Festive Football Chat

Quote: Cibaman "Our problem is that we have too many "second centrebacks", previously known as sweepers, and not enough of the dominant types. That's why Lescott & Toure cant form a solid partnership and why Toure & Onuoha were so bad, as summed up by Spurs' second goal. Adding Upson to the mix probably wouldnt solve that problem.

Unlike DD I dont blame Hughes' recruitment policy for our weaknesses (although I havent always been convinced by by his team selection, tactics and substitutions). Even with City's wealth you can only buy the players that are available. Hughes' pursuit of John Terry in the summer showed that he recognised the need for that type of player, we just werent able to sign him. As I said in my previous post, I dont see any available defenders of the type we need that we have ignored. All of the top managers have made signings that they wouldnt wish to be reminded of. And when you are having to sign as many players in such a short space of time as Hughes has, its inevitable that some of them wont work out.

Yesterday's result in itself shouldnt cost Hughes his job, but the home draws against Burnley, Fulham & Hull are still hanging over his head. City's next fixtures are Sunderland & Stoke at home, folowed by Wolves away. I suspect City need maximum points if MH is to keep his job.'"

You are right there. We buy secondary centre halves, forwards and midfielders but never a dominant player in either category. They are no use to use without those leaders so, unless he finds them, we are going to struggle.

He breaks up a solid centre defence for two similar players who haven't practised any marking since they swapped answer sheets in a school quiz. He signs two left backs who think defence is what surrounds the pitch.

We have a plethora of holding midfielders, none of which can move forward, none of whom have heard the phrases of leadership and beating the man and we have two tall centre forwards who amble along like it's a Sunday stroll who couldn't find a blue shirt if it was standing next to them.

There are too many fairies and not enough fight. No-one wants to lead the team and the manager has not a clue how to lead them himself.

The sad thing is, most City fans are too dim to realise that every team needs a couple of jobsworth, leaders to make things all knit together. Crap as some players are, in their own right, fans will tell you that just the presence of a Vinnie Jones or a Robbie Savage can fire up the rest of the team by leading by example. Gerry Gow was a classic example of a journeyman pro who was largely responsible for turning a team without a win its first twelve games to having the fourth best record in the league, League Cup Semi-Finalists and FA Cup Finalists.

It's the same people that fail to understand this that would rather have Robinho in the side instead of Craig Bellamy. Last night was a great example of what we miss when Bellamy isn't playing because he leads by example. His willingness to fight for everything inspires his team-mates to do the same.

Richard Dunne might not have been an all-time great but he was an excellent man-marker, a good leader and he put his body on the line. He displayed everything about soul and commitment that this defence does not and, with him, we'd have been eight or nine points better off now and the other deficiencies could have, at least for now, have been papered over till the end of January.

Patience is wearing very thin and only victory over two legs against United will appease the masses now. Luckily, our first choice defence plus Adebayor will all be missing so we may stand a chance.

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