At times we are pushing both fullbacks forward to do the job they excel at, but everytime we turn it over cheaply and the oppo counter it's leaving gaps because we aren't closing down like we have and/or the gaps we are leaving sides have learned to hit instinctively. This has had a knock on effect, the FB's aint pushing up like they did (starving us that bit more going forward) because they're trying to bail out the CB's and DCM's with an easy out ball.
I see the reason to your dropping Barry in to CB like Carrick, great passer, great vision, calm that faltering back line down. But he aint got the legs, the CB's with him are in disarray now with him second guessing them as we are. I am not against 4-1-4-1 obviously McCarthy where Matic plays, Barkley and Besic the centre two (but Bes has to stop the slides!!!) Mirallas is right footed, give him right wing, Pienaar is goosed I think (comfortable!) so left flank is up for grabs, Oviedo, Baines and Garbutt can work through it - we have seen good deliveries from corners and FK's by Garb. Agreed McCarthy has been a shining light in a dark season so far. The issue for me with the system is the lack of pragmatism, keeping possession until the ball is worked to our keeper is conceding ground for the sake of what? Keeper hoofs it and we chance our arm, but we aint got Cahill, and Ferguson and Fellaini dominating the aerial battles.
Our set pieces aint great (the comms today say we've scored more from set plays than anyone else) (him from breaking bad must have sorted them their pre game drinks) the thing about us arsing about with the ball is that we are not pressuring the oppo's back line fast enough to force mistakes like they are forcing from us. The prem is fast, and for my money last season was built on the defensive minded rigidity of a Moyes drilled side that utterly hated shipping goals. The longer its gone the further we've gone from it. I honestly dont think any but 3 sides in the PL can afford the best of the best in terms of CB's so an athletic footballing brain great distributing leader type for CB is utterly beyond pie in the sky hope. We are lucky to have Stones on the books.
It's flawed at Goodison, it's failing. The oppo pushes the striker up and crowds him knowing no long ball is being hit, they flood midfield cutting out the easy ball from defence and wait for the possession to be turned over - when it aint, close the player with the ball down, and backwards it goes to Howard again. Sticking to this system so rigidly is killing the players we have, they hate it because its a waiting game to concede. Confidence killer? Confidence annihilator!
Agreed 100%, expecting amazing performances from a set of players not capable is madness. JagiDistin or Alcielka however the hate is doled out, they cant compensate for a midfield not able to shake its markers, so they work it sideways until its to Howard. Hoof!
For me, City disliked Mancini an awful lot, and the fallout at Man Utd last season was more of the same player mided stuff, City didn't play in that cup final. Player power at its worst.
"but for now we need to take a step or two backwards and just be solid." I have used very very close to these exact words. Martinez needs to arrest the slump, and get it done sharpish. Bloody minded sticking to his system is ruining the players, sinking the club and ruining his reputation. It's also upsetting the support.
Got MOTD on, pleased for Spurs, haha Jose.
So far as we go, there is no fear factor anymore, it looks like discipline has been lost, so many BS stories floating around and players being lined up for the gallows. Give the players a game they are comfortable with and can give it a go with, stretching them should be the opposition managers game not our own.