United Post Match Thread

[cheddar404]

Just watched the analysis back on MOTD and how Shearer was harping on about United getting in behind us yesterday unlike they had done ALL season. WE MADE THE SHITTEST UNITED TEAM IN HISTORY LOOK GOOD! That alone is evidence of how bad we are at the minute.

Forget the rags, fair enough they were reasonably solid but we gave them that game as a result of poor organisation and work rate. I feel like I say the same thing every time we lose to a big team. Midfield wise, we have no clue. Pressing wise, watch the players, they all point for people to press someone but then it isn't done and then they look baffled. They seem to have no idea as to who should be pressing the ball where. For example, Toure at points yesterday was pressing the United back 4. This is a defensive midfield player. Once he leaves his position, Fernandinho was consistently outnumbered and even a pub team could have played in and around him with the space we left. It's just unbelievable that a manager on a fortune can't fix an issue the average joe can see.

The defence you used to be able to provide Pellegrini with was that we were exciting in our offensive play, but even that's gone to pot. It's slow and lethargic at the minute. Granted we have injuries, but still, it needs a refresh badly. Navas had a reasonably good game by his own standards yesterday and it still wasn't good enough. Silva badly needs a rest and Toure struggles to attack and defend more than ever before.

The best teams in the league currently are Spurs and Leicester and they are there because they are tactically organised. They have a clear plan and tailor it to suit the opponents they play. The only change Pellegrini ever makes is sticking in an extra defensive midfield player based on whether he wants to attack or defend. I'm sorry but that's basic as fuck. We are consistently absent of a plan on how to stop teams playing and subsequently how to hurt them. We turn up week in and week out with the same plan and same players and think we'll get by on ability. I don't know how many times I've said that this season but I'm sick of it.

Pellegrini is a nice man. I thank him for that title win as we played some lovely attacking stuff. However, ever since then, he has slowly killed my will to care. Yesterday we played a Manchester Derby and I felt nothing. Not before, I didn't feel nervous, and not even during. That's because to me, we've hit the lowest point in the last 5 years. Some people could tell me to get over myself given where we've come from but, we are not even as good as we were before we won our first title. The year we won the Fa cup under Mancini we were a better team with a better points tally.
Pellegrini has single handedly killed the passion within me. You can never go to a game expecting an outstanding performance because there will be the same issues every time you go because he never changes a thing. It's like you go to the Etihad expecting a 6/7 out of 10 and never a show stopper, and that's depressing.

This season can't end soon enough and end the tenure of a stale and outdated regime not suited for the modern game.

You've pretty much summed up how I feel. I wasn't even really bothered about yesterday. I normally can't sleep the night before a derby. My wife was genuinely concerned about my health as it's not normal. I'm past caring at the minute. I've never felt so out of love with City as I do right now. We went out for a fantastic meal on Saturday night for less than the cost of an away ticket that I'm not bothering with at the minute. Although a season ticket holder, I'm considering not bothering attending home matches as I work hard during the week and my free time is precious to me. Thank God for Pep coming in next season as that is literally the only light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[ono]

Just watched the analysis back on MOTD and how Shearer was harping on about United getting in behind us yesterday unlike they had done ALL season. WE MADE THE SHITTEST UNITED TEAM IN HISTORY LOOK GOOD! That alone is evidence of how bad we are at the minute.

Forget the rags, fair enough they were reasonably solid but we gave them that game as a result of poor organisation and work rate. I feel like I say the same thing every time we lose to a big team. Midfield wise, we have no clue. Pressing wise, watch the players, they all point for people to press someone but then it isn't done and then they look baffled. They seem to have no idea as to who should be pressing the ball where. For example, Toure at points yesterday was pressing the United back 4. This is a defensive midfield player. Once he leaves his position, Fernandinho was consistently outnumbered and even a pub team could have played in and around him with the space we left. It's just unbelievable that a manager on a fortune can't fix an issue the average joe can see.

