Great to be back at City yesterday. Great to see a crowd of 21k turn up after a tumultuous pre-season. Really is still a glorious ground when full of black and amber.
This was my first taste of Walterball after ignoring all of pre-season. I thought there were promising elements. The pressing and attempts to cause the "chaos" worked well and created chances. The fitness of the likes of Mehlem, Slater and Abdus, who barely stopped moving was impressive. Abdus is a wonderful player. I'd love to see us getting him involved more.
It was intriguing to see the positions been taken up when we had the ball. McLoughlin became an extra midfielder almost every time we had the ball, and then explore up the left wing too. Mehlem would drop to left back in possession, while Jacob would set off inside. I lost count of the number of times I heard "Why is .... there?"
The zonal marking, with two near post, three and then three (or four if the short corner isn't taken) was interesting too. It'll need to be, as we look a small team. I've attached a pic of the set up.
I like Simons. He's a good footballer. He keeps things ticking over and sensed danger around the box. It was interesting that he wasn't asked to drop and receive the ball like Seri does. He stayed higher and left that space for the full backs or left backs to come inside.
That was the biggest negative. Whenever we had a goal kick, or just gained possession near our box, we looked absolutely atrocious. The triangle on the left of Giles, McLoughlin and Jacob needs a major upgrade. They must have lost the ball ten times between them in incredibly dangerous positions. Luckily, Bristol were pants. I like Jacob, he's another great lad from our academy, and he made some good challenges but he didn't want half the passes he was given in tight spaces and he was constantly caught out by making the runs asked only for us to cough up the ball. McLoughlin, for all some know alls liked to argue a couple of seasons ago, is miles and miles off Jacob Greaves. Hopefully the Man City kid is the real deal.
I've heard some negative stuff about Pandur but I thought he did a decent job. As a keeper, anyway. He's not a footballer and contributed to the nerves whenever we had the ball. I noted it was 2:02 in the clock when we had our first crowd unrest about playing in our own box. There were boos within the half. I've no idea how anyone thinks that will help. Seems like the equivalent of solving immigration by looting Greggs.
The stalwarts Jones and Coyle were rock steady, though not exempt from giving up possession. Oscar did a good job, while he's here, and was important to defending set pieces. Millar looks like he'll excite and frustrate in equal measure. Jarvis had an exciting introduction but still needs to get to grips with the strength and pace of the Championship.
A reasonable start, I thought. We were just about worth the point. We certainly had the best openings. I was simultaneously shocked that we didn't get hammered and we weren't 3-0 up. The whole of pre-season has reminded me of Slutsky's introduction to the club. This game did too. I think we might be in for a crazy season.
