Semi Final Match Thread

[KunDB]

Come on City

Starting eleven
Bravo, Navas, Kompany (C), Otamendi, Clichy, Fernandinho, Toure, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, Aguero


Subs
Caballero, Zabaleta, Fernando, Sterling, Kolarov, Delph, Iheanacho

2011 Final Squad Players

[Ludo]

Bravo.......

[KunDB]

Bravo is the teachers pet, Ludo.

[gavin]

Claudio will do well for us today, enabling us to play out better against the press from Arse. Thought we might have seen Sterling start and would have been nice to see Jesus on the bench. But I'm sure Pep knows what he's doing. Come on City.

[goat]

Claudio will do well for us today

he will be great as long as arse dont hit the target

[Rowley Birkin QC]

So, didn't take them long to cripple one of our best players!

[KunDB]

A cynical foul ignored by referee.

[KunDB]

It's City so NO PENALTY GIVEN.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Going through the back of our players again! (Aguero this time). How long is the ref going to let this go on!?

[Rowley Birkin QC]

And we've just been cheated out of a goal FFS. Where's the fucking goal line technology?

[KunDB]

How could the linesman know the ball was out when it clearly was not?

[Rowley Birkin QC]

It was a tight decision for the human eye, but the goal line camera clearly showed the whole of the ball did not go over - so still in play.

[gavin]

Not a bad first half from City. Didn't create a great deal but had a goal ruled out incorrectly so really we should be one up. Penalties probably one apiece. But the treatment of Silva is typical really. He gets booted around the pitch weekly with no protection from refs at all. They should be ashamed.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Come on City. We can take this lot. I'm disgusted with Arsenal. I cannot recall a Wenger side that was ever this cynical and dirty.

[Neil Mcnab]

Cheated out of a penalty and a goal, goals change games, we could have been out of sight by now.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

For a moment - I thought Aguero's second touch there had done for him!!!!   

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Well that was coming    we switched off and slowed down straight after our goal. NOT working hard enough!

When will we ever learn.... ?

[KunDB]

As RB QC said but why did Pep allow it to happen. I had been screaming wake up for 10 minutes. Arrrggghhh

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Great effort from Yaya!

[Rowley Birkin QC]

And NOW we start playing FFS City!

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Sane attacks so fast the rest of our 'strikers' are 2 minutes behind 

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Extra time and I'm more than a bit worried now. We look tired.

[gavin]

Delph and Fernando on. Not very positive. Aguero off. WTF!

[Rowley Birkin QC]

FFS how was that block a foul against Yaya!!!!!!!!!!!!


Led to the fucking goal. Ref is a joke.

[gavin]

Ref has had a shit game. Looks like Iheanacho to come on as the extra sub.

[Hesperus]

Season over.

[Ludo]

Officials have had a shocker but we had it within ourselves to win that.

[Neil Mcnab]

Worst season since 2009-2010?

[Hesperus]

An unthinkable lose on Thursday  and we may well have the worst season since we first won the title. A prospect I would not have entertained after Pep took over.

Correction, as Mcnab points out. Worst season since 2009-10! Unbelievable.

[KunDB]

We got what we deserved today and this season.

The tactics may be right but not with this squad, all bluster but lacking up front.

Glum and not hopeful for Wednesday.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Season over.

Indeed. And I for one couldn't care less what happens now (aside from beating the rags). I won't be that bothered if we miss out on the Champions League. This team needs some youth, pace and leadership in the forward half.

And Wenger is a lucky sod. Ref let his players get away with murder in the first half (and then started booking everything in the second and extra time!)  That has to be the worse, nastiest Arsenal team he has ever put out. Been learning too many of the dark arts from down the road at Chelsea.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

The tactics may be right but not with this squad, all bluster but lacking up front.

I have to gently disagree. There wasn't enough "bluster"!!   Our tempo was pedestrian for most of the game and losing Silva slowed us down and made us even more deliberate than before. After we got the goal - we went positively catatonic! Like "Job done" FFS. Arsenal's effort inevitably went up and we didn't respond. We've been doing this since Pellegrini. Nothing seems to change? It has to be down to leadership on the pitch. Kompany does a great job down back - but we need some one in the forward half with the authority to keep peoples' minds on the job!

You can tell how sluggish we were from the fact that for long periods Yaya was our only truly aggressive force in the middle - with ANY PACE (FFS)! Things didn't really improve until Delph went on. KDB still not himself; Aguero still not quite the potent force around the box he used to be; Clichy and Navas are one trick ponies going forward. And Sterling was a complete waste of space.

More bluster would have been a considerable improvement - because to bluster you have to put some fucking effort in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KunDB]

Ok point taken on bluster

How Pep could sit back and do nought when every City fan could see an Arsenal equaliser coming totally bewildered me.

Aguero's strength is negated by the way Pep plays him, same for DeBruyne. Clichy and Navas have to go, and we need a powerhouse in miidfiled and more goal scorers. Bravo is another weakness that needs addressed.

