FA Cup Semi-Final Post Match thread

[adrianr]

This.

A lot of stuff (especially some early tackles) that went in we're ones I thought he might have blown for but he let the game flow. In the past, when he has reffed us it has seemed to be 'everything I can blow for, I will' but yesterday I thought the game was handled well, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Maybe he thought he owed us?

don't get me wrong, there was plenty of stuff he didn't give for us, like when hazard wrestled Kompany out of the way just before pants pulled off that point blank save from Ba - but it didn't seem to be completely one way traffic as it has been in the past

You got the rub of the green yesterday with Aguero and Kompany especially and I think Zab is immune to cards. I thought you deserved to go through because you were genuinely better for more of the game - but lets not pretend luck had nothing to do with it. Having things go your way in crucial moments is what wins cups and if Foy had seen either incident things might have gone differently.

My only real criticism of City's actual performance was that we seemed much fitter despite playing 15 more games and having a midweek in Moscow. Some of your players looked knackered by the end while we were still throwing everything at you. Your physical play, while annoying to deal with, was what we used to do under Mourinho; and I think it's a legitimate way to play when you have a physical advantage. But it is high risk high reward. You could utterly bully Barcelona, but I don't think the referees would let you (See us vs Barca in 2006).

Anyway it's immaterial for me. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't. I don't think we were robbed or anything close, because City had the beating of us for a good 2/3 of the game and scored two good goals in that period. These incidents came after that. We ultimately lost because we did too little too late. Perhaps if we had made our tactical changes after half time it'd be a different story. I look forward to our next meeting.

If our next meeting with you involves you lobbing long balls up to Torres and Ba all game I will not be impressed ;)

That said, by then you'll have a new manager and quite likely Falcao, so it's anyones guess.

 

[NipHolmes]

This.

A lot of stuff (especially some early tackles) that went in we're ones I thought he might have blown for but he let the game flow. In the past, when he has reffed us it has seemed to be 'everything I can blow for, I will' but yesterday I thought the game was handled well, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Maybe he thought he owed us?

don't get me wrong, there was plenty of stuff he didn't give for us, like when hazard wrestled Kompany out of the way just before pants pulled off that point blank save from Ba - but it didn't seem to be completely one way traffic as it has been in the past

You got the rub of the green yesterday with Aguero and Kompany especially and I think Zab is immune to cards. I thought you deserved to go through because you were genuinely better for more of the game - but lets not pretend luck had nothing to do with it. Having things go your way in crucial moments is what wins cups and if Foy had seen either incident things might have gone differently.

My only real criticism of City's actual performance was that we seemed much fitter despite playing 15 more games and having a midweek in Moscow. Some of your players looked knackered by the end while we were still throwing everything at you. Your physical play, while annoying to deal with, was what we used to do under Mourinho; and I think it's a legitimate way to play when you have a physical advantage. But it is high risk high reward. You could utterly bully Barcelona, but I don't think the referees would let you (See us vs Barca in 2006).

Anyway it's immaterial for me. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't. I don't think we were robbed or anything close, because City had the beating of us for a good 2/3 of the game and scored two good goals in that period. These incidents came after that. We ultimately lost because we did too little too late. Perhaps if we had made our tactical changes after half time it'd be a different story. I look forward to our next meeting.

I like you, very fair poster ;)

For the shit Benitez gets he got the change was bang on the money.

 

[Marvin]

This.

A lot of stuff (especially some early tackles) that went in we're ones I thought he might have blown for but he let the game flow. In the past, when he has reffed us it has seemed to be 'everything I can blow for, I will' but yesterday I thought the game was handled well, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Maybe he thought he owed us?

don't get me wrong, there was plenty of stuff he didn't give for us, like when hazard wrestled Kompany out of the way just before pants pulled off that point blank save from Ba - but it didn't seem to be completely one way traffic as it has been in the past

You got the rub of the green yesterday with Aguero and Kompany especially and I think Zab is immune to cards. I thought you deserved to go through because you were genuinely better for more of the game - but lets not pretend luck had nothing to do with it. Having things go your way in crucial moments is what wins cups and if Foy had seen either incident things might have gone differently.

My only real criticism of City's actual performance was that we seemed much fitter despite playing 15 more games and having a midweek in Moscow. Some of your players looked knackered by the end while we were still throwing everything at you. Your physical play, while annoying to deal with, was what we used to do under Mourinho; and I think it's a legitimate way to play when you have a physical advantage. But it is high risk high reward. You could utterly bully Barcelona, but I don't think the referees would let you (See us vs Barca in 2006).

