United (H) - League Cup SF 2nd Leg Post-Match Thread

[blueinsa]

I care. I’m sick to fucking death of them beating us at home. I’m fucking sick of us playing matches like they don’t matter - the manager moans that the fans don’t turn up for cup games and that’s why

They play like it doesn’t matter. They are careless, vacant and generally take things for granted and play with no aggression

We got beat at home against 10 shit United players. Nowhere near good enough

I will say a little prayer for you at bedtime tonight.

 

[argyle]

I care. I’m sick to fucking death of them beating us at home. I’m fucking sick of us playing matches like they don’t matter - the manager moans that the fans don’t turn up for cup games and that’s why

They play like it doesn’t matter. They are careless, vacant and generally take things for granted and play with no aggression

We got beat at home against 10 shit United players. Nowhere near good enough

Won the tie overall though and the players did care enough to batter them in the 1st leg.

We're through to the final. They are not.

Was up to them to score 2 or more and they failed.

 

[Kenward Garg]

A football genius would not blame Pep for that loss. That's a polite way of putting it.

The only criticism I would make of Pep last night is that he possibly selected Sterling to start ahead of Jesus. Sterling is a very important player for us. Do we play him back into form? He can't get his confidence back if he's sitting on the bench. Awkward. The poor finishing wasn't solely Sterling's fault.

Defensively, I can’t fault Sterling. Offensively, he’s dithering for want of a better word. Confidence isn’t there. It’s been the case since Anfield and the subsequent England games.

Time will tell but he’s a young man who has something about him. He’s his own man. Left Liverpool to win trophies and he’s done that when it was conventional wisdom he’d spend his City career on the bench and then get transferred to Sunderland.

It was conventional wisdom he couldn’t score. He can and has with regularity and was only a few months ago described as one of the most dangerous and prolific forwards around.

He will come good. Like I say, he has something about him. Mental strength that will get him through a period we all have in our lives.

 

[Marvin]

I don't think we passed it with our usual fluency either tbh. In the first half in particular we ceded possession unnecessarily numerous times. Not that it really matters now, of course.

We cut them open loads of times. We perhaps got caught at times in two minds wondering whether to just retain possession and win the tie, or whether to risk making that killer ball which might lead to a goal, or lead to a counter-attack. Sometimes you can miss loads of chances and the opposition go up and score with their first attack but we never went to pieces. We used to get bad luck in CL games when we were a successful side and we'd completely implode. At least we held it together last night on a night when Utd got a lot of luck. They needed to score first they did but they still couldn't really get a foothold in the game. it made it nervous but they barely had an effort on goal. I recall a header from Maguire, and one or two free-kicks. They are a poor side. That's the only frustrating thing from a City point of view. We could have thrashed them but we played a lot better in this Derby game than we did in the league game at home.

 

[City Raider]

Someone mentioned last night about Pep having a poor record in 2 leg games. Not sure of the stats but did make me wonder. The players natural reaction will be to protect a lead even if the manager says don’t change how we play. Could lead to some confusion. Would also explain his brilliant record in finals.

 

[wolfie1988]

Simple fact is, they came for a 0-0 in a game they had to score 3 in. There was no intent to any of their attacks and until it got a bit twitchy late on, I had no fear that they would ever win that game.

Now, onto City, I'm fucking sick of how wasteful we are this season. It is so frustrating knowing how good we are yet looking at the situation we're in. We have to stick our chances away or we will get punished when it comes to the Champions League.

 

[Grassland Blue]

I have heard the words 'major rebuild' a number of times recently and I just don't get it at all. We have to replace key players, we knew this was coming and no team is going to replace Kompany, Silva and Aguero without noticing. All the key replacements are there - Garcia/Laporte will be the main partnership next season, Foden is an obvs replacement for Silva and Jesus comes in for Aguero. All will happen over 2 seasons and we will bring in or through players in other key areas.

Last night was frustrating in many ways but it was a derby and there was a final at stake and there was the whole crowd thing that led to an odd atmosphere. United had nothing to lose but still they hardly came at us with any real intent.

So we have one final, good prospects in both other cups and probably second in the league to a team that is on a freakish run that no one predicted.

Who will replace Fern?

 

[Sky Blue]

We cut them open loads of times. We perhaps got caught at times in two minds wondering whether to just retain possession and win the tie, or whether to risk making that killer ball which might lead to a goal, or lead to a counter-attack. Sometimes you can miss loads of chances and the opposition go up and score with their first attack but we never went to pieces. We used to get bad luck in CL games when we were a successful side and we'd completely implode. At least we held it together last night on a night when Utd got a lot of luck. They needed to score first they did but they still couldn't really get a foothold in the game. it made it nervous but they barely had an effort on goal. I recall a header from Maguire, and one or two free-kicks. They are a poor side. That's the only frustrating thing from a City point of view. We could have thrashed them but we played a lot better in this Derby game than we did in the league game at home.

See, you can post some good stuff. :)

 

[Blue Hefner]

Won the tie overall though and the players did care enough to batter them in the 1st leg.

We're through to the final. They are not.

Was up to them to score 2 or more and they failed.

Maybe I 'm bitter and petty but they where there to be hammered and we didn't take the opportunity. They will not be shit forever!

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Calmed down now. Went over the top last night.

I hate losing to them.

However we're through to the final and they aren't. It was up to them to score at least 2 and they didn't manage it.

Lots of players didn't play well but I guess they knew they had a 2 goal lead.

Need to finish better but I don't know how Pep can get players to do that.

For me it was the other way round. I had a few, and I was in the general euphoria of getting to Wembley, yet again! Something which I shall never, ever take for granted. Now, in the cold light of this morning, I'm feeling pretty savage about losing a) to the rags, something else which I'll never, ever take for granted, and b) losing/drawing for about the tenth time this season in this manner: dominating possession? Check. Lots of shots off target? Check. Several on target? Check. One/two opportunities for the opposition? Check. City lose or draw? Fucking check!