Post Match Thread: City v Juventus

[YaYa's Left Peg]

I think the whole club needs to adopt a more relaxed attitude to this competition. We will fair much better if and when we do. But at least it's early and the group is still winnable.

Agree totally Pam.

I know the media use our relative lack of success in Europe as a stick to beat us with, but I think we as a club appear to be putting way too much pressure on ourselves to do well. We're almost trying to force it rather than letting things take their course - after all, this is only the fifth time (I think) we have competed in this competition.

The likes of Kompany need to pipe down before games like this, saying we're gonna do this and gonna do that - show more humility,less false bravado and focus on the job in hand. The team has run out of excuses now, and really need to show the hunger and desire that they are showing in the PL.

 

[citysince88]

Why do people think playing Navas over Nasri was such a factor, the only think Navas would have done for us is won us a few more corners after he repeatedly cannoned his low crosses off of the defenders legs. At the end of the day if we put the chances in the back of the net we win the game it's that simple, maybe Bony, Sterling and Silva weren't 100% and shouldn't have started but we still did enough to win that game.

 

[BillyShears]

But our attacking players should be part of a higher tempo and weren't allowing us to play at a higher tempo. So it was the tempo because of the attacking players. Fernandinho Yaya and Sagna were involved in possession an awful lot but had no outlets enough of the time so it was just sideways and backwards passing very often and when it went forward it was obvious and slow paced too often. Juve were content to let us play the ball around fairly slowly in the middle third of the pitch. They were extremely well drilled and seemed to enjoy playing that defensive style and did it quite well. We fell into a trap of thinking we were bossing the game when all we were doing was bossing possession. We only really cut out two or three proper chances and that was when we moved the ball quicker, injected some pace and then we only took one of them. Then we were punished for two moments of lapses in concentration.

That game reminded me of Swansea v United a few weeks ago, or a number of our own games last season.

Don't really agree and I think the comparison to that United match is frankly bizarre. Tempo has often been a problem for City not just in the CL but last night I didn't think it was an issue. Certainly not a big one. 20% more skill/ability out of Silva, Sterling, Nasri, or Bony and we win comfortably.

Also lots of people not really showing Juve the requisite respect. They were awesome and they needed to be to keep us to the four big chances we did create.

 

[leighton]

The wrong player selection cost us. Navas or KDB should of started ahead of Nasri. The speed we have down both wings would of caused Juve more problems than we did last night. 2 good goals from Juve won them the game. We controlled the game well at times. Yaya I just think had a typical Yaya game. Good going forward got caught out defensively at times. I think Yaya needs to be behind Kun in the champions league games for him to have less defensive role in the game.
We need to win in Germany and out of our next 3 games get at least 7 points or 9 get less and we make it harder on us again. I think we will have enough to quailify but we need to go and beat our rivals away and it will be tricky games in Spain and Turin.

 

[Phil1]

Disagree. The intensity of the game was the highest we have seen this season. There was just no space because that's how Juventus designed their game. They were on top of us in midfield.

We needed Bony to run the channels, and drag their defenders out of position but of course he isn't that type of forward.

You honestly thought our intensity was as high as you've seen this season?
I disagree, in fact if I didn't know better I'd say you were on a wind up but then there's very little I agree with you with when it comes to football.

 

[Jazzman]

I have not read many messages in this thread, so I apologise if I am just repeating what other posters already have said.

