Great win yesterday, we really should have hit 6 in the reverse fixture as well so it was nice to get revenge. Obviously great to see 16 year old Ethan Nwaneri get a run out.
Saka has now hit double figures, to go with 7 (surely 8?) assists. Well on the way to beating last seasons totals.
We have kept the most clean sheets in the league so far (Raya 7, Ramsdale 2), have the best defensive record, and the 6 goals we scored have put us right up there in the goalscoring charts (3rd).
The one concern was the squad - it looked very bare bones and we are hitting a busy period with the return of Champions League football.
Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, Timber, Partey, Jesus, ESR, Vieira all missing and Jorginho allegedly not fit to play even though he was on the bench.
It meant alongside Nwaneri on the bench were Reuell Walters and Mauro Bandeira, plus both Elneny and Cedric were used from the bench.
I would be pleasantly surprised if the long term injured (Timber, Partey, Vieira) played any significant part of the rest of the season. Equally of concern is the fact the other 4 in the list are regular visitors to the sick bay.
Declan Rice looked to have picked up a knock before his wonder strike and immediate substitution, so we have to pray that is nothing serious. Then there is the constant worry about Saka.
We have been lucky that the majority of the starting XI (Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka and Martinelli) have barely missed a game. Can that hold out until the end of the season?
Seems we are not far off seeing Elneny and Cedric starting, fingers crossed we don't get to that state!
Injury "crisis"?
posted on 12/2/24
This is where City really are a world apart from anybody else, Liverpool too, to an extent.
posted on 12/2/24
I think I've given up on Partey. Just feels like he is done for.
With what we have, I guess Rice & Saliba are the key ones. An injury for more than a game or two for either of those and it's game over pretty much.
Need those ones you mentioned to contribute as well, otherwise you just know injuries are going to rack up - Tomi, ESR, Jesus need to stay fit.
posted on 12/2/24
Hopefully Partey can attract a nice transfer fee in the summer.
posted on 12/2/24
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 46 minutes ago
This is where City really are a world apart from anybody else, Liverpool too, to an extent.
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Fair comment that. There's not a lot between those three sides apart from depth.
This doesn't come easy to a Spurs fan but I'd rather see Arsenal win the league than City again. Some things are more important than rivalries and seeing a club defeat the artificial success of City authentically, through a combination of hard work, youth development and admittedly, ambition in the transfer market, proves that the City machine can be beaten. I just cannot bear the idea of yet another City steamroller. If they win the treble again, the Prem is finished as a competition.
posted on 12/2/24
The thing is with City is they haven't really got great depth in numbers. With KdB, Haaland and Stones back they still had room on the bench for youth players. I think only Kovacic was missing?
Their real strength is the fact that the core of 15/16 can play across multiple positions, so when they do have injuries they aren't massively noticeable in terms of results. Alvarez, for example, has filled in for KdB most of the season and then Haaland. Silva plays everywhere in midfield. Their defenders seem to play all roles and even midfield.
The only real Achilles heel is Rodri, or more specifically when Rodri is out. They can compensate Haaland being out with goals from elsewhere, they can compensate KdB being out with creative players across the pitch. They haven't always coped without Rodri holding it all together.
posted on 12/2/24
Read that Tomiyasu coming back for Burnley as he had only a niggle. Bit question marks about Zinny and Jesus.
The severity of ESR injury is also not known yet. I fear the worst to be honest.
Partey? Read that he should train again this week but I already gave up on him. Vieira should be ready by the end of this months.
posted on 12/2/24
Spot on with City.
An injury to Rodri and they are suddenly no better than the other teams around them.
They do have a bizarrely small squad.
posted on 12/2/24
comment by HB Maybe Beale wasn't the mastermind (U21935)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
Spot on with City.
An injury to Rodri and they are suddenly no better than the other teams around them.
They do have a bizarrely small squad.
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They are still good but yeah its crazy how reliant they are on him.
I think I read Rodri is undefeated in a year now? But City have lost 60% without him.