The players that City bought in to replace those departed are no where near the same level. Gundogan is a huge miss.
No idea what Pep saw in Nunes? Played one good ninety minutes in all his time at Wolves. Doku is a one trick pony and has been found out by decent defenders, what does he offer that Adama Traore doesn’t?
Gvardiol? Kovacic? Nah, not for me Clive.
All that said, I still think City win the league. There is still enough quality there to get them over the line.
The problem is thinking that City will play like that against the top teams, for two reasons:
1. City know how to manage games to win a title. If they go full pelt against every team, it will have a knock on effect towards the end of the season. They know how to do enough to win against teams that don't force the best out of them.
2. The top teams will almost definitely have to beat City rather than just being happy with a draw, so they won't play the same way against City for the most part.
Brentford were very effective - they put the whole team behind the ball. The full backs stayed back even during breaks, denying the City wide players space when attacking. They also persistently time wasted and disrupted play with 'injuries'. They used to say in the heyday of Ferguson's United that the mark of a great team was winning when they played shiiite. We didn't play shiiite and we won. It was a tough game.
Bournemouth away then 5 games on the spin against teams that will be looking for 3 points rather 'creditable draw'.
Bobb ran them ragged down the left, made sense to bring Doku on to do the same with his pace and fresh legs for the last 30 minutes.
Kovacic was brought in for his experience and ability to steady the ship which is exactly what he did last night.
David Silva, Mahrez and Gundogan are 3 players I can imediately think of who failed to impress during their first season so the jury's still out on Gvaridol (who has yet to play as a CB for us), 21 year old Doku and Nunes who has been far from impressive.
Respect to Haaland on that goal, he had a long way to run with the ball and must have been aware of the criticism he received after the Chelsea game for missing that sitter.
Don't forget also that Chelsea missed 3 sitters as well
in that game!
We often struggle against the smaller clubs that play 1 9 1 system and hope for a breakaway goal, the last 2 games are a good example of that.
We need another Yaya who just ran through the middle of this type of packed defence.
Hopefully things will improve when we get back a fully fit Kev.
comment by gone but never forgotten (U21659)
Hopefully things will improve when we get back a fully fit Kev.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We are still in the hunt with Kev out for months. I don't think that's the problem. In the last 2 matches, our passing has been absolutely bobbins compared to what we have been accustomed to.
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 14 hours, 37 minutes ago
Bournemouth away then 5 games on the spin against teams that will be looking for 3 points rather 'creditable draw'.
Bobb ran them ragged down the left, made sense to bring Doku on to do the same with his pace and fresh legs for the last 30 minutes.
Kovacic was brought in for his experience and ability to steady the ship which is exactly what he did last night.
David Silva, Mahrez and Gundogan are 3 players I can imediately think of who failed to impress during their first season so the jury's still out on Gvaridol (who has yet to play as a CB for us), 21 year old Doku and Nunes who has been far from impressive.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodri was in question for his first season or 2 and I remember conversations of if we would find anyone to replace Fernandinho.
Both Fernandinho and Fernando didn't set the world on fire either, albeit Fernando was sold before we knew the 'dinho we that we all know.
And then there was Dunne-monster... but that's another story.
comment by Zein Mayassi (U21076)
posted 18 hours, 29 minutes ago
The problem is thinking that City will play like that against the top teams, for two reasons:
1. City know how to manage games to win a title. If they go full pelt against every team, it will have a knock on effect towards the end of the season. They know how to do enough to win against teams that don't force the best out of them.
2. The top teams will almost definitely have to beat City rather than just being happy with a draw, so they won't play the same way against City for the most part.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool certainly seems to know how to put teams away. Recently this has been a problem for Man. City. They still have to visit Anfield and will probably have to WIN that game.
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Another "squeaker"!
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posted on 21/2/24
The players that City bought in to replace those departed are no where near the same level. Gundogan is a huge miss.
