Chelsea (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

[alexmcity]

Which he stopped every time, the only fullback incapable of defending his zone yesterday was walker who should be nowhere near the first 11 for the rest of the season.

I think Ake is a fantastic squad player. We are lucky to have such a player.

That said, Chelsea had their whole tactics built around attacks in Ake's zone. Probably because he isn't a natural LB and isn't the quickest defender either. Walker had a brainfart for their goal, because he misjudged the situation and left Sterling receive the ball...Most attacks happened through Ake's zone, though, and predictably people have noticed the successful actions, and not those that caught Ake in no man's land.

Again, I'm not saying Ake wasn't good, only that if that were Gvardiol last night, at least some fans would have being critical of his performance.

 

[Blu3m00n91]

It isn’t rocket science to work out that playing a midfielder or someone who isn’t John stones next to Rodri isn’t working well. Quite a few big games now where Akanji has played there and it affects our Rhythm. The games we have won vs teams in the top ten have been Bernardo/Rodri or Kovacic/Rodri.

 

[chris85mcfc]

3.5 times more goal attempts than them yesterday, and yet they managed an extra shot on target than we did.

This again is a huge problem of ours, we create so many opportunities, but are so wasteful in and around goal.

12 corners and I don't recall seeing us actually threaten their goal, and this is a regular occurrence.

 

[brazilians hurt]

We weren’t great several had off days but none more do than Madley. Let too many challenges go before he took some action & ignored the 2 penalty shouts

 

[kippaxwarrior]

Strange selection.....however we don’t know the physiological data for John or Bernardo.

What we do know is that we had 12 corners taken by the same player into the same area with the same result.

We had a left winger who has pace to burn, lots of possession but didn’t hit the byline once in 95 minutes.

We have Phil,one of the best number 8/10s in the world, playing isolated right wing for 85 minutes when it was crystal clear after 15 minutes that he should’ve been in a freer central role.

We weren’t at our best but IMO we didn’t help ourselves on or off the pitch.

No need to panic but we must get the basics and fine details right starting on Tuesday.

Pep said on Friday Bernardo was 50/50 to play after the whack on his ankle on Tuesday so that made sense and Stones is just coming back from injury so Akanji in the back 4 was obvious.

However Akanji in midfield just doesn't work and we were left exposed on the counter time after time, surely Pep must see this.

I love Alvarez but for me his best position is up front or out wide cutting in.

I don't think Pep trusts/likes a midfield of Rodri/KDB/Foden as a 3 without the protection of Stones providing cover.

It's a disappointing result for sure but there's still loads to play for and the way we played 2nd half gives me confidence for the rest of the season, if it wasn't for Haaland forgetting his shooting boots and ridiculous ref/VAR decisions we would of won that comfortably

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Because we’re not cunts?
Because we recognize that both of them were good servants to the club?
Because both were respectful when scoring against us for their new clubs?
Because we are City fans who are above the petty bullshit thrown by others?

How many reasons do you need to show a little class and sportsmanship???

Well said.

 

[hinchcliffes bulbous conk]

3.5 times more goal attempts than them yesterday, and yet they managed an extra shot on target than we did.

This again is a huge problem of ours, we create so many opportunities, but are so wasteful in and around goal.

12 corners and I don't recall seeing us actually threaten their goal, and this is a regular occurrence.

Maybe because the opposition penalty area is always packed with 10 bodies in it?

 

[uwerosler28]

I think Ake is a fantastic squad player. We are lucky to have such a player.

That said, Chelsea had their whole tactics built around attacks in Ake's zone. Probably because he isn't a natural LB and isn't the quickest defender either. Walker had a brainfart for their goal, because he misjudged the situation and left Sterling receive the ball...Most attacks happened through Ake's zone, though, and predictably people have noticed the successful actions, and not those that caught Ake in no man's land.

Again, I'm not saying Ake wasn't good, only that if that were Gvardiol last night, at least some fans would have being critical of his performance.

Again you are talking bollocks and trying to put yourself above everyone else in regards to football knowledge and what others are "capable " of noticing compared to yourself.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

We draw after eleven straight wins, still fourteen games unbeaten and one defeat in the last twenty four.
Doing my best to figure out exactly how shit we are.

Only a complete imbecile would say we're shit. But there's the perspective of the last thirteen years — not only not shit, but the best team in the country; there's the perspective of the last five years — the best team in the country, probably in the world; there's the perspective of this season and the recent run you mention — certainly one of the three best teams on this season's performances (Liverpool only recently got well beaten by Arsenal, who themselves have been well beaten in very recent times), very possibly the best, but slightly underperforming (above all, our star striker who, yes, still leads the scoring stakes despite what he would recognise as underperforming). Then there's yesterday — seems harsh to say we were shit, and sometimes you've got to give credit to the other side. Chelsea are a better side than their position suggests (they're really not a “mid-table team”!) who have been hugely underperforming. It's normal for people to be disappointed.
I'm moderately pleased with the point, as pleased as I pissed off with dropping the two. And I'll tell you why. Because that goal by Rodri, and that point salvaged, indicates mentality, indicates cussedness, and augurs well for future matches. It indicates a mindset of “Ok, we've not been on it today, and we could have easily lost actually, but fuck it, we're going to get something from this”. That is much more significant that the strolls in the park that end up 4-0 or 5-0 in our favour. I hate to say it, but it's what Ferguson's teams had for so long.
I'm keeping my powder dry till about 10 p.m. on Tuesday. If we win, things'll look pretty different, won't they? If we don't, then there's a problem, because Arsenal and Liverpool are on a roll. But it'll only be a problem, not a destiny, and Pep's rather good at fixing problems — there are thirteen more matches to play after Tuesday night. That's a cartload of points to be won. Or lost. By everybody.

 

[City_Sean]

Yesterday is totally on Pep. Madness to play Stones against Copenhagen but have Akanji in that role against Chelsea. Alvarez in the middle with Kev meant we had nobody to help Rodri progress the ball up the pitch. Foden shunted wide right again despite being so much better centrally.

Playing your best team against the weakest side in the CL when you have a much better opposition at the weekend is just ridiculous.