City v Liverpool. Yankee Stadium July 30th

[3rdgenerationblue]

the one man team are now toothless

 

[Impeccable One]

Need to mention we need to hide the cakes from YaYa, he's obviously 'relaxed' since the World Cup !

 

[Mr. Aguia]

That central defence - hesitant, at fault on both goals, with several players mesmerised by one man. Just as well it's not our real central defence, eh?
Jovetic's touch. Four strikers out of five would have chosen to go for the near post for the first. Jovetic does not choose to do what the other four would have done. I know he's very close in, but he just strokes it with the lightest, feathery touch to leave the keeper dead. Second: by rights it's not for him. He's not alone, far from it, but he just does the necessary. Is this player as good as he promises to be? To be followed. Closely.
I'm not judging the overall match, since I only saw the highlights. There seems to be a consensus on here that we were the better team. These friendlies are a goodish build up to the serious stuff. And our four world class players (five with Zabman who, more and more, belongs in that company) are relaxing! Ok, Toure on for a bit last night. The prospect is mouth-watering.

By far and way the better team until, Yaya came on, really slowed the pace down , offered nothing in attack or defence and just lumbered around the pitch,, lost the ball / possession what seemed like every time the play went near him and took the energy right out of the team...

I'd much rather see in the new season the fast past action packed attacke we have showen last few games rather then waiting for a tuch of geniouns that may or may not come from with yaya lumbering around the midfield ...

I wouldn't blame Yaya. To me it was more the lack of a striker on the pitch to hold up the ball and make those runs that Jovetic had been making. He was brilliant. I don't think MP was interesting in winning this game. Otherwise he would have had more than 2 starters on the pitch at any time like LFC, who had nearly full first team threw out.
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[Mr. Aguia]

Been out of touch for a couple of weeks so only seen the official site highlights(11 mins). Can any of you fill me in ?.
Are they playing a 'mini league'?. Are the Rags in NYC?. Seems that Pool will play the Rags next. Is this correct?. What was the attendance?.
Looking at the highlights it would seem that we will have to sell many City shirts in the US. - there seemed to be 40,000 Pool fans there.
Ta................

2 group stages. LFC, City, Olympiacos and Iter on one side, Madrid, Milan, Rags & Roma on the other. Most points from group a faces team from B with most points in the final in Miami. City play Olymiacos in the final group stage match.

 

[NYBlue]

I think it is significant, yes. Also Clichy being played at right back ahead of Richards is too.

Have to agree. But if we get rid of Richards and Rodwell, do we have to keep Sinclair to make up the numbers? Not quite sure how many home grown we need.

Boyata
Hart
Sinclair
Milner

Well guessing from the preseason and the amount of game time players have been given.

Being sold or loaned are:

Guidetti(Nacho is better)
Richards (Too many right backs)
Rodwell
Garcia
Rekik (Nastasic seems to be being picked in front of him)
Sinclair

Leaving us with a squad of (442):

Hart/Willy

Zabaleta/Sagna
Kompany/Demichelis
Mangala/Nastasic
Kolarov/Clichy

Navas/Milner
Fernandinho/Fernando
Toure/Zuculini
Nasri/Silva

Aguero/Jovetic
Negredo/Dzeko

I'm pretty sure that gives us 17 non-homegrown in the premiership (because nastasic and zuculini count as under 21).

Boyata & Wright both signed new contracts so they will be in the squad too - making up the home grown numbers

 

[FantasyIreland]

If ever a manager and club were made for each other......I hope the two stay together for as long as possible.

 

[NYBlue]

The thing about the injuries is that I see that as exactly what the manager is addressing. Last season at key times injuries, and the big gulf in class in certain areas, really affected us. Whenever Kompany, Silva or Fernandinho were injured we struggled. Mangela, Sagna and Fernando, and to a certain extent the new keeper, will really help us to maintain standards with injuries, and to rotate the likes of Zab and Fernandinho better, keeping them fresher. We still have a potential problem if Silva is out, but the addition of Fernando means Yaya can fill in, and Jovetic is proving to be top drawer and can play in the hole too.

Given a bit of luck I wouldn't rule out a run to the Champions League semi or final this year.

I was about to say before getting to your Jovetic comment that he lessens my worry if Silva is out. Hopefully the injuries are behind him.

A fit Jovetic is a breath of fresh air - almost a new signing basically. Navas was superb last night and Fernando gets stronger by the game. Zucullini works really hard but still has ways to go. Kelechi - so much confidence and Willy will push Joe.

Now add the guys who were missing or who have just come back and need to get fitter - looking good...

I also think Zuc, if they do not send him on loan, could help on that front. The boy can pick a pass and although he probably should have scored last night, he at least knows his way into the box.

 

[taconinja]

The thing about the injuries is that I see that as exactly what the manager is addressing. Last season at key times injuries, and the big gulf in class in certain areas, really affected us. Whenever Kompany, Silva or Fernandinho were injured we struggled. Mangela, Sagna and Fernando, and to a certain extent the new keeper, will really help us to maintain standards with injuries, and to rotate the likes of Zab and Fernandinho better, keeping them fresher. We still have a potential problem if Silva is out, but the addition of Fernando means Yaya can fill in, and Jovetic is proving to be top drawer and can play in the hole too.

Given a bit of luck I wouldn't rule out a run to the Champions League semi or final this year.

I was about to say before getting to your Jovetic comment that he lessens my worry if Silva is out. Hopefully the injuries are behind him.

I also think Zuc, if they do not send him on loan, could help on that front. The boy can pick a pass and although he probably should have scored last night, he at least knows his way into the box.

I agree. I think it's wonderful we're starting to add some real quality depth.

 

[tidyman]

I was pretty pissed by midnight so can't remember that much of it.

Jovetic looks well up for making up for lost time though. Reckon he could be our main man up front this season if he stays fit.

I love Richards and it will be sad when he leaves but he looks too wide to be a footballer. You could fit about three Sterlings in him. Hart looked very sharp and is obviously keen on showing the new guy and more importantly the manager who should be number one.

Couple of queries. Why are they playing football on a baseball pitch? And how come the African kid is still playing? Everyone was saying he could only play in that Kansas game and then had to do one.

Also seems a bit of hotch potch organisation that you go off for a pre season tour and don't know how many games you're going to be playing and when you're coming home.

 

[Mr. Aguia]

I was pretty pissed by midnight so can't remember that much of it.

Jovetic looks well up for making up for lost time though. Reckon he could be our main man up front this season if he stays fit.

I love Richards and it will be sad when he leaves but he looks too wide to be a footballer. You could fit about three Sterlings in him. Hart looked very sharp and is obviously keen on showing the new guy and more importantly the manager who should be number one.

Couple of queries. Why are they playing football on a baseball pitch? And how come the African kid is still playing? Everyone was saying he could only play in that Kansas game and then had to do one.

Also seems a bit of hotch potch organisation that you go off for a pre season tour and don't know how many games you're going to be playing and when you're coming home.

Playing at Yankke stadium because NYCFC doesn't have a football pitch to play on. In negotiations to build a football stadium but that is a couple years a way before it would be ready so until then NYCFC will start playing there in January I think. There are very few Football only stadiums in the USA. Red Bull arena is the closest to NY but why would they let a rival team play in their stadium? And again it wouldn't be in NY which is the point of starting the new franchise there.

The commentators that said he would only be allowed to play the one game didn't know what they were talking about. There's a shocker. The tournament gave City permission to allow him to play in every game.

They know exactly how many games they will play. 3 guaranteed and if you win the group 1 extra game.