OB1
Well-Known Member
I still feel that it is much more about the players now; although Pellers had to earn his corn with some tactical tweaks yesterday. However, the biggest factor at this stage is bottle and the players showed just enough of it yesterday; especially after going behind. Whilst you could critcise the City players for allowing Everton too much room, it is hard to legislate for strikes like Barkley's and the City players could have been forgiven for thinking: "here we go again at Goodison..." but they bounced back well.
As Bill mentioned, the dropping deep was a bit silly and I doubt it was under instruction from Pellers but was the fear factor of so much being at stake. Peller's job this week is to keep the players calm, composed and confident but not complacent. Keep the ball, work the openings and capitalise when the chances come. Team selection is obvious for the final games: pick the best available players. Let's hope we have a bit of good luck with injuries. I have little doubt that better fortune on that front would have seen going into the final two games with more than goal difference in our favour.
However the season now ends, Pellers has done a fine job. It's a two game season now but if we fail from here it will be down to those early away defeats and I categorically do not blame Manuel for them. Transition may have been a factor - although I am not fond of that argument, whilst not entirely dismissing it - but player and refereeing mistakes were a huge part of it. I just hope that such mistakes do not rob us this week. I guess the tension will be horrible as it would not be very City-like to finish the last two games of in style but it is about time they did.
As Bill mentioned, the dropping deep was a bit silly and I doubt it was under instruction from Pellers but was the fear factor of so much being at stake. Peller's job this week is to keep the players calm, composed and confident but not complacent. Keep the ball, work the openings and capitalise when the chances come. Team selection is obvious for the final games: pick the best available players. Let's hope we have a bit of good luck with injuries. I have little doubt that better fortune on that front would have seen going into the final two games with more than goal difference in our favour.
However the season now ends, Pellers has done a fine job. It's a two game season now but if we fail from here it will be down to those early away defeats and I categorically do not blame Manuel for them. Transition may have been a factor - although I am not fond of that argument, whilst not entirely dismissing it - but player and refereeing mistakes were a huge part of it. I just hope that such mistakes do not rob us this week. I guess the tension will be horrible as it would not be very City-like to finish the last two games of in style but it is about time they did.