Everybody can have a bad day at the office. Everyone’s done something stupid in front of their boss; Alex Ferguson lost 6-1 to Man City. Haven’t we all ended up on the front pages of the Tabloids after a long night at a wedding or been knocked out by Phil Bardsley in their Kitchen?
Or is that just Wayne Rooney?
That’s what it felt like on Saturday for me, a bad day at the office. That long train back from not so sunny south end, I’m sure like everyone, brought the inner philosopher out from inside and tried to cast perspective upon the afternoon’s events. A strong city side with such talent, momentum and potential were outplayed in every part of the pitch. Every team has games like this and we are no different.
The pendulum of public opinion used to swing abruptly under Parkinson. The undoubted success that he brought to the club I think paved over the cracks of what was sometimes quite drab football and negative tactics in tandem with some quite poor performances. I think everyone knew this and there never seemed to be a plan b. After some home defeats especially, people would be screaming for his head like a mob, until we won against the odds and he was hailed as a messiah.
What makes this McCall reign different is that everybody is more accepting in a loss because we are, usually, entertained and there is always good attacking intent. The criticism here I would make, though, is that when we have to go plan b, I don’t feel like it is executed as well as it could. If we’re going to go up to Hanson, let’s fully commit to it. It was clear that we couldn’t play our natural game against a strong South end. There was a spell in the second half, before the third goal went in, where we were getting bodies around him and really threatening the goal but in the grand scheme of the game this wasn’t the case. At times in the first half it did feel like watching a team without direction or a clear plan. There was possession football at the back but then also hopeful balls up to an isolated Hanson with nothing in-between.
I understand we are 4th in the table and have been flying this year so we can’t get carried away on one result; but then again there will be times this year where we need to execute the plan b more effectively so we can’t rest on our laurels.
In my opinion, to play the style of football we want to, and have been, this year we need to have that link player between the midfield and attack, I.e. Billy Clarke. A player who does seem to divide opinion but who is so crucial tactically. On Saturday it felt like we were missing a player. Unless the chemistry between Hanson and the other striker is seamless then the latter player can get lost. Something I think McNulty and Hiwula suffered Saturday. We needed a no10 to drop off into space and act as the link.
There seems to be an opinion that we need a new striker in January. This isn’t wrong. It would be great to get that fabled “15 goal man” but it isn’t always possible. We have done ok without “him” so far but where I think the real gap is, is cover for Billy Clarke. The infuriating thing about this situation is that we had him – Billy Knott – and for me Parkinson’s most frustrating legacy was letting him go; imagine if we’d have lost Marshall too… but let’s not mention Josh Morris. Oops!
This is where we ask the question, where are we now?
Before I have to put my tin hat on lets clarify a few things. WE ARE fourth in the table and looking good this year and this article could be seen as ‘nit picking’ but there is always more you can do to improve a team.
The bigger picture does suggest we can do well this year and we are on a trajectory to do so. We have ‘r’ Stuart at the helm who is improving players and we have owners who are in it for the long hall with a clear plan of youth development and attacking football. Two of our stand out players this year, to only mention two, have been Law and Devine. Devine maybe more so at the start of the season but its more what he represents. Here are two players that no one would have really pictured as playing so well this year. Law at times seems on another level to everyone on the pitch, gliding around like he’s on ice stakes, and Devine is the personification of the fact that we have a pathway for good youth players into the first team. McCall’s ability to get the best out of Law and blood players like Devine can only be good for the future.
We have a solid core to the team this year with competition all over the pitch. There will be decisions to make in January regarding Vuckic and McNulty but I think we, as a club, are organised enough to deal with this and do what’s needed.
I’m really enjoying watching City this year. When you’re going to see them you really don’t know what to expect but you definitely know you’re going to be entertained. The team can look like world beaters at times and on our day we can’t just mix it with the best in this league; we certainly can look the best.
Onwards and upwards!
