[Thurnscoe_OWL]

Our subs were never going to make the impact of theirs but the Nuhiu one was puzzling. He won EVERYTHING today. The goal at Wigan has obviously helped his confidence because he looks to be getting back to his early season form

[St Charles Owl]

True, its not bad when you can bring on Da Silva and Nasri as subs!!! Still as SG said in his post match comments, they had to bring on their best players to turn the game around, so again kudos to us for making one of the best teams have to play their best players to beat us!!

I never expected our subs to make that sort of impact but I hoped they would get stuck in more like May and Nuhiu did!! Bringing off the front two was a move for the league games coming up, they were both tired when replaced!!

[Statesideowl]

We missed May when he went off, Maguire was his usual self. Nuhui was outstanding today, City couldn't cope with him at times..

For me Kirkland really screwed up on the first goal, he's over 6ft and failed to close down what was already a narrow angle at his near post, legs should have been closed with open palms at the side of his knees, bent. They put one through his legs last time, he learns nothing. He did make a good save later in the game, but the damage was done.

City just have far too much quality at their disposal, I'm happy with the result despite the loss.

[madsteve]

Proud out the team today.

Full Report tomorrow.

---

Knobody won the wank prediction thing    and knowbody got the correct score & scorer for a    i beg off you please Mr Maddix drop this wank prediction thing and put something in someone might win ? this is not THE SOUTHWALES PREDICTION LEAGUE FFS    and a MASSIVE THANKS to owlskev for the Facup thread   i would give it to him next season WHAT SAY YOU    It was much better than the threads that the old tranny pulled out and nearly fcuked our season up    i wouldnt let the old Bastard near a thread again                                                            infact id ban the c unt if i was charlie  

Heres Canadas latest pin up  

Maybe the prediction thing should be one for getting four correct and three for getting all five.

[BBB]

Now that was bad luck today - beaten in the 88th minute.

And you do make me smile Imre

BBB

[madsteve]

Relief & Pride

Relief that we didn't get humiliated again & pride at the way we battled and that we took Man City, the reigning PL Champions all the way to such a degree that they never led within the 90 minutes.

We started brightly and City looked lethargic. We kept it tight and took our first chance when it came. May made an excellent run down the right and cut it back perfectly for Nuhui, who struck the ball sweetly into the corner.

Now the real battle was on because poking a lion in the eye isn't always a good idea. The backlash just didn't happen. We kept our shape well and closed down space effectively so that by half time, Kirkland hadn't had a save to make.

City tried to up the pace in the second half but we continued to match them up, forcing them to bring on Silva & Nasri. The additional quality finally worked when Milner was sent clear on the left side of the box and cleverly slotted the ball between Kirkland's legs.

At this point, we could have buckled but we didn't. We continued to fight although limbs were starting to get heavy. Nuhui & May were replaced by Lavery & Maguire. Palmer had a half chance from a narrow angle but it was mainly City pressure. For all their pressure, Kirkland only had to make two saves of note before Milner stole the victory in injury time by forcing the ball home from close range.

Kirkland - 6 - did what he had to do competently
Palmer - 7 - worked himself into the ground
Lees - 7 - solid & dependable
Loovens - 8 - a real captains performance, outstanding
Dielna - 7 - touch of class, got forward well in circumstances
Maghoma - 7 - worked hard, good on break
Semedo - 7 - tower of strength against Toure
Lee - 7 - signs of last season's form
Helan - 7 - worked hard for the team
May - 7 - kept making runs & chased back well
Nuhui - 7 - cool finish
...........................................................
Lavery - 6 - created chance for Palmer
Maguire 5 - off the pace

There are several positives here. Firstly, we didn't take another beating that could have killed our season completely. Secondly, we exorcised the ghosts of the LC tie by being within a moment of winning the tie until injury time. Thirdly, we scored a goal against the PL champions, which should do wonders for our confidence. Fourthly, we didn't buckle when they equalised which was our problem last time; once City scored, we fell apart. I think having Loovens this time made a difference. We had a leader on the pitch, who held everyone together. Fifthly, we had a plan this time. In the LC, SG compromised by playing half a first team with a few fringe players. This time, he played his strongest eleven. Finally, the fans were immense again. If we could just get this level of support at home, we would be very close to the Playoffs.

I think this sets us up nicely for the forthcoming games. Fixtures against Forest, Bolton, Birmingham & Reading are perfect because they are all winnable and should allow us to build on the confidence gained yesterday.

Just a few final thoughts.

I was surprised at some of the ill informed criticism of Kirkland by one fan, who suggested he should have kept his legs together. Keepers are taught to spread their legs because it gives them better balance, a greater spring potential and gives the striker a smaller target to aim at. Sometimes the ball goes between the keeper's legs but this is more than counterbalance by the number of blocks they make by adopting this technique.

What was the aim for us yesterday?

Was it to win, to avoid defeat, get some credibility back or to run City mighty close?

I would suggest that the real aim was to get some credibility back with the secondary aim of running City close. In which case, yesterday was a wholehearted success.

If you think the aim was to win or to avoid defeat then we failed, just.

I would argue that it was the former and yesterday was a success. In fact there were clues with SG's substitutions. The removal of May & Nuhui suggested that SG thought the job had been done and there were more important tasks ahead for these two. Fresh legs are always useful when there is a lot of defending to be done but May & Nuhui were acquitting themselves well and Lavery & Maguire are inferior players at the moment.

When he reflects, I don't think SG will be too disappointed at losing in these circumstances. We have a clear fixture list with the minimum of midweek matches to play. The Birmingham match will be moved as they reached Round Four but we can use this performance as a springboard.

[Southeyowl]

Sorry all, think the defeat was my fault! I logged in just before they equalised! the other team always seem to score when I join the matchday thread during a game!

I will stay well away on Saturday!

Sorry!

[Statesideowl]

MS!
I somewhat agree with you about Keepers and their stance. However, in this instance, from a narrow angle at his near post, opening his legs created a larger target of opportunity imo.

Had it been straight at him from the face of the goal your method would be spot on.

[madsteve]

MS!
I somewhat agree with you about Keepers and their stance. However, in this instance, from a narrow angle at his near post, opening his legs created a larger target of opportunity imo.

Had it been straight at him from the face of the goal your method would be spot on.  

It is what all keepers are coached to do & also basic maths.

If you assume that if the ball hits any part of your leg (not strictly true) then it doesn't go in, by ensuring that your legs are at least a balls width apart, you make the target smaller. The experts say the feet should be 1.5 to 2 ball diameters apart.

[Thurnscoe_OWL]

I think Kirkland did nothing wrong with either goals, he was looking as good as he was when he first joined us