Why we are misfiring...

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

Having watched City this season there are three reasons why we are not reaching anything like the heights of last season - they are as follows:
[1] Poor defending of crosses.
[2] Poor pressing of the opposition when they have the ball.
[3] Non existent counter attacks/Poor forward movement.

Poor defending of crosses.
Obvious to every City fan. You just have to look at the goals we concede. Generally a player fails to pick up an opponent in their zone and they get a free header. Yesterday it was Zab who let Fellani get in front of him at the back stick (not Lescott who some of you think was at fault). Every player has failed at this at some point in the season. Why the problem? Last year we played a mixed system - mostly zoneal - with 2 free players who ran in with the opposition picking up runners and targeting the ball. This season we are totally zonal. I can't see the free players who attacked the ball like last seasosn.

Poor pressing of the opposition when they have the ball.
Last season when we lost the ball. Opposition players (except those on the far flanks - because it was more important to defend the cross) were pressed and harried as soon as they got the ball. This season we are standing off players - especially by our front 4 in the opposition half. Teams should defend from the front but this season they are not up to scratch. Not one City player is doing it like we did it last year. Aguero, Balotelli, Dzeko, Nasri, Yaya (when not playing the holding role) are all guilty of this. Even Tevez is not doing it to the same standard as in the past.

Non existent counter attacks/Poor forward movement
The ponderous nature of our attacking play is the main reason we are not scoring anything like the number of goals we used to. I'm not quite sure as to whether it is the Chicken or the Egg that is at fault however.
- The chicken (a lack of movement by the front 4 into space to receive a quick pass) or
- The egg (a complete lack of any attempt to get the ball up-field quickly).
We mostly amble up the field retaining possession allowing the opposition to get there whole team behind the ball. It would seem that possession football is the be-all and end-all of our attacking play.

You need to sort it out fairly soon Roberto. Or the PL title like the CL will be gone.

Quite simple the sale of Nigel De Jong and the purchase of sub standard replacements that have actually weakened the team. In a nut shell we ain't as good as last season and it's showing.

 

[johnbmcr]

some things up in the whole organisation not just the team we seem pretty rudderless @ the mo' no one in charge and no direction the longer it goes on the more the presuure to change the manager will be

 

[Ellis-mcfc]

A few things for me:
1) Silva playing wide right. Doesn't bring him into the game: HE ISN'T A WINGER.
2) No width. Even at the start of last year we played with Milner wide right, and, more crucially, Nasri out left, pulling teams away from the centre.
3) Striker's struggling. Our first choice striker is struggling imo, he seems to lack that explosive pace he had last year.
4) No triangle passing at all. All too slow, no 1-2s, no give-and-goes, just all in all 'I'll give it to you to pass on the blame'.

 

[mdmcfc]

Squad rotation ! I know we have had injurys but aside from that get a settled side and players no what they have to do to force there way in. Worry about squad rotation 3 games down the line now were out of CL

 

[GoMancini7]

A few things for me:
1) Silva playing wide right. Doesn't bring him into the game: HE ISN'T A WINGER.
2) No width. Even at the start of last year we played with Milner wide right, and, more crucially, Nasri out left, pulling teams away from the centre.
3) Striker's struggling. Our first choice striker is struggling imo, he seems to lack that explosive pace he had last year.
4) No triangle passing at all. All too slow, no 1-2s, no give-and-goes, just all in all 'I'll give it to you to pass on the blame'.

Can agree with most of this.

3.) We heard from Kompany in the summer that the the best is yet to come from Agüero, we didnt see him how good he can be ans he was pretty good last year. This year he is out of form big time.

4.) Agree with it even more, no one wants to lose the posession thats why make so many riskfree passes that wont get us anywhere. Nasri is the master he will keep his passing stat over 95% accuracy but wont give an assist or set up a goal twice in a month.

 

[Ellis-mcfc]

A few things for me:
1) Silva playing wide right. Doesn't bring him into the game: HE ISN'T A WINGER.
2) No width. Even at the start of last year we played with Milner wide right, and, more crucially, Nasri out left, pulling teams away from the centre.
3) Striker's struggling. Our first choice striker is struggling imo, he seems to lack that explosive pace he had last year.
4) No triangle passing at all. All too slow, no 1-2s, no give-and-goes, just all in all 'I'll give it to you to pass on the blame'.

Can agree with most of this.

3.) We heard from Kompany in the summer that the the best is yet to come from Agüero, we didnt see him how good he can be ans he was pretty good last year. This year he is out of form big time.

4.) Agree with it even more, no one wants to lose the posession thats why make so many riskfree passes that wont get us anywhere. Nasri is the master he will keep his passing stat over 95% accuracy but wont give an assist or set up a goal twice in a month.

Exactly. This risk-free style is annoying me muchly. Play the through ball! The prime example of triangle passing is on YouTube, I couldn't find it, but if you search it I'm sure you'll come across it. From the 5-1 against the Spuds.

 

[Ellis-mcfc]

A few things for me:
1) Silva playing wide right. Doesn't bring him into the game: HE ISN'T A WINGER.
2) No width. Even at the start of last year we played with Milner wide right, and, more crucially, Nasri out left, pulling teams away from the centre.
3) Striker's struggling. Our first choice striker is struggling imo, he seems to lack that explosive pace he had last year.
4) No triangle passing at all. All too slow, no 1-2s, no give-and-goes, just all in all 'I'll give it to you to pass on the blame'.

Can agree with most of this.

3.) We heard from Kompany in the summer that the the best is yet to come from Agüero, we didnt see him how good he can be ans he was pretty good last year. This year he is out of form big time.

4.) Agree with it even more, no one wants to lose the posession thats why make so many riskfree passes that wont get us anywhere. Nasri is the master he will keep his passing stat over 95% accuracy but wont give an assist or set up a goal twice in a month.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcU3aRndnjI[/youtube]

Here's a good example, look at the pace of Aguero, the passion of the back 4, and the slick movement. Look at Milner, switching from right to left all game. I didn't realise, until watching this, how much we dominated the 6-1. Every run was made with purpose, every pass was made to unlock the defence.

 

[decmancity]

That move at 4.53 was one of the finest goals I have seen.

The whole build up to it was just sheer class.

 

[rogdogblue]

There's nowt like a good moan is there.

1. We have the best squad in the league.
2. This season is different, nobody will open up and play us now. Nearly every team adopts the same set up to limit our chances. It developed during last season and it's not going to change.
3. Two more signings in January will seal it. Top class midfielder and pace up front.

 

[Blue Tooth]

I don't think anyone in the premier league is firing on all cylinders yet...funny season...I think Sunday will be tight but we have enough to see them off.