The defence you used to be able to provide Pellegrini with was that we were exciting in our offensive play, but even that's gone to pot. It's slow and lethargic at the minute. Granted we have injuries, but still, it needs a refresh badly. Navas had a reasonably good game by his own standards yesterday and it still wasn't good enough. Silva badly needs a rest and Toure struggles to attack and defend more than ever before.

The best teams in the league currently are Spurs and Leicester and they are there because they are tactically organised. They have a clear plan and tailor it to suit the opponents they play. The only change Pellegrini ever makes is sticking in an extra defensive midfield player based on whether he wants to attack or defend. I'm sorry but that's basic as fuck. We are consistently absent of a plan on how to stop teams playing and subsequently how to hurt them. We turn up week in and week out with the same plan and same players and think we'll get by on ability. I don't know how many times I've said that this season but I'm sick of it.

Pellegrini is a nice man. I thank him for that title win as we played some lovely attacking stuff. However, ever since then, he has slowly killed my will to care. Yesterday we played a Manchester Derby and I felt nothing. Not before, I didn't feel nervous, and not even during. That's because to me, we've hit the lowest point in the last 5 years. Some people could tell me to get over myself given where we've come from but, we are not even as good as we were before we won our first title. The year we won the Fa cup under Mancini we were a better team with a better points tally.
Pellegrini has single handedly killed the passion within me. You can never go to a game expecting an outstanding performance because there will be the same issues every time you go because he never changes a thing. It's like you go to the Etihad expecting a 6/7 out of 10 and never a show stopper, and that's depressing.

This season can't end soon enough and end the tenure of a stale and outdated regime not suited for the modern game.

Just a point about the pressing. I think as a team they are under instruction to play a high risk pressing game.

For their goal, Fernandinho tried to press Mata when he only had a small chance of intercepting the ball, so Mata played a one-two around him and was in behind him.

MOTD showed how often they got in behind the midfield and each time it was Fernandinho making a poor decision to come out from his position to press, without thought to the gap he was leaving behind. It isn't a player intelligence thing I don't think because once he moved to centre back, Fernando did exactly the same thing.

It's exactly the same mistake that Otamendi will make by rushing out of position to fully commit to a tackle or interception and it causes us problem after problem.

All season we have complained about Yaya not being able to play in a two, yet in reality we could actually get away with it (dependent on opposition) if our defensive midfielder and our centre backs actually just played a containing game rather than an aggressive one man press.

Problem is, people like to see a midfielder running around showing passion and they like to see a committed centre back leading on the front foot, but it is causing us huge problems.

 

[Blue Elmo]

Just a point about the pressing. I think as a team they are under instruction to play a high risk pressing game.

For their goal, Fernandinho tried to press Mata when he only had a small chance of intercepting the ball, so Mata played a one-two around him and was in behind him.

MOTD showed how often they got in behind the midfield and each time it was Fernandinho making a poor decision to come out from his position to press, without thought to the gap he was leaving behind. It isn't a player intelligence thing I don't think because once he moved to centre back, Fernando did exactly the same thing.

It's exactly the same mistake that Otamendi will make by rushing out of position to fully commit to a tackle or interception and it causes us problem after problem.

All season we have complained about Yaya not being able to play in a two, yet in reality we could actually get away with it (dependent on opposition) if our defensive midfielder and our centre backs actually just played a containing game rather than an aggressive one man press.

Problem is, people like to see a midfielder running around showing passion and they like to see a committed centre back leading on the front foot, but it is causing us huge problems.