1. I thought we played pretty well yesterday. We dominated them, and I think were ahead on all parameters and statistics, bar the only important one, off course.
2. Our game has developed compared to last years tired 4-4-2. I think we tried yesterday to do what we have done in 4 of the 5 PL games so far this season. We just weren't 100% good at it (see next point). But in general we have a good game plan, and tried to follow it last night.
3. Silva was not his usual self last night. Nasri did what Nasri does, when he is motivated, but his best position is in the middle (Silva's position). Playing Nasri wide is not really working. So, in hindsight (always easy), we probably should have rested Silva, played either Nasri, or preferably De Bruyne, in the middle, and Navas on the right wing.
4. It was a mistake to sub Sterling. Our game plan (see point 1) requires 2 pacy wingers to work properly, and we have those, but somehow decided to use only 1 last night, and that only for part of the game.
5. Fernandinho and Yaya were great last night.
6. I have a lot of respect for our attitude of trying to enforce our way of playing also in European games. It looks a little naive when we loose to 2 half chances, but actually I'd rather go down trying to do our thing, than doing the Juve (or Chelsea) thing of just standing back, defending and hope for the best.
7. Not being a match goer myself (and there is a reason for that which I do not want to write about) I probably should not be saying the following, but I think it is a shame that we do not treat these CL nights as a party. The booing of the anthem to start with, but not only, creates a negative atmosphere around the whole game, and I think this reflects on the players and is an important contributing factor to our misfortune in this competition. We need to grow up, and recognise that the best way of showing UEFA that we do not like them is to win this competition.
8. So what to do? I think the only way forward is to continue to try to play our way; i.e. follow the same game plan as we have done in the first 4 PL games, and tried to do yesterday, but do it better next time. So let's not dive to deep into negativity, let's not make the mistake of thinking that everything is the same as in previous years. Let's fucking go for it, also in the CL!

 

[bluethai]

It's very easy for an organised defence to deal with just one good pacey winger, but with two unpredictable wingers on both flanks (i.e. Robben & Ribery / Sterling & Navas), this will cause opposition havoc no end (just like our first 4 games).

 

[Neville Kneville]

Don't really agree and I think the comparison to that United match is frankly bizarre. Tempo has often been a problem for City not just in the CL but last night I didn't think it was an issue. Certainly not a big one. 20% more skill/ability out of Silva, Sterling, Nasri, or Bony and we win comfortably.

Also lots of people not really showing Juve the requisite respect. They were awesome and they needed to be to keep us to the four big chances we did create.

I didn't think they were awesome tbh. Anymore than Napoli or CSKA or Kiev or Ajax etc etc. We were just that pale shadow of City who can't pass, can't defend & imo, are very slow. We play like we are scared, which I think we are.

Some of the obvious first time passes missed by people like Silva & Yaya Toure last night, which ground us to a halt when we should have been tearing away, you would never see in a whole season of Prem League games. We were sat there pointing at players in disbelief, that people such as Silva hadn't got the ball away to them first time. So obvious. These guys never miss stuff like that in the Prem. And the accuracy & weight of the passing was frequently wrong, also slowing us down.

Sometimes it took us 5 passes to reach the half way line, because we were so slow so lacking in ideas. We looked like Utd.

 

[Luke The Blue]

Look I'm sorry to say this but it sounds a bit pathetic when people say 'I'm starting to loose interest in this competition'. Look we lost to the finalists no shame in that as we were actually unlucky to loose.

I agree with the majority on here that we shouldn't of started Nasri, but maybe it was too early to throw De Bruyne in, and by the time we play them next we should have a fully fit Sergio and Silva.

Last night was just unlucky. Onwards and upwards blues.

 

[birchwoodgingerste]

Stop playing players out of position de bruyne should be right side or centre silva should be central and nasri should be on the bench.

 

[MadchesterCity]

Do we know yet which group's winner we play if we end up second in the group?

Barca

 

[Neville Kneville]

I have not read many messages in this thread, so I apologise if I am just repeating what other posters already have said.

