It still irks me that the charlatan that is Brendan Rodgers is credited with 'sussing this out' as if pressing our play from the back was a masterstroke befitting his genius and finding us out, in that Chumps League match. We were bedding in under Pep. Wish we could play them nowTeams can no longer press us by keeping a high line because if they do the pace of Sane, Jesus and Sterling will rip them to shreds.
If they drop deeper then it leaves more space for Silva and De bruyne.
Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
It looks like the other team aren't trying when in reality they don't know whether to push or stay.
Tremendously exciting times.
I see. I must have misread. My apologiesthey were two separate points. Ota likes to do his slidey stuff not always as a last resort, that's generous from you. The fact that Kompany is back fully with his commanding presence and leadership, and the fact he's class and genuine competition I think would raise their game and confidence.
I disagree with this. He has in fact been less pragmatic (especially if you define pragmatic as following ingrained premier league culture principles: the key one being a tackling machine protecting the back 4.I think the first ten games we looked good, sure, but in many ways we were almost like Pellegrini's City at it's best for most of that time. Then we hit a rough patch. The wins against Barcelona and West Brom were indicators of what we were capable of. Touré's return against Palace was a crucial, crucial game for our season.
For me the Leicester game was the real turning point. Since then Pep's taken a more pragmatic approach to the way his team sets up to defend, while still keeping his principles alive. Tonight was another step in the direction of being peak Barcelona. Aside from the slip-ups against Liverpool and Everton it's been looking up for us ever since Zabaleta fired us in front at the Etihad in December.
They can still press is. They just have to be smarter. Force the ball wide to our fullbacks and clamp downTeams can no longer press us by keeping a high line because if they do the pace of Sane, Jesus and Sterling will rip them to shreds.
If they drop deeper then it leaves more space for Silva and De bruyne.
Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
It looks like the other team aren't trying when in reality they don't know whether to push or stay.
Tremendously exciting times.
chuff me, you take it too seriously, sort of, anyway, a possible good song for the boy?18th century hymn, 19th century gospel song, Franklin sang the definitive version.
It's not going happen. That Cresswell tackle alone should have been a red card—I think many a blue's heart was in their mouth when watching it in real time. I know I feared the worst. And watching that incompetent referee wave play on after watching all the way through from ten yards made me want to put my fist through my iPad screen.Did not want to post last night and risk looking daft, but was that not one of our best ever performances. Simply unplayable at times. Sane is some player. He's like Spanish Dave on steroids! :-). Only one negative... When the fuck is Sterling going to get some protection from getting kicked to death!!
The difference is that we have players like Sancho, Diaz, Dele Bashiru, Gonzalez and others coming throughIn five years time, Silva, Touré, Nasri, Hart, Aguero, Zabaleta, Kompany and Fernandindo will all be done or close to done at the top level.
Also in five years time De Bruyne, Jesus, Sterling, Sané, Iheanacho, Stones and Gundogan will be in the prime of their careers.
Swings and roundabouts.