Stoke Vs City Post Match Discussion Thread

[John.des]

It was an awful performance, not happy with Pellegrini being happy with one point, of course we can take it as that as we were lucky not to lose because Hughes knew whats his tactic, actually he had at least a gameplan.

Mancini was found out so many times having no real gameplan just hoping our basic play and individual brilliance will do the job, but yesterday was the same.

Its not a good points away at Stoke, especially not after a horrible Cardiff tour...

If we win 3 matches away from home vs tricky opponents than 4th time against a "good" Stoke maybe a draw is not bad. But in our current form it is just another bad result.

Next 4 away league games:
Villa: they will press us and they have pace, we will struggle a lot.
WHU: we know them, we know what we can expect vs them, they will park the bus and use their strength in the air and in corners.
Chelsea: very hard match.
Sunderland: we struggle there more than at Stoke where we never win...

Based on Pellegrini's away form so far I am scared of these 4 matches, I expected more than 1 point from the Cardiff/Stoke matches.

 

[cleavers]

My grumble with the critics is they entirely miss the context? i.e The entire first choice defence out at a tough away ground

Except it wasn't the "entire first choice defence" it was half of it, and they kept a clean sheet anyway (the first choice is Zab Kompany Nastasic Clichy).

The defence is not the problem, as 3 clean sheets in 4 games proves, its the lack of midfield, both in defensive cover, and graft, and up front a lack of chances created. You'll never win any game if you don't score, and you won't score if you don't create chances, and we had more than enough creative attacking players on the pitch to do far more on that score.

Currently we are playing neither the mancini style, nor the pellegrini style, its a mess, we're not pressing, and we still lack any pace in attacking. We are badly missing cover in front of the defenders, and there is no link between defence and attack, in short we're missing a midfield.

 

[andyhinch]

My grumble with the critics is they entirely miss the context? i.e The entire first choice defence out at a tough away ground

Except it wasn't the "entire first choice defence" it was half of it, and they kept a clean sheet anyway (the first choice is Zab Kompany Nastasic Clichy).

The defence is not the problem, as 3 clean sheets in 4 games proves, its the lack of midfield, both in defensive cover, and graft, and up front a lack of chances created. You'll never win any game if you don't score, and you won't score if you don't create chances, and we had more than enough creative attacking players on the pitch to do far more on that score.

Currently we are playing neither the mancini style, nor the pellegrini style, its a mess, we're not pressing, and we still lack any pace in attacking. We are badly missing cover in front of the defenders, and there is no link between defence and attack, in short we're missing a midfield.

Stoke pressed very well, should we look at their manager:)

 

[lancs blue]

My grumble with the critics is they entirely miss the context? i.e The entire first choice defence out at a tough away ground

Except it wasn't the "entire first choice defence" it was half of it, and they kept a clean sheet anyway (the first choice is Zab Kompany Nastasic Clichy).

The defence is not the problem, as 3 clean sheets in 4 games proves, its the lack of midfield, both in defensive cover, and graft, and up front a lack of chances created. You'll never win any game if you don't score, and you won't score if you don't create chances, and we had more than enough creative attacking players on the pitch to do far more on that score.

Currently we are playing neither the mancini style, nor the pellegrini style, its a mess, we're not pressing, and we still lack any pace in attacking. We are badly missing cover in front of the defenders, and there is no link between defence and attack, in short we're missing a midfield.

I don't think 3 clean sheets proves anything about the defence tbh, we've been lucky in that Hull and Stoke are average teams with average strikers, the defence has looked vulnerable in all bar the Newcastle game. Yes that is partly down to the poor cover offered by the central midfield but I wouldn't be complacent about the defence. As much as I like the guy Zaba has had a poor start to the season and no CB combination without Kompany has looked that secure so far which is a big worry given Vinny's recent injury record.

 

[fathellensbellend]

just another boring away performance, the team and the bench must weigh in at about 400 million (cannot be arsed to work it out), and yet we couldn't create one decent opening against a team that bar the keeper have not one player who would interest us in the slightest when it comes to transfers.

credit to stoke, they played with energy, desire and with more creativity than us, we escaped with a point.

 

[Neil McNab]

My grumble with the critics is they entirely miss the context? i.e The entire first choice defence out at a tough away ground

Except it wasn't the "entire first choice defence" it was half of it, and they kept a clean sheet anyway (the first choice is Zab Kompany Nastasic Clichy).

The defence is not the problem, as 3 clean sheets in 4 games proves, its the lack of midfield, both in defensive cover, and graft, and up front a lack of chances created. You'll never win any game if you don't score, and you won't score if you don't create chances, and we had more than enough creative attacking players on the pitch to do far more on that score.

Currently we are playing neither the mancini style, nor the pellegrini style, its a mess, we're not pressing, and we still lack any pace in attacking. We are badly missing cover in front of the defenders, and there is no link between defence and attack, in short we're missing a midfield.