1. I thought we played pretty well yesterday. We dominated them, and I think were ahead on all parameters and statistics, bar the only important one, off course.
2. Our game has developed compared to last years tired 4-4-2. I think we tried yesterday to do what we have done in 4 of the 5 PL games so far this season. We just weren't 100% good at it (see next point). But in general we have a good game plan, and tried to follow it last night.
3. Silva was not his usual self last night. Nasri did what Nasri does, when he is motivated, but his best position is in the middle (Silva's position). Playing Nasri wide is not really working. So, in hindsight (always easy), we probably should have rested Silva, played either Nasri, or preferably De Bruyne, in the middle, and Navas on the right wing.
4. It was a mistake to sub Sterling. Our game plan (see point 1) requires 2 pacy wingers to work properly, and we have those, but somehow decided to use only 1 last night, and that only for part of the game.
5. Fernandinho and Yaya were great last night.
6. I have a lot of respect for our attitude of trying to enforce our way of playing also in European games. It looks a little naive when we loose to 2 half chances, but actually I'd rather go down trying to do our thing, than doing the Juve (or Chelsea) thing of just standing back, defending and hope for the best.
7. Not being a match goer myself (and there is a reason for that which I do not want to write about) I probably should not be saying the following, but I think it is a shame that we do not treat these CL nights as a party. The booing of the anthem to start with, but not only, creates a negative atmosphere around the whole game, and I think this reflects on the players and is an important contributing factor to our misfortune in this competition. We need to grow up, and recognise that the best way of showing UEFA that we do not like them is to win this competition.
8. So what to do? I think the only way forward is to continue to try to play our way; i.e. follow the same game plan as we have done in the first 4 PL games, and tried to do yesterday, but do it better next time. So let's not dive to deep into negativity, let's not make the mistake of thinking that everything is the same as in previous years. Let's fucking go for it, also in the CL!

I think you are spot on about us treating it as a party (which should include booing the anthem) but starting at the top imo. We have gone into this competition from day one, like it is the quest for the holy grail, & nobody has ever played as if they are actually enjoying it. The crowd don't seem to be (or in my case are not) enjoying it. The players aren't enjoying it, & the manager isn't enjoying it.

We put too much life or death emphasis on it & it badly effects our Premier League campaign. This competition is City's biggest obstacle this season to wining the Premier League. Not Chelsea or Arsenal.

If we ever stop fretting about it & start enjoying it, we might just win it. Until that happens, we have no chance. Our opponents are never as worried about it as we are.

 

[oasis-city-greek-fan]

Sterling must watch 100 times how Di Maria scored and Txiki must write 100 times "I won t give 30 millions for a kiosk never again"

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Don't really agree and I think the comparison to that United match is frankly bizarre. Tempo has often been a problem for City not just in the CL but last night I didn't think it was an issue. Certainly not a big one. 20% more skill/ability out of Silva, Sterling, Nasri, or Bony and we win comfortably.

Also lots of people not really showing Juve the requisite respect. They were awesome and they needed to be to keep us to the four big chances we did create.

I think they were a long way from awesome, but what they did was classic Italian play - dogged defending, and any chance that comes their way, whether it's a team effort or individual skill, they put it away. This is the best game Juve have played this season. They were lucky at weekend against Chievo, and it was the perfect opportunity to net three points from a team which had been struggling to come to terms with the loss of several heavyweights.

As far as City were concerned it was the same old, same old! Slow and predictable. Just the time when you want the trickery of Sterling to come good and to put away the one chance he gets . . . . . . . . . . .!

I also think that when it comes to CL football we take a little bit of fear onto the pitch - the fear of losing! It draws in the team and we play a game where a top class defence is not needed because we opt for the well-tried and unproductive approach.

However, all is not lost! The draw at Monchengladbach has now to be converted to a win.

 

[Cheadle Blue]

We can't miss chances like we did last night

If sterling scores that early chance it would have been a completely different game and atmosphere

Big games need big players, and ours didn't impose themselves last night, yet again in a CL game

EVERY CL game at home, we are going to face 10 men behind the ball, so we need to come up with an answer pretty quickly

 

[Neville Kneville]

We can't miss chances like we did last night

If sterling scores that early chance it would have been a completely different game and atmosphere

Big games need big players, and ours didn't impose themselves last night, yet again in a CL game

EVERY CL game at home, we are going to face 10 men behind the ball, so we need to come up with an answer pretty quickly

We scored. Luckily, but it went in.

