Post Match Thread: City vs Spurs

[Esteban de la Sexface]

Otamendi shouldn't have rushed out, but Kolarov should have picked up Eriksen before the pass was made.

It was a fuck up between them. Otamendi thought Kolorov was tracking him, Kolorov didn't know Otamendi was going to charge. Never should have happened.

reminds me of one of the first times I watched Carragher on SkySports, he said something very interesting about Jose Enrique, said he was a nightmare to play in the back four with because you didn't know what he was going to do next.

Vital for a back 4 to know simple basics. If I go, you cover etc. It wasn't as if it was fantastic football either.

This is what happens when a team is playing poorly, every mistake is analysed in minute detail, all the cracks get exposed and shown up.
I think a lot of this has to do with our obsession with Europe, Pellegrini got too hung up on a formation to win games against better teams and has us set up as if we are playing Barcelona every week.
Start of the season, we played 4-4-2 (or a variation) most games and battered everyone - the great season under pellegrini was more attackers than defenders and batter most everyone.

Someone is going to get a battering soon, regardless of formations and poor form. We're going to click and absolutely pulverise someone. the last 6 weeks will be vented, I hope its Kiev.

 

[Father Paul]

Because he's shite. He never tracks the runners.

Kolo played quite well yesterday and even scored a goal!!!

 

[Neville Kneville]

Kolo played quite well yesterday and even scored a goal!!!

The worst thing is, that Kolo Toure playing next to Kompany for the rest of this season, would not weaken the team.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Please someone clear this up, Clichy was taken off due to injury correct ?

Pleae don't let it be Manuel.

 

[TellColinBell]

The biggest problem yesterday was the end pas. We clearly lack a player that takes risks and sets somebody free in front of the goalkeeper. By passing the ball round and round we will never score.

 

[cleavers]

Ridiculously scandalous decision aside, I still only thought we played okay.

We defended much better and did some good things but Spurs controlled the game for me. They had 65% possession until they scored, then they sat back and allowed us to have possession, then when we scored they stepped up their possession again and then when they scored again they sat back. Everything was to their tune even if we had more chances.

We really don't look like a champion side this season.

But that decision by Twattenburg! I think it's the worst I've seen since Southampton got a penalty at our place when Crouch hit the ball against Dunne back in about 2004. It didn't look in the box and didn't look like handball from my seat and the ref was much closer. Terrible decision!

Possession isn't control.

First half, we played in a way that surrendered possession, but we controlled where they had that possession, it was mostly along the half way line, don't think Joe had anything significant to do first half, the only real threat was Rose against Zab, they had no threat at all in the middle of the pitch. We attacked sporadically, but each time we did we looked dangerous, and should have taken the lead with the poor miss from Aguero from 6 yards. Second half we dominated, Rose was stopped by Sterling going that side, but we were exposed by taking off Fernando, a bad decision, but we still missed 2 more sitters that could and should have won us the game.

 

[bondsman]

Fernando is very good at what he does and would have stopped that 2nd goal. Having put on Kelechi and gone two up top, we needed to protect the back 4 and stop their counterattacks. That left us wide open to any counter-attack because Toure is a dead weight at defending, and Fernandinho can't be everywhere.

As for Silva he was continually probing. I think he'd have found it easier if he had a Navas sprinting beyond the full back or another forward to find. Aguero was marked very well. Silva was much better than he has been. Still messed up at the death but he was there which is the main thing.

I have got better things to do with my time than waste it on this football club who are being incredibly badly managed.

Weren't you a big fan of mp marv?

 

[Shaelumstash]

Ridiculously scandalous decision aside, I still only thought we played okay.

We defended much better and did some good things but Spurs controlled the game for me. They had 65% possession until they scored, then they sat back and allowed us to have possession, then when we scored they stepped up their possession again and then when they scored again they sat back. Everything was to their tune even if we had more chances.

We really don't look like a champion side this season.

But that decision by Twattenburg! I think it's the worst I've seen since Southampton got a penalty at our place when Crouch hit the ball against Dunne back in about 2004. It didn't look in the box and didn't look like handball from my seat and the ref was much closer. Terrible decision!

I have to wholeheartedly disagree with this.

Spurs were playing really deep and passing the ball accross their back 4 for long periods, trying to encourage us to press them, and leave space in behind.

That's how they battred us at WHL, they were just running through us from the half way line, we couldn't cope with them on the break.

Yesterday it was crystal clear that we'd been instructed to hold our shape, not press the ball high up the pitch, let Spurs have the ball in their own half, and then try to break on them ourselves with Yaya, Sterling and Aguero.

There were so many around me in the stands who seemingly didn't understand that this was the game plan. Spurs were passing it square along their back 4 for the 100th time and people were screaming "pressure them" "get a bloody tackle in!"

Pellegrini actually got his tactics spot on. Spurs created absolutely nothing, they had one speculative shot from 30 yards. They didn't get behind us once. They scored 3 from getting behind us at WHL.

