Porto (h) post-match thread

[nmc]

The Rodri-Gungogan Taxi's proved as energetic and fluid as always.

Edited

 

[BM96]

I was happy with 1-1 at ht, considering our performance level, porto missed a good chance and pen could of been disallowed. Even if it was accidental he does catch him.

Second half we were much better and i think deserved the win overall.

Ref was poor. giving us yellows for things he didnt even give fouls for when porto did it.

Seen a few comments saying it wasnt a foul for the fk. I would disagree with that as he goes through gundo to get the ball.

 

[ancoats]

the officials last night was so so under orders from uefa to make the game hard for city
i lost count of how many cards he shown the city players ? the cards was out in a flash when a city player fouled

crazy to think uefa love to promote there fair play banner ? only to see them use all the powers they have in stopping us play, i even thought the pen was going to be over turned, but they will keep that card up there sleeves for a late date

 

[Sparkys-Army]

What shape was the team once Gundogan went off? It seemed more of a 433 and despite Porto needing to come out of their shell, the attacks started to flow 10x better. The link ups and passing triangles reminded me of what we can do!

 

[Neville Kneville]

The academy is almost comical in terms of the attacking midfield it produces. They just need to build up the stamina to press over 90 minutes and we are set.

I'm honestly starting to think as long as we have the stamina to press, pace and creativity, then defensive ability in midfield is overrated. Just consider Thiago Alcantara, his ball control and energy to run all over the field is what makes him amazing, but Bernie can do that, Kevin can do that, Foden has energy for days, just play all 3 and have them absolutely dominate the midfield, none of this single or double pivot with Rodri or Gundogan is necessary.

If the midfield isn't particularly great at defending, the secret is having a defence.

Last night we had neither.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Aguero I'd cut some slack he's coming back from almost four months injured.

Absolutely true. But still, absolutely true.

 

[David Silva]

What shape was the team once Gundogan went off? It seemed more of a 433 and despite Porto needing to come out of their shell, the attacks started to flow 10x better. The link ups and passing triangles reminded me of what we can do!

That’s what it looked like, at times with Mahrez inside and Silva wide though oddly.

It definitely helped us that Porto actually came out of their half once it went 2-1...

 

[Neville Kneville]

Laporte's injuries are stacking up don't you think.

Hopefully we can get him right & then keep it that way, for a while.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I was happy with 1-1 at ht, considering our performance level, porto missed a good chance and pen could of been disallowed. Even if it was accidental he does catch him.

Second half we were much better and i think deserved the win overall.

Ref was poor. giving us yellows for things he didnt even give fouls for when porto did it.

Seen a few comments saying it wasnt a foul for the fk. I would disagree with that as he goes through gundo to get the ball.

Totally sub-standard. Garcia booked for what wasn't even a foul, and Rodri got away with one which was a clear booking.

 

[Bozzie]

the officials last night was so so under orders from uefa to make the game hard for city
i lost count of how many cards he shown the city players ? the cards was out in a flash when a city player fouled

crazy to think uefa love to promote there fair play banner ? only to see them use all the powers they have in stopping us play, i even thought the pen was going to be over turned, but they will keep that card up there sleeves for a late date

It's not just UEFA to be fair, we had four bookings against Arsenal last Saturday. That makes 9 bookings over 2 matches during which we've been adjudged to have committed 30 fouls (15 in each match). Our opponents have committed 14 fouls (10 and somewhat incredibly only 4 last night) and received 1 booking each. I thought Garcia's was harsh and Bernardo's was laughable but, from memory, the others last night we're all for slightly late tackles where the player stood on the opponents foot which, in any league, generally earns you a yellow card. It's an issue that's going to cause us problems as the season progresses, particularly in the CL where 2 bookings means you miss the next match. Whilst I don't think we're refereed in quite the same way as others I also don't think it's something we can just ignore.