[KunDB]

Liverpool are losing with 15 minutes to go and we desperately need it to stay that way.

[goat]

think we miss gundogan more than we imagined

[Neil Mcnab]

Do Arsenal have better players than ours? They certainly seem to have a lot more energy. Sane looks like he needs a break, Fernandinho the same, Sterling is going through a poor patch. Toure was decent going forward, offered little when we didnt have the ball.

We need a significant signing in the CM, besides the rest we are looking to get. I have just read Zabba has the same thoughts on that.  Just concerned next season could be a write off as well, due to all the new players settling in.

Pep needs to step up his performance. Short of getting us relegated, he will never get the push. I could see him walking, if it all goes down the pan next season.

[Ludo]

Gundagan and Jesus could be like two new players next season but we're desperately in need of two full backs.

Any transfers need to be done quickly so they can get a full preseason in.

[zacc]

hey oh
watched the game with our lad his wife is a gooner only bright spot was grandson had his City shirt on (provided by me)
anf his mum put a gooner hat on him which he repeatedly took off

[gavin]

City were the better side for most of the game. very unusual for Arse to dominated in possession like that except against City. Their whole approach told me that they know that City are a better side. On chances though we probably only just edged it but again we had the chances to win. I don't think we are far away from being a top, top title winning side. If we don't get in Europe then we'll probably walk it next season. But if we don't get fourth then we're probably doomed to fifth and the effing Europa League. So best to get fourth eh. Fucking big game now Thursday with them wankers winning today. BIG.

[gavin]

McManaman praised Bravo for just launching the ball into touch. Arsenal scored from the throw. Maybe it is not such a great plan just to give away possession after all eh.

[Paddy]

Gavin, what were you takin at the start !!!"Claudio". What the "****". CRAP along with Navas and De Bruyne. I am glad of the result today.  Wake up call for the owners; Pep is suspect and not ready for the EPR

[Victoria]

Gavin, what were you takin at the start !!!"Claudio". What the "****". CRAP along with Navas and De Bruyne. I am glad of the result today.  Wake up call for the owners; Pep is suspect and not ready for the EPR

I said that in October, shame I'm always proven right

[Rowley Birkin QC]

You're both talking rubbish. This ridiculous myth that somehow the Premier League is 'special' and incoming overseas managers can't deal with it.

It's the same game - same rules.

Pep is fine. He needs better players.

[Victoria]

I also said Pep needs better players, infact, I still think he is not the right man for the job! Next season will be no better! City need a different style of manager, not one that is over-hyped by the media.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

A manager who has won as much as he has is not "over-hyped".

[Victoria]

A manager who has won as much as he has is not "over-hyped".

What has he won in England?: nothing! next you will be wanting Brendan Rodgers............lol

[Swiss]

Pep is fine, the way we're playing is coming to fruition and will be the most exciting since the Keegan years. 20 shots and only 3 on target. This is one issue and pep has picked up on it. Another is our defence, well documented. Another is us fans. Pep says we should be creating a hole atmosphere, even for our players. In essence, he wants us to become dicks and experience to us to win every game, and let the team know it's unacceptable to lose.

[Victoria]

ah, i see, Pep is passing-the-buck and blaming us fans for his mistakes; such as one named Bravo!

[KunDB]

The concept that Premier League football is somehow special is only true in that the quality is not top quality. Pep will get it right and I look forward to it.

[Swiss]

... he's blaming us for not putting the team under pressure for not winning.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

What has he won in England?: nothing! next you will be wanting Brendan Rodgers............lol

Pep's been here just one season. Furthermore, there's no rule that managers have to come to England in order to 'prove' themselves. Pep doesn't have much to prove to anyone.

Why would I want Brendan Rodgers - or anyone else? You're the one suggesting Pep is not up to the job. I'm not the one who seems to be advocating change - it's you!!

[Victoria]

I think managers do have to come to England to prove themselves as the the Premire league seems to be a little stronger than the rest of Europe. Actually, after this season Pep does have to prove himself as the league is stronger than what he thought and has admitted so. As for Brendon Rodgers, that was nothing more than sarcasm as he is a manger of a horse in a one horse town . Further, I do advocate change, Pep got a lot of things wrong this season whereas that guy at Chelsea has not and yet it is his first season in the Premire league and has won nothing lik what Pep has in the past. I do expect a big clear out this summer with some of our big names going. That is why I am giving Pep one more season to prove himself, he should have learned from thios season and can only improve.

[goat]

I think managers do have to come to England to prove themselves as the the Premire league seems to be a little stronger than the rest of Europe

oh fuck off

you believe any bollocks sky tells you, no wonder you voted trump

[Lekos]

I think managers do have to come to England to prove themselves as the the Premire league seems to be a little stronger than the rest of Europe.

Funniest thing on Citymancs for years.