Wolves - post match

[butlerkb]

Pep can’t plan for ederson coming out ( once again) and mistiming his intercept, he can’t plan for mendy getting caught trying to shrill the ball out, he can’t plan for tax giving the hall away and not tackling back, he can’t plan for bravo not being a shot stopper. These are all expensive professionals making mistakes... frustrating for everyone. Kdb was being replaced to save him for Sheffield United, we complain when pep overplays someone.Im a foden fan and would have had him on for legs and ball control, but Gundagan should have been able to control the game and hold the ball at that stage.
Although I don’t think Laporte is the total answer what was highlighted was the need for a leader and strong man at centre back to rally us and shore us up when we start to get shaky. Massive mistake to not replace vinny.
Can we win C L with this team?...all fit and confident ... yes , but the defence will always be a concern.We need luck I think, but hey, we have had a wonderful decade so let’s keep our heads up.

 

[IcriedwhenTueartleft]

We know why he rushed out because the seed of doubt is planted by Ota and Fern. As a team we want to defend them.

Ederson has been a fantastic keeper for City. You seriously think he's a weakness? Players make mistakes. ALl of them. I don't think it was a sending off because he doesn't do much after missing the ball. The WOlves forward makes sure he catches Ederson and buys the foul. This happens all the time and pundits say if you make the challenge and don't get the ball it's your own fault so in that sense he was to blame but I think the Wolves player was clever.

At 2-0 we should have won that comfortably. We switched off and I could see it happening before they scored.

We lost because we had 10 men for 83 minutes. Seriously, that didn’t change our game plan? Ederson in my view is turning into a liability, was great 2 years ago, was good last season but has been mediocre this season. With our dodgy defence we can’t afford that.

 

[PragueBlue]

We'll need to play 2 in the big games.

I'd personally like to see Kev play a little deeper, he has the legs and the fortitude for it. If you could mould him he'd be the perfect pivot. Frees up a space for foden too.

Something like
Rodri Kev
Foden
Bernardo Aguero Sterling/Sane

I think he has played deeper a few games which reduced his effectiveness. Personally I think we need him further forward, pressing the opposition (as against Leicester).

 

[Marvin]

Embarrassing, what the fuck are you on,you should be ashamed if you are a blue.

Probably just frustrated. He is frustrating at times. I bet he gets annoyed with himself too.

I thought the whole City side including Sterling visibly eased off at 2-0. Soon as they scored, I thought they'd win. There was no way our defence was going to hold out for 35 mins

 

[hilts]

Fern is 35 this season. He can't play forever. He wouldn't have played many games had there not been injuries. It would be stupid to play him at his age in a very demanding position.

Makes sense why play a quicker better 35 year old when you have slower poorer younger players chomping at the bit.

 

[Esteban de la Sexface]

You're welcome to disagree but I maintain that TAA is not great defensively. He can be got at defensively. His positioning is not great. Wan Bissaka is a good defender but rubbish going forward. TAA is the opposite. Great going forward but poor at the defensive aspects. You can play diags over TAA and catch him out. He's been targeted before especially in the CL e.g., Roma.

Robertson is a more all-rounded classic full back.

TAA is tasked with tucking in when the ball is on the opposite side, because of his height, Klopp wants him close to goal. He is very good in the air. Robertson doesn't tuck in as much a one of the midfielders usually cover the back post on his side.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

It's not in a natural decline at all. Where on Earth do you get that from?

The squad is young. The only old players are David Silva who is already effectively replaced and Aguero who imo has at least a season in him anyway.

Football fans who think City's days are done are making a massive mistake. City's central defence is rubbish. It's the worst it has ever been. That is the problem. It's easily fixed. Play last season's central defenders. Both are on the training pitch.

Totally agree. We have a predominantly young team - second youngest in the Prem when they won the quad, but decimated at CB. In fact, our entire left side has been decimated - first Mendy (unable to play game after game since his injury), then Zinchenko (under the surgeon's knife), Sane (under the surgeon's knife) and Laporte (under the surgeon's knife). Given what's happened to Mendy's athleticism since his injury, could Sane be similarly affected ?

 

[IcriedwhenTueartleft]

Off to bed, seriously cheesed off after that capitulation tonight. Second time in less than 2 years we have gifted a win. Grrrr...

 

[Esteban de la Sexface]

I think he has played deeper a few games which reduced his effectiveness. Personally I think we need him further forward, pressing the opposition (as against Leicester).

