Looking that the start of each half against Liverpool and Stoke I have noticed a few things about the way we leaked goals in these games.
The first point is that we are outnumbered in central midfield. Never a good thing - it works against our passing game as our central midfield players have less time to think and less time to pass the ball to a City player up the pitch. when Fernando plays it is made worse because although he is a good tackler, he rarely passes the ball forwards or takes the ball forward himself into space - he looks for a pass sideways or backwards and this puts his team mates under pressure as a swarm of opposition harriers approach them leaving them with no option either except to hoof the ball up the pitch. Even if the hoof is accurate, the receiving player has to bring it under control which isn't easy and NOT our passing game. We either play an extra player in midfield to counteract the opposition trying to outnumber us (at which point our passing options improve) or play a different midfielder - one who can pass forwards or surge forward with the ball.
The second is the ludicrous high line City are playing when DeMichelis is playing LCH. He simply just doesn't have the pace to do it from the off. If he stays put he gets passed round, if he steps forward he isn't quick enough to get there and gets passed round and if he runs back with the attacker he loses out in the foot race with the attacker. This is exacerbated by being outnumbered in central midfield. If DeMichelis plays, either play a deeper line so Hart can sweep up behind him or play a different player.
The third point is the positioning of Sterling and Kolarov. Prior to mid October, when the opposition had the ball Sterling tracked back and put himself in a position inside/behind Kolarov so if a winger cut in he was their to block the run and give Kolorov time to recover - it also allowed Kolarov to concentrate mainly on the run down the outside. Now he doesn't go into this position as he is now 3/4 yards away covering a pass into central midfield. This has led directly to three goals being conceded by players getting round Kolorov and putting a ball into the box (2 Liverpool and 1 Stoke). Again this is not helped by Demichelis loosing out in the foot race with the player going to the near post. This is clearly a coaching change by Pellegrini. Probably to get quicker counter attacks under way. It will probably work when Cliche is full back but not for Kolarov. It is certainly killing us though, and yet, Pellers persists with it. Back to the previous tactics please.
Most importantly It beggars belief that Pellers cannot see what is happening but yet there are no instructions/order to players to sort it out, nothing. He just sits on his bum and watches the car crash unfold. That beggars belief - Brain farting of epic proportions.