Norwich (a) post-match thread

[alexmcity]

He was the only player that put in an acceptable performance.

1 goal from 4-5 chances and half-arsed pressing isn't enough. His contribution outside the penalty box was minimal.

 

[alexmcity]

I think Laporte being out is a huge problem. Firstly he covers for Zinchenko an awful lot, it’s like he plays 2 positions at times but means that Zinchenko doesn’t need to defend, which is good because he can’t. He is excellent in possession. When he gets the ball from Ederson he can pass the ball into the midfielders quickly and accurately. Otamendi and Stones are too slow in possession. And above all else he is a bloody good defender. With VVD the best in the league. The drop off to Stones and Otamendi it too big.

Laporte didn't play when we won 18 in a row. Pep will find a solution. He is a great player and we miss him but I trust Pep to come up with a solution. First thing is to press properly and not half-heartedly.

 

[BlueLook]

This loss showcases for me just how big was our last year's achievement.

 

[Marvin]

I would put Fernandinho or Rodrigo in alongside Stones.

Otamendi just isn't good enough on the ball. Laporte's injury will likely cost us the league unless we can find a solution. I can't see Otamendi being part of it. I hope Pep grasps the nettle early rather than trying to persist with Ota and Stones. I hope I am wrong of course. I just don't see how City can build up play from the back and we're going to make gaffes with him there.

Immediate priority is to bounce back and avoid being targeted.

 

[Utter bobbins]

Thanks for your wonderful insight you buffoon.
I have been a Blue for over 40 years and been through the bad dark times. I’m far from an ‘entitled wanker’ as you do comically quote.
With the strength and depth of our squad, I EXPECTED a better performance than that. It was poor and foolish of the whole team to think that they could just go through the motions and Norwich would cave in, you can be sure they will NEVER play like that against any of the other Top 6.

Good for you keep posting your bitter rants against the team and individuals in it..I will carry on going to The Etihad hoping City win and put in a good performance, as long as they pull on a blue shirt and give it their best they will get my full support. They are human beings if they cock up something so what..I will never underestimate the opposition because they will be giving it their best shot to its 11 vs 11 and if they beat us good for them..I’m not a buffoon or wear blue tinted specs I’m a City supporter and can take getting beat without the need for some of the pathetic vitriol posted on this forum by the likes of you and a few others

 

[argyle]

Still pissed off.

The fuck was Otamendi doing?

 

[BlueRockape]

Thank fuck that performance is out of the way early doors

 

[Marvin]

We have forgotten about Garcia / Harwood-Bellis.

Pep needs to try one of Fern, Rodrigo, Garcia or Harwood Bellis in place of Ota.

There is little else to say.

 

[Marvin]

Still pissed off.

The fuck was Otamendi doing?

He has that in him. Always has. It pissed me off that he saw it coming and didn't react. Ederson has better ball control than that.

 

[daztrueblue91]

A worrying trend from the past two games is how easy Brighton and Norwich have beaten our press.

Teams seem to be goading us into closing them down by playing deeper and then passing through us.

It could possibly be down to the lack of pace/energy in the side yesterday but it is sOne thing Pep needs to sort out.

 

[Marvin]

Thank fuck that performance is out of the way early doors

Complete mis-reading of the game. It was down to defensive errors, unfortunately that back four has it in them.

 

[Blue Llama]

It's been a few years now since City fans saw Ota's name on the team sheet without having concerns. He is the weakest at playing out. As Norwich's CBs showed us yesterday you don't have to be a big name to do it. Possibly one of our own young players could be used with no greater risk than using Ota?

 

[give it to gordon]

Thinking back to the game I thought it at the time and having read through here it has been mentioned. I thought City looked they were playing a testimony or pre season. For some reason the whole team were well of the pace. Abit like Vinny testimony had taken their eye of the ball, I dont know what went on last week but something seemed amiss. Nothing against Vinny but perhaps in future testimony should be at the end of the season or mid pre season.
It looked like our intensity was missing having a testimony mid-week might have put the players minds (subconsciously) into holiday mode !!.
Yes I think laporte will be a big miss but it seemed the players believed the papers to much and lost confidence ......
Still onwards and upwards....

 

[daztrueblue91]

Still pissed off.

The fuck was Otamendi doing?

The fact he made a fuck up 15 seconds earlier and still wasn’t alert only compounds to the misery.

 

[Marvin]

A worrying trend from the past two games is how easy Brighton and Norwich have beaten our press.

Teams seem to be goading us into closing them down by playing deeper and then passing through us.

It could possibly be down to the lack of pace/energy in the side yesterday but it is sOne thing Pep needs to sort out.

Brighton could not get out of their half. We conceded three soft goals that had zero to do with the press.

The problem is obvious, it's the central defenders, and you don't have to invent other issues.

Question is do we perist with Ota and Stones or change personnel? I'd change.

Hopefully this is the kick up the back-side we need and Pep will make the right decision. There are a lot of talented players to choose from.

 

[Fordyboy46]

We have forgotten about Garcia / Harwood-Bellis.

Pep needs to try one of Fern, Rodrigo, Garcia or Harwood Bellis in place of Ota.

There is little else to say.

I would go with that, Ota has a fuck up in him in most games and Stones then gets nervous. Just can't see Pep bringing one of the youngsters in though, especially as Foden can't even get a game and he's been around the first team for over a year now.

 

[tonea2003]

that was similar to the cardiff game a few years ago, and we didn't do too badly after that

 

[Marvin]

Travelled 400 miles for that yesterday but do you know what?
It was worth every penny to remind me that our great team is allowed an off day and I think some supporters need a reality check here. We have not got a divine right to win every game.
Personally i think the testimonial planning and the international week screwed us up yesterday.
Even if we win nothing this season the team has delivered more than we could every dream of in the last 2 years.
Some are acting like spoilt kids.

The day we start accepting defeats, and bad play, is the day to pack it in.

 

[come-on-barney]

Foden must be looking at Chelsea yesterday. Abraham and some other youngsters getting game time and proving their worth at a tough away game. Now is the time to give Foden a run of games starting Wednesday. Foden’s energy rather than Gundo yesterday was what was needed as well as KDB. Really do not get why Pep does not trust him. If he doesn’t get game time soon then he may well consider his options. Not sure what has happened to Bernardo from being sensational last season to having a quiet start. Sterling also needs to focus again and get his head down. We need to buy a centre half but needs to be a leader as not seeing that right now. Think we should look at bringing Garcia into the squad remember him organising that back line when he played Pre-season games. We will know more about whether this was one of those games or not over the coming games. Like others hope this is not about focusing on the champs league. The good news is we have another game within a few days to try and put this behind us. Come on Pep give Foden a run of games we should be starting to make him a fundamental part of this team.

 

[Utter bobbins]

A worrying trend from the past two games is how easy Brighton and Norwich have beaten our press.

Teams seem to be goading us into closing them down by playing deeper and then passing through us.

It could possibly be down to the lack of pace/energy in the side yesterday but it is sOne thing Pep needs to sort out.

Shock horror after 3 seasons of being battered by Pep’s teams coaches come up with away to counter it