didn't see enough of the game but I am really interested what people thought of it.
so in here please 🙂
'we're shit!' is not a valid answer 😉
so in here please 🙂
'we're shit!' is not a valid answer 😉
man city thoughts
- Thread starter spider-Neil
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
Henderson was our best player, he looked quiet classy.
Downing seemed to be trying to get behind there defence with pace alot.
Some of the link up with Carroll in the first half was quite nice, however we tried it too much and became very one dimensional.
Without Suarez, Gerrard, Lucas and Bellamy in the team we look very flat in attack.
Reina has a poor game.
Our players didn't look as comfortable moving forward as usual. Maybe lacking the movement and fluidity we seem to have with Suarez in the team.
We need a new wing forward/striker.
Downing seemed to be trying to get behind there defence with pace alot.
Some of the link up with Carroll in the first half was quite nice, however we tried it too much and became very one dimensional.
Without Suarez, Gerrard, Lucas and Bellamy in the team we look very flat in attack.
Reina has a poor game.
Our players didn't look as comfortable moving forward as usual. Maybe lacking the movement and fluidity we seem to have with Suarez in the team.
We need a new wing forward/striker.
We need someone who can pick a pass and make a run. There was no-one pulling off defenders and making space from midfield. We just gave it to Supa Stu who held it up whilst all the City players got back in position, then he passed it to Enrique.
[quote author=IGotALuvlyBunchOfCoconuts link=topic=48143.msg1455968#msg1455968 date=1325680425]
[/quote]
you have to wonder if opta fabricated the picture as it truly beggers belief.
[/quote]
you have to wonder if opta fabricated the picture as it truly beggers belief.
Downing is singled out as a culprit and I must admit I agree with that. He is not a very good footballer. Yesterday he was lively the first 25 minutes. Looked up, thrwethened room but failed in a few very disisive moments. Closer to halftime he seemed more likely not to gamble, and when he had a few good possibilities for shooting from the edge of the box, he just turned and passed back. At half time he changed sides, and looked lost of confidence.... Even when he had players overlapping he just stepped around the ball before making a pass back to someone.
Somehow it looked that we had decided that all crosses should come from deeper position toward Carrol. The result was that the winger would very often roll the ball back to the fullback, whereas earlier in the season both fullbacks have been eager to overlap. The fact that Stevie wipped in a few very handy crosses towards Carrol from that position shouldnt change our game completely. We have been at our best when we have doubled up on the flanks with good movement. This was partly lacking yesterday.
Carrol was alone in the box all night. Very dissapointing. Even at 0-2 we had all midfielders surrounding the box with up to 5 City players inside. No chance for Andy to create something out of that. However it made us win the ball back high in the field often, but still nowhere good enough to create sufficient treath towards Hart, who had a good night at work.
City created next to nothing and admitted afterwards they had been extreme efficient on a difficult night for them.
Somehow it looked that we had decided that all crosses should come from deeper position toward Carrol. The result was that the winger would very often roll the ball back to the fullback, whereas earlier in the season both fullbacks have been eager to overlap. The fact that Stevie wipped in a few very handy crosses towards Carrol from that position shouldnt change our game completely. We have been at our best when we have doubled up on the flanks with good movement. This was partly lacking yesterday.
Carrol was alone in the box all night. Very dissapointing. Even at 0-2 we had all midfielders surrounding the box with up to 5 City players inside. No chance for Andy to create something out of that. However it made us win the ball back high in the field often, but still nowhere good enough to create sufficient treath towards Hart, who had a good night at work.
City created next to nothing and admitted afterwards they had been extreme efficient on a difficult night for them.
As I said in another thread, playing crosses into your lone target man against a City side playing deep was naive and didn't work at all. I suppose it's difficult because what else is Carroll supposed to do but he'd have struggled last night even in top form with decent service. City are one of (if not) the tallest teams in the league and very good in the air. It was a flawed approach and Kenny should've changed it early on.