I agree that Fernandinho did make that mistake, but he was done as soon as that ball came to Mata in the first place. He either engages him and gets played around or back off and they play around him just the same. Toure was pressing elsewhere and the team as a result was exposed with a pass into the right area. There might be some poor decision making from Fernandinho and Toure on when to press, but the manager needs to address that issue in training and we've seem the same poor decisions for a long while now. We just have no clue bud. If we're going to press, it needs to be strategic and not balls to wall go for it whatever the cost, and as a team. Dortmund, Bayern and even Spurs could teach us a lesson here.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

We had chances, Aguero's header being the best but you can't say we exactly opened them up. Now I know they sat back after the goal but still. There's one reason we lost that match yesterday and that was our work ethic, work off the ball and lack of pressing in the first half. We let United walk into our final third. Mata's pass to rashford wasn't creative, it was a straight pass from central midfield into the feet of the attacker. None of our midfielders tried to close down matter. None were tracking back to cover our defence if rashford beat one of them, even with Demi's awful mistake it was a goal that could have so easily been avoided.

This has been an overarching characteristic of too many matches at The Etihad this season. Yesterday was shocking that we just allow an oppo back four to stride forward, pick a twenty yard pass and have 'em knockin' on the penalty area door before we know it. Yesterday there was no pressure whatsoever on the man with the ball until Joe picked it out of the net. One of the most alarming goals conceded all season.

 

[ono]

I agree that Fernandinho did make that mistake, but he was done as soon as that ball came to Mata in the first place. He either engages him and gets played around or back off and they play around him just the same. Toure was pressing elsewhere and the team as a result was exposed with a pass into the right area. There might be some poor decision making from Fernandinho and Toure on when to press, but the manager needs to address that issue in training and we've seem the same poor decisions for a long while now. We just have no clue bud.

Exactly mate i'm not blaming Fernandinho, because he is clearly operating under instructon. I think for the goal, given Mata was on the halfway line and we were in a decent enough position we should have contained. And again, Fernando and Yaya also were guilty of the same, although luckily it didn't lead to a goal. It's baffling as to why we do it when it lands us in trouble time and time again. Teams know we do it as well and they will simply work on drawing Fernandinho out of position to simply get in behind him, knowing that Yaya isn't going to fill in all that often.

 

[MadchesterCity]

I've not read the thread but just popped in to say Pellegrini must be sacked today before he ruins Manchester City even further

 

[ono]

This has been an overarching characteristic of too many matches at The Etihad this season. Yesterday was shocking that we just allow an oppo back four to stride forward, pick a twenty yard pass and have 'em knockin' on the penalty area door before we know it. Yesterday there was no pressure whatsoever on the man with the ball until Joe picked it out of the net. One of the most alarming goals conceded all season.

It's the exact opposite that's causing the problems. I don't think we have a clue on how to press so sometimes it's better to play a different way.

For example, their goal was scored because in the midfield Mata had the ball on the halfway line (where there was no danger), Fernandinho left his position to close him down, and they played a simple one-two around him with Mata moving into the space evacuated by Fernandinho. There was still a massive brain fart by Demichellis to come but this kind of play happened time and time again.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

It's the exact opposite that's causing the problems. I don't think we have a clue on how to press so sometimes it's better to play a different way.

For example, their goal was scored because in the midfield Mata had the ball on the halfway line (where there was no danger), Fernandinho left his position to close him down, and they played a simple one-two around him with Mata moving into the space evacuated by Fernandinho. There was still a massive brain fart by Demichellis to come but this kind of play happened time and time again.

From my eyrie in CBL3 I was just left wondering how a PL team could concede a goal like that. One second it's down by the Rag back line, we retreat to the halfway line, and a couple of seconds later Wundercunt is bearing down on nigh on 200 square feet of fuckin' goal with only Joe to beat. It's staggering in it's ineptitude. Joe Mercer and Big Mal will be rolling in their caskets!

 

[ono]

From my eyrie in CBL3 I was just left wondering how a PL team could concede a goal like that. One second it's down by the Rag back line, we retreat to the halfway line, and a couple of seconds later Wundercunt is bearing down on nigh on 200 square feet of fuckin' goal with only Joe to beat. It's staggering in it's ineptitude. Joe Mercer and Big Mal will be rolling in their caskets!

