They also have been screwed over harshy by VAR twice including the opening game against Spurs. That set the tone for it all to fall apart for them.
comment by Shaun M - I can't see me loving nobody but Leeds! (U9955)
posted 2 minutes ago
They also have been screwed over harshy by VAR twice including the opening game against Spurs. That set the tone for it all to fall apart for them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing harsh about that.
comment by Shaun M - I can't see me loving nobody but Leeds! (U9955)
posted 8 minutes ago
They also have been screwed over harshy by VAR twice including the opening game against Spurs. That set the tone for it all to fall apart for them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh? You mean correct decision when the guy handled the ball with his hand and got a goal ruled out?
You could argue that TAA handled the ball against City and nothing come off it or TAA handled the ball deliberately against Everton, and not second yellow card and thus red card?
But that decision against Spurs was spot on
Everyone has been screwed over by VAR at some point this season, so that’s another weak excuse.
Anyone moaning about City’s injuries is on to a loser in my opinion. That City defence has had £300m - £400m spent on it over the last few years and it’s Pep that is choosing to play a midfielder at centre back when he’s got 2 fit players in that position in Stones & Otamendi.
Every club has injuries, get on with it!
Our injury problems have been just as bad if not worse than City's.
Reality is they have been shiite in plenty of games this season and fully deserve to be 14 points behind us.
Their own fault really. Their decision not to buy a CB in the summer, after Kompany had left, was totally bizarre. They are only 1 central defender short and this is the state of their defence.
Even Jamie Redknapp saying we have not had many injuries is a total joke
Our keeper has been out most of the season. Othe injuries
Gomez
Matip - who was our best defender when he got injured
Keita
Ox
Robertson not training at all in between games
Salah injured on numerous occasions
Fabinho
Shaqiri
But we’ve been lucky apparently
Laporte is irrelevant. Kompany is the big miss for City.
Pure folly not replacing him in the summer.
Anyone moaning about City’s injuries is on to a loser in my opinion. That City defence has had £300m - £400m spent on it over the last few years and it’s Pep that is choosing to play a midfielder at centre back when he’s got 2 fit players in that position in Stones & Otamendi.
-----
Good point.
Would City be better off playing those two at the back and Ferna back in midfield?
I though Pep was the greatest of all time?
comment by Shaun M - I can't see me loving nobody but Leeds! (U9955)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
They also have been screwed over harshy by VAR twice including the opening game against Spurs. That set the tone for it all to fall apart for them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
screwed over by var applying the rules of handball? fml
For me theres several issues for city
They have two right backs and sold a third but have a big issue at left full that went unresolved.
Mendy is a big of a donkey in defense. Clumsy.
Angelino is absolute pants. we tore him up and last week he was destroyed again
Zinchenko is not really a LB but he is BADLY missed.
Not replacing kompany then losing laporte to injury is a disaster. They are playing a guy who's not a cb at cb and those cynical little fouls in midfield become big issues when at the back. Fernandinho is a big of a disaster but not as much as the reserves in sotnes and otamendi.
Aguero injured again is huge. Jesus scores a few yes but its just not the same
yes 3 injuries but the fact is they were not really set up to cope.
If LFC lost robertson or TAA we couldn't replace them.
If we lost firmino we could not replace him (though origi did v everton)
If we lost VVD we could't replace him as well as we would like
However:
Alisson missed 2 months
Gomez, matip and lovren all out for periods. each keeping up a good standard.
Fabinho out for 8 weeks. have won 3 games since injury.
Salah is half fit.
IMO we've dealt with it better.
comment by Klopptimus Prime - Die Unerträglichen (U1282)
posted 36 minutes ago
Anyone moaning about City’s injuries is on to a loser in my opinion. That City defence has had £300m - £400m spent on it over the last few years and it’s Pep that is choosing to play a midfielder at centre back when he’s got 2 fit players in that position in Stones & Otamendi.
-----
Good point.
Would City be better off playing those two at the back and Ferna back in midfield?
