-holds hand up-
Well, I didn't see that coming. I thought we'd get battered - guess I underestimated us and overestimated that City side in equal measure.
Reminded me of the early Benitez days when we looked like we could beat anyone in the World by actually playing decent football, we'd then go and lose to Crystal Palace - similar to the West Brom and Blackpool results of this year I suppose. Better players, bigger squads, and the experience of playing consistently togethor ensure that you can turn it on on the days when you're not playing Chelsea/United/Citeh etc - which is what we need badly.
A few thoughts on City who were massively disappointing first;
How not to build a squad I suppose. Who are the winners in that squad? Who's going to sweat for you? Who's not going to lie down and bend over? I'd say Tevez, Kompany, and maybe Micah Richards. Out of a squad worth half a billion that's not good enough. Look at the midfield out there versus our lot - they should be ashamed with their output.
As Krump pointed out in that other thread; Jay Spearing monstering Yaya Toure is ridiculous, but it happened. Comes down to work rate, tenacity, attitude and a decent mentality. City have far far far too many players without those requisites. What's the point in buying someone like Balotelli? What a heaving waste of space he is. Mancini should be slaughtered for that - he knew what he was like from his Inter days yet he still sanctions 20M plus on the fucking joke.
When Tevez went off and it moved from being a 4-4-1-1 to a 4-4-2 (cos Balotelli's a lazy fucking cunt) we were able to dominate in midfield cos Tevez wasn't there to drop back and help them.
Look at the Man United team on paper Vs City's; City would win hands down. But Ferguson buys and keeps winners and lads with the right attitude. O'Shea, the Nevilles, Fletcher - you can rely on them. Ferguson loves that, and that's why they're winners. I'd love somebody to explain to explain to me the rationale in giving Richard Dunne away but investing 24M in Joleon Lescott.
Anyway, enough about them losers.
Great performance all-round. Some of it startling too:
-Skrtel excellent at centre back
- A very composed debut by Flanagan who didn't look to hump the fuck out of it, he actually tried to keep it on the deck - novel!
- Aurelio giving us great balance across the back four.
- Kuyt brilliant again. Who'd a think it too cos y'know he was playing on the right of a 4-4-2 where we're continually told he's "shite"? Mad altogethor.
- And Carroll and Suarez taking the piss.
I guess the most pleasing bit from my perspective was the pass and move game being adopted. Look at the movement of Meirles, Suarez and Kuyt for that. Not restricted by positions, and happy to drift everywhere to pick it up, link with each other, and to drag the City players out of position. It won us the game. that first 40 minutes was fantastic to watch, and doesn't happed if you've got 3 fucking statues sticking to their position. I guess it's why I'm not sold at all on this 'we need great wingers getting down the wing and whipping crosses in for Carroll' idea.
It's bollocks, naive, antiquated plan. We need world class players in attack. Doesn't matter where they play, they'll succeed. They do though need the right attitude as we saw tonight.
