Basel (H) Post Match Thread

[inchy14]

It's time to move on from the ZInchenko experiment at LB. He's done well as can be expected as a fill-in but last night he was awful and against Chelsea he could have easily have seen red for that stupid challenge in the first half which could have cost us dearly. Nothing personal against him but he isn't a LB and is weak physically and defensively.

So who did you want there last night? If he'd played Danillo there Walker would have had to start, better to continue the experiment and give Walker a rest imo.

 

[The Riot Club]

On reflection I'm not bothered by last night, in many ways it was good - more game time and learning curve for young players, and a wake-up call about complacency and too much sideways passing. Already through, and no injuries. A game under Jesus's belt after injury too, he was never going to be 100% yet still scored before his lack of games showed and he tired. Similar with Stones and Laporte, they need games. Diaz looked good when he came on too, very direct.

Not sure why anyone would criticise Bravo, no keeper would have stopped those shots, he was horribly exposed. I thought he did well when he came off his line too, good confidence and decision making.

Of that XI, only Sané will start at Stoke I think, and maybe Bernardo or Gundogan.

 

[Fred_Quimby]

Was really angry last night. Yes we were crap and to our standards not a good game BUT we stand by them through thick and thin because we are CITY and WE DO NOT BOO THEM. Rant over.

 

[Blue Hefner]

No midfield, full backs both had stinkers, Zinc looks like the run of games has caught him up, centre halfs all over the place, Jesus nowhere near upto pace.

Sane & Bravo standouts & Diaz also from limited time.

If Gundogan out the early chance away to make it 2 we'd have battered them.

However, through so job done.

More or less agree. although I think Gundogen should be doing more when he is the more senior midfielder in the team(in terms of pecking order)

Too much passing for the sake of it. Not helped by Jesus being way off and not being able to contribute much after the goal

 

[stan bowles]

Gundogan continues to frustrate the fuck out of me.

He should be capable of taking a game like tonight by the scruff yet he barely ever broke the lines and moved with the ball.

Very irritating.

Yes he was anonymous the whole time he was playing. Very disappointing from him.

 

[John Oliver]

A disappointing second half but in the end no damage done and KDB, and others, given a much needed rest. In a season of unparalleled success there have been very few poor performances and sometimes we fans expect too much.

I’m not sure where Gundogan was playing last night. In retrospect I wouldn’t have played Yaya - though I didn’t think he played too badly- and given Gundo central defensive duties, as in the Chelsea game, to see how well he coped.

 

[inbetween]

Still don't think Stones and Laporte are a good pairing, they are far too similar players and both haven't quite adapted yet to this way of playing. Stones has shown it earlier in the season but his lack of game time is showing.

Having Otamendi or Kompany in there is the balancing effect, particularly Otamendi who is far more mobile than any of the others. For me he is the best defender in Europe right now, no-one else does what he does.

Gundogan had an okay game and he is getting a lot better. The young lads also actually had fairly decent games and again they just need time. Jesus is the same, he is slowly coming to fitness and he did all that we ask of him and that is score.

Sane was fantastic in points and Bernardo had a decent game too... For me everything that went wrong could be explained by unfamiliarity with what is being asked. It was basically a new team, Yaya hasn't played that amount of minutes since last season.

We are through with no injuries and we have given the young lads some vital experience in probably the hardest competition there is, that is all that matters at this point.

 

[inbetween]

The only thing that worries me from watching last night is what happens when 21 and 17 don't play, it scares me.

You could say the same for every single team.

Imagine if Barcelona didn't play with Messi or Suarez, Real Madrid didn't play with Bale or Ronaldo and look at PSG the other night without Neymar.

The biggest miss last night was not those two it was Fern and Otamendi. Put those two in and we would of won.

 

[GX Blue]

Jesus and Danilo were very poor.
Young Phil needs to bulk up asap.
I dont think Yaya was as bad as some are saying but he certainly is not good enough anymore for our squad.

Sane looks like he's back on top form.
Also, lets not forget KDB, Walker, Otamendi, Ederson, Aguero, D.Silva all have had a good rest and Fernandinho and Sterling will come back with their batteries fully charged up.

Looking good for going into the final couple of months of what has been a great season.

 

[dickie davies]

Was really angry last night. Yes we were crap and to our standards not a good game BUT we stand by them through thick and thin because we are CITY and WE DO NOT BOOK THEM. Rant over.