On the whole we have too many players that are reasonably competent passers but don't know where to run, how to link up with their team-mates and have no creative spark. It was only in the last 15 minutes or so when Gerrard starting getting into the game with Bellamy and later Maxi that we started to see some attempted give and gos etc. Who was trying to force the issue beforehand? Johnson and Enrique can get behind the defence when they get a bit of space but that aside, it's just so fucking laboursome.
Remember back in the summer when everyone was extolling the value of sabermetrics and justifying the purchases of the likes of Downing and Henderson with passing / crossing stats etc?
Well, that's what we've got now, isn't it? A bunch of players that are pretty good at passing and fuck all else.
On the whole we have too many players that are reasonably competent passers but don't know where to run, how to link up with their team-mates and have no creative spark. It was only in the last 15 minutes or so when Gerrard starting getting into the game with Bellamy and later Maxi that we started to see some attempted give and gos etc. Who was trying to force the issue beforehand? Johnson and Enrique can get behind the defence when they get a bit of space but that aside, it's just so fucking laboursome.
Remember back in the summer when everyone was extolling the value of sabermetrics and justifying the purchases of the likes of Downing and Henderson with passing / crossing stats etc?
Well, that's what we've got now, isn't it? A bunch of players that are pretty good at passing and fuck all else.
so were we just passing it side to side keeping possession or did we look dangerous?
The result was probably the best thing for us if we want to make a final this year. I'm much more interested in the results in our next three league games anyway, we win them and we're in with a great shout.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=48143.msg1455985#msg1455985 date=1325681424]
[quote author=IGotALuvlyBunchOfCoconuts link=topic=48143.msg1455968#msg1455968 date=1325680425]
[/quote]
you have to wonder if opta fabricated the picture as it truly beggers belief.
[/quote]
Lucas' always looks that way too.
I look at the Chalkboards after every game, Charlie Adam is the only midfielder we have that has tried to force the games while Gerrard was out. Henderson is somewhere between Adam and Lucas.
[quote author=IGotALuvlyBunchOfCoconuts link=topic=48143.msg1455968#msg1455968 date=1325680425]
[/quote]
you have to wonder if opta fabricated the picture as it truly beggers belief.
[/quote]
Lucas' always looks that way too.
I look at the Chalkboards after every game, Charlie Adam is the only midfielder we have that has tried to force the games while Gerrard was out. Henderson is somewhere between Adam and Lucas.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=48143.msg1455998#msg1455998 date=1325681724]
so were we just passing it side to side keeping possession or did we look dangerous?
[/quote]
By and large City were happy to sit back and defend because we very little with the possession we had.
There was the Downing chance early on when Henderson played him through and Kompany made a sliding block later on... but I can't recall too many more occasions where City found themselves exposed.
so were we just passing it side to side keeping possession or did we look dangerous?
[/quote]
By and large City were happy to sit back and defend because we very little with the possession we had.
There was the Downing chance early on when Henderson played him through and Kompany made a sliding block later on... but I can't recall too many more occasions where City found themselves exposed.
[quote author=keniget link=topic=48143.msg1455993#msg1455993 date=1325681608]
As I said in another thread, playing crosses into your lone target man against a City side playing deep was naive and didn't work at all. I suppose it's difficult because what else is Carroll supposed to do but he'd have struggled last night even in top form with decent service. City are one of (if not) the tallest teams in the league and very good in the air. It was a flawed approach and Kenny should've changed it early on.
On the whole we have too many players that are reasonably competent passers but don't know where to run, how to link up with their team-mates and have no creative spark. It was only in the last 15 minutes or so when Gerrard starting getting into the game with Bellamy and later Maxi that we started to see some attempted give and gos etc. Who was trying to force the issue beforehand? Johnson and Enrique can get behind the defence when they get a bit of space but that aside, it's just so fucking laboursome.
Remember back in the summer when everyone was extolling the value of sabermetrics and justifying the purchases of the likes of Downing and Henderson with passing / crossing stats etc?