I agree mate it came from frig all but and we made it easy for them. We made Mata's mind up by committing to him, and we made Rashford's mind up by going to ground. They actually had to do almost nothing for the goal.

 

[Armaan]

The team look demotivated by a demotivated manager, who will repeat selection mistakes again and again because he probably doesn't give a fuck. Injuries to leaders on the pitch don't help, but all of us knew when we saw Demichellis's name on the team sheet that we had a disaster on the cards, so why did Pellegrini select him? We all knew when Bony came on that he'd contribute nothing, so why did Pellegrini bring him on? The results we've had tell their own story. Top 4 looks unlikely and if we don't make it, we will be put back at least 3 years. Personally, I'd have sacked Pellegrini after we got dicked at OT last year and we are paying the price for not doing that.

Sadly, this shit is true. Worst bit is pep is only here for three years as well. The men in suits upstairs have totally cocked up these past couple of years and now we're in a shit position. Similar to Liverpool, we'll have a great manager with 1/2 top players mixed in with a load of average ones. Without CL I'm not sure that top tier footballer would want to move to us.

 

[Father Paul]

Just watched the analysis back on MOTD and how Shearer was harping on about United getting in behind us yesterday unlike they had done ALL season. WE MADE THE SHITTEST UNITED TEAM IN HISTORY LOOK GOOD! That alone is evidence of how bad we are at the minute.

Forget the rags, fair enough they were reasonably solid but we gave them that game as a result of poor organisation and work rate. I feel like I say the same thing every time we lose to a big team. Midfield wise, we have no clue. Pressing wise, watch the players, they all point for people to press someone but then it isn't done and then they look baffled. They seem to have no idea as to who should be pressing the ball where. For example, Toure at points yesterday was pressing the United back 4. This is a defensive midfield player. Once he leaves his position, Fernandinho was consistently outnumbered and even a pub team could have played in and around him with the space we left. It's just unbelievable that a manager on a fortune can't fix an issue the average joe can see.

The defence you used to be able to provide Pellegrini with was that we were exciting in our offensive play, but even that's gone to pot. It's slow and lethargic at the minute. Granted we have injuries, but still, it needs a refresh badly. Navas had a reasonably good game by his own standards yesterday and it still wasn't good enough. Silva badly needs a rest and Toure struggles to attack and defend more than ever before.

The best teams in the league currently are Spurs and Leicester and they are there because they are tactically organised. They have a clear plan and tailor it to suit the opponents they play. The only change Pellegrini ever makes is sticking in an extra defensive midfield player based on whether he wants to attack or defend. I'm sorry but that's basic as fuck. We are consistently absent of a plan on how to stop teams playing and subsequently how to hurt them. We turn up week in and week out with the same plan and same players and think we'll get by on ability. I don't know how many times I've said that this season but I'm sick of it.

Pellegrini is a nice man. I thank him for that title win as we played some lovely attacking stuff. However, ever since then, he has slowly killed my will to care. Yesterday we played a Manchester Derby and I felt nothing. Not before, I didn't feel nervous, and not even during. That's because to me, we've hit the lowest point in the last 5 years. Some people could tell me to get over myself given where we've come from but, we are not even as good as we were before we won our first title. The year we won the Fa cup under Mancini we were a better team with a better points tally.
Pellegrini has single handedly killed the passion within me. You can never go to a game expecting an outstanding performance because there will be the same issues every time you go because he never changes a thing. It's like you go to the Etihad expecting a 6/7 out of 10 and never a show stopper, and that's depressing.

This season can't end soon enough and end the tenure of a stale and outdated regime not suited for the modern game.

Your not alone mate at least half of us feel the same way. We just have to move on to next season and beyond I fear as apart from bad management the age and quality of the squad is such that it may take 2/3 seasons to get back on track. Pep has his work cut out I'm afrsaid.

