City began in confident mood, keeping possession with some neat constructive football, but there was a clear need for the forward-thinking midfield foursome of Robinho, Stevie Ireland, Barry and Kelvin Etuhu to tune into the same wavelength as new boy Emmanuel Adebayor, who looked isolated for the first 25 minutes.Richard Wilson, The Independent
Robinho, disinterested one moment, blindingly alert the next, looked City’s best hope of a breakthrough as they looked for a confidence-boosting away win.
Three of his [Hughes'] summer signings started here, with Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez nursing injuries. There was a sense of languid ingenuity in the way Emmanuel Adebayor led the attack, supported by Robinho. Prompted by the wily alertness of Stephen Ireland, City scattered neat short passes around, but often lacking the driving purpose that a fully competitive encounter would incite.
The centre of defence remains an area of concern and there was a doleful hesitancy in the way Richard Dunne and Kolo Touré failed to deal with Lee McCulloch's driven cross in the 20th minute. Nacho Novo capitalised with a firm rising effort beyond Shay Given. As though irked, City revealed a freshly revived intent and eight minutes later, Adebayor's cross-field pass reached Ireland in the penalty area and he softly guided a shot beyond Neil Alexander.
Ewing Grahame, The Daily Telegraph
City, by contrast, are still bedding players in, although there were promising signs that Robinho and Adebayor are on the same wavelength, notably when the former delivered a perfectly-weighted reverse pass to the latter, who was thwarted by a Sasa Papac's saving tackle.
Steven Naismith missed from three yards for Rangers but when Madjid Bougherra was caught badly out of position, Robinho nonchalantly dinked the ball over him for substitute Martin Petrov to beat Alexander at his near post.
Danny Pugsley, Bitter and Blue
Whilst there were some positives - Martin Petrov looking lively and added another goal to back up his one against Barnsley. There was some nice movement throughout the side, and the sharpness and fitness is no doubt tuning up for the start of the league campaign.
It was interesting to see the starting line-up tonight. Etuhu and Dunne aside, it could have passed for our starting side in ten days time, and was the formation I'd expect Hughes to field.
A good workout, and some nice play from new signing Adebayor and last season's top scorer Robinho. To make real progress next season however, although this isn't out strongest back four, we'll certainly need to improve defensively, as at times we were a bit of a shambles tonight.
2 comments:
Hugely disappointing that when we were supposed to be "stepping it up" we end up struggling against a poor Rangers team.I still have my doubts about Hughes and just hope and pray that I am wrong.
Why give crap rag "journalist" Stuart Brennan credibility by airing his opinion? He was one of those who were instrumental in setting up FC United. He should be reporting their MASSIVE games.
Your opinion on the football is one thing, Ambient, and fair enough.
Your comments on Brennan are totally ludicrous, however. Does the fact that he is/was a 'rag' mean he can't report on football, or is incapable of good journalism or proper analysis? Of course not.
Surely the fact that he helped set up FC United is a total irrelevance. What matters is his journalism; he should be judged on what he writes, not on who he supports.
I couldn't give a monkey's who the MEN reporter on City supports, provided he writes unbiased, interesting, thoughtful and fair pieces. I'd rather that, than a City-supporting monkey parroting the party line.
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