On train back from the game...

[It's Character Forming 1,204]

On the way back from the game

Ok so result not dissimilar from last year. Chelski cut us open too easily in the first half and we sat back and let the.

The change though is our approach going forward. Last year when we had the ball, especially on the break, players would surge forward and as a result we got goals. Take say the win at WBA. Both goals were on the break, we had plenty going forward.

This year you can see the wing backs and midfield holding back. Often Wes had the ball outside the box but no easy outlet. Or look at Pilks towards the end when he was breaking down the left - he was all on his own and it would have taken a wonder goal.

The other thing last year was subs. If we were losing lambert would make 2 changes after 60 mins - you could set your watch by it. This year ok Hughton brought on Pilks but the system was unchanged. Then what''s the point bringing on Morison at 4-1 down with just over 10 mins to go?

My worry is that most prem teams including most big ones look better going forward than in defence. Last year we went at then and rattled a lot especially away from home.

Take man city away. At 3-0 down we were still going for it and got a goal: you could see the players really believed they could still get something from the game. As a result we created chances and it wasn''t over . Ok we left ourselves open and concede 2 more at the death but so what - the same mentality was behind the wins at WBA , qpr, spurs etc.

I still think it would be ridiculous to talk about changing the manager after so few games. But I do think hughton needs to start to show his approach can be effective, and we need more performances like the one at spurs - and some wins - before long. Otherwise I think the board will be thinking about whether to make a change - realistically a new manager has to come in in December to have time to change things.

[Cantiaci Canary 610]

There''s something clearly not right when we are playing so conservatively but still leaking so many goals.

 

This strategy will not win us the crucial 3 points at home to relegation rivals (QPR & WHam) nor give us the opportunity to spring a surprise against a goliath (Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea & Spurs last season).

[4th floor 4]

Hughton''s gameplan reminds me of the first half of the second leg against Munich at CR, where we had too many in defense and not enough supporting our attack. It was unbalanced and counter-productive until we started to have a go in the second half.Today there were sometimes too many at the back getting in each others way, no one to go and confront their man and poor marking. When we did break it wasn''t in numbers so we often ended up under the cosh again.We lost the ball largely because there wasn''t enough support when we had it and we didn''t move it around quickly enough resulting in Chelsea''s midfielders being able zone in and mug us of possession.One of the problems is that Hughton has come in and changed things around too much instead of seeking improvements via small changes.

[Highland Canary 78]

But at least I''ve got a seat on the train this year.

We gave them a game last season not this.

[Joanna Grey 0]

"This year you can see the wing backs and midfield holding back."

Wing backs?