I don't think 3 clean sheets proves anything about the defence tbh, we've been lucky in that Hull and Stoke are average teams with average strikers, the defence has looked vulnerable in all bar the Newcastle game. Yes that is partly down to the poor cover offered by the central midfield but I wouldn't be complacent about the defence. As much as I like the guy Zaba has had a poor start to the season and no CB combination without Kompany has looked that secure so far which is a big worry given Vinny's recent injury record.

You're right, 3 clean sheets does mean nothing. You defend as a team, if a wonky back four puts our attacking players and attacking game as a whole on the back foot or secondary to defence then clean sheets are quite possible, one effects the other, the same as if we pose no threat and give the ball away the defence has more work to do. Both our left backs are suspect, Zabaleta is fine when playing along side better players, he's been effected badly by the short comings in the middle. The main problems I see are in midfield, we are going to miss Barry because what I've seen in the middle has been woeful, we've added out and out pace with Navas but don't play the style of football that will utilise that , we have no players that will run with the ball or beat a man. Forget winning things for two years and give this manager time to get it right, my expectations for this season are very low and I can see a lot of coming and going over the next two seasons, it's a shame his signings were of an age for instant impact because I think were we're 3 years off being a force. Our attacking players are all too old as a squad, vibrance, youthful fearlessness and imagination very lacking.
FA Cup run and top 4 all this lot will manage.

 

[tonea2003]

Except it wasn't the "entire first choice defence" it was half of it, and they kept a clean sheet anyway (the first choice is Zab Kompany Nastasic Clichy).

The defence is not the problem, as 3 clean sheets in 4 games proves, its the lack of midfield, both in defensive cover, and graft, and up front a lack of chances created. You'll never win any game if you don't score, and you won't score if you don't create chances, and we had more than enough creative attacking players on the pitch to do far more on that score.

Currently we are playing neither the mancini style, nor the pellegrini style, its a mess, we're not pressing, and we still lack any pace in attacking. We are badly missing cover in front of the defenders, and there is no link between defence and attack, in short we're missing a midfield.

I don't think 3 clean sheets proves anything about the defence tbh, we've been lucky in that Hull and Stoke are average teams with average strikers, the defence has looked vulnerable in all bar the Newcastle game. Yes that is partly down to the poor cover offered by the central midfield but I wouldn't be complacent about the defence. As much as I like the guy Zaba has had a poor start to the season and no CB combination without Kompany has looked that secure so far which is a big worry given Vinny's recent injury record.

You're right, 3 clean sheets does mean nothing. You defend as a team, if a wonky back four puts our attacking players and attacking game as a whole on the back foot or secondary to defence then clean sheets are quite possible, one effects the other, the same as if we pose no threat and give the ball away the defence has more work to do. Both our left backs are suspect, Zabaleta is fine when playing along side better players, he's been effected badly by the short comings in the middle. The main problems I see are in midfield, we are going to miss Barry because what I've seen in the middle has been woeful, we've added out and out pace with Navas but don't play the style of football that will utilise that , we have no players that will run with the ball or beat a man. Forget winning things for two years and give this manager time to get it right, my expectations for this season are very low and I can see a lot of coming and going over the next two seasons, it's a shame his signings were of an age for instant impact because I think were we're 3 years off being a force. Our attacking players are all too old as a squad, vibrance, youthful fearlessness and imagination very lacking.
FA Cup run and top 4 all this lot will manage.

really? seriously?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

My seafood terrine was delicious, although I was a bit pissed off that my seat was five, possibly even ten centremetres to the right of the halfway line.

Exactly the sort of analysis and contribution we need.

How did you find the peasants? Smelly at all? And would you rather have been sat in the manor playing bridge with the golf club boys?

The peasants were revolting.

I don't like golf. Boring game for boring people. Bridge even more so.

 

[blueinsa]

My seafood terrine was delicious, although I was a bit pissed off that my seat was five, possibly even ten centremetres to the right of the halfway line.

Best poster on here by a mile atm :-)

 

[squirtyflower]

My seafood terrine was delicious, although I was a bit pissed off that my seat was five, possibly even ten centremetres to the right of the halfway line.

Exactly the sort of analysis and contribution we need.

How did you find the peasants? Smelly at all? And would you rather have been sat in the manor playing bridge with the golf club boys?

The peasants were revolting.

I don't like golf. Boring game for boring people. Bridge even more so.

I saw you quite clearly from my pauper's position

the man in black eh?

 

[cleavers]

I don't think 3 clean sheets proves anything about the defence tbh, we've been lucky in that Hull and Stoke are average teams with average strikers, the defence has looked vulnerable in all bar the Newcastle game. Yes that is partly down to the poor cover offered by the central midfield but I wouldn't be complacent about the defence. As much as I like the guy Zaba has had a poor start to the season and no CB combination without Kompany has looked that secure so far which is a big worry given Vinny's recent injury record.

