2010 Play off semi

[bluesp]

Showing on Sky now, what a team that was! Still can’t believe what happened at Wembley

[Der Kaiser]

Some of the football being played by us in this game is as good or better than anything we've played in the following 10 years




How on earth was that 10 years ago? That's gone bloody quick

[Vindec]

What an atmosphere in the ground.

[bluesp]

Some of the football being played by us in this game is as good or better than anything we've played in the following 10 years




How on earth was that 10 years ago? That's gone bloody quick

Gone frighteningly quick! Would have loved to seen how we would have
done in the Premier League under Dave Jones.

[goats]

I never seen that game on tv....couldn’t face it at the time and then forgot about it. Was it a noisy one I can’t recall. Blackpool fans only had one chant if I recall? Probably because most of them followed other clubs and were just there for the day out

[bluesp]

I never seen that game on tv....couldn’t face it at the time and then forgot about it. Was it a noisy one I can’t recall. Blackpool fans only had one chant if I recall? Probably because most of them followed other clubs and were just there for the day out

It’s the semi not the final they were showing

[The Lone Gunman]

That was great entertainment. A brilliant contest, really exciting stuff.

There was so much I'd forgotten about that game - the fact that both of City's goals should have been ruled out for offside, Hudson's horrible own goal, the superb efforts from Bothroyd and Whittingham that both crashed against the bar, Marshall almost gifting the game to Leicester in the dying moments of normal time, his brilliant save from Howard in extra time, the fact it was Waghorn who missed the final penalty, not Kermogant, etc.

Some of the football City played in that game, particularly during the first half, was just sensational. Has a City team ever looked as good as that in an attacking sense during the decade that has passed since?

The midfield and attacking line-up that day was:

Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley and Burke across the midfield; Bothroyd and Chopra up front.

The top scorers that season (including the play-off games) were Whittingham (22), Chopra (18), Bothroyd (11) and Burke (9).

The obvious problem was a lack of strength in depth. McCormack was a decent option and Rae certainly did a job, but the squad was very light apart from them and the defence wasn't especially reliable.

[Hilts]

The problem was a midfield 2 which could be overwhelmed and a 442 highly reliant on Jay Bothroyd as we always had the hit it to him option when our central midfield couldn't get in the game.

All exploited in the final.

To think that Kelvin feckin Etuhu came on and not McCormack for Bothroyd just sums Dave Jones his 442 and big man little man attack.

[NYCBlue]

The problem was a midfield 2 which could be overwhelmed and a 442 highly reliant on Jay Bothroyd as we always had the hit it to him option when our central midfield couldn't get in the game.

All exploited in the final.

To think that Kelvin feckin Etuhu came on and not McCormack for Bothroyd just sums Dave Jones his 442 and big man little man attack.

Also, let's not forget that we lost 3-2 at home to Leicester. And we finished 4th losing 14 games, 15 points from automatic promotion. But yes, it was a good team and the football was entertaining.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

That was great entertainment. A brilliant contest, really exciting stuff.

There was so much I'd forgotten about that game - the fact that both of City's goals should have been ruled out for offside, Hudson's horrible own goal, the superb efforts from Bothroyd and Whittingham that both crashed against the bar, Marshall almost gifting the game to Leicester in the dying moments of normal time, his brilliant save from Howard in extra time, the fact it was Waghorn who missed the final penalty, not Kermogant, etc.

Some of the football City played in that game, particularly during the first half, was just sensational. Has a City team ever looked as good as that in an attacking sense during the decade that has passed since?

The midfield and attacking line-up that day was:

Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley and Burke across the midfield; Bothroyd and Chopra up front.

The top scorers that season (including the play-off games) were Whittingham (22), Chopra (18), Bothroyd (11) and Burke (9).

The obvious problem was a lack of strength in depth. McCormack was a decent option and Rae certainly did a job, but the squad was very light apart from them and the defence wasn't especially reliable.

That's an interesting observation. That midfield wouldn't last 5 minutes in the Championship nowadays, very lightweight but excellent technically. Jones usually went with one battler in the middle, like Rae, Olofinjana etc.

In terms of personnel, I thought our defence was regularly one of the better ones in the division. That midfield 4 was never going to offer much assistance in a defensive way. Given Jones was a centre back in his playing days I'm surprised we did look capable of conceding as many as we did. To my surprise, Russell Slade's only full season in charge saw us with a better defensive record than any season under Jones. I know what side I'd rather watch, but its talent was offset by that fragility.

[The Lone Gunman]

That's an interesting observation. That midfield wouldn't last 5 minutes in the Championship nowadays, very lightweight but excellent technically.

So, assuming everybody's fit and at the top of their form, who in City's current team would you put in the midfield ahead of Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley and Burke?

[City123]

That's an interesting observation. That midfield wouldn't last 5 minutes in the Championship nowadays, very lightweight but excellent technically. Jones usually went with one battler in the middle, like Rae, Olofinjana etc.

In terms of personnel, I thought our defence was regularly one of the better ones in the division. That midfield 4 was never going to offer much assistance in a defensive way. Given Jones was a centre back in his playing days I'm surprised we did look capable of conceding as many as we did. To my surprise, Russell Slade's only full season in charge saw us with a better defensive record than any season under Jones. I know what side I'd rather watch, but its talent was offset by that fragility.

The individual ability of our defence was never the issue it was always the way we were set up. That season we had Hudson, Gyepes and Gerrad as centre back options and Quinn, McNaughton, Capaldi, Blake and Matthews at full back, the problem was always Jones' inflexibility which was laid bare in the playoff final when he brought on Etuhu for the injured Bothroyd. Beyond McPhail and Whittingham only Rae could really do a job in midfield and the only midfielder on the bench in the final was Aaron Wildig!

