Teddeer

A good example of McCarthy's lack of communication was when Salisu got caught dawdling on the ball facing his own goal in the second half, Fernandinho robbed him and City should have scored. Ok, Salisu was to blame but there appeared to be no warning shout from McCarthy unless he is a very good ventriloquist. Big Fraser would have been bellowing at him, 'Man on, get rid!'

Glad someone said it.

Sweeping generalisations like 'I wish he wouldn't come off a 5-2 defeat and say he was happy how we played' That is a generalisation because it omits the fact that Ralph also mentioned the parts of the game he wasn't happy with.

Sensible post.

Good use of sweeping generalisations. Clearly Ralph wasn't happy about every aspect of the game and he said so in interviews. Still, that doesn't suit the agenda of the anti-Ralph brigade on here.

Not what Pep said after the game.

Well said!

And we gave other teams more of a game than some other teams. So what? It proves diddly-squat.

Pep was very complimentary about Ralph and the way we played last night.

This will be a tough game. Brighton have been playing some very good football but let down by their finishing. They will create chances so we will need to be on it from the first whistle. I'm expecting us to win but it will be by no means a walk in the park.

Maybe factor in that every one of their starting line up was better than our's plus their entire bench plus other squad members would walk straight into our team.

Thought he gave away their 2nd goal.

Against Brighton Salisu won't play left back and we'll have KWP at right back.

I wouldn't say it feels like a hollow victory because it was only 5-2. We played our part in a very entertaining game of football and it is no disgrace to lose to Man City. Ralph rested a few players to save them for the more important game against Brighton. Had he not done so and the likes of KWP or Diallo had picked up injuries he'd have been slaughtered. With what we had on the pitch we did ok and maybe all the luck went their way with two rebounds off bar and post that fell perfectly for their forwards to score. If our squad cost what their's did I'd be livid at losing 5-2 but we have to accept that their entire bench would walk into our team.

I don't tend to listen to Souness if I can help it. He lost all credibility when he signed Ali Dia.

Check and compare the values of the two squads before flaming fans who are slightly more realistic.

Quite enjoyed that as a football spectacle but obviously not the result. Considering we gift-wrapped at least two of their goals overall we were ok especially when you look at having Salisu at left back. He's taken a lot of stick but let's cut him some slack playing out of position against Mahrez who is arguably the best in the league out wide. We played lots of good football and certainly looked more balanced when Diallo came on. Shame JWP couldn't treat us to one of his free-kick specials but thought he played very well.

Played well but sadly that huge blunder from Adams changed the course of the game. City look as though they have another gear so let's hope they go easy on us second half. Generally pleased with our play and we did cause them problems.

Interesting eleven and let's wait to see how Ralph has them set up. Can't see us scoring but let's see what happens. Could be any score this game.

Aren't those the perfect conditions for our 9-0 defeats 🤣

The idea is not for him to hold it up it's to bang it over their defenders' heads and let him chase it and get them turned. If you try playing tippy-tappy possession football against these they'll murder you. Keep Tella up top permanently, don't ask him to chase back and their defenders will be less inclined to leave their posts and go strolling into our half whenever they feel like it.

Looking at this fixture as a realist, let's be honest, their entire bench would probably walk straight into our strongest eleven.

Wouldn't bother playing 2 up front for this game. Let Tella be the lone front man. We'll need all the bodies we can muster in midfield and defence. There will be little or no supply to our attack so no point playing two up top.

West Ham gave Leeds a bit of a chasing in that first half. 2-0 and it could have been more.

Hughes managed 8 points in our final 8 games of that season. In the previous 8 games we also amassed 8 points so I'd hardly describe that as 'doing a great job.' He basically maintained the status quo at the time of his appointment.