I though Pep was the greatest of all time?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
IMO they need to think very hard about how they set up.
Ederson
walker Stones otamendi mendy
fernandinho Rodri (need two in there)
KDB
B.Silva aguero/jesus Sterling
In their crisis they need to pile the full backs forward but screen those two absolute rubbish CBs. that means sorry david silva but you have to be sacrificed in big games.
I'd actually be half tempted to drop jesus and play sterling as no 9 like we did in 2014/15 but he's dog rough at finishing. (yeah I know he socres loads but he misses more than half the chances he gets and really easy ones)
Their weak link yesterday was Stones and Otamendi. I appreciate that the latter scored their only goal, but each defender is a liability in my view.
Long may they be played by Pep. Long may it continue. His post-match interview on MOTD was pure long playing record, with the needle stuck.
Did United have better defenders than City?
They don't need to, they've got better protection from the midfield and they play a lot deeper.
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 26 minutes ago
They don't need to, they've got better protection from the midfield and they play a lot deeper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They didn't seem to have better protection against far poorer teams than City.
As for playing deeper, that's some.of the tactics and game plans I'm talking about.
Fact is, United don't get better anything than City because of the quality of players. Their midfield was Fred and McTominay. City have world class midfielder in every position.
At the end of the day United utilised their strengths and were able to nullify City not because of superior personnel but because of superior tactics on the night.
No because those teams are playing deep themselves and so United have to risk more players forward, that’s also why their record against the top six isn’t bad, it’s their record against others that they struggle with.
Tactically, I thought United were set up perfectly for the first half hour and should have been more ahead. After that, we got better and broke through their block several times. I’d be more worried if we didn’t create those chances, but we did, we just didn’t take them.
I do think some of our players played poorly too though, players can still have an off night, regardless of capability or tactics.
But City's problems this season are not just about last night. Its a combination of many factors of course. Last night exposed something but its not the first time we're seeing that this season.
More and more teams are getting it right tactically against City. It happens and the cycle will continue.
Yes of course they’re not, they’ve been issues all season. It’s less difficult than it was last season against us, we’re very easy to counter attack against currently, personally I think due to the personnel chosen.
I get the narrative you’re going for, it’s really not as simple as that though. Teams are creating more chances against us, they’re still not stopping us from creating chances though.
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 3 minutes ago
Yes of course they’re not, they’ve been issues all season. It’s less difficult than it was last season against us, we’re very easy to counter attack against currently, personally I think due to the personnel chosen.
=======
I see your narrative too and its not that simple either.
If players are missing, City have the best player coming in to replace them.
Its up to the manager to make sure the team is still getting results despite changes in personnel. Its why you have a manager among other reasons. Pep is failing at this currently.
City are still a superior team and being easy to counter attack and other tactical weaknesses cannot be out down to personnel when it comes to City.
With the players you have available I don't see how this narrative works on it's own. Its that plus the other factors I mentioned.
*put down.
As the best manager in the world, Pep should be able to use his world class players to stop the counters and set piece weaknesses. Every team he plays has an inferior squad in paper, and that's with players out injured.
That’s not my narrative though. A criticism I’ve always had of Guardiola is that he trusts certain players too much and plays them when he shouldn’t.
I wouldn’t change the way we’re playing at all. I would change who is playing where though. That’s still on Guardiola, I’m just saying it’s not just tactics, actually I don’t want him to change the tactics.
I don’t think we always do have the best player either btw. There’s a few that need to be changed and a couple of positions where we are too short in terms of replacements.
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 6 minutes ago
Yes of course they’re not, they’ve been issues all season. It’s less difficult than it was last season against us, we’re very easy to counter attack against currently, personally I think due to the personnel chosen.
I get the narrative you’re going for, it’s really not as simple as that though. Teams are creating more chances against us, they’re still not stopping us from creating chances though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It’s always about the narrative Melts. All teams still play 10 men behind the ball, nothing has changed except the current crop of city defenders and midfielders aren’t equipped or find themselves in the wrong positions on the transition.
