Sums up the season so far.
Getting none of the breaks and even the red cards are shocking. That said, with age and injuries, it was always going to be Herculean to even compete with the supposed cream (Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Villa) coming into this season.
Players, both fit and half fit, are being flogged to death and against young, fast, hungry opposition, we seem a step slow and always second best for the loose ball.
The whole story is in two facts:
We have not had two clean sheets in a row in the entire first third of the season.
We have had to come back from behind more often this season than in the last X seasons, and it happened twice today.
As for the individual players, this was another game where few players covered themselves in anything even resembling glory, but two standouts would be Dias and Walker…for completely opposite reasons, of course!
Dias was imperious and blocked everything in front of him and Walker continued his poor form, being at least partially at fault for both goals.
For the first, he played the scorer onside when he should be leading the backline (but his arm was for offside, at least!!!).
For the second, he simply stood rooted to the spot while the man he was marking had the freedom of the air 4 yards from goal. Absolutely SHOCKING defending, but wholly in character these days.
A special mention for Bernardo, who covered every blade of grass three times, rarely gave the ball away, and was always available to relieve the pressure of their press.
We are really struggling to both put together clear chances and do anything but play Plan A at about 50% of normal efficiency.
The drop off from our top 14 or 14 feels bigger than it should, and we just do not have enough difference makers on the pitch or on the bench at the moment.
Haaland scored a great header from a beautiful cross.
I feel like that sentence should be written every few games, yet I can’t remember the last pinpoint cross he put in the net.
Additionally, he should have buried that dink in behind from Kev shortly after their goal, but it found the keeper’s ugly mug instead.
Losing 2 points to teams in the Bottom 3 is certainly not the stuff of Champions, and we look and feel so far off that title that it’s painful at times.
I have tried hard to see the First XI World Champions qualities in numerous players in the team/squad, but we are sorely lacking players of that quality this season.
We need the 115 settled and Txiki and Hugo to sort out this squad. The holes are clear and obvious and the need to spend big is the same. Nothing short of “would walk into any team in the League” is needed and nothing short of “Wow!” should be the required expectation from the fans based on who is brought in.
I won’t hold my breath.
Good fight. Good spirit. Just not getting the breaks when we so desperately need a few, but that’s football! After the last 7 seasons, it’s hard to act like we haven’t had our share of good fortune and favor, so it’s time to buckle down, work hard, fight for every point, and hope we are Top 4 material and can snag the FA Cup (…or the Champions League!).
Come On, City!
