IF CITY ARE TO SUCCEED THEN . . . .

I believe Gary Medel has to be the driving force behind our success.

Medel signed for City in a package deal worth up to £11.5m, a massive signing for the club and judging by what I saw on Saturday, he demands the ball and looks to be involved in the build up from the very back.

Malky believes he has signed one of the best 3 players in the world in that position of defensive midfielder and for us to succeed we have to hope that Medel is on top of his game and drives this team forward offering protection to the defence and setting up our pattern of play from the back.

Agree, all I've read and seen is how well he played in an overall quiet team display as we know.
If Malky thinks he is that good he has to be part of what we aim to do in staying up.

As more games pass he will no doubt make more of an impact and the others can learn a lot from him.

He won't be building anything from the back with Turner hoofing it aimlessly forward. The poor guy will spend this week at the chiropractor trying to get that crink out of his neck after watching the ball fly over his head all game.

He won't be building anything from the back with Turner hoofing it aimlessly forward. The poor guy will spend this week at the chiropractor trying to get that crink out of his neck after watching the ball fly over his head all game.

Spot on. We need a central defender who passes it out into midfield to rebuild the attacks. With Turner hoofing it forward the ball is being lost and pressure is just coming back on us. Turner should be dropped.

He won't be building anything from the back with Turner hoofing it aimlessly forward. The poor guy will spend this week at the chiropractor trying to get that crink out of his neck after watching the ball fly over his head all game.

Spot on. We need a central defender who passes it out into midfield to rebuild the attacks. With Turner hoofing it forward the ball is being lost and pressure is just coming back on us. Turner should be dropped.

You would think it would be easier for turner to make a 10-20 yard ground pass to medel/whits/kim wouldn't you.Malky needs to tell him, same for Marshall hoofing it and gifting wh the ball when medel was making himself available.

I'd play Connolly alongside Caulker.

He won't be building anything from the back with Turner hoofing it aimlessly forward. The poor guy will spend this week at the chiropractor trying to get that crink out of his neck after watching the ball fly over his head all game.

Spot on. We need a central defender who passes it out into midfield to rebuild the attacks. With Turner hoofing it forward the ball is being lost and pressure is just coming back on us. Turner should be dropped.

You would think it would be easier for turner to make a 10-20 yard ground pass to medel/whits/kim wouldn't you.Malky needs to tell him, same for Marshall hoofing it and gifting wh the ball when medel was making himself available.

Marshall's no good with his feet and knows it. No confidence in his own sidefoot.

I agree. He'll be massive for us this season. Turner either has to play it into his feet or into one of our players feet, or he has to be dropped for Medel to be able to do what he wants with the ball.

Simple thing is Medel to pull Turner across and give him a word to pass the ball to him and our problems will be solved.

There is absolutely no point in playing hoofball to our lone striker Campbell... no height upfront so surely playing a passing game to a naturally gifted player would create more opportunities!

"One of the best 3 players in the world in that position" yet I can only assume he was 3rd choice on Malky's wish list behind Wanyama and Capoue.

If City are to succeed they need to play:

1. Correct positional players.
2. Fully match fit players
3. Players on form not waiting to hit form

Or we'll be sunk by November.

Oh and
4. 3 more quality players, left back, centre back and two winger

Oh and
5. They need to gel quickly, at times saturday you thought all the players had just joined the club on Friday!

The one element that made the team look like a championship team was the reliance on hitting the ball long throughout the game. I was hoping that we played that way in the championship as its the most effective way in a league that needs to be direct, as the payers are less gifted. I do hope, that Malky is able to adjust the style and tactics, otherwise it will be a long hard boring season watching this team! The West Ham defence and midfield coped easily on Saturday. The only times we looked moderately productive, was when Medel was getting things going from the back. In saying that, I was more disappointed in
Kim, he failed at least 3 times to play a telling pass and gave it away. That has to stop quickly.

Simple answer to this get the rock in there,how the hell MM can drop him in favour of Turner is beyond me,his overall game is far superior to Turners.The rock will always look to play the simple pass to one of our md/f players,whereas Turner more often than not hoofs it 50yds upfield,also the rocks reading of the game is top notch,and IMO the first WHU goal may very well had been blocked by the rock had he been playing.rant over

We also need width too create more space. We were too narrow Saturday, you could throw a blanket over the front players at times. Medal was winning the ball and the only ball on was backwards.

Is it just me that thought that actually west ham played more hoof ball than us? We kept the ball well for periods, especially in the second half, however, the shape of the team and the pace of the passing meant we lacked any sort of penetration allowing west ham to sit back and let us play in front of them. Very rarely did we threaten to go wide or get behind which was the more worrying factor in my opinion. Whilst turner did make some hasty clearances when he had time to find feet with a short ball this was by no means the reason why we lost the game!

He won't be building anything from the back with Turner hoofing it aimlessly forward. The poor guy will spend this week at the chiropractor trying to get that crink out of his neck after watching the ball fly over his head all game.

Spot on. We need a central defender who passes it out into midfield to rebuild the attacks. With Turner hoofing it forward the ball is being lost and pressure is just coming back on us. Turner should be dropped.

Exactly would love to see Hector Moreno here a centre back with a decent left peg.

Oh and
4. 3 more quality players, left back, centre back and two winger

Mmm that's 4 players!! But I take your point.