I'm not being complacent about the defence, but they seem to copping much of the flack, and I don't think that's right because as you rightly point out we have injuries in that department, and despite that we have still only conceded goals in 1 game this season. Yes we have conceded a lot of chances that could/should have been put away, but I will maintain that this is because we have nothing in front of the back four, and that because there is no link between defence and attack, the ball is coming back far too quickly. I don't think this system will work in the PL, and hopefully MP will see this soon, whether it works in europe we'll see, but we should get more time and space there (should note).

 

[penalty spot]

Early days in so far as tactics, and team selection probably due to injuries and fixtures. I do hope it becomes apparent to our manager that certain players are just not able to show enthusiasm and lack passion and technique. Unnecessary to name them ,just give them a long rest. As already posted there does seem to be a missing link between the back 4 and our midfield which was easily overrun by Stoke yesterday.The midfield needs urgent attention.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Exactly the sort of analysis and contribution we need.

How did you find the peasants? Smelly at all? And would you rather have been sat in the manor playing bridge with the golf club boys?

The peasants were revolting.

I don't like golf. Boring game for boring people. Bridge even more so.

I saw you quite clearly from my pauper's position

the man in black eh?

I was sporting brown yesterday, squirty.

 

[BlueMo']

On reflection i'm happy with a point, we could very easily have lost.
I don't feel as pessimistic as some on here.

 

[wolfie1988]

A concern of mine yesterday was what seemed like a willingness to allow them to cross the ball. Particularly 1st half, both full backs tucked in right on to the shoulders of our Centre halves.

Now this is ok if you have wingers who can defend but let's face it, Nasri is weak as piss and was getting turned inside out

 

[lancs blue]

On reflection i'm happy with a point, we could very easily have lost.
I don't feel as pessimistic as some on here.

I was relieved we got a point but we should have lost and that's where the worry (or pessimism if you want to call it that) arises from - the performance was poor following on from a stuttering home performance against Hull and a defensive nightmare at Cardiff. We simply can't afford similar performances in the next two games or we will be punished.

 

[squirtyflower]

The peasants were revolting.

I don't like golf. Boring game for boring people. Bridge even more so.

I saw you quite clearly from my pauper's position

the man in black eh?

I was sporting brown yesterday, squirty.

looked black from my distant position at the back of the stand so i could bang on the steel shuttering
you were right below a big S

 

[Anonymous]

On reflection i'm happy with a point, we could very easily have lost.
I don't feel as pessimistic as some on here.

I'm not happy with a point , but i can certainly see your point .....

Yes , Stoke could easily have won that game yesterday , but fortunately for us they were clueless in front of goal ..... and i think if they'd have scored even once we'd have struggled to get back into it , such was our total ineffectiveness up front.

If we gift better teams than Stoke opportunities like that we won't get away with it ...

 

[jimmmy_L]

I was doing some research the other day on his record for Malaga and was quite surprised at what i found.

2011/12: Goals scored 54, Goals conceded 53. Pretty crap record considering that season they had a bit of money to spend and a good squad in comparison to the other teams.

2012/13: GS: 53, GC: 50. Pretty much the same the next season with a very similar team.

Hardly seems like he's going to bring attacking football with a record like that. Early days though i suppose.....

Real Madrid 2009/2010 GS 102 GA 35 What about this?

If you saw Madrid when he was manager they didn't seem to have a set playing style and just seemed to give their attackers lots of creative freedom.
People say Mourinho is a defensive coach but he had them scoring more goals than Pellegrini.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I saw you quite clearly from my pauper's position

the man in black eh?

I was sporting brown yesterday, squirty.

looked black from my distant position at the back of the stand so i could bang on the steel shuttering
you were right below a big S

It must have been nice for one of my many 'fan-boys' to have spotted me. Now you come to mention it I did notice a City fan at the back getting very giddy when I took my seat.

-- Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:35 am --

I saw you quite clearly from my pauper's position

the man in black eh?

I was sporting brown yesterday, squirty.

looked black from my distant position at the back of the stand so i could bang on the steel shuttering
you were right below a big S

It must have been nice for one of my many 'fan-boys' to have spotted me. Now you come to mention it I did notice a City fan at the back getting very giddy when I took my seat.<br /><br />-- Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:35 am --<br /><br />

I saw you quite clearly from my pauper's position

the man in black eh?

I was sporting brown yesterday, squirty.

looked black from my distant position at the back of the stand so i could bang on the steel shuttering
you were right below a big S

It must have been nice for one of my many 'fan-boys' to have spotted me. Now you come to mention it I did notice a City fan at the back getting very giddy when I took my seat.