Monsieur Salut writes: had I been able to make it – up for me, from London – for Chris Coleman’s first game in charge, I would have met up with not only Peter Sixsmith but Rob Hutchison and his daughter Olivia, all three familiar figures around these parts. My apologies for absence reached the Hutchisons as they – also heading north from exile – drove towards Birmingham.
At one down, as the second half started, Rob thought there was so little between the sides that Sunderland could go on and win if only they could first equalise. Cue a second Villa goal.
Here, then, is one of those Hutch specialities, Rob’s one-word man-by-man verdict (he described the whole experience as ‘drab, drab, drab; oh, it was so drab’ and will one day explain why Gibson was ‘crablike’) …
Ruiter – 5 Clumsy
Oviedo – 6 Energetic
O’Shea – 5 Laboured
Browning – 6 Composed
Matthews – 5 Frantic
McManaman – 5 Nondescript
McGeady – 6 Flashes
Gibson – 5 Crablike
Honeyman – 6 Persevered
Gooch – 5 Conspicuous
Grabban – 6 Goaaal!
Subs
Vaughan – 5 Harried
Asoro – 5 Brief
Robson – 4 Briefest
There is quite clearly no magic wand and an ever decreasing amount time to try to fix what’s wrong, couple this to a small/non existent January transfer kitty and the outlook is not good.
However, as we keep trying to fool ourselves into thinking the sum of the parts are sufficient and good enough to get us out of the current mire, injuries willing.
We all know who the weak links are, if we can just get our strongest 15 available for regular selection and for Coleman to display his tactical nous then we stand a chance. We are now anyway left with no other options so its time to get behind what we have.
P.S. Dear Santa, for Christmas I would like nothing short of a miracle!
Keep the Faith
This midlfield that had me wincing when I read it and with our hot hands hoolihan keeper,2-1 was to as the least in was expecting.
Without Grabban we are lost.
As to Gibson, we have a player who contributes even less than Rodwell and I never thought I would say that.
Likes of Macmanaman, Gooch and Honeyman have still a lot to learn.McGeady is clever but needs to be more of a team player ,one gets the impression he plays in his own team.
Steve Bruce seems to have a curse over us,a manager we thought no where near good enough,he must be laughing up his sleeve.
When will this nightmare end?