Brentford (H) | Post-Match Thread

[Metalartin]

Flat start, sloppy in possession, terrible defending positionally and otherwise in the first 30mins of the game. It had all the hallmarks of one of those early Saturday kick-off no-shows.

I think City could have won that game if Gundogan had taken a touch and buried that layoff from Haaland. I don't see them scoring if City were sitting on a lead because all they seemed to do was counter, outside few sloppy moments from City, mostly due to forcing things too much in attack and not being switched on defensively enough on the few occassions they did have to defend. Such as Foden gifting them the freekick, and again him and Laporte made it far too easy for Toney's chance that Ederson closed down. I would have been fuming if they scored from that, so half arsed from the pair of them.

We had them penned in for most of that second half though, then KDB did a Cancelo trying to pinch the ball and sold himself short, to gift the attacker a free run. It looked like we recovered with numbers back for a second but Haaland is not who we wanted as the first man(though Akanji should have blocked the cross before it came in). Brentford defended well against a sloppy City attack and took advantage of enough of the gifts City were giving up. Fair do's on that but it wasn't a great game from either side.

It's not the performance we wanted but it's a good time to reflect on how good we have it as City fans. There's been less of days like this one to put up with than any other team, for a good few years now.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

My thoughts on all this, is everyone saying oh world Cup, well if the city players sat on a million a month are more bothered about playing for their country, rather than the club they sre getting paid handsomely to play for, then they need fucking off

I don't agree with this.

In England, a culture has developed where the national game has been sidelined to some extent and there's no pride in being selected for your country. Personally, I lay that blame firmly at Fergie and United's door. He didn't want his players playing, and potentially getting injured, for England/Wales etc. For example, Giggs got about 60-70 caps for Wales etc.

However, for many other nations, playing for country is the highest honour you can achieve. Normally the World Cup would be played in summer when they've had a rest and any niggly injuries have been recovered from. We can't blame them if they don't want to get injured a few days beforehand - especially when some of them might not play in a World Cup again. KdB, Gundogan, Laporte, Bernardo, Ederson, Cancelo, Akanji, Ake, Grealish will all be over 30 in the next World Cup. I'm not saying that they won't play another World Cup, but when you're over 30 it becomes more of a possibility.

I think our players do give it their all for City and their country and that's how it should be. If you play well for City, you will play for your country.

Our anger should be directed at those who've skimmed millions off in bribes for it to be hosted in Qatar and allowed the deaths of thousands of people in building the stadiums. It shouldn't be directed at any player, regardless of which country they play for.
I think this mess of a World Cup is the problem, not the players.

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

Well done Brentford. We've been crap since after the Derby.

 

[threespires]

Right i'm done feeling pissed off and sore about today. I've decided we're not going to get any world cup injuries, our players will stay in the tournament long enough to play themselves into form where necessary but not long enough that they are knackered. Having not won any medals they'll come back hungry, during the break Pep will have decided what to do with the defence and we'll smash it out of the park post Christmas. I would say we'll terrify the rest of the league but no one wants to go full Malcolm.

 

[Blue and true]

I love Pep to bits, and will always be thankful for what he's achieved here. But he's a stubborn bastard, and it can sometimes be a detriment to the team. Substitutions have always been his blindspot; Jack played one of his best games in a City shirt on Wednesday night and didn't get a single minute today: that's an insult, not just to him as a player but to our collective intelligence. It was obvious the attack needed a fresh injection of impetus, (we'd still be out there now looking for a second goal) from the 60th minute onwards. It just wasn't working. And he completely ignored the one obvious change that would have livened up the attack. The one change he did make was made too late. His obstinacy got the better of him. The players were garbage, but he had several options to change the dynamic that, bewilderingly, he overlooked.

He chops and changes for too much for my liking. When we get our squad back from the World Cup, he needs to settle on a definitive, best 11. We need a settled team. Pick a formula, stick to it, and fuck off the experimenting. Those who don't make the cut can play the domestic cups, until one of the regulars plays themselves out of contention, shit bust. The reason Arsenal are where they are is not because they are head and shoulders above us, but because Arteta knows his best 11 and has been playing it since the season started. It's hard for us to build any rhythm when the team changes on a regular basis. And I don't buy into this bullshit that we don't have a best 11 and our squad needs to spread the appearances. We do have a best 11, and it's up to Pep to decide upon it; that's why he's paid the big bucks.