Well, that's what we've got now, isn't it? A bunch of players that are pretty good at passing and fuck all else.
[/quote]
Eat my stats:
In possession terms, of the top 11 teams in the possession stats from the Champions League group stages only four qualified for the knockout stages.
As I said in another thread, playing crosses into your lone target man against a City side playing deep was naive and didn't work at all. I suppose it's difficult because what else is Carroll supposed to do but he'd have struggled last night even in top form with decent service. City are one of (if not) the tallest teams in the league and very good in the air. It was a flawed approach and Kenny should've changed it early on.
On the whole we have too many players that are reasonably competent passers but don't know where to run, how to link up with their team-mates and have no creative spark. It was only in the last 15 minutes or so when Gerrard starting getting into the game with Bellamy and later Maxi that we started to see some attempted give and gos etc. Who was trying to force the issue beforehand? Johnson and Enrique can get behind the defence when they get a bit of space but that aside, it's just so fucking laboursome.
Remember back in the summer when everyone was extolling the value of sabermetrics and justifying the purchases of the likes of Downing and Henderson with passing / crossing stats etc?
Well, that's what we've got now, isn't it? A bunch of players that are pretty good at passing and fuck all else.
[/quote]
Eat my stats:
In possession terms, of the top 11 teams in the possession stats from the Champions League group stages only four qualified for the knockout stages.
Here's the midfield stats from the last time we met City:
We really missed Suarez mobility yesterday. When he drags defenders out of position it is of course easier for the rest to use the openings he leaves behind him.Carrol is to static and yesterday he was all alone in the box. A few times he was helped and then Kuyt managed to pick up the loose fruits.
Pepe needs to go at the end of the season. He's too fat.
We conceded a penalty from our free kick in their final third against 10 men. The worst bit was it was Bellamy and Gerrard who fucked that up and I'd been screaming to get them on.
The main problem was we set up for a draw. As soon as Pepe fucked that first one up our plan was out the window and changes needed to be made then.
THE STARTING 11 HAS 8 GOALS BETWEEN IT ALL SEASON. Anyone who looks like they might score was on the bench. Shithouse lineup and a shithouse result. QED.
We conceded a penalty from our free kick in their final third against 10 men. The worst bit was it was Bellamy and Gerrard who fucked that up and I'd been screaming to get them on.
The main problem was we set up for a draw. As soon as Pepe fucked that first one up our plan was out the window and changes needed to be made then.
THE STARTING 11 HAS 8 GOALS BETWEEN IT ALL SEASON. Anyone who looks like they might score was on the bench. Shithouse lineup and a shithouse result. QED.
Its quite easy actually, Pepes gigantic fuck up cost us. I'm not going to hold it against him as he's a fantastic keeper and has saved us many a times. But we looked on par with City and they didnt create that much until he let that one slip in.
Changed the match completly.
Henderson, Spearing, Enrique had a good game. Contrary to nearly everyone else who has made Downing a scapegoat I think he had a decent game. Tried to use his pace to get past Richards at times. Should have scored, and in that department he really needs to step up. A 1-0 lead after 7 mins would have changed the tone of the game.
Loads of possesion, loads of shite crosses and no creativity in the final third. Carroll got to isolated and if we had created some movement around him we could have had a few more chanes.
Kuyt was horrific. 1 of 8 passes hit a teammate in the beginning and why he wanted to dribble before the goal no one knows.
The corner goal was equally shit, we conceded at Anfield and nearly on the corner move before the goal aswell. But still nobody realized the danger. Johnson on Yaya was a bit strange tbh.
3-0 doesnt paint a right picture of the game, but we certainly didnt deserve anything either.
Hopefully we'll learn a lesson and Kenny realizes he fucked up a bit.
Changed the match completly.
Henderson, Spearing, Enrique had a good game. Contrary to nearly everyone else who has made Downing a scapegoat I think he had a decent game. Tried to use his pace to get past Richards at times. Should have scored, and in that department he really needs to step up. A 1-0 lead after 7 mins would have changed the tone of the game.
