Preston ends unbeaten home record
Pearson and City not at their best

THE CUNNING FOX, 27.09.2009

City had to leave the Walkers Stadium, for the first time in year, defeated. City are 10th in the table and in reach of a play-off position after 9 games. If this was what we had known before the season kicked off we would all have been pleased.

Nigel Pearson said in the press conference that he thought City had lost three points to a better side, and that was probably excactly what happened. The stats from the game tells a story of a tight battle and that City could have managed to get a draw.

The pleasing point must be that Bruno Berner scored his first goal of the season and that in a way it is good that more players than Matty Fryatt and Dany N'Guessan gets on the scoresheet.

The problem at the moment is the uncertainty of Pearson's team selections and the rotation of players. Paul Gallagher looks better and better, but is not playing in his favourite position. Bruno Berner looks solid at the left in defence and to see Tunchev back in the team is of course pleasing.

Pearson has a number of difficult decissions to make, before he makes to many changes to his line up and quits his rotation policy. He has no problems in goal, Weale is first choice.

The right back position has been covered by Michael Morrison and Robbie Neilson. TCF rates Morrison in front of Neilson, but Morrison is not a right back. We need a new player in this position that can cope with the level of Championship football and be a certainty. Young Luke O'Neill is still inexperienced, but I would have looked at that as a choice if no player is available on loan.

In the centre, Brown, Hobbs and Tunchev are all good choices, even Morrison can play here. The problem is that Tunchev and Hobbs and even Morrison are a bit simular in style, with Brown the only stopper that goes in the battle. Hobbs and Tunchev would be my preferred combination, and hopes are that they could have found a good partnership.

Bruno Berner has shown during the first 9 games that he can play at this level and the former Swizz interntional has made this position his. Morrison is a great cover if needed.

There are three alternatives in the centre of midfield, with Wellens, King and Oakley all capable of doing a great job. Wellens and Oakley are the preferred choices. King is a cover with Clemence hopefully back in contention soon.

Dyer, Adams, N'Guessan and Gradel are all players who can operate wide in midfield. N'Guessan and Dyer has been preferred. Dyer's form has not been the best lately and the situation is a bit of a worry. The flanks are important and hopefully Dyer will get back to his best. TCF's preferred choicse are N'Guessan and Dyer.

Pearson have a game plan that makes Steve Howard a key player in his system. Bringing down the high balls to Matty Fryatt and doing the air battles for his partner. Fryatt is a cerainty in the team and a key player for City. The big question is should Gallagher get a run in his favourite position up front, instead of Howard ?

TCF would say yes. The problem is that either Gallagher or Fryatt are good in the air, and that will not give us the benefits which well be there with Howard. The problem with Howard is that he is a slow mover and we are not able to play in a pace that would give us even more chances.

The new French forward Yann Kermorgant could of course be an alternative with Waghorn also in the frame. But Pearson needs to decide and I would hope that he goes for this line up,

Weale - Morrison, Berner, Hobbs, Tunchev - Wellens, Oakely, N'Guessan, Dyer - Gallagher, Fryatt.

I certainly hope that the rotation and the lack of certainty of which players to pick, and which system to play, will be sorted out as soon as possible.

There is no problem in using different systems and different players if things are planned. But the way things were done against Watford, playing Adams in the centre of midfield, for a long period in the 2nd half, makes you worried.