ClaretandHugh’s ratings man Niall McDonald has been marking up the player’s performances for two or three years now after games . And in this blog he finds it difficult to have much sympathy with the manager for some of the signings and adjustments he has made given our current plight.
By Niall McDonald
With the salary being paid all the eggs are in the Pellegrini basket, for better or worse.
I think a lot of the opinion and criticism is fair though. Four to five bad results/performances in a row is a bad run, whichever way you look at it.
I cant give the manager much sympathy if Fabianski gets injured and he doesn’t have adequate cover to replace Adrian.
Nor can I sympathise too much over the loss of Antonio, who has never proved consistent in any of the many positions he’s been played in.
I scratch my head sometimes wondering how we end up being exposed in every area of the team at the same time – weak in goal, weak at the back, slow and ponderous in midfield, no support for a striker who never gets the ball… surely out of 11 we can get at least 6 doing ok???!!!
Fair go everyone wanted to get rid of Adrian last year. Give the manager a break and ask the players to lift the poor performances.
Niall.The thing that makes me tear my hair out week after week is that we as fans can clearly see where the problems are on the pitch Squad strength is very weak again.So here goes.No investment in a quality back up goalkeeper,a good reliable left back,a box to box midfielder and a striker to play alongside Haller.Its alright saying Fabianski and Antonio will lift us when back but if they are injured again we are back to square.We desperately need some young hungry players because at the moment this lot are strolling blindly into the team every week because lets be honest .Who is going to replace them.?
I think MP has to take responsibility for the failure at the weekend, Newcastle loaded their team with pace and he played our slowest defenders which led to us being exposed time and again. Masuaku and Fredericks would have been better, the defence looks like it has no confidence in Roberto which probably creates a viscious circle of mistrust. Surely David Martin must be a better keeper ? In midfield we were also laborious, 70% possession in the game and no cutting edge, the manager needs to get that team moving the ball better and with a plan to open up stubborn defences, it has been missing. There is a lack of killer instinct in the team and for that captain and manager need to take a look, everyone does rave about Nobes and he has played better under MP than he has under previous managers but the players need someone they fear. We undoubtably have the best team in 20 years or more its time they played too their potential because saturday was the worst I have seen since Allardyce, if you look at the way the players amble back into position after they lose the ball its not too difficult to see why we concede so many goals, again MP has to eradicate that on the training ground.
This team has the ability, despite the negative post, it has my support but they need to face upto their failings and start producing, COYI !!!
What amazed me on saturday was, Haller had no support, no one close to him BUT we still were caught out at the back on the counter. How can we have no support up top but still be countered is beyond me, doesnt even make sense typing it let alone watching it.
We just looked clueless. PAss it out wide, play a one two between creswell and anderson, no one makes a run in behind so we will go back to rice and switch sides try it again. No invention, no running at defenders, no runs in behind the lines. Cant make sense of it still!
Who wanted to get rid? I think we were more concerned with getting some firepower up front, a left back and much neglected defensive midfield. Don’t think many of us were too impressed with the early doors signing of 2 over the hill free keepers, but hoped fabianski would stay fit. That’s backfired.