 

[fergal_oc]

I've not caught up on the previous 70+ pages so here's my summary...

Sensationalist maybe but Demichelis should never play for us again.
Thought Mangala had a good game and Dinho slipped in to CB quite well - would be happy to keep him there for most if not all of the remaining PL games. His positioning was pretty good and his ability to pick a pass when he's in possession created a few opportunities.
Yaya worked hard, Navas needs to believe in himself more, quite how he has such little confidence in his own abilities I don't know (same could be said of Sterling, which makes you wonder if it's the coaching...)
Sagna and Clichy put in a solid performance.
Sergio despite not having his shooting boots on really understands how important it is, especially in a derby game, to put in a shift and ruffle some feathers - legend!
David needs a rest, he's half a second off the pace at the moment and it's killing our go forward.
Fernando did well when he came on.
Bony... see the Demichelis comment above

I never want to see a manager sacked, all clubs go through a bumpy ride and whilst it would be wrong to ignore the CapOne cup and 1/4s of CL we are still on a downward spiral under Pellegrini. I'll give him the injuries, something the media seem to throw the "with City's resources it's no excuse" bollocks at, but he can't be entirely absolved of responsibility because the number of muscle injuries we've had this year is no longer a coincidence.

Life isn't made of binary choices but Pellegrini needs to freshen things up. Bring in some youth, rest David for a few games, play Dinho at CB and drop Demi and Bony entirely OR it may be better to just leave now...

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

We lost it the moment the clown went with just Fernandinho and Yaya.

Carrick was the most important piece on the chess board, effectively playing as a third ball-playing centre back.

United split their full-backs, meaning our two in the middle didn't know who to engage.

Engage Carrick, and De Gea just sent the ball wide, and they always had a man over. Coupled with exposing a 'gone' Demichelis, and that's the nub.

Barca, Bayern, they have all done it. Have a midfielder drop into the back four, someone who can get a pass out, simply because they know Silva is the easiest man to avoid in our lamentable high press, and then right on to us.

Pellegrini sets us up for failure, and also fails to react, thereafter.

 

[argyle]

We lost it the moment the clown went with just Fernandinho and Yaya.

Carrick was the most important piece on the chess board, effectively playing as a third ball-playing centre back.

United split their full-backs, meaning our two in the middle didn't know who to engage.

Engage Carrick, and De Gea just sent the ball wide, and they always had a man over. Coupled with exposing a 'gone' Demichelis, and that's the nub.

Barca, Bayern, they have all done it. Have a midfielder drop into the back four, someone who can get a pass out, simply because they know Silva is the easiest man to avoid in our lamentable high press, and then right on to us.

Pellegrini sets us up for failure, and also fails to react, thereafter.

Out-thought by the tactical turtle. Just shameful.

We're an absolute mess on the field.

What is most annoying is that almost everyone in the pre-match thread predicted that our midfield of Toure and Fern would be split/over-run.

 

[kiam06]

We lost it the moment the clown went with just Fernandinho and Yaya.

Carrick was the most important piece on the chess board, effectively playing as a third ball-playing centre back.

United split their full-backs, meaning our two in the middle didn't know who to engage.

Engage Carrick, and De Gea just sent the ball wide, and they always had a man over. Coupled with exposing a 'gone' Demichelis, and that's the nub.

Barca, Bayern, they have all done it. Have a midfielder drop into the back four, someone who can get a pass out, simply because they know Silva is the easiest man to avoid in our lamentable high press, and then right on to us.

Pellegrini sets us up for failure, and also fails to react, thereafter.

Totally agree. I would also add the fact Kelechi didn't start or even come on he chose Bony.

MP just witnessed Utds kid score yet didn't think of throwing our much more talented young striker on and allow him to make a name for himself.

Pathetic embarrassing day all round.

Still in a state of shock we lost to such a poor poor Utd side at home.

 

[TheThirdDeano]

I blame FFP, Nasri being injured and the fact the blue bulbs on the top of the pillars STILL haven't been replaced.

