So what is wrong at the moment?

[sincity]

A few things;

- style of play - too predictable, too easy to defend against, too slow
- No cohesion in midfield - midfield has gone missing for a while now, doesn't seem to help defensively or do enough attacking wise - Silva, Milner and Lampard apart
- Giving away early goals - causing huge issues as it lets opposition sit back, get numbers behind the ball and hit us on counter - MUST cut out silly mistakes early on - get ourselves concentrating from the 1st second!
- Lack of pace and energy - I know we have to trust our senior players, but surely the energy and exuberance of a younger player, EDS or someone in and around the team, getting some game time as a sub at least would give us a boost? The players at the moment do not look like they fear for their positions - they should

This is a key point and why so many people look at our transfer dealings. To many players look like they are cruising.

last night we lost the ball attacking at one point and the opposition broke down the left . We had won the ball back in our own box when Nasri had just about got into our half. He was our left sided midfielder, how do you expect to keep clean sheets with that sort of cover.

Pellers needs to get hold of Navas and ask why he never uses his pace to run at and past players. Even when he looks like he has the beating of the fullback like he did against he rags he still bottles it. But his attitude is still the same as its always been.

Only Komps, Milner and Aguero are really showing the fight required at the mo. Even Zaba is having a poor season by his recent standards.

The folowing all key players have all been shocking by previous standards - MDM, Clichy, Dinho, Yaya, Kolorov, Nasri, Jovetic, Dzeko - This is the main problem.

Play the Youth Team against Bayern...I'd wager they'd put up a better performance than what I saw last night..

 

[alanblue]

Its Cup Final 2012 versus Wigan syndrome. The players are either a) unhappy ,b) confused c) unfit d) peaked e) cant be fucking arsed; or a possible combination of all of those.

 

[Citizen in Pakistan]

Judging by the pellers interview and the way we've bin playing the main reason is the confidence ,and the players are not confident about the system anymore,hardly anyone expected city to play so defensively with rags down to 10,and confidence does get shaken up when Therw is a constant tinkering of back 4,there is a limit to what kompany can do
We've been droping points everytym Silva is injured,we've been very reliant on him for few seasons now and our mistake has bin in not looking for an adequate cover
And lastly Weve bin very predictable ,without Silva Therw is hardly anything through the middle,and all were looking for is something from the wings

 

[BlueSniffer]

We’re so slow & predictable it’s unbelievable for a team with so many creative players.

Tactics seem to be - ball out wide to Navas who holds the play while waiting for Zabba to overlap, this allows the opposition time to organise their defensive line. Navas passes to Zabba who now has 2 defenders covering him, passes back to Navas who then passes to Toure/Fernando in the centre of the park. A couple of 1-2’s then pass out wide to Milner who waits for Clichy to overlap. Pass to Clichy who then has 2 defenders covering him, passes back to Milner who then passes to Toure/Fernando in the centre of the park. The following routine is then tried 3 more times before an attempt to chip the ball over the defensive back line which is either cleared or caught be the keeper.

 

[yerwot?]

We don't have the footballing defenders to play the Spanish style and we lack the drive and energy to play a high tempo game.
Our biggest strength was always continual possession, but it's since been turned into a weakness by intelligent opponents.. It's creeping into our Premier League games, but it's always been there in Europe.

Just look at the similarities between Napoli's and Dortmund's goals at the ETIHAD. Throw in Sunderland's second goal last season, and Stoke's the other week.

How similar was Tottenham's goal to Arsenal's first last season?

Some of these games were still won, but the problem isn't going away.

very astute, but the 'fix' is elusive. In Europe the level of pressing is very high, we are not physically capable of matching them, imo, causing us to get rid hurriedly, usually giving possession away. Opponents take the field knowing they will be given chances, our lot take the field knowing they will face 9 defenders due to our glacial build-up.
The standard of football skills and tactics in Europe is much higher, perhaps we are where we deserve to be. Success in the prem means less and less in the CL.

 

[bluesoup]

We’re so slow & predictable it’s unbelievable for a team with so many creative players.

Tactics seem to be - ball out wide to Navas who holds the play while waiting for Zabba to overlap, this allows the opposition time to organise their defensive line. Navas passes to Zabba who now has 2 defenders covering him, passes back to Navas who then passes to Toure/Fernando in the centre of the park. A couple of 1-2’s then pass out wide to Milner who waits for Clichy to overlap. Pass to Clichy who then has 2 defenders covering him, passes back to Milner who then passes to Toure/Fernando in the centre of the park. The following routine is then tried 3 more times before an attempt to chip the ball over the defensive back line which is either cleared or caught be the keeper.

haha spot on and maybe include whilst passing it on the flanks, lose the ball and then chase the runners...

 

[baildon blue]

Lots wrong and the main culprit is Yaya Toure .

 

[PSmyth07]

Lack of respect for the manager? Pelli lost the dressing room?
Tired/ Burnt out /Training too hard?
Too many players on long term contracts/ Lack of professionalism?

What the hell is going on? It's a complete meltdown in Europe and we are going to cock the whole season up if something is not done very quickly.

So where is it going wrong at the moment in your opinion?

1 most players had no pre season
2 players came back staggered over a month

We're not the only team to have players in the World Cup, this shouldn't be an issue for me.

 

[oasis-city-greek-fan]

Sack both Txiki and Pelle.
Promote Vieira as coach until the end of the season.
Koeman should be our next manager

 

[nobody can eat fifty eggs]

I blame the big screens they're putting the players off. Especially Dzeko he can't keep his eyes off them, every time he misses he looks at himself on the telly.....and that can amount to a lot of times in a game!