Anyway it's immaterial for me. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't. I don't think we were robbed or anything close, because City had the beating of us for a good 2/3 of the game and scored two good goals in that period. These incidents came after that. We ultimately lost because we did too little too late. Perhaps if we had made our tactical changes after half time it'd be a different story. I look forward to our next meeting.

I noticed the difference in energy levels too

But there are few relevant points about that

1) Yaya is genuinely knackered after his long runs. He always takes ages to recover. We are used to that now.
2) City expended a lot more energy in the first hour as we attacked and Chelsea just sat deep in their positions
3) Chelsea had to attack from 2-0 down and so looked more energetic in the last 20 minutes

I agree with you now about Benitez. He is a handicap. Chelsea have some of the best attacking players in the Premiership but every time we play you your priority is not to concede

Good Luck in Europe.

Credit to Chelsea fans for taking the defeat. Stood side by side on Wembley Way for half an hour inching back to the tube, and not a hint of trouble

Ba was your best player simply for that outstanding goal

 

[Castiel]

If our next meeting with you involves you lobbing long balls up to Torres and Ba all game I will not be impressed ;)

That said, by then you'll have a new manager and quite likely Falcao, so it's anyones guess.

I think Benitez instructed them to do that after you went full Italian defensive mode because only Hazard and Mata attempted to run with the ball after we got a goal. You can't pass through a defence like that as we showed against Barca last year. The best option is to get the ball into the box as much as possible and hope the strikers can make something of it. The only way they got through was the individual genius of Messi and Iniesta (and our individual genius almost got through but Mata couldn't quite round your keeper).

If we had spent the last half hour passing around your box I don't think it would have been anywhere near as stressful as it was for you as fans. Mancini made the right decisions tactically, some may say go for the throat but Chelsea were always going to go all-in after being two down and if City had continued to play open it would have been much easier to get through you. Going 2-0 down doesn't demoralise top teams like it does league fodder and he reacted perfectly to close out the game. United couldn't do it and they were knocked out by the same thing.

 

[samharris]

If our next meeting with you involves you lobbing long balls up to Torres and Ba all game I will not be impressed ;)

That said, by then you'll have a new manager and quite likely Falcao, so it's anyones guess.

I think Benitez instructed them to do that after you went full Italian defensive mode because only Hazard and Mata attempted to run with the ball after we got a goal. You can't pass through a defence like that as we showed against Barca last year. The best option is to get the ball into the box as much as possible and hope the strikers can make something of it. The only way they got through was the individual genius of Messi and Iniesta (and our individual genius almost got through but Mata couldn't quite round your keeper).

If we had spent the last half hour passing around your box I don't think it would have been anywhere near as stressful as it was for you as fans. Mancini made the right decisions tactically, some may say go for the throat but Chelsea were always going to go all-in after being two down and if City had continued to play open it would have been much easier to get through you. Going 2-0 down doesn't demoralise top teams like it does league fodder and he reacted perfectly to close out the game. United couldn't do it and they were knocked out by the same thing.

You're a good honest poster Castiel and for a chav,I dont mind you at all..

 

[EddieR]

This.

A lot of stuff (especially some early tackles) that went in we're ones I thought he might have blown for but he let the game flow. In the past, when he has reffed us it has seemed to be 'everything I can blow for, I will' but yesterday I thought the game was handled well, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Maybe he thought he owed us?

don't get me wrong, there was plenty of stuff he didn't give for us, like when hazard wrestled Kompany out of the way just before pants pulled off that point blank save from Ba - but it didn't seem to be completely one way traffic as it has been in the past

You got the rub of the green yesterday with Aguero and Kompany especially and I think Zab is immune to cards. I thought you deserved to go through because you were genuinely better for more of the game - but lets not pretend luck had nothing to do with it. Having things go your way in crucial moments is what wins cups and if Foy had seen either incident things might have gone differently.

My only real criticism of City's actual performance was that we seemed much fitter despite playing 15 more games and having a midweek in Moscow. Some of your players looked knackered by the end while we were still throwing everything at you. Your physical play, while annoying to deal with, was what we used to do under Mourinho; and I think it's a legitimate way to play when you have a physical advantage. But it is high risk high reward. You could utterly bully Barcelona, but I don't think the referees would let you (See us vs Barca in 2006).

