Shakhtar Donetsk (H) CL Post-Match Thread

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Couldn’t watch but sounds like I didn’t miss much. Not too concerned about tonight though, we always play crap when the result doesn’t matter. So as long as no injuries all good. Do agree we’ve been struggling lately in general but if we can get through Christmas with no new injuries, start to get players back don’t see why we can’t win this. Think the league will be too hard now though, can’t see Liverpool dropping 9 more points than us.

Long way to go yet mate

 

[daztrueblue91]

Our fullbacks are not in the same class as theirs though. Plus we rely on our midfield when we play well for some creativity. Also both their wide fullbacks carry a massive goal threat, we only have one currently.

Disagree with the class comment. Cancelo and Mendy were two of the most highly rated attacking full backs in Europe when we signed them and Angelino has got an excellent cross on him too. They’d all be outstanding at Liverpool.

Our midfield creativity is none existent at the moment. Aside from KDB, there is no threat other than hopeless balls into the box. We don’t really look like scoring at the moment aside from when we turnover possession like against Chelsea.

 

[super_city_si]

I think Pep sees gundo and Rodri as giving more protection to the defence but look at shakhtars goal. Their midfielder ran past Rodri and especially gundogan with ease. Not much protection at all in reality.

 

[Craig]

Disagree with the class comment. Cancelo and Mendy were two of the most highly rated attacking full backs in Europe when we signed them and Angelino has got an excellent cross on him too. They’d all be outstanding at Liverpool.

Our midfield creativity is none existent at the moment. Aside from KDB, there is no threat other than hopeless balls into the box. We don’t really look like scoring at the moment aside from when we turnover possession like against Chelsea.

If we had Robertson don't you think he'd be bombing forward providing great width?I don't think our left backs are good enough but if it's purely tactical it's crazy as Sterling hardly ever goes on the outside. So it's not as if it's like when Delph had his good season by leaving Leroy space to attack the fullback and just tucked inside.

 

[Marvin]

worst game of the season for me ? but city did what they set out to do before kick off and win the group tonight and nothing more ?? maybe just getting this year over will be a blessing and the transfer window open on 1st January can not come quicker enough for me. i hope to god we already have a couple of irons in the fire because we need a big lift and fresh blood to rotate a already injury hit and tired squad

the injuries have hit us hard in how we rotate and keep players fresh because nobody can have a 25 man squad that can be that good. it will always be a 17 to 18 squad of players of world class level you need to operate at. the rest is mixed with youth and 4 or 5 very good squad players that can cover for 3 or 4 games or play in different roles

so no moaning from me tonight and city win the group and that's all you can ask for at this stage of the season and regroup in feb 2020 for the knockouts. good crowd tonight and city must have done a lot of promotion and freebies with the schools kids. and i loved the kids in the back of the south stand singing the blues on

was very nice of the club to group them together and some work on the songs was do in school made me feel blessed to be a city fan

I could hear the kids especially towards the end of the game. At least someone enjoyed it.

I walked home bemoaning injuries. I don't mind if the players eventually come back, but Mendy has looked really poor since he returned whilst De Bruyne is at 90%. He was one of our better players today, but still short of where he was. I think it's physical. I watched him at the weekend, and physically he looked shattered.

We are transitioning to a new side, but this was a game when the new signings looked poor: Rodri and Cancelo. Perhaps they will come good in their second season. We looked one paced tonight and I was sat muttering bring Foden on through half time, and by the time he brought him on it was too late.

Bottom line is we topped the group. And at the weekend we beat a very good Chelsea side with a weakened team so things are not so bad. We just played a bad game tonight.

I can't say I am too confident about beating Newcastle at the weekend though

 

[East Level 2]

Flat performance, flat atmosphere but we've won the group with a game to spare and can concentrate on the League (and League Cup) for the next five or 6 weeks.
Not sure about the drum and megaphone. Normally I'd oppose such shite but if our loyal and vocal support act like ****s and watch on the telly then the tourists who buy tickets need some help with the tunes.
The club needs to reduce the PL pricing so fans have cash spare for CL games.

 

[Marvin]

If we had Robertson don't you think he'd be bombing forward providing great width?I don't think our left backs are good enough but if it's purely tactical it's crazy as Sterling hardly ever goes on the outside. So it's not as if it's like when Delph had his good season by leaving Leroy space to attack the fullback and just tucked inside.

Angelino was up against a super quick forward.

You think he's going to overlap and leave Fern or Otamendi to mark him?

Had your criticised Cancelo you'd have had a point.

 

[levets]

that had to be a club stunt, I have never heard a drum at city. Anybody know if it was ?

what was the bell lady called ? Brought back some memories thinking about her behind the goal at main rd then

She was Helen... and it was Maine Road

 

[Marvin]

Flat performance, flat atmosphere but we've won the group with a game to spare and can concentrate on the League (and League Cup) for the next five or 6 weeks.
Not sure about the drum and megaphone. Normally I'd oppose such shite but if our loyal and vocal support act like ****s and watch on the telly then the tourists who buy tickets need some help with the tunes.
The club needs to reduce the PL pricing so fans have cash spare for CL games.

It was more or less a full house but it was never a game where there was any edge to it. Thought the singers made a good effort but no one was ever going to join in.

 

[daztrueblue91]

If we had Robertson don't you think he'd be bombing forward providing great width?I don't think our left backs are good enough but if it's purely tactical it's crazy as Sterling hardly ever goes on the outside. So it's not as if it's like when Delph had his good season by leaving Leroy space to attack the fullback and just tucked inside.

It has to be tactical because whenever Angelino was in a position to cross it, he just cut back and played the simple pass. No one was getting into the box or actually playing him in to cross the ball.

Even when Cancelo is in a crossing position, he normally has Bernardo and KDB within 5 yards of him, leaving hardly any bodies in the box.