Loads of possesion, loads of shite crosses and no creativity in the final third. Carroll got to isolated and if we had created some movement around him we could have had a few more chanes.
Kuyt was horrific. 1 of 8 passes hit a teammate in the beginning and why he wanted to dribble before the goal no one knows.
The corner goal was equally shit, we conceded at Anfield and nearly on the corner move before the goal aswell. But still nobody realized the danger. Johnson on Yaya was a bit strange tbh.
3-0 doesnt paint a right picture of the game, but we certainly didnt deserve anything either.
Hopefully we'll learn a lesson and Kenny realizes he fucked up a bit.
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=48143.msg1456001#msg1456001 date=1325681759]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=48143.msg1455985#msg1455985 date=1325681424]
[quote author=IGotALuvlyBunchOfCoconuts link=topic=48143.msg1455968#msg1455968 date=1325680425]
[/quote]
you have to wonder if opta fabricated the picture as it truly beggers belief.
[/quote]
Lucas' always looks that way too.
I look at the Chalkboards after every game, Charlie Adam is the only midfielder we have that has tried to force the games while Gerrard was out. Henderson is somewhere between Adam and Lucas.
[/quote]
the picture actually looks like city sprayed 'downing repellent' in their penalty area.
*down X*
'kills all downing' DEAD'
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=48143.msg1455985#msg1455985 date=1325681424]
[quote author=IGotALuvlyBunchOfCoconuts link=topic=48143.msg1455968#msg1455968 date=1325680425]
[/quote]
you have to wonder if opta fabricated the picture as it truly beggers belief.
[/quote]
Lucas' always looks that way too.
I look at the Chalkboards after every game, Charlie Adam is the only midfielder we have that has tried to force the games while Gerrard was out. Henderson is somewhere between Adam and Lucas.
[/quote]
the picture actually looks like city sprayed 'downing repellent' in their penalty area.
*down X*
'kills all downing' DEAD'
I think Man City after scoring a softish goal aginst the run of play in the first 10mins put in a rafa type defensive performance and can be given credit for that after playing only 2 days before. No real surprise that without Suarez we lacked that little bit of the unexpected he offers which may have opened them up a bit more. Carol was a slight improvement on his usual masterclass of ineptitude. We looked more ponderous in possesion than we have in a long time.
[quote author=keniget link=topic=48143.msg1455993#msg1455993 date=1325681608]
As I said in another thread, playing crosses into your lone target man against a City side playing deep was naive and didn't work at all. I suppose it's difficult because what else is Carroll supposed to do but he'd have struggled last night even in top form with decent service. City are one of (if not) the tallest teams in the league and very good in the air. It was a flawed approach and Kenny should've changed it early on.
On the whole we have too many players that are reasonably competent passers but don't know where to run, how to link up with their team-mates and have no creative spark. It was only in the last 15 minutes or so when Gerrard starting getting into the game with Bellamy and later Maxi that we started to see some attempted give and gos etc. Who was trying to force the issue beforehand? Johnson and Enrique can get behind the defence when they get a bit of space but that aside, it's just so fucking laboursome.
[/quote]
Exactly, I know Suarez wasn't playing and we didn't have much choice but there are times when you just have to look at the opposition and realise constant bloody crossing won't work. Richards, Toure and Kompany - two or three of that back four are excellent in the air and then Lescott came on. I doubt Duncan Ferguson, Alan Shearer, Oliver Bierhoff or any other player you could think off that's good in the air could have done a lot better last night.
I still think Carroll is shite but no one had a clue what to do apart from work it wide and fire in cross after cross, then Gerrard came on and started trying quick passing and one twos on the edge of the box but it too late in the game. Sometimes I think Carroll's best asset could be his presence, just let him run around, cross at him on occasion but mostly use him as a distraction.