He won't be building anything from the back with Turner hoofing it aimlessly forward. The poor guy will spend this week at the chiropractor trying to get that crink out of his neck after watching the ball fly over his head all game.

Spot on. We need a central defender who passes it out into midfield to rebuild the attacks. With Turner hoofing it forward the ball is being lost and pressure is just coming back on us. Turner should be dropped.

You would think it would be easier for turner to make a 10-20 yard ground pass to medel/whits/kim wouldn't you.Malky needs to tell him, same for Marshall hoofing it and gifting wh the ball when medel was making himself available.

To be fair to Marshall he was always looking to roll the ball out but West Ham players were closing him & the defenders down very quickly. This was typical of Sams teams though.
I watched Turner constantly pass the ball to the opposition with short & long balls last season. Couldn't believe it when it went on & on. He must improve, it's not rocket science.

I think best 3 in the world is going some but he was the only one who really looked comfortable on Saturday.

he is going to need better players around him.

No point asking him to dictate the play with Conolly and Turner just hoofing it, or Kimbo and Bellamy losing it every time Gary or Whitts give it to them.

In fairness to Turner he wouldn't be playing so many long balls if wasn't being told to do so by MM. With Frazer Campbell playing on the shoulders of the oppositions CH's it is obviously a ploy to but him through on goal by utilizing FC's pace and finishing talent, just look at the goal he got against A Bilbao.

I can sought of see MM's thinking; why mess about trying to out pass superior players when one perfect ball could do the job? Of course we shouldn't just rely on that one tactic and as Carl points out in his OP that is where Gary Medel will eventually come into his own.

Does Malky even tell Turner to stop hoofing the ball?! I get so angry when he hits it up field and pressure comes back on us.

In fairness to Turner he wouldn't be playing so many long balls if wasn't being told to do so by MM. With Frazer Campbell playing on the shoulders of the oppositions CH's it is obviously a ploy to but him through on goal by utilizing FC's pace and finishing talent, just look at the goal he got against A Bilbao.

I can sought of see MM's thinking; why mess about trying to out pass superior players when one perfect ball could do the job? Of course we shouldn't just rely on that one tactic and as Carl points out in his OP that is where Gary Medel will eventually come into his own.

If you believe that then do you also believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus?

In fairness to Turner he wouldn't be playing so many long balls if wasn't being told to do so by MM. With Frazer Campbell playing on the shoulders of the oppositions CH's it is obviously a ploy to but him through on goal by utilizing FC's pace and finishing talent, just look at the goal he got against A Bilbao.

I can sought of see MM's thinking; why mess about trying to out pass superior players when one perfect ball could do the job? Of course we shouldn't just rely on that one tactic and as Carl points out in his OP that is where Gary Medel will eventually come into his own.

Can't agree with this. There's a difference between a defence splitting pass with a rapid striker & booting the ball from defence & hoping for the best.
That's park football mate.

I thought Gary Medal was seriously at fault for the first goal, Joe Coles lost him in the box, and the space that Nolan had for his goal was disgracful he had all the time in the world, no one from midfleld picked him up.

In fairness to Turner he wouldn't be playing so many long balls if wasn't being told to do so by MM. With Frazer Campbell playing on the shoulders of the oppositions CH's it is obviously a ploy to but him through on goal by utilizing FC's pace and finishing talent, just look at the goal he got against A Bilbao.

I can sought of see MM's thinking; why mess about trying to out pass superior players when one perfect ball could do the job? Of course we shouldn't just rely on that one tactic and as Carl points out in his OP that is where Gary Medel will eventually come into his own.

If you believe that then do you also believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus?

This is why I took you off ignore.

I thought Gary Medal was seriously at fault for the first goal, Joe Coles lost him in the box, and the space that Nolan had for his goal was disgracful he had all the time in the world, no one from midfleld picked him up.

I'll give you £5 if you tell Medel to his face he was at fault for the first goal and he's the reason we lost. I wouldn't. I'd blame myself before I blamed him.

I thought Gary Medal was seriously at fault for the first goal, Joe Coles lost him in the box, and the space that Nolan had for his goal was disgracful he had all the time in the world, no one from midfleld picked him up.

A series of errors led to the 1st goal.

Turner won a ball and played it into Kims feet and why, I dont know, Turner went charging past Kim and the halfway line and was out of position.

Kim then fucked about with it and lost it in a dangerous area.

They whipped the ball out to Jarvis, Conolly was a million miles away from him, very poor defending then when the ball come over the defence was all at sea as Turner had gone charging out of defence.

A very good turn and finish by Cole by, top class, but Caulker and Gary could have got tighter and a better block.

He won't be building anything from the back with Turner hoofing it aimlessly forward. The poor guy will spend this week at the chiropractor trying to get that crink out of his neck after watching the ball fly over his head all game.

Spot on. We need a central defender who passes it out into midfield to rebuild the attacks. With Turner hoofing it forward the ball is being lost and pressure is just coming back on us. Turner should be dropped.

You would think it would be easier for turner to make a 10-20 yard ground pass to medel/whits/kim wouldn't you.Malky needs to tell him, same for Marshall hoofing it and gifting wh the ball when medel was making himself available.

Marshall's no good with his feet and knows it. No confidence in his own sidefoot.

Very true was watching medel telling marshal to play it short and was having a go at him for hitting it long.

Personally I believe Malky is going to need Medel to adapt quick to the Premier League as Medel will be the centre of our team and be very crucial when the going gets very tough.