Changed the focus of his effectiveness. He may not be getting direct assists from deeper, but the quality of the ball, and the angles he takes up will set up a lot of goals indirectly. The guys a step ahead mentally

 

[Marvin]

We lost because we had 10 men for 83 minutes. Seriously, that didn’t change our game plan? Ederson in my view is turning into a liability, was great 2 years ago, was good last season but has been mediocre this season. With our dodgy defence we can’t afford that.

I don't believe you think that.

When a team mate is struggling it affects your decision making. Ederson is a world class keeper.

City are losing games now because we can't defend against quick direct forwards who run at our central defence but this is because our best player is out.

I really look forward to Laporte returning and teaching you guys a lesson.

 

[mancity1]

its called the let’s be positive thread. Or maybe the we can still win the league thread. Which after 2 or 3 defeats I could buy into, but after we are on course for 76 points this season, after the last 2, something is badly wrong.

Hopefully 76 points will be enough to finish top 3 it should be as Chelsea , Spurs and Manure are highly unlikely to reach that points tally.

I can't see us getting much more than that which given our recruitment policy and lack of leadership currently is a pass mark.

 

[levets]

He did put the breaks on:



He's allowed to come out and challenge for the ball, the second he realised he wasn't getting it he pulled away and made himself smaller to avoid contact. I'm pretty sure the rules say he has to be deliberately denying a goal scoring opportunity, at worst it's a coming together, personally I think Jota has looked for the contact.

Again I ask though, why was the ref so sure of it? Why didn't he atleast check with VAR? Why didn't the commentary even question it? He did "take him out" watch the replay if you can find the slowmotion one. That's clearly not an accurate description but the commentary's words have stuck in the minds of the masses now and it will be forgotten.

Same thing happened to Bravo v Atalanta... the forward initiated the contact

 

[Marvin]

whole defence needs a clearout , with only laporte and ederson trustworthy..with walker and Zin solid squad options.

Stones, Mendy, Ottamendi , Bravo, should be ran out of the club

Walker and Zin played for the sides that won two back to back titles,

You guys think every player has to be a Messi, or a world class player.

 

[Marvin]

Same thing happened to Bravo v Atalanta... the forward initiated the contact

Said that all evening long and immediately I saw it. Wolves thought they'd bee done by VAR but it was us. Again. Ref in studio said it was a nailed on sending off.

Everybody said it was so I thought maybe I am being biased. I am glad other people think the same.

Still we were 2-0 up though so this is not why we lost the game (although it was clearly a key moment).

I wonder if City will appeal?

 

[HarrytheBlue]

TAA is tasked with tucking in when the ball is on the opposite side, because of his height, Klopp wants him close to goal. He is very good in the air. Robertson doesn't tuck in as much a one of the midfielders usually cover the back post on his side.

When you watch Robertson and TAA for Liverpool, they generally do something that gets a lot of praise - a pass or interception. But then you look at the stats for tackles won and they're both mid-60 per cents. The much maligned (by some) Kyle Walker is in the high 70 per cents for tackles won.

 

[BAB.DAB]

Same thing happened to Bravo v Atalanta... the forward initiated the contact

And you can't blame them, most players including some of ours would do the same

 

[ws01]

At his age I doubt he would be seeing many midfield minutes even if we had fit and in-form CBs.

Said it in his thread and I'll say it again here - what does his age have to do with it? If he's performing and up to it, he should be playing there. Doesn't matter if he's 34 or 44.

We're in no position to cast aside one of our most important players of the last few seasons and one of the best DM's in the prem given our current woes, until such time a player with similar qualities is brought in.

 

[Esteban de la Sexface]

Walker and Zin played for the sides that won two back to back titles,

You guys think every player has to be a Messi, or a world class player.

When walker is not at it, he has the potential to be a liability. He's grand when we are on the front foot and he can bomb on. When he needs to concentrate and actually defend, he can do some daft things. He's lost a step too. His legs aren't getting him out of shit they used to

 

[SidJames]

I'm hoping this season will stop the club being so complacent whenever we win anything.

To not replace Kompany was a spectacular mistake. To think it was either Harry Maguire or no one was ridiculous.

They thought we could get away with it. It's come back to bite hard.

Still glad we didn't get robbed for Maguire,way overrated.We should have took a chance on Nathan Ake,has always looked half decent when i have seen him,

 

[Esteban de la Sexface]

When you watch Robertson and TAA for Liverpool, they generally do something that gets a lot of praise - a pass or interception. But then you look at the stats for tackles won and they're both mid-60 per cents. The much maligned (by some) Kyle Walker is in the high 70 per cents for tackles won.

Franco Baresi said if you have to make a tackle you've already made a mistake.

Defending isn't all about tackling