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Wednesday 1 March 2017

FA Cup Dream Dies

Well that's that, the FA Cup dream died tonight away at Manchester City, and in truth, who really cares? I for one, certainly don't mind too much at all. With the team that City put out, and the team that we put out, there was only going to be one winner tonight.

Fantastic play by Billing in the first half ended with Harry Bunn sending a squirming shot through the legs of Claudio Bravo, that was six minutes in, and I must admit, it felt 'BUNN-tastic' (sorry, I couldn't help it!). I was dancing around the living room at this point, high on the drug that is the Wagner revolution. I dared to dream, to believe.

Within ten minutes however the reality set in, Manchester City are a fantastic team and after all this is our second string. Cranie looked shaken, caught out of position at times, Lolley looked clumsy, Stankovic, well the less said the better really.

The Citizens began to stamp their authority on the game, within eight crazy minutes a combination of terrible defending, lack of composure and quality play by the opposition had seen the scoreline change to 1-3, and then the game was over. It was a matter of damage limitation.

In the second half I was calling for the introduction of Hefele, but Wagner stuck to his plan and kept his team the same after the break. City slipped from fifth gear back into third, they held us at bay and controlled the game for 20 minutes. Yes there were chances, and Lolley should really have scored but the Citizens displayed some great game management.

Hogg, Smith and Van La Parra were all introduced as the second half wore on, largely to add some solidity to the team and try and keep the score down. There were two more goals for City and a glaring miss from Collin Quaner. As soon as the fifth went in, the referee rather kindly blew the full-time whistle, and the game finished 1-5.

Now, here's 4 things that we learnt from this evenings game;

1) Stankovic Isn't Ready

A rather unsurprising point if you follow me on twitter (@terrierblog btw). The 21 year-old Slovenian has given Town fans many hairy moments this season when he's played and tonight was no different. Miss-placed passes, poor positioning, weak challenges and silly decisions summed up his game. He was punished for nearly every mistake he made tonight. The one bonus is that for all of his misgivings tonight, they are avoidable and can be worked on, he has natural ability and with more time under Wagner he could well turn into a decent centre-back.

2) Billing Is Budding

Whilst Danny Murphy waxed lyrical about the Dane, to me, he confirmed something that he has been showing us all in the absence of Hogg. He is an excellent player, and he's maturing fantastically with his tactical awareness and positional play. Cutting out dangerous balls, mopping up loose passes and then, offensively playing defence-splitting passes. This boy is on his way to something very special, whether it is with us or not, he will play at the top-level.

3) Middling Quaner

I think we all want to love Collin Quaner and get thoroughly behind him, but whilst we do I think we also have to accept his limitations. Whilst he's energetic, powerful and a real presence, to me there are three key limitations to his game;

  • His Gait: Collin's running style, wide, limbering legs, hunched shoulder and head down really do limit his effectiveness, often leading him into blind alleys and meaning he falls short of a through ball.
  • His Composure: With almost every chance that has been presented to him in his short time with us, he has chosen the wrong option. Whether that's not hitting it first time against Leeds, taking an extra touch at Oakwell or getting under the ball tonight, he just doesn't seem to have that natural ability to adapt his finishing.
  • Hesistancy: No matter if it's a shooting chance, a pass or a chance to run at a defender, his brain seems to work one freeze frame behind the rest. The ball comes to him in the box rather than the other way round, a gap will appear and he'll race into it once it's gone.
Yes, these are things that can be learned and worked on, but it strikes me that he just misses that natural air and confidence to his game. He has something to bring to the team and can help us going forward, but he is some way of Wells.

4) The League Is All-Important

Whilst it's nice to be on the television and receive all the praise from the pundits and the media for pushing City all the way or pulling of an upset, it doesn't mean zilch in the grand scheme of things. Promotion is the only thing on our agenda, and if we beat Newcastle on Saturday, or achieve promotion in May no-body will give a Witch's tit about the result of this game. That's how it should be, yes it feels strange, as in recent years we'd have gone bonkers if we'd played our second string in a game like this, but it's right. We need all of our players fit, fresh and ready for the weekend.

Until next time UTT.


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