A renewal of my belief

[jay_mcfc]

We've been getting much better for a while; Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham and even Everton last week. The soft centre and results have led to criticism but we're playing a lot better than 5/6 weeks ago. Attack wise we're gonna start battering teams again soon.

 

[domalino]

There's promise but we are still very average at fullback, central defense and in goal.

That's a lot to fix and it'll hold all the promise back until resolved (which takes time, money and a loss of pride).

It's was absurd to expect it all to be fixed in one window.

What we did was buy up 2 forward talents that we couldn't wait a year to get, or they'd be out of reach already.

Also Stones will come good, so we need 1 CB - which we did try to buy and a couple of fullbacks.

The keeper will look 10x better after that but if he doesn't improve a new one can and will be found.

 

[franksinatra]

There is no reason why we can't start games like that every week but for some reason we don't always do that. I'm not sure why. It lifts the crowd and that in turn helps the momentum. I can't understand why we struggle to do this on a consistent basis.

It is probably the hardest things in football moving the ball quickly and playing with such creativity on a regular basis.

Its all about being on form and playing with confidence. If you dont reach those 'heights' of your game the inventiveness turns into a passive spproach, slower build up and more square passes and less movement. Its a mystery why footballers are like that though

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

There has been many failings in recruitment, a lack of balance in key positions but first half today, Chelsea and United. Full game against Barca and the second half against Arsenal the team and football has been nothing short of spectacular. Its as good as I have ever seen.

Its a renewal of my faith in what we are attempting to achieve and another example of what a wonderfully innovative manager we have.

And he would be truly vindicated and we would be top of the league if we had put away half of the chances we've had this season. Are we bottom of the league for squandering chances?

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

And he would be truly vindicated and we would be top of the league if we had put away half of the chances we've had this season. Are we bottom of the league for squandering chances?

Must be.

That's why Pep often "blames" the attack more than pointing the finger at what is clearly a very weak defence. The attack isn't weak and they should be scoring more goals. It took two keeper howlers today for our goals.

 

[franksinatra]

And he would be truly vindicated and we would be top of the league if we had put away half of the chances we've had this season. Are we bottom of the league for squandering chances?

It is the fine margins were struggling with at both ends of the pitch. Unquestionably we have missed a glut of chances and is that bad luck or is it due to not striking the correct balance between our approach play and having finishers on the pitch?

Sterling still appears indecisive infront of goal and you wonder if Pep will recognise this and the wide positions will be more regularly filled by Sane and Jesus who have more of a goal threat.

You are right though. We must be top.

 

[Mike N]

I thought we were brilliant at times today. I'm feeling confident for the future.

 

[simon23]

That was more like the first few games of the season today...except it was against a much better team

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I thought we were brilliant at times today. I'm feeling confident for the future.

We might not have garnered all the points we should have but look at the performances and chances we created against CFC, MANUre, The Arse, Haringey today, and the possession we had against The Dippers. It's millimetres one way or the other, but I think the strikers are wary of taking a spec and shooting and would pass, and where they would pass they shoot, and it's all arse end up with the results.

 

[flb]

Can anyone tell me why we decide to turn it on when we feel like it ? I reckon Peps already got Cityitus , He will grow to love us , every fucker does who gets entwined in the City psyche ! Up one week down the next .

Only City eh !

 

[arfurclue]

Along with a fit Kompany.....a top class keeper,2 fullbacks,a defensive midfielder and a couple of EDS promotions,and next season we'll be fucking awesome.

Let January pass,no stop gaps that arent good enough long term,we go for our real targets in the summer.

spot on...

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

We might not have garnered all the points we should have but look at the performances and chances we created against CFC, MANUre, The Arse, Haringey today, and the possession we had against The Dippers. It's millimetres one way or the other, but I think the strikers are wary of taking a spec and shooting and would pass, and where they would pass they shoot, and it's all arse end up with the results.

Definitely too much overplaying. It was evident again in the first half at times especially.

We were great against West Ham and today but with last week thrown in. I think it's realistic to think this will be the theme for the rest of the season. Hopefully they will click more often than they have off days.

To be honest Chelsea were the real winner with today's results. Virtual free pass tomorrow and then a game against the dippers when they are in their worst form of the season.

