Wiseman & McNulty

Hassell is the best centre - back on the books but Hill will never see this.

Royal, I'm glad someone else has finally seen this. I've been saying since last season that the two were garbage, but ar Keef just keeps picking them.

In his after match comments he again says its down to individual errors... Yes Keith, YOURS.. Stop picking these two.!!!!

Totally agree,never have liked McNulty and cannot see why he plays Wiseman who is slightly better but still not good enough, Should be Hassle and either Cranie, Foster or Edwards cant see why he is out on loan when we have so called centre halfs playing,not 1 of them yesterday won a header whilst defending or up front
it needs changing as we all can see

For me, position-wise in open play they are ok and can pass the ball around quite well.

However it is not unfair to say that they are, for central defenders, weak as p--s, and the two goals we conceded yesterday were both due to them being overpowered and not marking their men properly. They also got bullied off the ball a number of times and presented Cardiff with opportunities to kill the game for good, which our man of Steele prevented (only to see the same defenders let him down again from the corners that followed). Conceding any goal from a set piece is poor, but TWO in the same game is unacceptable and embarrassing. Every man and their dog knows Peter Whittingham has probably the best delivery in the league, so why we allowed their men time and space from his corners I don't know.

We need someone who isn't afraid to put in a challenge and will not just constantly back off and let the opposition put crosses and shots in at their leisure. Oh wait, we do, he's called Bobby Hassell. I remember we were trying to sign Ibrahima Sonko in the summer, who isn't the fastest, but wouldn't get bullied off the ball in any situation. We need strength and commitment at the back, which I'm afraid Wiseman and McNulty don't seem to have. And until that gets sorted, we are going to continue to gift other teams stupid goals and give ourselves an uphill battle which we won't win (no wins from behind in Hill's entire tenure says as much about the bottle of the players as it does the manager).

Speaking of which, I do like Hill and am generally an optimist, but I honestly feel that if we don't start winning soon he will be gone before Christmas. Our season starts on Tuesday night with 3 points against Burnley, if we lose, I can't see Hill staying much longer. Essay over.

In agreement with Jamestyke about Hill, I like the way he wants us to play and appreciate the personnel/funds we have limits our progress, but this last week has left me bewildered. All the players he's brought in look to be ok signings, we now have two midfields, great! but still (and it's been over a year now) no defence. We looked a little better moving Wiseman out to right back, I'd suggest though a spot on the bench would be more suitable. He bought Wiseman and Mcnulty to the club and seems determined to play them rather than admit they are utter gash at this level. How Wiseman got to be Captain still eludes me.
Foster's presence in the team meant you never knew if he have one of his off days and cost us, but mostly he was steady. Nothing flash, couldn't pass, but steady. Wiseman and Mcnulty drop a clanger every week. Either not winning headers, getting out of position or literally passing to the other team. If we persist with these two we will fail. Clean sheets are key, but I wouldn't put any money on us keeping one the rest of the season unless the defence is overhauled, and fast. I mean it isn't like we're going to outscore anybody in a goalfest is it?

In principle I agree, there was a world of difference when Cranie moved to CB, we had a player who could win the ball in the air and hold off attackers.

Also regarding Cranie's calamitous backheel I was furious with him, but thinking about it clearly he was so panicked about giving away a corner that he made a bad decision. Besides we conceded from the following corner anyway.

Wiseman and McNulty are not versatile enough to play at CB. Against teams who pass and move the ball they can manage but against set plays and hoofers they can't compete in the air.

The obvious choice for me is Cranie and Foster, but I don't know how fit Foster is, apparently he is having injections to play, so I am not sure how he is. But I also can't see how Collins and Edwards are any worse than Wiseman and McNulty.

Agree with much of what you say, Gherk, 2 poor goals Saturday, but a hysterical reaction from some. Our main problem this season has been in scoring goals, but we have looked vulnerable defensively at times.

I'm not sure what the answer is, Foster and Edwards are probably the best in the air, but both are very slow and if not fully fit even less mobile. I don't know what the problem is with Collins but the staff see him in training and don't see him as an option.

At the moment, Cranie with McNulty or Wiseman seems the best option (I'm leaving Hassell out because I don't believe he's fully fit either) and we can't get anyone else until January, unless we can find someone out of contract.

We're in a very dangerous position but still 5th from bottom, this is not the time to panic. There may be someone out there who could do a better job, who knows? but it would be mad to take that gamble just yet.

KH and DF are still a better bet to keep us up than anyone else we are likely to get. Whinging I'm afraid will get us nowhere, we need to get behind them!

There were signs in the second half which make me optimistic that we can improve our results by January! COYR.

Can't disagree with any of the foregoing comments unfortunately.
I remember the New Year game at Donny last season when Sharp easily muscled McNulty off a ball he was favourite for and that cost us a goal and that game. Everyone in the ground could see what Sharp was going to do except McNulty and there's been no improvement in his game since then.

Not a believer in playing players out of position like Wiseman. You get away with it at times but like others have said, at key moments in games they're exploited by good players/teams and or tactics like in the Peterborough game and the points have gone.

I like Hill but it worries me a bit that he doesn't see what appears obvious to many other people e.g. don't know anyone who can understand why we didn't take the money for Matt Done. Might have been able to buy a cb if we had!