No way. Opposing teams just have to arrive in our box to score. We had 22 to their 11 attempts and 72 per cent possession. We gifted them a string of chances and fluffed our lines in front of goal. When we get beat, we still outplay opponents. They parked the bus, hoped for the best and got their wish.
There's too much hyperbole flying around about our poor results this season. I don't think there is a huge amount wrong but there things wrong that are costing us too many points. We are failing to make our dominance pay too often and we are not dealing well enough with counter-attacks.
I thought the league was gone last week but any slight glimmer of a remarkable come back has now gone. So I hope Pep will use the league to try something a little different and then in the summer, I hope the club gets the cheque book out and makes three, maybe four, big signings. My biggest criticism of the club is that it has not done enough in the transfer market to push us forward after our title wins.
City can't realistically do much in January so it's down to Pep to get creative with his current resources to improve of league form and also to get some cups won.
The absence of Sane is really hurting us because neither Bernie or Mahrez are doing enough to make the right flank their own. A fully fit Sane would surely be starter at the moment, with Raz moved to the right. If Sane goes at the end of the season, replacing him will be one of the big signings I referred to.
The weakness at right wing is one of the reasons that I feel KDB is struggling for his best form: I think he is trying to do too much. He also faces the problem that there is not pace alongside him in midfield. Any two from the three of Rodri, Gundo and Merlin alongside leaves KDB as the only remotely quick or dynamic midfielder. Added to which, Merlin's magic is fizzling out.
Rodri is the future at DM and needs to keep playing so a more dynamic option is needed at inside left and I think it's time to try Foden, given Bernie's off colour (!) performances.
I'd also try Gabby on the left flank when Sergio is fit and move Raz to the right.
Left back is a big problem - although absent Zinchenko is our best bet there currently and will get better at it; he will never get more pace though and new LB is another of the big signings needed in the summer.
City need to identify the best centre back in the world that can be bought and pay whatever the necessary price is to get him. Ideally, along he needs to be big, strong and quick; excellent in the air and the tackle plus able to play accurate short passes under pressure. Ideally, they's do that in January but it seems unlikely that will be possible. In the interim, I'd like to see Garcia get a start in the league and see how he gets on.
