AS Monaco (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

[blueparrot]

Better chalk off half of Haalands goals then.

Or any overhead goals.

 

[noseve]

Two big games, Gonzales has come on and cost us, lost the ball against Arsenal leading to a goal and given away a penalty which was always going to be given, simply put he needs to do better, sounds harsh but decision making at the top level he has been found wanting, undoing all the good work

Yep - whether it's fair or not, it's a fact of footballing life that if you play for a lesser team your season will be defined by your highlights, whereas at a club like City, you'll likely be judged by your mistakes.

I don't blame him for Arsenal - I lay that one squarely at Savinho's feet - but last night, in a European tie where everybody knows UEFA's interpretation of the rules, Nico might as well have just punched that ball away. None of this debate about the parts the referee or Dier played would even be taking place had he not made the ludicrous decision to raise his foot in a crowded area.

Can't blame it on fatigue, either. He has to be more savvy - we can't afford another slow-witted player on the pitch.

 

[Lowtower]

It doesn’t matter if he’s American or from Botswana or Lithuania — it’s a bad, clueless post. Like most of those he writes.

Like, we can't have people calling it soccer.

Rag behaviour

 

[noseve]

Because UEFA had instructed VAR to make sure we didn't win

You were in that meeting, were you?

 

[moomba]

Yep - whether it's fair or not, it's a fact of footballing life that if you play for a lesser team your season will be defined by your highlights, whereas at a club like City, you'll likely be judged by your mistakes.

I don't blame him for Arsenal - I lay that one squarely at Savinho's feet - but last night, in a European tie where everybody knows UEFA's interpretation of the rules, Nico might as well have just punched that ball away. None of this debate about the parts the referee or Dier played would even be taking place had he not made the ludicrous decision to raise his foot in a crowded area.

Can't blame it on fatigue, either. He has to be more savvy - we can't afford another slow-witted player on the pitch.

No, we would have been slagging him off for allowing Dier a free header.

I look forward to us being awarded a similar penalty in Europe this year.

 

[peter.evans]

Couldn't agree more. He will be some player when he adjusts and settles. That's why Pep is happy with many players tonight.

Agree, I thought Reijnders played well. Doku had a shocker and the right side was completely slow and ineffective thanks to Guardiola playing Stones out of position and his insistence on Silva being anywhere near rhe starting 11 let alone out of position at right midfield !

 

[bellsouth]

No, we would have been slagging him off for allowing Dier a free header.

I look forward to us being awarded a similar penalty in Europe this year.

I look forward to us getting any penalty in any competition this season.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Do I fuck tosser

As I thought

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

A high boot is an offense when it is executed in a dangerous manner, which includes
kicking the ball at or above waist height, potentially endangering an opponent's safety. And Dier’s head would meet the ball for a genuine attempt of header. Or did you mean it is a stretch to be called head kick in MMA?

It sure would have met the ball . . . had the ball been there when his head was. How long does the ball have to be gone for before it’s not a foul? A second? Five seconds? That’s why it’s the referee’s discretion. And the referee saw the replay with the ball gone . . . and got it wrong.

But even if you don’t think so, no problem. Every defensive play in future like this — every set piece — I expect you to be here praising the players who stand rooted to their spots like pylons. I’m sure Pep will do same.

 

[Marvin.]

In the bigger picture a draw away at Monaco is a disappointing result because in the new CL format,a win at home and a draw away is a perilous outcome. A win at home and a draw away would in the seeded Group stages be enough for qualification. City would set up to neutralise transition away from home, and nick wins or typically draw. That's no longer good enough. To qualify automatically you need to win some away games and Monaco away was probably our easiest away fixture.

We need to change our low-risk tactics away from home in the CL

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Better chalk off half of Haalands goals then.

Was going to say the same thing. He should have waited for the ball to float to his feet like a motherfucking butterfly. “Oh, I’m sorry, boss. Just in case there was a defender I didn’t see with his head at waist level I thought it better to wait til the ball hit the turf to shoot. I didn’t want a yellow or red. You know UEFA.”

 

[Ajm1985]

I don't think for a second that Gonzales had any control over what he did there, he just swung his foot high and hoped for the best, I don't even think he saw Dier ..... when any high cross is slung in the ball is there to be won, but you have to win it right, in a controlled fashion, and get the ball clear ..... Gonzales knew before he raised his boot that any misjudged contact with an opponent was almost certain to cost us, and I don't think there were many City fans or players who, after watching that incident, didn't fear the worst.

You can believe it's a pen but why are you making up a weird narrative about it? He clearly had control as he's looking at the ball, aiming for the ball and got it; he would also have seen Dier as he's being dragged back by him

 

[doyle]

I thought we played well. I think away at Monaco, with its surreal atmosphere, induces a lack of intensity. I’m pleased with the way the team is developing. I think that Foden Haalland pairing is phenomenal

 

[i8rags]

Fuck the ref, my worry is Rodri looks alarmingly not himself.

 

[Sheik Battle and Goal]

If Var had gotten involved, we would have. In fairness to the ref, he didn't call it in teal time. But once you watch it in slow mo only blue tinted lenses would push one to conclude anything other than Penalty.

I know what you’re saying but refs should watch things at the monitor at real time. Slowing things down frame by frame always looks worse to make it look more serious than it actually is.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Too much focus on the penalty. We should have already scored enough by then. It’s not a disaster but is a reminder that this team is still a work in progress. The one big concern for me was Rodri. He didn’t look right at all.

Agree with all this.

 

[Marvin.]

Fuck the ref, my worry is Rodri looks alarmingly not himself.

He didn't play well. It's hard to know in the moment what is to be expected at this moment after the injury.

 

[NeilMcnabTwoFooted]

In the bigger picture a draw away at Monaco is a disappointing result because in the new CL format,a win at home and a draw away is a perilous outcome. A win at home and a draw away would in the seeded Group stages be enough for qualification. City would set up to neutralise transition away from home, and nick wins or typically draw. That's no longer good enough. To qualify automatically you need to win some away games and Monaco away was probably our easiest away fixture.

We need to change our low-risk tactics away from home in the CL

are you crackers, 4 home matches & 4 away matches in this new format, if we win our 4 home games & draw our 4 away matches that gives us a total of 16 points if you think thats not enough to qualify in the top 8 your mad.

 

[noseve]

Seems to me that unless Dier is motherfucking four foot two it’s not at “head height”, is it?

As I said to all the other referees here, you tell me what Nico is supposed to do here. You sure as hell better be applauding any City player that doesn’t make a challenge like that trying to poke the ball clear for the rest of your lives.

You want to call it terribly unlucky, fine. You want to blame Nico, then you’re making an inane argument.

I agree with most of your posts across this forum, but Nico's toe is at the same height as his own nose. His 'standing' foot is already a foot off the ground, so you can add that into the equation, too. Dier is also airborne. Nico's boot must be 6ft 6in in the air. A criminal decision.

Are you telling me that if he makes the same decision against Brentford (even allowing that PL refs are slightly more lenient with this stuff) you wouldn't blame him?

 

[Marvin.]

Too much focus on the penalty. We should have already scored enough by then. It’s not a disaster but is a reminder that this team is still a work in progress. The one big concern for me was Rodri. He didn’t look right at all.

I agree with this too. As the game progressed, I thought there would come a period when they'd gamble and we'd either win 3-1 or draw it 2-2. They never had a good period but the footballing Gods punished us nevertheless.

In the past, City would be content to play conservatively away from home because that would get qualification but I think City needed to take more risk against Monaco. We were too content to manage the game for a 2-1 win.

It's annoying, not a disaster but it is a bad result. We are in 8th. Not good enough.