Anyway it's immaterial for me. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don't. I don't think we were robbed or anything close, because City had the beating of us for a good 2/3 of the game and scored two good goals in that period. These incidents came after that. We ultimately lost because we did too little too late. Perhaps if we had made our tactical changes after half time it'd be a different story. I look forward to our next meeting.

Fair comment, all of that, but when you played a high-line from about 60mins on, chasing the game, and pressed us in our own half it left gaps at the back which we should have exploited by scoring on the break. This is the risk strategy of playing such a high-line. The fact that we failed to do this might be something to do with the apparent weariness of our players, a point that you made.

 

[Marvin]

If our next meeting with you involves you lobbing long balls up to Torres and Ba all game I will not be impressed ;)

That said, by then you'll have a new manager and quite likely Falcao, so it's anyones guess.

I think Benitez instructed them to do that after you went full Italian defensive mode because only Hazard and Mata attempted to run with the ball after we got a goal. You can't pass through a defence like that as we showed against Barca last year. The best option is to get the ball into the box as much as possible and hope the strikers can make something of it. The only way they got through was the individual genius of Messi and Iniesta (and our individual genius almost got through but Mata couldn't quite round your keeper).

If we had spent the last half hour passing around your box I don't think it would have been anywhere near as stressful as it was for you as fans. Mancini made the right decisions tactically, some may say go for the throat but Chelsea were always going to go all-in after being two down and if City had continued to play open it would have been much easier to get through you. Going 2-0 down doesn't demoralise top teams like it does league fodder and he reacted perfectly to close out the game. United couldn't do it and they were knocked out by the same thing.

Even in the final 20 minutes City had opportunities on the break to kill the game and failed

Our lack of ruthlessness, particularly away from home in the League, is the difference in City's game between this season and last. Almost cost us at Wembley.

At half time I was happy, but spent almost the entire game thinking we're going to pay for the missed chances

 

[Blue Heaven]

If our next meeting with you involves you lobbing long balls up to Torres and Ba all game I will not be impressed ;)

That said, by then you'll have a new manager and quite likely Falcao, so it's anyones guess.

I think Benitez instructed them to do that after you went full Italian defensive mode because only Hazard and Mata attempted to run with the ball after we got a goal. You can't pass through a defence like that as we showed against Barca last year. The best option is to get the ball into the box as much as possible and hope the strikers can make something of it. The only way they got through was the individual genius of Messi and Iniesta (and our individual genius almost got through but Mata couldn't quite round your keeper).

If we had spent the last half hour passing around your box I don't think it would have been anywhere near as stressful as it was for you as fans. Mancini made the right decisions tactically, some may say go for the throat but Chelsea were always going to go all-in after being two down and if City had continued to play open it would have been much easier to get through you. Going 2-0 down doesn't demoralise top teams like it does league fodder and he reacted perfectly to close out the game. United couldn't do it and they were knocked out by the same thing.

I fully agree with this. Sorry about the calls, but that's footy, and Chris Foy has screwed us so many times I guess we were due to get some calls from him sometime.

Good luck in EL, hope you win it and also hope you and Spurs finish ahead of Arsenal (but not us!).

 

[Castiel]

Fair comment, all of that, but when you played a high-line from about 60mins on, chasing the game, and pressed us in our own half it left gaps at the back which we should have exploited by scoring on the break. This is the risk strategy of playing such a high-line. The fact that we failed to do this might be something to do with the apparent weariness of our players, a point that you made.

This is a good point and also highlights your lack of speed. If you had brought on a fast winger (and already had one on) you could have closed ranks and countered with pacey, skilful players who like to run with the ball and killed us on the counter-attack. Someone like Di Maria would have relished the last half hour of that game by latching onto clearances and outrunning our absurdly high line. Jose used to do this with Robben, Cole and Duff back in the day and it's one element you could improve upon for these situations.

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

A richly deserved win. Wembley is a very big pitch, and both teams have players who can really exploit space. No team could deny either team space for 90 minutes at Wembley and so possession is king and City kept possession better, despite some sloppy patches. And we ran the ball at and through their midfield better. To be honest Oscar, Hazard and Mata only created one chance all match - when I forget who shook Clichy off and Pants made a great save from Ba. City held the line on the 18 yard line exceptionally well. Chelsea's ploy was to get the ball over Vinnie and Nasty, and they nearly had success on one or two occasions, and did when Ba put a loose ball in. That's why Roberto brought Garcia and then Lescott on for their aerial ability. Not to do so would have been negligence but you do wonder about the team's ability to press forward again if they do concede the equaliser. All academic now - well done lads!