Still I think city were unbelievably lucky to win that 3-0
As I said in another thread, playing crosses into your lone target man against a City side playing deep was naive and didn't work at all. I suppose it's difficult because what else is Carroll supposed to do but he'd have struggled last night even in top form with decent service. City are one of (if not) the tallest teams in the league and very good in the air. It was a flawed approach and Kenny should've changed it early on.
On the whole we have too many players that are reasonably competent passers but don't know where to run, how to link up with their team-mates and have no creative spark. It was only in the last 15 minutes or so when Gerrard starting getting into the game with Bellamy and later Maxi that we started to see some attempted give and gos etc. Who was trying to force the issue beforehand? Johnson and Enrique can get behind the defence when they get a bit of space but that aside, it's just so fucking laboursome.
[/quote]
Exactly, I know Suarez wasn't playing and we didn't have much choice but there are times when you just have to look at the opposition and realise constant bloody crossing won't work. Richards, Toure and Kompany - two or three of that back four are excellent in the air and then Lescott came on. I doubt Duncan Ferguson, Alan Shearer, Oliver Bierhoff or any other player you could think off that's good in the air could have done a lot better last night.
I still think Carroll is shite but no one had a clue what to do apart from work it wide and fire in cross after cross, then Gerrard came on and started trying quick passing and one twos on the edge of the box but it too late in the game. Sometimes I think Carroll's best asset could be his presence, just let him run around, cross at him on occasion but mostly use him as a distraction.
Still I think city were unbelievably lucky to win that 3-0
[quote author=Hansern link=topic=48143.msg1456014#msg1456014 date=1325682520]
Its quite easy actually, Pepes gigantic fuck up cost us. I'm not going to hold it against him as he's a fantastic keeper and has saved us many a times. But we looked on par with City and they didnt create that much until he let that one slip in.
Changed the match completly.
Henderson, Spearing, Enrique had a good game. Contrary to nearly everyone else who has made Downing a scapegoat I think he had a decent game. Tried to use his pace to get past Richards at times. Should have scored, and in that department he really needs to step up. A 1-0 lead after 7 mins would have changed the tone of the game.
Loads of possesion, loads of shite crosses and no creativity in the final third. Carroll got to isolated and if we had created some movement around him we could have had a few more chanes.
Kuyt was horrific. 1 of 8 passes hit a teammate in the beginning and why he wanted to dribble before the goal no one knows.
The corner goal was equally shit, we conceded at Anfield and nearly on the corner move before the goal aswell. But still nobody realized the danger. Johnson on Yaya was a bit strange tbh.
3-0 doesnt paint a right picture of the game, but we certainly didnt deserve anything either.
Hopefully we'll learn a lesson and Kenny realizes he fucked up a bit.
[/quote]
Credit to Man City there for very tough high pressure, but it should never let to a goal no matter what.
Its quite easy actually, Pepes gigantic fuck up cost us. I'm not going to hold it against him as he's a fantastic keeper and has saved us many a times. But we looked on par with City and they didnt create that much until he let that one slip in.
Changed the match completly.
Henderson, Spearing, Enrique had a good game. Contrary to nearly everyone else who has made Downing a scapegoat I think he had a decent game. Tried to use his pace to get past Richards at times. Should have scored, and in that department he really needs to step up. A 1-0 lead after 7 mins would have changed the tone of the game.
Loads of possesion, loads of shite crosses and no creativity in the final third. Carroll got to isolated and if we had created some movement around him we could have had a few more chanes.
Kuyt was horrific. 1 of 8 passes hit a teammate in the beginning and why he wanted to dribble before the goal no one knows.
The corner goal was equally shit, we conceded at Anfield and nearly on the corner move before the goal aswell. But still nobody realized the danger. Johnson on Yaya was a bit strange tbh.
3-0 doesnt paint a right picture of the game, but we certainly didnt deserve anything either.
Hopefully we'll learn a lesson and Kenny realizes he fucked up a bit.