They got gifted a "penalty" from the worlds biggest **** of a referee who frankly should go on a reality show instead of refereeing as he's only concerned about being on TV and gaining attention. His linesman is also surely the most inept official ever involved in the PL? The same one that allowed Spurs to score 2 blatantly offside goals at WHL, and incorrectly flagged Aguero off at least 3 times yesterday.

After they scored, we came out and took the game to them. We completely outclassed them for that period, it was our best performance for some time. After we scored it looked like only one team was going to win it.

Personally I didn't understand the Kolarov decision at all. He was diabolocal last week, Clichy has been playing superbly well. They'd not troubled our back 4 all afternoon, and Clichy gad just assisted a goal, so if it was a tactical switch it was clearly the wrong call.

There are a lot of positives from yesterday for me though. Kompany back, Yaya looked more interested, Silva played some sublime balls in the second half, we looked solid, tactically disciplined.

Up until the Kolarov substitution I thought the manager got the tactics spot on, so he doesn't deserve criticism for yesterday.

 

[Rolee]

I have to wholeheartedly disagree with this.

Spurs were playing really deep and passing the ball accross their back 4 for long periods, trying to encourage us to press them, and leave space in behind.

That's how they battred us at WHL, they were just running through us from the half way line, we couldn't cope with them on the break.

Yesterday it was crystal clear that we'd been instructed to hold our shape, not press the ball high up the pitch, let Spurs have the ball in their own half, and then try to break on them ourselves with Yaya, Sterling and Aguero.

There were so many around me in the stands who seemingly didn't understand that this was the game plan. Spurs were passing it square along their back 4 for the 100th time and people were screaming "pressure them" "get a bloody tackle in!"

Pellegrini actually got his tactics spot on. Spurs created absolutely nothing, they had one speculative shot from 30 yards. They didn't get behind us once. They scored 3 from getting behind us at WHL.

They got gifted a "penalty" from the worlds biggest **** of a referee who frankly should go on a reality show instead of refereeing as he's only concerned about being on TV and gaining attention. His linesman is also surely the most inept official ever involved in the PL? The same one that allowed Spurs to score 2 blatantly offside goals at WHL, and incorrectly flagged Aguero off at least 3 times yesterday.

After they scored, we came out and took the game to them. We completely outclassed them for that period, it was our best performance for some time. After we scored it looked like only one team was going to win it.

Personally I didn't understand the Kolarov decision at all. He was diabolocal last week, Clichy has been playing superbly well. They'd not troubled our back 4 all afternoon, and Clichy gad just assisted a goal, so if it was a tactical switch it was clearly the wrong call.

There are a lot of positives from yesterday for me though. Kompany back, Yaya looked more interested, Silva played some sublime balls in the second half, we looked solid, tactically disciplined.

Up until the Kolarov substitution I thought the manager got the tactics spot on, so he doesn't deserve criticism for yesterday.

I have to wholeheartedly agree with that.

 

[Phil1]

Please someone clear this up, Clichy was taken off due to injury correct ?

Pleae don't let it be Manuel.

He went straight down the tunnel. I was watching because I thought he must be injured, there's no way we'd make an unnecessary sub like that one.
Not heard anything since though.

 

[Rolee]

He went straight down the tunnel. I was watching because I thought he must be injured, there's no way we'd make an unnecessary sub like that one.
Not heard anything since though.

Him going down the tunnel does seem to suggest there's an injury but he certainly didn't look injured when doing Walker on the outside for the equaliser.

 

[Bluenobby]

I have to wholeheartedly disagree with this.

Spurs were playing really deep and passing the ball accross their back 4 for long periods, trying to encourage us to press them, and leave space in behind.

That's how they battred us at WHL, they were just running through us from the half way line, we couldn't cope with them on the break.

Yesterday it was crystal clear that we'd been instructed to hold our shape, not press the ball high up the pitch, let Spurs have the ball in their own half, and then try to break on them ourselves with Yaya, Sterling and Aguero.

There were so many around me in the stands who seemingly didn't understand that this was the game plan. Spurs were passing it square along their back 4 for the 100th time and people were screaming "pressure them" "get a bloody tackle in!"

Pellegrini actually got his tactics spot on. Spurs created absolutely nothing, they had one speculative shot from 30 yards. They didn't get behind us once. They scored 3 from getting behind us at WHL.

They got gifted a "penalty" from the worlds biggest **** of a referee who frankly should go on a reality show instead of refereeing as he's only concerned about being on TV and gaining attention. His linesman is also surely the most inept official ever involved in the PL? The same one that allowed Spurs to score 2 blatantly offside goals at WHL, and incorrectly flagged Aguero off at least 3 times yesterday.

After they scored, we came out and took the game to them. We completely outclassed them for that period, it was our best performance for some time. After we scored it looked like only one team was going to win it.

Personally I didn't understand the Kolarov decision at all. He was diabolocal last week, Clichy has been playing superbly well. They'd not troubled our back 4 all afternoon, and Clichy gad just assisted a goal, so if it was a tactical switch it was clearly the wrong call.

There are a lot of positives from yesterday for me though. Kompany back, Yaya looked more interested, Silva played some sublime balls in the second half, we looked solid, tactically disciplined.

