Training Ground work bearing obvious fruit

[skybluepete]

We only have our two c/h to rely on because every other player is pushed on- i have seen vinnie on numerous occasions this season flying in to win the ball back well into the oppositions half- against real quality though, we would have to be careful .

14 wins and 2 draws in the last 16 games would suggest it works quite well.

Im not knocking it , i love the way were playing, was just saying i know what the guy means and i also said i would only be concerned against "real quality"
Suarez got away a few times because he started to work it out - just an example

 

[newenglandblue]

I do think Pellers has adapted during the season. Muller gave Dzeko and Aguero stick for not helping the midfield out, but recently the two strikers have definitely done this. I remember Aguero chipping in against Arsenal in the first hal. and Dzeko and Negredo's work has been highlgihted elsewhere. i think we are able to do this more now as Silva, Nasri and obviously Navas seem to want to link with the lone striker if his partner has dropped off. This creates the lightening quick counter attacks we seem top be gettnig better and better at.<br /><br />-- Tue Jan 14, 2014 7:51 am --<br /><br />I do think Pellers has adapted during the season. Muller gave Dzeko and Aguero stick for not helping the midfield out, but recently the two strikers have definitely done this. I remember Aguero chipping in against Arsenal in the first hal. and Dzeko and Negredo's work has been highlgihted elsewhere. i think we are able to do this more now as Silva, Nasri and obviously Navas seem to want to link with the lone striker if his partner has dropped off. This creates the lightening quick counter attacks we seem top be getting better and better at.

 

[blueinsa]

Think our high pressing is proving only moderately successful. We're a yard off the pace to make it work 100%. The better teams are able to accurately pass their way through it. That's the reason we sometimes look dangerously exposed - once it breaks down, half our team is at the other end of the pitch, leaving 4 on 4's.
Hi risk against Barca.

Im convinced that folk post on here without even watching us sometimes!

It's more that the analysis seems somewhat lacking. For example - "pressing high up the field leaves us exposed". Well yeah - any team who presses as high up the field as we do will leave themselves exposed. It's why a team like Barcelona has conceded the vast majority of their goals in the last few years from counter attacks.

Anyway yeah, training ground work is clearly bearing fruit. Yesterday (as in recent weeks) we look for all the world like Pellegrini's Villareal but with better players. Our pressing movement, passing, understanding of positioning, fluidity, all those little technical details you learn in training are all coming to the fore.

The fact we have both the character and mentality of a top team allied with the undoubted technical ability we have is at times frightening.

Yesterday was another huge away win. Next on our travels will be Spurs - 3 points there and then Chelsea at home to put them out of the race once and for all :)

I took issue with his claim that we are only moderatly succesful playing the way we are mate.

Pellegrini has a squad full of quality, some of it world class and he has them all believing in him and his methods.

Sure the high line puts a pressure on our defence to defend but thats what they are there for and with the quality we have, we will concede far less chances and goals than we will bag at the other end and that will win us a hell of a lot of football games.

Pellegrini is working wonders right now and he has only just begun ;-)

 

[cibaman]

The defensive performance against Newcastle was easily our best of the season. Being picky, I thought it was more down to individual performances (Kolarov's best game in a City shirt, Demichellis settling into PL football) rather than anything tactical. Clearly the manager deserves full credit for getting those performances out of the players. If he can continue to do that for the rest of the season we should have no problems.

But I would still like to see more protection for the defense away from home. I'm one of Yaya's biggest fans but he can be a defensive weakness. At times there were some big spaces in front of the defense which, if the back four and GK hadn't been at the very top of their game, would have been costly. An extra body in midfield seems essential for those trips to Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, United and Barca.

 

[without a dream]

The defensive performance against Newcastle was easily our best of the season. Being picky, I thought it was more down to individual performances (Kolarov's best game in a City shirt, Demichellis settling into PL football) rather than anything tactical. Clearly the manager deserves full credit for getting those performances out of the players. If he can continue to do that for the rest of the season we should have no problems.

But I would still like to see more protection for the defense away from home. I'm one of Yaya's biggest fans but he can be a defensive weakness. At times there were some big spaces in front of the defense which, if the back four and GK hadn't been at the very top of their game, would have been costly. An extra body in midfield seems essential for those trips to Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, United and Barca.

We were forced much deeper as Newcastle managed to control the midfield better than we did and with the quality of the defensive players we have there's no frailty when the back 4 aren't being left exposed. We looked better when we had another man in there and then I thought it was a bizarre decision from Pardew to take off a midfielder for a striker for the last 15. We managed to get on the front foot much more after that, creating a fair few chances.