[/quote]
Credit to Man City there for very tough high pressure, but it should never let to a goal no matter what.
just seen the highlights. downing, downing downing...what a chance to put the team 1-0 up and what a ball by henderson.
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=48143.msg1456025#msg1456025 date=1325683035]
just seen the highlights. downing, downing downing...what a chance to put the team 1-0 up and what a ball by henderson.
[/quote]
It's not fair to hang a whole game on one player & one chance but it could have been a different game if he scored that. He is truely the master of getting himself involved with no end result.
Could have been a different game if Pepe saved the first one
just seen the highlights. downing, downing downing...what a chance to put the team 1-0 up and what a ball by henderson.
[/quote]
It's not fair to hang a whole game on one player & one chance but it could have been a different game if he scored that. He is truely the master of getting himself involved with no end result.
Could have been a different game if Pepe saved the first one
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=48143.msg1455948#msg1455948 date=1325679668]
didn't see enough of the game but I am really interested what people thought of it.
so in here please 🙂
'we're shit!' is not a valid answer 😉
[/quote]
We've got a solid base to move forward from in the coming year or so, but the glaring problem is that we lack guile.
We kept the ball well, passed it around well until a point on the pitch, and then repeatedly ran out of real ideas.
Obviously we have guile with Suarez, and if Gerrard remains in and around the team he brings it too. There are flashes from other players, but not enough for us to be a top side.
It's quite simple - if we want to progress, we need to keep signing players like Suarez and adding them into the mix. If we don't, we'll stay where we are.
didn't see enough of the game but I am really interested what people thought of it.
so in here please 🙂
'we're shit!' is not a valid answer 😉
[/quote]
We've got a solid base to move forward from in the coming year or so, but the glaring problem is that we lack guile.
We kept the ball well, passed it around well until a point on the pitch, and then repeatedly ran out of real ideas.
Obviously we have guile with Suarez, and if Gerrard remains in and around the team he brings it too. There are flashes from other players, but not enough for us to be a top side.
It's quite simple - if we want to progress, we need to keep signing players like Suarez and adding them into the mix. If we don't, we'll stay where we are.
[quote author=Woland link=topic=48143.msg1456012#msg1456012 date=1325682432]
Pepe needs to go at the end of the season. He's too fat.
We conceded a penalty from our free kick in their final third against 10 men. The worst bit was it was Bellamy and Gerrard who fucked that up and I'd been screaming to get them on.
The main problem was we set up for a draw. As soon as Pepe fucked that first one up our plan was out the window and changes needed to be made then.
THE STARTING 11 HAS 8 GOALS BETWEEN IT ALL SEASON. Anyone who looks like they might score was on the bench. Shithouse lineup and a shithouse result. QED.
[/quote]
This sums the game up in one sentence for me.
Pepe needs to go at the end of the season. He's too fat.
We conceded a penalty from our free kick in their final third against 10 men. The worst bit was it was Bellamy and Gerrard who fucked that up and I'd been screaming to get them on.
The main problem was we set up for a draw. As soon as Pepe fucked that first one up our plan was out the window and changes needed to be made then.
THE STARTING 11 HAS 8 GOALS BETWEEN IT ALL SEASON. Anyone who looks like they might score was on the bench. Shithouse lineup and a shithouse result. QED.
[/quote]
This sums the game up in one sentence for me.
Re: Re: man city thoughts
[quote author=Mystic link=topic=48143.msg1#msg1 date=1325684312]
[quote author=Modo link=topic=48143.msg1456034#msg1456034 date=1325684216]
Like I've been harping about for ages, creativity.
We missed Suarez.
[/quote]
Everyone has Modo.
[/quote]
I know but it has to be said.
[quote author=Mystic link=topic=48143.msg1#msg1 date=1325684312]
[quote author=Modo link=topic=48143.msg1456034#msg1456034 date=1325684216]
Like I've been harping about for ages, creativity.
We missed Suarez.
[/quote]
Everyone has Modo.
[/quote]
I know but it has to be said.
- Status