I think if we'd had a player like Gunnarsson at that time we'd have gone up

[The Lone Gunman]

The individual ability of our defence was never the issue it was always the way we were set up.

I think injuries were also an issue in defensive terms.

If you look at the central defensive appearances list for that season, Gerrard led the way with 39 appearances. Hudson was next with 26, then Gypes with 16, while the central defensive partnership for all of the play-off games was Hudson and Blake. It was mentioned in commentary that Hudson had recently returned from a lengthy injury spell.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

So, assuming everybody's fit and at the top of their form, who in City's current team would you put in the midfield ahead of Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley and Burke?

Hoilett instead of Burke. Better scorer and creator and better defensively as well. Maybe Vaulks or Bacuna instead of Ledley, not that either are better players than Ledley was back then. It's not as easy as just saying is x better than y - it's about having the right blend and balance. Arguably our best midfield under Jones was the Scimeca/McPhail partnership, when Scimeca went on an amazing run of form as a box to box midfielder, putting in the effort to help McPhail be able to use his superb left foot to spray passes about.

Ledley was quite an adventurous midfielder with a good touch when he was a youngster, but he wasn't the strongest. The Joe Ledley that played in Euro 2016 was a completely different midfielder, one who had become more of a battler, would run all day but didn't venture forward often.

[Hilts]

So, assuming everybody's fit and at the top of their form, who in City's current team would you put in the midfield ahead of Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley and Burke?

I wouldnt have a 2 man central midfield.

However if forced to I would without doubt put Ralls in for Mcphail.

Id also prefer Bacuna and Vaulks before Mcphail.

Hoillet at his best is a better footballer than Burke.

[The Lone Gunman]

Hoilett instead of Burke. Better scorer and creator and better defensively as well.

Overall I might agree with you, but the Burke of 2009/10 was just a bit better than anything I've seen of Hoilett over a period of time. Certainly more consistent. I'd say the Burke of 2009/10 and the Hoilett of 2017/18 would be pretty hard to split.

[The Lone Gunman]

However if forced to I would without doubt put Ralls in for Mcphail.

Id also prefer Bacuna and Vaulks before Mcphail.

I find that genuinely incredible.

[life on mars]

Hoilett instead of Burke. Better scorer and creator and better defensively as well. Maybe Vaulks or Bacuna instead of Ledley, not that either are better players than Ledley was back then. It's not as easy as just saying is x better than y - it's about having the right blend and balance. Arguably our best midfield under Jones was the Scimeca/McPhail partnership, when Scimeca went on an amazing run of form as a box to box midfielder, putting in the effort to help McPhail be able to use his superb left foot to spray passes about.

Ledley was quite an adventurous midfielder with a good touch when he was a youngster, but he wasn't the strongest. The Joe Ledley that played in Euro 2016 was a completely different midfielder, one who had become more of a battler, would run all day but didn't venture forward often.

I agree the Scimeca/McPhail partnership was very effective both skilled individuals, definitely Holiet much rounded player than Burke ,I always thought Ledley was overrated .

[billy.ronson]

I find that genuinely incredible.

Me too !

[goats]

That was great entertainment. A brilliant contest, really exciting stuff.

There was so much I'd forgotten about that game - the fact that both of City's goals should have been ruled out for offside, Hudson's horrible own goal, the superb efforts from Bothroyd and Whittingham that both crashed against the bar, Marshall almost gifting the game to Leicester in the dying moments of normal time, his brilliant save from Howard in extra time, the fact it was Waghorn who missed the final penalty, not Kermogant, etc.

Some of the football City played in that game, particularly during the first half, was just sensational. Has a City team ever looked as good as that in an attacking sense during the decade that has passed since?

The midfield and attacking line-up that day was:

Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley and Burke across the midfield; Bothroyd and Chopra up front.

The top scorers that season (including the play-off games) were Whittingham (22), Chopra (18), Bothroyd (11) and Burke (9).

The obvious problem was a lack of strength in depth. McCormack was a decent option and Rae certainly did a job, but the squad was very light apart from them and the defence wasn't especially reliable.

As talented as that midfield were, they were also quite lightweight, we needed an enforcer type (I know we had gavin rae)
But I mean a proper one a bit like kav or gunners. DJ always seemed to have a really good starting 11, a few injuries and we were done.

[Bobby Dandruff]

Some of the football being played by us in this game is as good or better than anything we've played in the following 10 years




How on earth was that 10 years ago? That's gone bloody quick

It is hard to believe isn't it, and puts the absolutely awful 'style' of football that we have been playing for the last few years into stark contrast?

[Hilts]

I think injuries were also an issue in defensive terms.

If you look at the central defensive appearances list for that season, Gerrard led the way with 39 appearances. Hudson was next with 26, then Gypes with 16, while the central defensive partnership for all of the play-off games was Hudson and Blake. It was mentioned in commentary that Hudson had recently returned from a lengthy injury spell.

Im pretty sure Gerrard was out injured and Hudson who had been injured came back in.

He didnt have the best of games.

[mrbluejay]

Me too !

Me as well, it still astounds me how little credit/recognition McPhail gets, he was an outstanding footballer.

[dandywarhol]

So, assuming everybody's fit and at the top of their form, who in City's current team would you put in the midfield ahead of Whittingham, McPhail, Ledley and Burke?

If Ricky Scimeca had stayed I believe Jones would have got s over the line. He was quality..

[NYCBlue]

I wouldnt have a 2 man central midfield.

However if forced to I would without doubt put Ralls in for Mcphail.

Id also prefer Bacuna and Vaulks before Mcphail.

Hoillet at his best is a better footballer than Burke.

When Burke is at his worst? Or does he get to be at his best too?