Monchengladbach post match (top of the group)

[Neville Kneville]

Maybe it's time Pellers start to manage gametime to get the best out of Yaya. Something like starting 3 matches in 2 weeks or so.

Absolutely 100% this.

Rest him whether he likes it or not, & NEVER start a big game with him +1 in the midfield, EVER. Delph & Fernandinho playing vs a very very lively, quick, hard working Borussia side meant Yaya & Silva not having to constantly run long sprints to recover the ball.

Both looked fresh well into the second half, & City as a team finished looking much fitter than the opposition, in spite of playing v Stoke, in a hurricane, at weekend & many carrying niggles. It's no conicidence, that both have had time off & that we started with two runners in midfield & no half fit Aguero.

We need to manage all our attackers like this too imo. DeBruyne is in also need of tlc. If we keep our best players fit & look after them, we will win stuff, at least domestically, even with an incompetent defence. If we also tighten that up, we'll win stuff easily, we are on another level to the competition.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Watching the highlights again. Honestly, let's have it right. Our defence was absolute dogshite for those two we let in. It's worrying.
Yaya — again, honestly, I don't quite seem to have been watching the same match as some. I thought he had a very quiet night. I don't think he bossed the game at all, even in the second half. But he did look better than he's done recently, and the writing is clearly on the wall: he must be given games off, henceforth, to perform to something like his level. KDB also needs time off. Sorry, but he does. He is picked in every single game. I'd rest him for Swansea, and no messing.
Merlin's goal. I just love to see him do that. He looked up — always, always looking for someone else to give the ball to. Then he thought, fuck it, I'm in the best position of anyone, why not me? Why indeed not you, El Mago? Our best goal of the four, in my opinion. A goal of that quality should have set us up for the rest of the match. But, well, it's City, so we have to do things the hard way.

 

[mat]

Joe Hart knows the score.

"Were top and will probably get PSG..."

 

[stonerblue]

'Never felt more like singing the Blues..'

 

[The Blue]

I must admit, I've enjoyed the group stages in the champions league this year. They've all been really intriguing games, the away fans that have come over have all been pretty decent atmosphere wise (especially last night).

I honestly think we have a great chance to progress quite far in the comp this year. Topping the table will give the players belief and hopefully momentum. If the club/fans want this, they'll be plenty of teams who are wary of drawing us.

 

[Sergio Picasso Aguero]

I actually think there is a very high chance we could be the only English team left in the competition after tonight. Arsenal have to win away from home by 2 clear goals without 2 of their best 3 players (Sanchez, Cazorla) and Chelsea who are in disarray face a tough game against Porto. I think they will lose by the odd goal and Dynamo Kiev will easily beat Maccabi Tel Aviv at home leaving Chelsea in 3rd. Imagine if after all the "City are useless in Europe" comments if we are the only English team in the knockout phase. Not to mention the fact that we should get a favorable draw, fingers crossed we avoid PSG. If it does go the way I think it will, this could be the year when neutral fans and the media start to take a bit of a shine to us if we are the only ones left flying the flag.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Watching the highlights again. Honestly, let's have it right. Our defence was absolute dogshite for those two we let in. It's worrying.
Yaya — again, honestly, I don't quite seem to have been watching the same match as some. I thought he had a very quiet night. I don't think he bossed the game at all, even in the second half. But he did look better than he's done recently, and the writing is clearly on the wall: he must be given games off, henceforth, to perform to something like his level. KDB also needs time off. Sorry, but he does. He is picked in every single game. I'd rest him for Swansea, and no messing.
Merlin's goal. I just love to see him do that. He looked up — always, always looking for someone else to give the ball to. Then he thought, fuck it, I'm in the best position of anyone, why not me? Why indeed not you, El Mago? Our best goal of the four, in my opinion. A goal of that quality should have set us up for the rest of the match. But, well, it's City, so we have to do things the hard way.

I agree with a lot of this. First half there was a lack of energy all over the pitch. I don’t think you can criticise the back 4 when the pressing in front was completely ineffective and it was down to not all the players being at the same level of intensity.
You could use the video to illustrate how not to defend from the front. If you close down the man with the ball but leave another open you just ask to get the ball passed through you. You have to close down the options slightly faster than you close the man with the ball. We did that so badly last night it was comical. Closing down 2 or 3 players right up the pitch and leaving one wide open, then doing the same in midfield, then the back 4 dropping back as they were passing through us with such ease! Alarming defending as a team but not really an issue with any individual although some were clearly lacking the energy and mobility to close things down faster, Yaya is always a suspect but there were others. If they are not looking at that in training this week then they need shooting.

 

[Phil1]

Watching the highlights again. Honestly, let's have it right. Our defence was absolute dogshite for those two we let in. It's worrying.
Yaya — again, honestly, I don't quite seem to have been watching the same match as some. I thought he had a very quiet night. I don't think he bossed the game at all, even in the second half. But he did look better than he's done recently, and the writing is clearly on the wall: he must be given games off, henceforth, to perform to something like his level. KDB also needs time off. Sorry, but he does. He is picked in every single game. I'd rest him for Swansea, and no messing.
Merlin's goal. I just love to see him do that. He looked up — always, always looking for someone else to give the ball to. Then he thought, fuck it, I'm in the best position of anyone, why not me? Why indeed not you, El Mago? Our best goal of the four, in my opinion. A goal of that quality should have set us up for the rest of the match. But, well, it's City, so we have to do things the hard way.

Some of the plaudits Yaya has been getting from last night are over the top. He was, as you say better than recent showings but apart from a couple of bursts forward, which look great on a highlight reel, he was just ok.

 

[Stoned Rose]

he likes that curling shot into the far corner. he tries it a lot. A performance like that, whether it was just moments as some say, or more - - either way it was the difference - shows we were right to buy him

No arguments from me bud :)

 

[VOOMER]

Would it be a disaster to play a back 5 of Sagna Ottimendi, Vinnie Mangala AK?
My reasoning would be that all 3 can bring the ball out, Ottimendi and Mangala have both played a fair few games at RB and LB respectively. It would allow Ottimendi to make the those premptive tackles and harass the opposition. The same would apply to other two.