Utter, utter shit-show.

 

[buckshot]

Losing to the scum always hurts but for some reason it wasn't as bad yesterday. Maybe it was the fact that I knew City would lay an egg, or maybe it's that since the players don't seem to mind I don't think I should either. Bony has been horrible, Nacho has been excellent but (once again) Bony got the call. Navas has one use and it's to be brought on as a sub when City are ahead to be an outlet and help protect a lead, yet MP started him (once again).

 

[Colin Bell's Boots]

Exactly, we'll be lucky to get 15 mil for bony

Under the circumstances 15 million would be fantastic .

 

[Gundogan's Moustache]

Out-thought by the tactical turtle. Just shameful.

We're an absolute mess on the field.

What is most annoying is that almost everyone in the pre-match thread predicted that our midfield of Toure and Fern would be split/over-run.

Everyone also said if Otamendi wasn't fit it had to be Sagna at Centre Back for pace. What does he go and do? Plays our slowest Centre back. It really is worrying our fans have better tactical know how than our manager

 

[Colin Bell's Boots]

Just watched the analysis back on MOTD and how Shearer was harping on about United getting in behind us yesterday unlike they had done ALL season. WE MADE THE SHITTEST UNITED TEAM IN HISTORY LOOK GOOD! That alone is evidence of how bad we are at the minute.

Forget the rags, fair enough they were reasonably solid but we gave them that game as a result of poor organisation and work rate. I feel like I say the same thing every time we lose to a big team. Midfield wise, we have no clue. Pressing wise, watch the players, they all point for people to press someone but then it isn't done and then they look baffled. They seem to have no idea as to who should be pressing the ball where. For example, Toure at points yesterday was pressing the United back 4. This is a defensive midfield player. Once he leaves his position, Fernandinho was consistently outnumbered and even a pub team could have played in and around him with the space we left. It's just unbelievable that a manager on a fortune can't fix an issue the average joe can see.

The defence you used to be able to provide Pellegrini with was that we were exciting in our offensive play, but even that's gone to pot. It's slow and lethargic at the minute. Granted we have injuries, but still, it needs a refresh badly. Navas had a reasonably good game by his own standards yesterday and it still wasn't good enough. Silva badly needs a rest and Toure struggles to attack and defend more than ever before.

The best teams in the league currently are Spurs and Leicester and they are there because they are tactically organised. They have a clear plan and tailor it to suit the opponents they play. The only change Pellegrini ever makes is sticking in an extra defensive midfield player based on whether he wants to attack or defend. I'm sorry but that's basic as fuck. We are consistently absent of a plan on how to stop teams playing and subsequently how to hurt them. We turn up week in and week out with the same plan and same players and think we'll get by on ability. I don't know how many times I've said that this season but I'm sick of it.

Pellegrini is a nice man. I thank him for that title win as we played some lovely attacking stuff. However, ever since then, he has slowly killed my will to care. Yesterday we played a Manchester Derby and I felt nothing. Not before, I didn't feel nervous, and not even during. That's because to me, we've hit the lowest point in the last 5 years. Some people could tell me to get over myself given where we've come from but, we are not even as good as we were before we won our first title. The year we won the Fa cup under Mancini we were a better team with a better points tally.
Pellegrini has single handedly killed the passion within me. You can never go to a game expecting an outstanding performance because there will be the same issues every time you go because he never changes a thing. It's like you go to the Etihad expecting a 6/7 out of 10 and never a show stopper, and that's depressing.

This season can't end soon enough and end the tenure of a stale and outdated regime not suited for the modern game.

Great post and I feel exactly the same way. I have never ( well season under Pearce was dire ) felt so detached, disinterested and bored by a City team and that's having watched them for close on 60 years.

My son and myself ( for several reasons but cetainly not helped by the current malaise ) are seriously questioning whether to renew our Seasoncards .