They're really not. We've just had one of those seasons. The injuries, ref decisions and even the fixture list has really gone against us consistently this season. The amount of bad luck has been stupendous. There is a well known cliche that "it evens up over a season" but it really hasn't. Uts just been one thing after another. It's a miracle we aren't already down. Burnley have been dreadful all season, they've not tried to win games, just tried to not lose them. If they had the injuries and bad decisions we've had they would be below Norwich.
Sky team… First goal Struijk and Koch at fault, Struijk a yard too far back played them all on side Koch allowed his man to get away. Second goal, Ake was Firpos man, Firpo allowed him to breeze past when they were side by side at the start of the set piece on the outside of the box
We gave a very good account of ourselves tonight, and the result flattered them. Teams were very similar. We didn't have Forshaw or Roberts tonight. Then we had not Struijk or Rodrigo at the Etihad.
There's also a well known saying 'you make your own luck'. We got complacent when we beat Burnley and West Ham in January, and didn't want to face the truth that the squad had peaked last season.
Evening all, that was a tough watch. The gulf in class was obvious. We huffed and we puffed but just cannot pick out a white shirt. I think the biggest problem is the movement into space to give the player in possession options. We used to play the one twos to cut teams open but we just don't do it any more. City pressed us at the back until it went wide then closed in so we had to hit it long. Even simple passes were usually hit too firm so it put the receiving player under pressure as he's got to control it. Simple balls over the top for someone to run on to were consistently over hit. We dithered with the ball on the edge of the box then either gave it away or fired a pointless ball in to no one. All that aside we missed Cooper at the back plus I'm sure the system changed when he injured himself. I'm worried that it's just not meant to he this year. I can see Everton getting something against Chelski and us being totally in the ****.
I wasn't that bad over 25 yards neither and didn't cost 25 million, is it really all he has to offer?
We could afford rodrigo and james when plenty of talent is avaliable in the championship. Just got back in and was thinking on the way back do we need to go down. Then sell the more valued players and rebuild. Now if we stay up the stars (lol) will still be leaving. Six or seven players are needed to start again. First on my transfer list would be Greenwood.
Jesse - “On the scoresheet it’s a loss but in many ways I think it’s a win”, he told his post match press conference. “It’s a crazy thing to say but it’s how I feel. When we get relegated it will be great as Jesse will have us all believing we’ve qualified for the champions league
genuinely I didn’t think it was that bad… we set out to disrupt their rhythm and in many ways for long periods we did. We got in to decent positions. Ultimately obviously we did lack the class to convert those positions into good chances - but at no point did they tear us apart. Frustrating to give two soft set piece goals away… forcing us to chase the game so they get to put a flattering gloss on it. nothing to be happy with losing 4-0 at home to anyone but it felt worlds apart from the 7-0 capitulation at theirs.
it’s not us he’s trying to convince. He’s trying to keep the team’s morale up. At face value yes it’s a crazy thing to say.
