CITY XI: Ederson, Walker (C), Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Lewis, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez
SUBS: Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Stones, Kovacic, Gomez, Akanji, Nunes, Bobb, Susoho
Rico in for Kova compared to the last league match
Totally dominated that half. Bit disappointing we're only 1 goal to the good. Hopefully get a 2nd early in 2nd half to so we don't fall foul to any lucky breakaways.
Solid but not spectacular first half. It was like defence v attack for the most part. Jack on the score sheet again, he's becoming prolific. Lovely goal.
They should stop messing about with VAR, if it is that close then give the attacker the benefit of the doubt and give it. It shouldn't take minutes and geometry equipment to sort out.
FFS
Football is so unjust
Two shots on target and two fucking goals
Complacent after the 2nd. We're always vulnerable to a break.
Performance level so far this season is way down.
To be very honest...I'm not surprised in the least...we need 2 Walkers to get us out of shit if we are going to press that high. Our defence looks shambolic when we are hit on the break.
Disappointing.
Our CBs are slow. Very vulnerable to a pacy breakaways. Left side is being targeted by teams. All these draws from winning positions where we're in total control is unacceptable.
Looking predictable up front too. No pace without Doku. Alvarez is struggling and needs resting.
And WTF is Pep doing with subs!
Their first goal should never have happened. Their attacker should have been pressed more stopping the ball across the box, his only option. The player in the middle should not have won the battle for the ball to score. We are soft. Even though we dominated we were repeatedly to easy to run around and stack.
Soft defence.
It is not complicated. We should be able to hold a two goal lead at home. Missing KDB, Doku and Erling but we were two up anyway FFS. It is a repeat story of conceding late goals. Either it will be fixed and we will win trophies again this season or it won't and we won't. It is not as if we don't have defenders who can defend. They did it last season. They need a rocket up their arse. The other week we had three defenders mugged by that Openda in a single game. Dias beat again for their opening goal today. Last home league game it was Walker beat too easily for the cross to come in. Afterwards, he says it is a team game defending. Well, yes it is, but a main part is defenders stopping crosses. It is not as if the defence is being swamped. Palace did next to fuck all. The defenders should be ashamed at conceding so easily off so few attacks so regularly. Where is the pride in defending that they used to have?
Quote from: gavin on December 16, 2023, 22:48:46
It is not complicated. We should be able to hold a two goal lead at home. Missing KDB, Doku and Erling but we were two up anyway FFS. It is a repeat story of conceding late goals. Either it will be fixed and we will win trophies again this season or it won't and we won't. It is not as if we don't have defenders who can defend. They did it last season. They need a rocket up their arse. The other week we had three defenders mugged by that Openda in a single game. Dias beat again for their opening goal today. Last home league game it was Walker beat too easily for the cross to come in. Afterwards, he says it is a team game defending. Well, yes it is, but a main part is defenders stopping crosses. It is not as if the defence is being swamped. Palace did next to fuck all. The defenders should be ashamed at conceding so easily off so few attacks so regularly. Where is the pride in defending that they used to have?
Laporte is missed more than most realise. Dias cannot do it on his own. Cancello too I may add.
It's also telling that we had nearly 200 mill on the bench in midfielders. Kovaic, Nunes and Phillips and Pep doesn't use them.
Is this turning into 2 fingers to Tixis recruitment policy?
I've been to all the recent home games where we've been in the lead and ended drawing. It's not been entertaining to watch. Something isn't right in the team. It's been quite turgid stuff at times.
Motivation after the lord mayors show was always going to be a problem. Mistakes have crept in and I have not seen stats, but is work rate down. The only saving grace is the rivals are also tripping up. Phillips and even more so Nunes signings seem baffling. Guardiols usage seems also perplexing. Confidence will be down and what was easy before is over thought. Surely things can only get better.