It just sells more papers if you lead the narrative that says Pep has been found out even though by using the very same system he has won the league with record points.
In all matches city have lost, they have created decent chances even at Anfield and lost to counterattack teams.
Yes most of the problems are a result of Peps decisions but if you really analyze the game and don’t obsess over Pep most of the goals conceded are down to player errors than tactics
Just the last 3 games, Fernandinho gives Newcastle a free kick in a match they had no attack in the second half and they score. Silva concedes a stupid penalty and united get their opening.
Laporte will make a huge difference and I agree with trying out Fernandinho and Rodri in midfield and pushing the fullbacks up in attack.
The front 3 has been poor this season and it doesn’t help when they don’t take their chances. Of the city losses or draws this season only Liverpool, Wolves and United deserved to win. The rest were lucky.
In a way it’s good to be exposed this early as you can always do better in the second half of the season, something Fergie was great at.
Still don’t think they can win the champions league the way they are playing. May need to change tactics
Still lots of football to be played by the way. City are still clear favourites to sweep the domestic trophies and have a crack at the champions league.
With a bit more luck they will still have a good season. Them winning the league last season by one point after the disastrous Christmas they had shows that you can turn it around in the second half of the season.
Yep and yesterday’s game, United deserved to win due to the first thirty minutes. The last sixty, we created enough chances to at least draw level and didn’t take them either.
We won’t win the CL this season, we need another CB and for David Silva to stop playing in the big games, which I don’t think Guardiola will do this season. That and there’s a few others that aren’t at the same standard (Bernardo is well off last year, personally I want him back in the middle instead of David).
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Man City injuries cop out.
Page 1 of 2
posted on 8/12/19
They also have been screwed over harshy by VAR twice including the opening game against Spurs. That set the tone for it all to fall apart for them.
posted on 8/12/19
comment by Shaun M - I can't see me loving nobody but Leeds! (U9955)
posted 2 minutes ago
They also have been screwed over harshy by VAR twice including the opening game against Spurs. That set the tone for it all to fall apart for them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing harsh about that.
posted on 8/12/19
comment by Shaun M - I can't see me loving nobody but Leeds! (U9955)
posted 8 minutes ago
They also have been screwed over harshy by VAR twice including the opening game against Spurs. That set the tone for it all to fall apart for them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harsh? You mean correct decision when the guy handled the ball with his hand and got a goal ruled out?
You could argue that TAA handled the ball against City and nothing come off it or TAA handled the ball deliberately against Everton, and not second yellow card and thus red card?
But that decision against Spurs was spot on
posted on 8/12/19
Everyone has been screwed over by VAR at some point this season, so that’s another weak excuse.
Anyone moaning about City’s injuries is on to a loser in my opinion. That City defence has had £300m - £400m spent on it over the last few years and it’s Pep that is choosing to play a midfielder at centre back when he’s got 2 fit players in that position in Stones & Otamendi.
Every club has injuries, get on with it!
posted on 8/12/19
Our injury problems have been just as bad if not worse than City's.
Reality is they have been shiite in plenty of games this season and fully deserve to be 14 points behind us.
posted on 8/12/19
Their own fault really. Their decision not to buy a CB in the summer, after Kompany had left, was totally bizarre. They are only 1 central defender short and this is the state of their defence.
posted on 8/12/19
Even Jamie Redknapp saying we have not had many injuries is a total joke
Our keeper has been out most of the season. Othe injuries
Gomez
Matip - who was our best defender when he got injured
Keita
Ox
Robertson not training at all in between games
Salah injured on numerous occasions
Fabinho
Shaqiri
But we’ve been lucky apparently
posted on 8/12/19
Laporte is irrelevant. Kompany is the big miss for City.
Pure folly not replacing him in the summer.
posted on 8/12/19
Anyone moaning about City’s injuries is on to a loser in my opinion. That City defence has had £300m - £400m spent on it over the last few years and it’s Pep that is choosing to play a midfielder at centre back when he’s got 2 fit players in that position in Stones & Otamendi.