I'm still confident we'll win the League, but Christ we're making it difficult for ourselves. Onwards and upwards. CTID.

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

The problem at the moment is that Pep is playing chess and our opponents are playing draughts. There is something to be said for keeping things simple.

 

[Mariosfireworks]

I don't agree with this.

In England, a culture has developed where the national game has been sidelined to some extent and there's no pride in being selected for your country. Personally, I lay that blame firmly at Fergie and United's door. He didn't want his players playing, and potentially getting injured, for England/Wales etc. For example, Giggs got about 60-70 caps for Wales etc.

However, for many other nations, playing for country is the highest honour you can achieve. Normally the World Cup would be played in summer when they've had a rest and any niggly injuries have been recovered from. We can't blame them if they don't want to get injured a few days beforehand - especially when some of them might not play in a World Cup again. KdB, Gundogan, Laporte, Bernardo, Ederson, Cancelo, Akanji, Ake, Grealish will all be over 30 in the next World Cup. I'm not saying that they won't play another World Cup, but when you're over 30 it becomes more of a possibility.

I think our players do give it their all for City and their country and that's how it should be. If you play well for City, you will play for your country.

Our anger should be directed at those who've skimmed millions off in bribes for it to be hosted in Qatar and allowed the deaths of thousands of people in building the stadiums. It shouldn't be directed at any player, regardless of which country they play for.
I think this mess of a World Cup is the problem, not the players.

I massively beg to differ Phillips played how many minutes for us? Yet going to the world Cup lol

 

[2infinity&beyond]

Right i'm done feeling pissed off and sore about today. I've decided we're not going to get any world cup injuries, our players will stay in the tournament long enough to play themselves into form where necessary but not long enough that they are knackered. Having not won any medals they'll come back hungry, during the break Pep will have decided what to do with the defence and we'll smash it out of the park post Christmas. I would say we'll terrify the rest of the league but no one wants to go full Malcolm.

I really hope your ideal world comes true.

 

[The perfect fumble]

I don't agree with this.

In England, a culture has developed where the national game has been sidelined to some extent and there's no pride in being selected for your country. Personally, I lay that blame firmly at Fergie and United's door. He didn't want his players playing, and potentially getting injured, for England/Wales etc. For example, Giggs got about 60-70 caps for Wales etc.

However, for many other nations, playing for country is the highest honour you can achieve. Normally the World Cup would be played in summer when they've had a rest and any niggly injuries have been recovered from. We can't blame them if they don't want to get injured a few days beforehand - especially when some of them might not play in a World Cup again. KdB, Gundogan, Laporte, Bernardo, Ederson, Cancelo, Akanji, Ake, Grealish will all be over 30 in the next World Cup. I'm not saying that they won't play another World Cup, but when you're over 30 it becomes more of a possibility.

I think our players do give it their all for City and their country and that's how it should be. If you play well for City, you will play for your country.

Our anger should be directed at those who've skimmed millions off in bribes for it to be hosted in Qatar and allowed the deaths of thousands of people in building the stadiums. It shouldn't be directed at any player, regardless of which country they play for.
I think this mess of a World Cup is the problem, not the players.

Why shouldn't a Middle Eastern country host the world Cup? And if it's to be hosted there it has to be in our winter.

As for corruption, It wasn't unique to this world cup or unique to Qatar's bid.

And as for those deaths (a number that rises higher with every denouncement) did you know construction work fatalities are higher in the country of origin of all those Asian workers?

Asians, I hasten to add, who continue to flock in their millions to work in the Gulf. You would do well to ask yourself why.

 

[HolisticJim]

We've been poor for a few weeks.

Feels like we're are missing a play maker and a box to box midfielder. May e its the world cup, maybe gungo has seen his day. We've not had a traditional playmaker since D Silva left but then again Pep would only stick them out wide anyway.