 

[OB1]

Good post Frank. I was going to offer something similar myself. Considering the opposition today I thought we were sensational. More so than against Arsenal or Barcelona you'd could see what we're planning long term. Sane was excellent and I thought Jesus looked full of promise. I don't think Aguero has to worry about the latter though so much as Sterling, whose touch is still too inconsistent for me. I hope we can eke another couple of years out of Spanish Dave as well, time in which to groom Diaz to succeed him.

There are still issues of course - 2 shots resulted in 2 goals again - and I suspect we'll be back to the same old frustrating disappointment when Swansea come and park a gigantic white bus in front of us in a couple of weeks. Today though, despite having been utterly shafted by the officials again, I am unusually upbeat. In an even contest we are as good as any team in the world. I think the Prem is beyond us this season and maybe even top 4 will be difficult, but the Chimps League might not be.

Everyone at City just needs to be patient. We've had a strange season: we've dropped far too many points in games where we have battered teams. Today's game should have been over by HT.

 

[Proy]

You see today had the opposite effect. Whilst I can see what we could evolve into, it confirmed a few other things as well, being:

We are shit out of luck

Couldn't defend a cold

Couldn't finish in a brothel

Playing 12 men every week.

Until at least 2 of those change, and pronto, all the potential in the world will stand for fuck all.

We could find ourselves out of the champions league and that just isn't in the script.

We need to begin turning these performances into 3 points. It's all good saying we deserved them, but we have dropped 11 points at home in games we should have won. That, statistically, is going to give us a headache toward the end of the season

 

[MeatHunterrr]

You see today had the opposite effect. Whilst I can see what we could evolve into, it confirmed a few other things as well, being:

We are shit out of luck

Couldn't defend a cold

Couldn't finish in a brothel

Playing 12 men every week.

Until at least 2 of those change, and pronto, all the potential in the world will stand for fuck all.

We could find ourselves out of the champions league and that just isn't in the script.

We need to begin turning these performances into 3 points. It's all good saying we deserved them, but we have dropped 11 points at home in games we should have won. That, statistically, is going to give us a headache toward the end of the season

Spot on

 

[Proy]

Along with a fit Kompany.....a top class keeper,2 fullbacks,a defensive midfielder and a couple of EDS promotions,and next season we'll be fucking awesome.

Let January pass,no stop gaps that arent good enough long term,we go for our real targets in the summer.

The first part is dubious at best, it's most likely he will need replacing.

The rest sounds easy when you write it down, but throw in replacing Kompany and that is quite the rebuilding job whilst trying to integrate the youth you have mentioned.

For the record I totally agree with what you said, those positions need fixing, but it's going to have to be one corker of a summer window to make it happen.

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

You see today had the opposite effect. Whilst I can see what we could evolve into, it confirmed a few other things as well, being:

We are shit out of luck

Couldn't defend a cold

Couldn't finish in a brothel

Playing 12 men every week.

Until at least 2 of those change, and pronto, all the potential in the world will stand for fuck all.

We could find ourselves out of the champions league and that just isn't in the script.

We need to begin turning these performances into 3 points. It's all good saying we deserved them, but we have dropped 11 points at home in games we should have won. That, statistically, is going to give us a headache toward the end of the season

You missed off we have the worst keeper that I've ever seen at City.

 

[Ric]

There has been many failings in recruitment, a lack of balance in key positions but first half today, Chelsea and United. Full game against Barca and the second half against Arsenal the team and football has been nothing short of spectacular. Its as good as I have ever seen.

Its a renewal of my faith in what we are attempting to achieve and another example of what a wonderfully innovative manager we have.

Agree with that. Normally I'd be gutted with throwing away a two goal lead at home, but I came away feeling pretty uplifted by our performance today. We battered the most in-form team in the league, in a game most of us expected to lose. Things will click soon, and I think we'll go on a good run to consolidate our top four position. We're tantalisingly close to becoming a really good side, we just need to be patient.

 

[Ric]

You missed off we have the worst keeper that I've ever seen at City.

Give over.

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

Give over.

Ok, but everytime there's a meaningful shot on target I just know he's not going to save it. I hope he goes in the summer thats for sure.