That's the answer rght there. We could easily, & I mean EASILY, of stopped Juve from scoring. Then picked them off on the break. We took off the player most likely to.

 

[BillyShears]

I think they were a long way from awesome, but what they did was classic Italian play - dogged defending, and any chance that comes their way, whether it's a team effort or individual skill, they put it away. This is the best game Juve have played this season. They were lucky at weekend against Chievo, and it was the perfect opportunity to net three points from a team which had been struggling to come to terms with the loss of several heavyweights.

As far as City were concerned it was the same old, same old! Slow and predictable. Just the time when you want the trickery of Sterling to come good and to put away the one chance he gets . . . . . . . . . . .!

I also think that when it comes to CL football we take a little bit of fear onto the pitch - the fear of losing! It draws in the team and we play a game where a top class defence is not needed because we opt for the well-tried and unproductive approach.

However, all is not lost! The draw at Monchengladbach has now to be converted to a win.

Juve's awesomeness in all of last season's CL run to the final was unbelievable defensive organisation and team shape and devastating effectiveness from their forwards on the counter. They showed exactly that last night.

Again at the risk of repeating myself I just don't see the parallel with previous CL games in terms of performance/tempo (but I will watch it again tonight). If it mirrored any game it was the Roma away game only diff being we didn't take our chances last night.

 

[Matty]

Don't really agree and I think the comparison to that United match is frankly bizarre. Tempo has often been a problem for City not just in the CL but last night I didn't think it was an issue. Certainly not a big one. 20% more skill/ability out of Silva, Sterling, Nasri, or Bony and we win comfortably.

Also lots of people not really showing Juve the requisite respect. They were awesome and they needed to be to keep us to the four big chances we did create.

I simply can't agree that Juventus were awesome last night. I thought they were clinical when it came to taking their chances but, aside from that, they were very ordinary. That's why losing the game is so frustrating. We've failed to beat some big sides in Europe, but invariably they've either played extremely well (Bayern 3-1 at home for example), we've been hamstrung by a red card or we've just been awful. Last night, on balance, we were the better side. More of the ball, more chances created, better passing, almost all aspects of the game (aside, unfortunately, from goals scored!) yet we still lost. The type of performance Juventus came to put in was the same type/style of performance Chelsea came to put in a few weeks ago. They did a better job of it than Chelsea did, but why were we so far below our standards from the Chelsea game? Bony in for Aguero goes some way towards answering that (Bony really needs to get going in a City shirt as, so far, aside from a few nice touches and link up play, he's not offering us anything Dzeko didn't, and like Dzeko last season, he's not scoring anything like enough either), but Bony alone can't be the answer to why we were below our levels in the league.

Is it mental? Do the players really believe we can compete with Juventus? They should, the Premier league has better sides than Juventus in it, and we beat them. Is it tactical? Do we change the way we play when the Champion's League comes around? Last night we seemed to slow the game down a lot more than we have been doing in the league, a lot more sideways passes on the halfway line than the last few weeks, which is a tactic we've tried in Europe, and in the league, before. I'm not a fan of it.

Ultimately there is a degree of misfortune in last nights result, I'm not sure you'd go as far as to say our performance deserved 3 points, but being 1-0 up with 20 minutes to go we probably deserved to win from there, however one thing I'd say for certain is we didn't deserve to lose that game. We kept Juventus quiet as an attacking force in the main. Hart, aside from the goals, made just 1 save. What we need to do is be more clinical, we had the chances to score more and to make the game safe, and we squandered them. Juventus had barely any opportunities, yet took almost all of them.

 

[kunaguero10]

Anyone else slightly concerned that the goals are starting to dry up? We've now got 12 from 6 games this season, good but not spectacular, and the amount scored per game has slowed down steadily during the season.

We need Aguero to start bagging and hopefully the goals will start to flow more easily, but we're in danger of becoming stunted in our attacks.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I feel like I watched a different match to the one being talked about in this thread.

I think you did to be honest.