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I sometimes wonder if people posting on here and accuse City of playing long ball football or 'hoofball' as some call it, have actually seen the team play. Yes, we get the ball forward as quickly as possible but usually by passes out to the wings to get the wide players to run at the defence and provide through balls or crosses to Zohore and now hopefully Madine. There are teams in this division, such as Bristol City, who play far more direct long ball football than us but get little or no stick for doing it. We have played two wide men in most games this season and perhaps only Wolves, Fulham and Shefield United do this as much as we do. Its all down to the negative perception of Warnocks tactics from other teams fans and media that is perpetuating this myth.
Are you saying you weren't being entertained up until our mini-collapse at Xmas? I haven't enjoyed myself so much in a season for as long as I can remember. I thought my memory was bad but some of the comments on this thread about our playing style are just ridiculous.
We have four points from the last six and are fourth in the table with a game in hand to get us back to third on goal difference. We have just signed four new players and spent good money to try to sustain our challenge. What exactly are we doing wrong ?. Watch the Sunderland game highlights - not a long ball in sight and four good quality goals - one from a corner and three from open play down the flanks. Must be you going to the wrong ground I am afraid.
We was awful in the first half and Sunderland are pathetic. Don't get me wrong we're in a wonderful position I just think we've lost our way from the early season performances but I don't want Patterson playing at never 10 that's just shit and gives the rest of the players something to aim for
I'd say we looked really good up until after the Leeds home game but after that there haven't been many performances where we've witnessed the style of play we were playing up until that point. (That coincided with the injury to Zohore)
After that I thought we were good against Ipswich when I thought Tomlin was really good and we done a professional job on Forest but you wouldn't really say we entertained in the manner we did at Molineux etc.
We drew with Milliwall and Derby home and created very little, we were woeful against Norwich in the 1st half but were much better when Tomlin came on half time.
We ground out wins at Boro, Sunderland and against Hull home, which is not a bad thing but you can't claim it's "attractive football".
I suppose you're right about Grujic, but we've signed players that have played a lot more than the players in that original list. Afobe hardly gets a game at Bournemouth, and when he does he seldom scores. Palmers been hampered with injury all season, managing five appearances. Mitrovic has hardly been a regular for Newcastle this season making only 7 appearances while colback hasn't featured once cos he wasn't picked for their premier league squad.
So again, how have these teams strengthened any better than us? Wildschut looks quality, I think Grujic will settle and come good, and Madine has proven he can score at this level this season and will push Ken. I'm quite optimistic tbh.
You have to beat what is in front of you - it doesnt matter who they are or how they play. I reiterate - no hoofball against them, just good quality goals which appears to dispell the myth that we can only play one way and Warnock only has one tactic. I really dont get why people are being so critical of a team in our position. Ten wins out of eighteen and we wont be far off promotion. If Paterson plays in midfield and we win who cares ?.
I'd argue most (if not all) of the players in that list have enough experience to hit the ground running. As much as I like the signing of Grujic, he could take a while to find his feet.
its no surpise considering our team is more than capable of beating this league...but for NW's sudden liking for hoofball..
he'll panic at some point and start playing down the wings again (like he did earlier this season after his first hoofball change of heart). I just hope its not too late by then