Chelsea post match thread

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

You'll win nothing with kids.

 

[CelesteItis]

Although he wasn't a kid filling in as it was 35 year old Martin DeMichellis

True. But still, never a penalty, so not even Demichelis fault, though he was poor as the rest of the senior players save Pablo.
Why is so fashionable in these pages to slag off City players?

 

[Robinho's Subbuteo]

So, are we to assume the starting line up against Dynamo will not contain Kolarov, Fernando, Zaba or Dimechelis

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Whilst I dislike Shearer as much as the next man and the BBC are mainly useless, I'm not sure that they are to blame for today. I understand that the Met Police would not let the game be played on Saturday. Friday was an option but Chelsea objected and wanted Sunday. As the BBC make no money from showing the game I don't think 'making money' was to blame either. I think it was just a series of unfortunate circumstances. One thing I missed on the TV coverage was the cost of each starting 11. (They must have mentioned it as they always do when City play!!)

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

True. But still, never a penalty, so not even Demichelis fault, though he was poor as the rest of the senior players save Pablo.
Why is so fashionable in these pages to slag off City players?

I really don't know but I'm glad this website didn't exist in 1998!!

 

[CelesteItis]

Just for balance he made two incredible saves, including the penalty.

Please, don't mention sense. You know the pitchforks are already on full force.

 

[xenon_]

Whilst I dislike Shearer as much as the next man and the BBC are mainly useless, I'm not sure that they are to blame for today. I understand that the Met Police would not let the game be played on Saturday. Friday was an option but Chelsea objected and wanted Sunday. As the BBC make no money from showing the game I don't think 'making money' was to blame either. I think it was just a series of unfortunate circumstances. One thing I missed on the TV coverage was the cost of each starting 11. (They must have mentioned it as they always do when City play!!)

So it was the police who disallowed Saturday... well I may have jumped the gun on 'no good reason why we can't move it' thing. I assumed the FA was bending over for the BBC, who most certainly do make plenty of money, worldwide and in a manner of ways, by having us in that time slot. Nevertheless, I stand corrected.

Our police have given us and the rags permission to play at home on the same day, but if a Chelsea fan or Fulham fan was hurt for our benefit that then wouldn't be right.

 

[East Level 2]

At the end of the day it's all bollocks but the BBC twats didn't help scheduling the game for today.
Chelsea's CL game in Paris had been fixed for last Tuesday for a while, as had our game in Kiev (or Kyiv) for Wednesday. Tuesday to Saturday is four days, as is Saturday to Wednesday. Even Friday night would have been OK for both sides given the speed Chelsea could get back from France (and the fact they were at home today), but the BBC gave us the worst possible slot.
I doubt we'd have played a much stronger team yesterday as the club will always prioritise the CL, but at least we might have caused a few more problems. Number one priority for the summer is to get the training and conditioning right because so many injuries, many suffered in training or warm ups, suggests we're being careless. And if we can't sort it out we've got to ditch some of the players made of glass, and that might include some difficult choices.
I'll take a draw on Wednesday, a win next Sunday and at least a draw at Klanfield in the league.

EDIT: Forgot about Fulham playing yesterday. However if we had the tea-time game then most fans would be inside the bridge when Fulham kicked out. Alternatively if we had the early game then fans at Craven Cottage would be inside at the time Chelsea v City finished.

 

[cleavers]

If MP plays him and he has another howler, which is not unlikely, MP needs to be fired on the spot. You pick your best team to win and the CC is, as it stands, our only realistic chance of silverware.

I agree about picking your best team for cup finals, and I'll be surprised and very disappointed if we don't.

However the CoC is NOT our only realistic chance of silverware, its just out best chance, the league has nearly a third of the season to go, and the current form team (Spurs) lost at home today, and still have the europa league to play in, whilst arsenal yesterday "earned" a replay away to Hull (I'm sure they're delighted at that outcome), so we are a long way from out of the league at this point.

 

[dom]

Just call him Yoyo its easier.

Tosin is a lovely young man who's Manc through and through.... Chorlton lad who played for Hough End Griffins , a teammate of my son Yann, before City took him on board

His surname is a bit of a mouthful but the football world has overcome similar challenges in the past!

Most people involved with him in footy have tended to use the name Tosin .....maybe we need to check out with him what name(s) he feels comfortable with..

 

[CelesteItis]

It's done what has to be done.

City was fucked sideways by the BBC & FA, there is a long list of injured players, and the possibility of increasing that list with key new ones, given the refs leniency when our lads are kicked the fuck out for 90 minutes twice a week, and carded for the temerity of being fouled.

Pellegrini catered both the side's needs for the CL & LC final, and also for the blue moaners to do their usual augmented flapping.
He was right about aligning the kids, the first half as exhibit A, was wrong not to align Pablo & the U21's whom would've given more fight than the pitiful senior players.

The present has just passed, the future beckons bright with talented kids.

 

[CelesteItis]

For 150k a week I think I could play twice a day

Even when injured?

 

[urban genie]

So it was the police who disallowed Saturday... well I may have jumped the gun on 'no good reason why we can't move it' thing. I assumed the FA was bending over for the BBC, who most certainly do make plenty of money, worldwide and in a manner of ways, by having us in that time slot. Nevertheless, I stand corrected.

Our police have given us and the rags permission to play at home on the same day, but if a Chelsea fan or Fulham fan was hurt for our benefit that then wouldn't be right.

