Absolutely, the team are playing brilliantly together not just about how good they play but how good the team spirit is and I don't think I've ever seen a better team spirit at city ever, it's like they are a machine. I hope the owners take note, they can't afford to have someone as insipid as peligrini again.That was a pleasure to watch. Ok we didn't score a bag full of goals but the level of control was fantastic and some of the passing sublime. Silva was just brilliant. Think I heard a stat that he had run more than anyone else on the pitch. Nice to see him do the post match interview in English as well. The last couple of months something seems to have clicked with them. Even Gael has played really well since he came back and the whole team now seem to be executing Peps game plan and methods. Goal and after match celebrations indicate a strong team spirit as well. This is what I hoped it would be like this season - long may it continue.
A wonderful strike by Sergio.IIRC we went something like 100 games without scoring from a corner or some other daft figure.Two vs Monaco
Well, he insipidly won the Premier League in his first season, something Pep is very unlikely to do,Absolutely, the team are playing brilliantly together not just about how good they play but how good the team spirit is and I don't think I've ever seen a better team spirit at city ever, it's like they are a machine. I hope the owners take note, they can't afford to have someone as insipid as peligrini again.
Pellegrini was on his way though and the players knew it so that didn't help. It's like Arssenal now. UnravellingAbsolutely, the team are playing brilliantly together not just about how good they play but how good the team spirit is and I don't think I've ever seen a better team spirit at city ever, it's like they are a machine. I hope the owners take note, they can't afford to have someone as insipid as peligrini again.
Think he can play at this level until his is 35 so at least another 4 seasons after this. Think Andrea Pirlo still bossing games at Juve until his mid thirties, Spanish Dave may take the same route and go and play for New York City after us. Whatever happens I never want to see him in any other shirt that isn't blue and owned by the Sheik.One of my worries is how the hell do we ever think about replacing David Silva. The guy was truely magnificent yesterday and his form at the moment is one of the reasons we seem to have clicked recently. At 31 though, only a few years last watching this genius :( Not sure there is a player in world football who can replace him. No doubt Pep will have a plan, but it will be a sad day when Dave hangs his boots up.
Total control of the game. My only gripe is the lack of goals. I had 5 nowt at the bookies.
Also, if the things go our way, goal difference could be vital.We were way too passive after our 2nd goal. Don't think 2 goal lead in the PL is enough to start trying to kill games with over half an hour to go.
I'd assume I'm labouring a point made by others, but the key moment in the game was the tactical change after about 25 minutes.
Yaya and Kolorov were making us weak down the middle, and Sunderland were exploiting that. Pep swapped Fernandinho and YaYa and we instantly took control of the game because of Fernandinho's energy and tackling at the back of the midfield. It was an obvious change but I like a manager who will do this early in a game.
Spot on and we all know there was fat chance of Pellegrini ever doing it though - he just sat and watched while we struggled
Tbf Mancini was not averse to early switches and even the occasional first half substitutions.The last manager we had to make quick, reactive early tactical changes was Joe Royle. I know some of them want to stick to the game plan and not over-react too early, but Pep strikes a really good balance on that score.
Stones against Hudders and didn't we get a couple against Monaco?
Tbf Mancini was not averse to early switches and even the occasional first half substitutions.
I like a manager who admits he may have got his tactics wrong at the outset. Sign of humbleness, a rare commodity in today's football.
Also, if the things go our way, goal difference could be vital.