Up until the Kolarov substitution I thought the manager got the tactics spot on, so he doesn't deserve criticism for yesterday.

Nail on the head. I was level with the 3 offside decisions given against Aguero. Not one of them was correct.

 

[Neville Kneville]

He went straight down the tunnel. I was watching because I thought he must be injured, there's no way we'd make an unnecessary sub like that one.
Not heard anything since though.

Cheers.

I can't accept even Pellegrini could pull that one out of the bag.

 

[BufordUSABlue]

Him going down the tunnel does seem to suggest there's an injury but he certainly didn't look injured when doing Walker on the outside for the equaliser.

If not injured it simply beggars belief!

 

[Phil1]

Him going down the tunnel does seem to suggest there's an injury but he certainly didn't look injured when doing Walker on the outside for the equaliser.

I didn't see anything happen during the game that would suggest an injury myself tbh. Thought he was one of our better players yesterday.

 

[crystal_mais]

I have to wholeheartedly disagree with this.

Spurs were playing really deep and passing the ball accross their back 4 for long periods, trying to encourage us to press them, and leave space in behind.

That's how they battred us at WHL, they were just running through us from the half way line, we couldn't cope with them on the break.

Yesterday it was crystal clear that we'd been instructed to hold our shape, not press the ball high up the pitch, let Spurs have the ball in their own half, and then try to break on them ourselves with Yaya, Sterling and Aguero.

There were so many around me in the stands who seemingly didn't understand that this was the game plan. Spurs were passing it square along their back 4 for the 100th time and people were screaming "pressure them" "get a bloody tackle in!"

Pellegrini actually got his tactics spot on. Spurs created absolutely nothing, they had one speculative shot from 30 yards. They didn't get behind us once. They scored 3 from getting behind us at WHL.

They got gifted a "penalty" from the worlds biggest **** of a referee who frankly should go on a reality show instead of refereeing as he's only concerned about being on TV and gaining attention. His linesman is also surely the most inept official ever involved in the PL? The same one that allowed Spurs to score 2 blatantly offside goals at WHL, and incorrectly flagged Aguero off at least 3 times yesterday.

After they scored, we came out and took the game to them. We completely outclassed them for that period, it was our best performance for some time. After we scored it looked like only one team was going to win it.

Personally I didn't understand the Kolarov decision at all. He was diabolocal last week, Clichy has been playing superbly well. They'd not troubled our back 4 all afternoon, and Clichy gad just assisted a goal, so if it was a tactical switch it was clearly the wrong call.

There are a lot of positives from yesterday for me though. Kompany back, Yaya looked more interested, Silva played some sublime balls in the second half, we looked solid, tactically disciplined.

Up until the Kolarov substitution I thought the manager got the tactics spot on, so he doesn't deserve criticism for yesterday.

That's how I saw it too - May have also different if Aguero hit the target with either of the 2 clearest chances in the game before the pen.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Anyone mentioned the Danny Rose incident when Kane was down injured? He had the ball just inside his own half and Zab was marking him. He (Rose) made as though he was going to put the ball out then suddenly ran past Zab with the ball. He then put it out further down the pitch but Zab was absolutely fuming and would have chinned him if Kompany hadn't intervened.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

This is getting ridiculous.

Yaya fucked up, gave the ball away & for some reason you are trying to involve someone else in it. What was Silva doing ? What was everyone else doing ?

The question is, what would Fernando have been doing ? The answer is, protecting the team from that happening, because that's his main purpose & that's where he plays. That's why we were able to play & be tight v a better organised harder working Spurs team but were ripped apart by Leicester time & again, we had an extra body there .

The manager gambled that if we revert to two, one of them should be Yaya. Spurs took the ball off him, ran away from him & scored. If he wanted Fernandinho to play there, why not tell him ?

It's right on every point.

This is the rock and a hard place we have arrived at.

We don't hurt teams enough with Sergio up on his own. Fernando stays as the screen and there's no problem. It only becomes the problem because Pellegrini has to change it to create more chances.

In essence, it's all still done to accommodate Yaya remaining on the pitch.

Kelechi isn't Yaya, but it's still the logical choice because the team can play the percentages a whole lot better.

It provides the extra punch we needed but also allows Fernandinho to carry the ball, knowing his legs can still get him back in, with Fernando already offering the back-four the protection they had removed.

It's the same, every week. Yaya played okay yesterday, but his legs have gone and he is shoe-horned into this team, regardless of not being effective enough wherever he is.

 

[Esteban de la Sexface]

Anyone mentioned the Danny Rose incident when Kane was down injured? He had the ball just inside his own half and Zab was marking him. He (Rose) made as though he was going to put the ball out then suddenly ran past Zab with the ball. He then put it out further down the pitch but Zab was absolutely fuming and would have chinned him if Kompany hadn't intervened.

if ever I was going to turn it would be for Zab. I absolutely love him. He epitomises everything good about football.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

That's how I saw it too - May have also different if Aguero hit the target with either of the 2 clearest chances in the game before the pen.

Can I sit next to you next time, mate? It would be nice not having to explain the game to the clown behind me.