-----
Good point.
Would City be better off playing those two at the back and Ferna back in midfield?
I though Pep was the greatest of all time?
posted on 8/12/19
comment by Shaun M - I can't see me loving nobody but Leeds! (U9955)
posted 1 hour, 17 minutes ago
They also have been screwed over harshy by VAR twice including the opening game against Spurs. That set the tone for it all to fall apart for them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
screwed over by var applying the rules of handball? fml
posted on 8/12/19
For me theres several issues for city
They have two right backs and sold a third but have a big issue at left full that went unresolved.
Mendy is a big of a donkey in defense. Clumsy.
Angelino is absolute pants. we tore him up and last week he was destroyed again
Zinchenko is not really a LB but he is BADLY missed.
Not replacing kompany then losing laporte to injury is a disaster. They are playing a guy who's not a cb at cb and those cynical little fouls in midfield become big issues when at the back. Fernandinho is a big of a disaster but not as much as the reserves in sotnes and otamendi.
Aguero injured again is huge. Jesus scores a few yes but its just not the same
yes 3 injuries but the fact is they were not really set up to cope.
If LFC lost robertson or TAA we couldn't replace them.
If we lost firmino we could not replace him (though origi did v everton)
If we lost VVD we could't replace him as well as we would like
However:
Alisson missed 2 months
Gomez, matip and lovren all out for periods. each keeping up a good standard.
Fabinho out for 8 weeks. have won 3 games since injury.
Salah is half fit.
IMO we've dealt with it better.
posted on 8/12/19
comment by Klopptimus Prime - Die Unerträglichen (U1282)
posted 36 minutes ago
Anyone moaning about City’s injuries is on to a loser in my opinion. That City defence has had £300m - £400m spent on it over the last few years and it’s Pep that is choosing to play a midfielder at centre back when he’s got 2 fit players in that position in Stones & Otamendi.
-----
Good point.
Would City be better off playing those two at the back and Ferna back in midfield?
I though Pep was the greatest of all time?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
IMO they need to think very hard about how they set up.
Ederson
walker Stones otamendi mendy
fernandinho Rodri (need two in there)
KDB
B.Silva aguero/jesus Sterling
In their crisis they need to pile the full backs forward but screen those two absolute rubbish CBs. that means sorry david silva but you have to be sacrificed in big games.
I'd actually be half tempted to drop jesus and play sterling as no 9 like we did in 2014/15 but he's dog rough at finishing. (yeah I know he socres loads but he misses more than half the chances he gets and really easy ones)
posted on 8/12/19
Their weak link yesterday was Stones and Otamendi. I appreciate that the latter scored their only goal, but each defender is a liability in my view.
Long may they be played by Pep. Long may it continue. His post-match interview on MOTD was pure long playing record, with the needle stuck.
posted on 8/12/19
Did United have better defenders than City?
posted on 8/12/19
They don't need to, they've got better protection from the midfield and they play a lot deeper.
posted on 8/12/19
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 26 minutes ago
They don't need to, they've got better protection from the midfield and they play a lot deeper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They didn't seem to have better protection against far poorer teams than City.
As for playing deeper, that's some.of the tactics and game plans I'm talking about.
Fact is, United don't get better anything than City because of the quality of players. Their midfield was Fred and McTominay. City have world class midfielder in every position.
At the end of the day United utilised their strengths and were able to nullify City not because of superior personnel but because of superior tactics on the night.
posted on 8/12/19
No because those teams are playing deep themselves and so United have to risk more players forward, that’s also why their record against the top six isn’t bad, it’s their record against others that they struggle with.
Tactically, I thought United were set up perfectly for the first half hour and should have been more ahead. After that, we got better and broke through their block several times. I’d be more worried if we didn’t create those chances, but we did, we just didn’t take them.
I do think some of our players played poorly too though, players can still have an off night, regardless of capability or tactics.
posted on 8/12/19
But City's problems this season are not just about last night. Its a combination of many factors of course. Last night exposed something but its not the first time we're seeing that this season.