No idea what Pep saw in Nunes? Played one good ninety minutes in all his time at Wolves. Doku is a one trick pony and has been found out by decent defenders, what does he offer that Adama Traore doesn’t?
Gvardiol? Kovacic? Nah, not for me Clive.
All that said, I still think City win the league. There is still enough quality there to get them over the line.
posted on 21/2/24
The problem is thinking that City will play like that against the top teams, for two reasons:
1. City know how to manage games to win a title. If they go full pelt against every team, it will have a knock on effect towards the end of the season. They know how to do enough to win against teams that don't force the best out of them.
2. The top teams will almost definitely have to beat City rather than just being happy with a draw, so they won't play the same way against City for the most part.
posted on 21/2/24
Brentford were very effective - they put the whole team behind the ball. The full backs stayed back even during breaks, denying the City wide players space when attacking. They also persistently time wasted and disrupted play with 'injuries'. They used to say in the heyday of Ferguson's United that the mark of a great team was winning when they played shiiite. We didn't play shiiite and we won. It was a tough game.
posted on 21/2/24
Bournemouth away then 5 games on the spin against teams that will be looking for 3 points rather 'creditable draw'.
Bobb ran them ragged down the left, made sense to bring Doku on to do the same with his pace and fresh legs for the last 30 minutes.
Kovacic was brought in for his experience and ability to steady the ship which is exactly what he did last night.
David Silva, Mahrez and Gundogan are 3 players I can imediately think of who failed to impress during their first season so the jury's still out on Gvaridol (who has yet to play as a CB for us), 21 year old Doku and Nunes who has been far from impressive.
Respect to Haaland on that goal, he had a long way to run with the ball and must have been aware of the criticism he received after the Chelsea game for missing that sitter.
posted on 21/2/24
Don't forget also that Chelsea missed 3 sitters as well
in that game!
posted on 21/2/24
We often struggle against the smaller clubs that play 1 9 1 system and hope for a breakaway goal, the last 2 games are a good example of that.
We need another Yaya who just ran through the middle of this type of packed defence.
Hopefully things will improve when we get back a fully fit Kev.
posted on 21/2/24
comment by gone but never forgotten (U21659)
Hopefully things will improve when we get back a fully fit Kev.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We are still in the hunt with Kev out for months. I don't think that's the problem. In the last 2 matches, our passing has been absolutely bobbins compared to what we have been accustomed to.
posted on 21/2/24
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 14 hours, 37 minutes ago
Bournemouth away then 5 games on the spin against teams that will be looking for 3 points rather 'creditable draw'.
Bobb ran them ragged down the left, made sense to bring Doku on to do the same with his pace and fresh legs for the last 30 minutes.
Kovacic was brought in for his experience and ability to steady the ship which is exactly what he did last night.
David Silva, Mahrez and Gundogan are 3 players I can imediately think of who failed to impress during their first season so the jury's still out on Gvaridol (who has yet to play as a CB for us), 21 year old Doku and Nunes who has been far from impressive.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodri was in question for his first season or 2 and I remember conversations of if we would find anyone to replace Fernandinho.
Both Fernandinho and Fernando didn't set the world on fire either, albeit Fernando was sold before we knew the 'dinho we that we all know.
And then there was Dunne-monster... but that's another story.
posted on 22/2/24
comment by Zein Mayassi (U21076)
posted 18 hours, 29 minutes ago
The problem is thinking that City will play like that against the top teams, for two reasons:
1. City know how to manage games to win a title. If they go full pelt against every team, it will have a knock on effect towards the end of the season. They know how to do enough to win against teams that don't force the best out of them.
2. The top teams will almost definitely have to beat City rather than just being happy with a draw, so they won't play the same way against City for the most part.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool certainly seems to know how to put teams away. Recently this has been a problem for Man. City. They still have to visit Anfield and will probably have to WIN that game.
Page 1 of 1