Some of the greatest players hold back, because often they can then collect the ball with control and do something meaningful with it.Shirking tackles for me is unforgivable!
Second half was better...first half we were wide open in midfield...Bernardo sorted that by dropping deeper and moving insideAgree with most of your post, but I thought Gundog had one of his better games today. He didn't move much beyond attacking midfield during attacks, & solidified defensive midfield with Kovacic. This wasn't leaving as many gaping midfield holes as we've become used to seeing.
Akanji as the senior experienced player should've taken control, his dithering left the lad exposed.....they'll both learn.
Akanji needs a good r & r period asap,he's running on vapour after so many games,positions and niggles.
Agree, he definitely needs a rest, been brilliant for us but our back line have taken it in turns to be injured, it really is a consequence of too many games, the Club World Cup will severely test us.
He's a v intelligent lad but regrettably too nice and not a 'leader' .
Going over the top to Haaland, with Foden and Marmoosh (sp?) running off him is the way to beat the high press teams have now sussed is effective against us. Few more games like that and we'll have them all back in the box packing the defenceOn days like today, our midfield and even our defenders need to get their heads up faster and fire it over the top. At the close of the first-half, Chelsea’s entire back four were holding their line a yard inside our half! If other teams try that and insist on man-to-man marking, Haaland and Marmoush will have a field day.
True, but playing the ball over the top doesn't work against a 10-man defence. The way Chelsea played further up the field suits us perfectly.We looked much better today and playing the ball over the top to Erling is very effective.
Marmoush played really well and will leave space for Erling to run into.
Thought Khusanov played well after he got over his nerves and his fuck up..he's fast and very strong too..I think he will be a great player given time.
Josko Bernie Erling and Phil all played very well and Eddie looked more relaxed.
Nunes gets some stick and not all unwarranted but today he was much better.
Hopefully we can beat Bruges and get into the play off rounds.
For the first 25 minutes & buoyed by their shock opener, Chelsea's tails were bound to be erect. They targeted our right side as they saw Nunes was shaky & Khusanov was still rattled because of the goal & booking he conceded.Second half was better...first half we were wide open in midfield...Bernardo sorted that by dropping deeper and moving inside
If teams insist on going man-to-man, even our runners from deep have got a chance of smashing the lines. Guardiola and Nunes showed the way yesterday. It’s certainly going to give opponents food for thought in the remaining games.Going over the top to Haaland, with Foden and Marmoosh (sp?) running off him is the way to beat the high press teams have now sussed is effective against us. Few more games like that and we'll have them all back in the box packing the defence
After the Liverpool game, MotD managed to create a "top three" table.MOTD just about to show our game. I'm waiting to see how lucky they make us seem.
When was the last time we scored from a long ball? We spend most of the time trying to work a way around the opposition and keeping the ball, but other clubs have got used to it now so we are up against a 10 man defence every week, which with the best will in the world you're sometimes not going to be able to break down.Not sure what people are watching or they're oversimplifying. Pep's Barca "went long" aswell. So do we, all the time. Ederson has several assists for us ffs.
There's no change at all to how we play.
I was going to say "Dungeness Crab" would be a good nickname for Gary Neville, but I can't think of any reason why.Great to meet you @west didsblue — enjoy your trip and I hope you got some Dungeness crab to celebrate the win!
There's a vast difference between discussing these issues on the forum and having to listen to self-proclaimed experts who couldn't run a pub darts team but are better managers than Pep and think every player should be shown the door because he's going through a bad patch.Tbf Gundo set up the first goal, and credit to Nunes with a perfectly timed run. But it doesn't follow that we won 9:1 because of Gundo. There are still countless times he's pirouetting into trouble. He's a zero defensively because of his speed. If you replace him with any other player do we still win 9:1? We'll never know, but that's what the forum is for. However, he's turning up every week and this season that's a fair return.
yes ,there was quite many occasions ,where he just turns the wrong way in to 3 players,while turning other way around he had 3 open players in the middle of the park. Midfielders are a must anyway , we get overrun easily by stronger teams, chelsea set up was a weird one ,miles behind the way PSG played us.Tbf Gundo set up the first goal, and credit to Nunes with a perfectly timed run. But it doesn't follow that we won 9:1 because of Gundo. There are still countless times he's pirouetting into trouble. He's a zero defensively because of his speed. If you replace him with any other player do we still win 9:1? We'll never know, but that's what the forum is for. However, he's turning up every week and this season that's a fair return.
A perfect illustration of the saying, "One swallow doesn't make a summer".What could be a trait of our “new” citeh is running teams ragged especially at home like we did yesterday none of this old possession for the sake of it etc etc
Then inject even more pace into a game for last 15/20 imagine being Chelski yesterday and we suddenly up the game with Jack and Doku
Could be as exciting as the 100 point season or more reflective the Pellagrini Championees season
And when he's building apartment blocks, he wants plumbers to supply and fit a bathroom for a £5k flat rate - £5k was the going rate for a bathroom ten years ago.His hotel outside the swamp is £600k in debt, his university next to Old Trafford cricket ground has had to get a performing arts school to occupy the empty space they can’t fill with students on UA92 courses.
Gary Chuckle is only good at making weird groaning noises during important parts of games on Super Sunday. That’s about it.
It can be a bit of a dirge anyway without creating an arrangement for a funeral.What did people make of the Blue Moon choral music played during the minute’s applause?
For the first time in months, I felt enthused enough to watch a match back. What I didn't notice at the game was once Haaland passed the ball into Foden's path, he put both arms up signalling for Foden (who couldn't see Erling) to go for goal. Then Haaland started celebrating before Phil had even got into the box to attempt a finish! :-)The third goal was a joy to behold, Ederson to the half way line, Kev jumping like the proverbial salmon to flick the ball on, Erl instant control and pass to Phil who’s surprising pace and precise finish was a fitting way to put the result to bed.
A year or so after everyone here has been calling for it.Just when people think they have the whole playing out from the back sussed and fixed, pep zigs straight into route one football.
Brilliant!
If a team plays a high line then it's an obvious option but most matches at the Etihad we face two lines of five with the back five fifteen yards from the halfway line. I think we were helped with the way Maresco plays - he is a disciple of Pep's, and we have suffered grievously by playing a high line. We nearly got done again yesterday until Agent Palmer remembered his roots and shoved the pass a little wider than he would have done against the Rags.When was the last time we scored from a long ball? We spend most of the time trying to work a way around the opposition and keeping the ball, but other clubs have got used to it now so we are up against a 10 man defence every week, which with the best will in the world you're sometimes not going to be able to break down.
We have been crying out for somebody to give us an alternative way of playing for a while. Savinho and Doku helped but still didn't have anybody else to attack the ball if Haaland wasn't there are had three defenders around him. Omar gives us that alternative.
Which begs the question, if City fans recognised this critical risk 2 years ago, then why didn't the club heed Rodri's warnings about burnout & fearing for his health?Ultimately there still seem to be VERY little understanding on here that if you lose the best CM in the world it's going to make a difference regardless of who else you play. It's going to affect confidence, it's going to affect results, it's going to affect the way we play and something nobody else seems to consider, it's going to affect the way the opposition play because they less likely to roll over and more likely to give it a go when they know they have a better chance.