More and more teams are getting it right tactically against City. It happens and the cycle will continue.
posted on 8/12/19
Yes of course they’re not, they’ve been issues all season. It’s less difficult than it was last season against us, we’re very easy to counter attack against currently, personally I think due to the personnel chosen.
I get the narrative you’re going for, it’s really not as simple as that though. Teams are creating more chances against us, they’re still not stopping us from creating chances though.
posted on 8/12/19
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 3 minutes ago
Yes of course they’re not, they’ve been issues all season. It’s less difficult than it was last season against us, we’re very easy to counter attack against currently, personally I think due to the personnel chosen.
=======
I see your narrative too and its not that simple either.
If players are missing, City have the best player coming in to replace them.
Its up to the manager to make sure the team is still getting results despite changes in personnel. Its why you have a manager among other reasons. Pep is failing at this currently.
City are still a superior team and being easy to counter attack and other tactical weaknesses cannot be out down to personnel when it comes to City.
With the players you have available I don't see how this narrative works on it's own. Its that plus the other factors I mentioned.
posted on 8/12/19
*put down.
As the best manager in the world, Pep should be able to use his world class players to stop the counters and set piece weaknesses. Every team he plays has an inferior squad in paper, and that's with players out injured.
posted on 8/12/19
That’s not my narrative though. A criticism I’ve always had of Guardiola is that he trusts certain players too much and plays them when he shouldn’t.
I wouldn’t change the way we’re playing at all. I would change who is playing where though. That’s still on Guardiola, I’m just saying it’s not just tactics, actually I don’t want him to change the tactics.
I don’t think we always do have the best player either btw. There’s a few that need to be changed and a couple of positions where we are too short in terms of replacements.
posted on 8/12/19
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 6 minutes ago
Yes of course they’re not, they’ve been issues all season. It’s less difficult than it was last season against us, we’re very easy to counter attack against currently, personally I think due to the personnel chosen.
I get the narrative you’re going for, it’s really not as simple as that though. Teams are creating more chances against us, they’re still not stopping us from creating chances though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It’s always about the narrative Melts. All teams still play 10 men behind the ball, nothing has changed except the current crop of city defenders and midfielders aren’t equipped or find themselves in the wrong positions on the transition.
It just sells more papers if you lead the narrative that says Pep has been found out even though by using the very same system he has won the league with record points.
In all matches city have lost, they have created decent chances even at Anfield and lost to counterattack teams.
Yes most of the problems are a result of Peps decisions but if you really analyze the game and don’t obsess over Pep most of the goals conceded are down to player errors than tactics
Just the last 3 games, Fernandinho gives Newcastle a free kick in a match they had no attack in the second half and they score. Silva concedes a stupid penalty and united get their opening.
Laporte will make a huge difference and I agree with trying out Fernandinho and Rodri in midfield and pushing the fullbacks up in attack.
The front 3 has been poor this season and it doesn’t help when they don’t take their chances. Of the city losses or draws this season only Liverpool, Wolves and United deserved to win. The rest were lucky.
In a way it’s good to be exposed this early as you can always do better in the second half of the season, something Fergie was great at.
Still don’t think they can win the champions league the way they are playing. May need to change tactics
posted on 8/12/19
Still lots of football to be played by the way. City are still clear favourites to sweep the domestic trophies and have a crack at the champions league.
With a bit more luck they will still have a good season. Them winning the league last season by one point after the disastrous Christmas they had shows that you can turn it around in the second half of the season.
posted on 8/12/19
Yep and yesterday’s game, United deserved to win due to the first thirty minutes. The last sixty, we created enough chances to at least draw level and didn’t take them either.
We won’t win the CL this season, we need another CB and for David Silva to stop playing in the big games, which I don’t think Guardiola will do this season. That and there’s a few others that aren’t at the same standard (Bernardo is well off last year, personally I want him back in the middle instead of David).
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