When the FA made a statement the other week after we complained they cited the police concerns for the fulham game for the saturday being ruled out, but that's bollocks really, The MET that handles major sporting events all over the city couldn't handle both games really? fulham game had 160000 fans at it and our game would have been scheduled to be either before or after so they could have done it. As for friday, the statement also said yhat friday was suggested and the only objection was the beeb because it didn't want that nights programs to be affected, bake off ffs, no matter how they try to defend it the beeb are tha main knob heads in all this. from the draw they wanted this game as their main one, so it was always gonna be sunday for them.

 

[Dribble]

The kids did us proud, Manu Garcia in particular. He was the one youngster I was dying to see and from his showing today he deserves as much game time with the seniors as Iheanacho. The other Garcia was brilliant too and surprised me with his composure. Tosin is a very good defender but a poor passer of the ball. Hopefully with more experience he will improve that side of his game because defensively he's got the tools to eventually make the Premier League grade.

I was disappointed by Celina as he was on the periphery of the game whilst he was on. The French lad who scored had some nice touches and worked hard, but I say he was a step behind the cream of our EDS. Barker looked lively when he came on but needs time and experience, hopefully he can get that with us as there were some promising passages of play with him involved.

I thought all the senior pros did the best they could in the circumstances aside from Willy. He doesn't inspire confidence in me never mind the players around him and hopefully we've got a talented young keeper or two in our ranks who can replace him in the summer. As for our tactics, I knew we'd lose when I saw that Manuel had opted to go 442 away at Stamford Bridge with 6 kids in the side. The best I was hoping for was that we didn't get hammered and the defeat wouldn't effect the kid's future confidence.

What Manuel did was commit tactical suicide, but just as I suspected he's determined to go out doing it his way until the final kick of the ball under his tenure. All in all, the result turned out as I expected, but with better tactics we could and should have run the Chavs closer even with a team of kids. Manuel did absolutely nothing to help us counter Chelsea today, Hiddink shuffled his side around to gain superiority and we stuck to the same formation from the beginning to the end and only made like for like substitutions.

Wednesday and Sunday maybe the priorities, but I honestly believe we could have had a better showing and possible got a draw if it weren't for Caballero and our shit tactics.

 

[Silva Citizen]

Please, don't mention sense. You know the pitchforks are already on full force.

I have no pitchfork, but which was the second fantastic save (penalty +)

The last three goals (possibly the last 4) he should have done one hell of a lot better with. His kicking is the worst of any professional player I have ever seen. I accept that all players have bad games, and goal keepers when they have one are particularly prone to criticism. I was a goalkeeper when I played and normally defend them to the hilt, as it is the hardest position on the pitch, but I am afraid our reserve goalkeeper is of a standard several divisions below top flight football.

 

[bumbleblue]

Impossible to ask a handful of first teamers to carry that many inexperienced lads. I am amazed when people have a go at pellers for this, like the rest of us he does what his bosses want most of the time. I think the youngsters gave a reasonable account of themselves Tosin did well hopefully will improve with the ball at his feet, Garcias did well with Manu shading it , Kelechi and Faupala did alright with little service, thought Celina got bypassed and Barker looked like a rabbit in the headlights although I don't think Kola helped with that. Think we saw more proof that Martin is finished at this level, Kola is off, Zabba might be ok and Cabba ..ah well.

 

[Bluemoonie92]

finally got back, Saw that coming as soon as the line ups were announced but i was impressed with the first half. Fans were top again!

 

[mancity1]

I agree about picking your best team for cup finals, and I'll be surprised and very disappointed if we don't.

However the CoC is NOT our only realistic chance of silverware, its just out best chance, the league has nearly a third of the season to go, and the current form team (Spurs) lost at home today, and still have the europa league to play in, whilst arsenal yesterday "earned" a replay away to Hull (I'm sure they're delighted at that outcome), so we are a long way from out of the league at this point.

It will take a dramatic turn around in performance and results Cleavers remembering we have only won 9 of our past 21 league games.

The side is slow , lethargic and we have no fresh faces unless we play youngsters to bring in during the period that matters.

We are in a battle for fourth make no bones about it , Southampton and West Ham are gaining momentum.

It could go down to the result at St Mary's.

If we don't beat Liverpool in the league , at least one of the three sides above us will be out of sight by then.

Injuries or otherwise the team has been in decline since we won the league and it needs a major overhaul.

On top of that MP is in serious decline and that won't change in the last 12 games.

 

[Sean85]

I've not read all 60 odd pages so apologies if this has already been covered. The young lads did really well today, they were a credit to the academy. The older players let us down ( they let themselves down as well but they clearly don't care). I expected us to get beat by about that much but kind of expected it to be down to inexperience not down to our senior players humiliating themselves/not caring and Pellers arrogant tactics. Also, is it just me that finds it strange he won't bring on a youth player when we are 3 nil up against Hull but is prepared to start him away at Chelsea? We aren't going to win the champions league so why prioritise that over a cup we could actually win? Tosin had a good game though, so did the Garcia's , I've never seen Faupala before but was impressed with how he threw his weight about. Dick Caballero might as well just leave because he's no competition for Hart and I don't think he can be any better than any of our EDS keepers, he's shocking, theres also no reason to play Kolarov and Demechelis again, they clearly offer nothing at all. And what is all that centre back following the striker up to the half way line all about?

 

[mancityscot]

not read all 60 pages but just wanted to add what what i think most have already said. if we play caballero in the final we are well and truly fucked