable of scoring those type of goals’.
‘That was the turning point in the game’.
After seven minutes there should not be a turning point, I am very disapointed when the manager says this, so they go one goal up and thats it…….it was in this instance but we should harbour a little bit more ambition.
Same old problems, poor ball retentiom, two wingers out of sorts, poor decision making (Rose gave McClean far too many passes when he had defenders breathing down his neck), poor individual ball control etc etc.
We must improve.