As I have said elsewhere, the current Man City squad is probably the greatest club side in the entire history of English football. Pep has raised the quality of football to a hitherto unknown standard. However. picking up on the comment about festering in the lower leagues, most Saints fans of my age will all to clearly recollect when City under Alan Ball did just that and slipped in to the third tier. Like most football fans who started following the game in the 1970s, City were always excellent for comedy value , whether under the direction of Malcolm Allison or through to the plethora of managers they had until they were bought by the Saudi's. Back in the 1970, 80s and 90's City were pretty much a slapstick club forever sacking managers and under-achieving. They were a gift to the media. Their demise under the management of the late Alan Ball was especially savoured by Saints fans and probably reflects the kind of low point that Saints fans have never really experienced. No team has ever really slipped up on a banana skin to the satisfaction of other fans as Man City.
I`m just glad it wasn`t another 9-0. ABK and Baz were men of the match, Salisu and Che get pass marks. The midfield in its entirety were woeful, repeatedly giving the ball back to City, and not protecting the back four. I`m a Stu fan, but he was dreadful. I didn`t even notice Aribo was on the pitch until half time. Diallo just isn`t up to this league. The players were collectively just going through the motions, with no belief, desire or purpose. I`m a Ralph fan, but he doesn`t have the players with him. His time is drawing to an end sadly.
I think the BBC reporter is a 'happy clapper' "Southampton's performance was far more important to their manager's cause than the end result. Reports this week suggested Ralph Hasenhuttl is on the brink of the sack after four years at St Mary's, but his side did not play like one that has given up on him. True, damage limitation was always their main aim, but that has not saved others from worse drubbings at Etihad Stadium this season. Hasenhuttl must have feared the worst when City came flying out of the blocks but his side defended well, and continued to do so even when the game was long lost."
Pretty much proving that the reporters know **** all as usual. We touched the ball once in their area, had one corner and no shots on target. No sugar coating it. We are not a well coached side at the moment
I know city are unstoppable and thrash everyone, but our marking was appalling for some of those goals. Why can’t we organise a defence? Having 0 shots on target and spending most of the match in your own half is (maybe) understandable, but is it too much to ask defenders to get tight?
I think it’s because; We have a kid in goal who doesn’t shout at his back line Two very young inexperienced centre backs Attacking minded full backs No defensive midfielders A manager that changes the formation & players every week
It’s been a problem for so long. Fullbacks just leaving players in space. You’re right, I think the absence of a CDM is our biggest problem.
Not sure this match is really worth discussing but a few random thoughts: I wouldn't be surprised if Man City average 3 goals a game this season. As depressing as it is to say this, given our relative positions 4-0 may be about par I don't think Ralph is a manager who can organise a defence. I hoped the new coaching appointments would address this weakness but I'm not sure that's happened. I don't think we're as bad defensively this season but we're still not good If Adam Blackmore is correct and the squad is weaker this season than last then I'd suggest heads need to roll at the club. With a net summer spend of £70m how the **** do you end up with a weaker squad? Similar to things that have been said by others elsewhere, I don't really have an issue with any of the players we signed in the summer but the attacking player(s) we didn't sign look far more important at the moment
No CDM or no decent CDM? Cause we play with 2 of them every match and is one of the main reasons we can't do anything going forward.
Whether the issue lies with the CMs or the no.10s (or a mixture of both), there's little doubt that our FBs are being left horribly exposed this season. I can't ever remember it being this bad when playing 4-2-2-2 before (which maybe suggests that the loss of Romeu, or addition of Aribo, is at the heart of it - MOTD really went to town last night on how much Aribo wasn't helping out Perraud). It would be easier to stomach if the trade-off was us scoring more goals. But we still look as limp as ever in an attacking sense (of all sides to have played nine games, only Wolves are below us in the scoring stakes). So the formation, or personnel, has to be questioned.
I haven’t seen MOTD but I actually said during/after the Everton game that I wouldn’t have been surprised if they didn’t highlight how little cover Aribo gave Larios, so I am actually glad that it has been noticed by the pundits. Reference the 4-2-2-2, it worked when we pressed because everyone knew their job and what to do once the press was triggered, but it just seems that nobody knows what they are doing now. I mentioned yesterday that I would be happy for us to go with a basic 4-4-2, for now. A 4-4-2 puts more onus on the wide player to provide the team with width and also gives the FB protection when we are out of possession.
Who would you play in the wide positions with the pace and stamina to provide that defensive cover as well as creating? We haven’t really been singing players for such a system. Djenepo and ? I don’t think Stu would do too well there. Aribo not covering has been mentioned. Elyounoussi is too slow for a wide midfield role really. Edozie is young probably not ready for that dual role. Perhaps AMN? So a four of Djenepo, JWP, Lavia/Diallo, AMN? And the front two can be from Adams, Armstrong, Mara and Aribo
That is the issue. Djenepo can do the left but he isn’t very creative. I don’t think we have a right sided player who could do the job, other than JWP, but that would cripple the central positions. If Tino were fit I would pair him and KWP on the right. It seems as if we have brought in players who would suit the 4-2-2-2 formation, but they haven’t yet/aren’t able to adapt to the high press required for it to be effective.
