Similar feelings last night, was good to see a team try to emulate City's style of play rather than sit back and wait for a mistake/catch us on the break, which only went to show just how well our boys played.I was more than nervous in the days leading up to the match and at kick off I felt I had that hang dog look of the long suffering City fan - after more than 15 years of the Sheikh and Khaldoon and more than 7 of "win the lot" Pep!! For the first 15 minutes I watched in disbelief and thought (how daring!) "Mmm, we're doing well!" but still thought it would probably be the prelude losing to a careless goal. A disallowed goal ... chances come and go ... Alvarez shot deflected wide ... KdB misses a sitter (!!!) - all this points to a late Spurs smash and grab! But then cometh the hour ... and a lad we all thought had come to be our fourth choice centre back and the hoodoo is gone. How elated and foolish I felt!
Then, a bit later, I looked at the match stats. This wasn't even a comfortable victory - this was domination. Spurst one shot all match: City 18 shots. This was not "typical City" losing to a last minute own goal, Middlesboro's only shot! This was Pep Guardiola's majestic Manchester City, champions of the world.
As for Spurs, how refreshing to hear a manager who doesn't whine about ref decisions and look for excuses. He's well on the way to creating a side that isn't at all Spursy, and that's no mean feat.
Thought Doku redeemed himself a bit by keeping the ball in the corner for the last few minutes and winning a succession of corners to see the game out. We haven’t been doing that effectively for a whilePeps front three starts were Bobb, Alvarez and Foden, three youngsters who ran, chased, pressed and harried the big Spurs defence until they ran out of steam and started to make mistakes.
KdB was brought on when there was more time and space to influence the game and Doku with his pace to run at and beyond the Spuds back line. Doku lost the ball several times around their goal line but stood watching or jogged back instead of sprinting and fighting to recover the ball. No excuse even when coming back from injury. Probably his worst game for us.
Doku had a terrible start.He was fine once he got used to the pace of the game.Thought Doku redeemed himself a bit by keeping the ball in the corner for the last few minutes and winning a succession of corners to see the game out. We haven’t been doing that effectively for a while
Looked like he had roller skates on…At what point do you realise you need to change your boots!Doku had a terrible start.He was fine once he got used to the pace of the game.
14 hour round trip, M1 was a nightmare journey back, closed near MK and diverted around an industrial estate, worth the trip in the end just to see us score…Considering the time and the travel restrictions our fans are exceptional and the away support is always fantastic despite the FA and premier league doing their best with crazy kick off times to ruin the game
At this point, I'm not sure how anyone can refute this. Obviously, I'd rather win than play pretty football, but we're certainly more entertaining to watch without the Viking, IMO.We play much better football without Haaland, here, I said it!
Doku has all the talent & potential in the world, but if he doesn't cure this aspect of his game under Pep, I doubt he'll last that long here.Peps front three starts were Bobb, Alvarez and Foden, three youngsters who ran, chased, pressed and harried the big Spurs defence until they ran out of steam and started to make mistakes.
KdB was brought on when there was more time and space to influence the game and Doku with his pace to run at and beyond the Spuds back line. Doku lost the ball several times around their goal line but stood watching or jogged back instead of sprinting and fighting to recover the ball. No excuse even when coming back from injury. Probably his worst game for us.
I've noticed Haaland putting in more physical effort this season, & his touch & close passing has vastly improved, but he's still got a way to go.At this point, I'm not sure how anyone can refute this. Obviously, I'd rather win than play pretty football, but we're certainly more entertaining to watch without the Viking, IMO.
Well said.I've noticed Haaland putting in more physical effort this season, & his touch & close passing has vastly improved, but he's still got a way to go.
If he wants to know the football levels he needs to get to, he only has to study Kane, who's a brilliant baller as well as being a supreme goal scorer.
The difference with & without Erling is with him we're setup for him to score. Without him, we know the goals have to come from elsewhere meaning we setup differently, with Julian or Foden playing as a No 9/No 10 hybrid, or essentially a false 9.
Hopefully Haaland will evolve his game to suit our way of playing, rather than the other way around.
It was. We were right at the back but still a good view and songs all night.Away end looked mint all night, jealous
Yep. I think it’s fair to say that a keeper on the bench won’t normally be fully mentally and physically prepared to play.His distribution was shocking against Newcastle, but I noticed a different level of control & accuracy with him last night.
This is more the level we've come to expect.
I was more than nervous in the days leading up to the match and at kick off I felt I had that hang dog look of the long suffering City fan - after more than 15 years of the Sheikh and Khaldoon and more than 7 of "win the lot" Pep!! For the first 15 minutes I watched in disbelief and thought (how daring!) "Mmm, we're doing well!" but still thought it would probably be the prelude losing to a careless goal. A disallowed goal ... chances come and go ... Alvarez shot deflected wide ... KdB misses a sitter (!!!) - all this points to a late Spurs smash and grab! But then cometh the hour ... and a lad we all thought had come to be our fourth choice centre back and the hoodoo is gone. How elated and foolish I felt!
Then, a bit later, I looked at the match stats. This wasn't even a comfortable victory - this was domination. Spurst one shot all match: City 18 shots. This was not "typical City" losing to a last minute own goal, Middlesboro's only shot! This was Pep Guardiola's majestic Manchester City, champions of the world.
As for Spurs, how refreshing to hear a manager who doesn't whine about ref decisions and look for excuses. He's well on the way to creating a side that isn't at all Spursy, and that's no mean feat.
To be fair everyone was on their arse in the first half. Pitch looked like it had had too much water.Looked like he had roller skates on…At what point do you realise you need to change your boots!
Just wrote on motm thread about his performance and I agree he needs to work for the team but after pep’s hair dryer he had a huge impact . Pep appreciated his effort and gave him hi five . Bobb didn’t try to take porro 1on1 but when doku came on , gave porro a nightmare .Doku has all the talent & potential in the world, but if he doesn't cure this aspect of his game under Pep, I doubt he'll last that long here.
He's young & it's his first season in a new country, playing for a CL club who expect him to deliver. Hopefully he'll take this season to adjust & get used to how we play.
City defend from the front, & like you say it was painfully noticeable that after losing the ball he either stood there, or made a half-hearted jog in the general direction of the ball. He must improve.
He's replaced Ederson previously & slotted in seamlessly. He had one of those days against Newcastle, which was probably his worst performance for us.Yep. I think it’s fair to say that a keeper on the bench won’t normally be fully mentally and physically prepared to play.