Burnley set up a similar way to how we want to play. Just execution. A lot of the time we played good stuff out from the back until they realised we didn't have a long ball option and pushed 4 men up to match our back 4 in the press. Atmosphere has been fine in games playing the exact same way. Reality is when I went to Cov away when we scored they still outsang us immediately after. Our fanbase is growing but it will get right soon
largely because they've got way better players than us who fit their system that Kompany recruited for at the start of the season
They consistently had 10 players in our half when pressing and we just couldn’t get out. Maatsens recovery pace allows them to push very high. I think pace in the back 4 is something we need to look at, I feel like we drop deep often to compensate for our lack of speed
I agree, our lack of pace at full back doesn’t suit the modern game. Burnley didn’t have to have their wingers dropping back to defend because their full backs could get up and down all game, which allowed the forwards to just press high. I think whoever comes in at LB will be a pacey option in Summer.
I am not downhearted at all after that performance, Yes, they were the better side, but we really did give them a leg up for their 3 goals. Some really good moments and individual performances, and a number of positives to take from the game. I thought we handled and played well out from the back through their press on the whole quite well in the first half. It was a pity Elder let Tella in just before the break as going in at half-time level, I think we might have seen a better 2nd half from us, goals change games. We created 2 or 3 really good chances that we need to take at this level. Traore looks like a very good player, just needs more game time to get up to speed. Ebiowei showed his doubters what Liam knew he was capable of, he had some really good moments in the game. Getting game time into Allahyar was also a plus. Tufan is looking much sharper and up for it and can see him starting Saturday. If we had played like that against the majority of other teams in the league we would have come out winning the game, and to be fair to come out with 4 points from three tough games, WBA, Coventry & Burnley, is not such a bad return. On to Reading, we owe them one for the last-minute winner they got at ours.
I think Allahyar should be converted into a fullback, suits his skill set much better. I don’t think he has the technical ability to play further up.
There was a distinct lack of north stand chavs this evening. I particularly like the charge across at the away fans when City score. Mind you it was a school night so probably doing homework or back on the breast before bedtime.
Let’s just say Allahyar isn’t a winger, he was signed as a striker, I believe. Pelkas is ****e, I don’t care if he’s been injured or not, he’s not good enough, the millions of central midfielders don’t know how to pass forward, it’s back, then back again, until the keeper hoofs it. There was the odd moment in the first half, where we worked it passed their pressing strikers, that bit looked good, until we stopped moving the ball forward to then have to go back instead of risking losing the ball, for Darlo to hoof it & lose possession anyway. Greaves isn’t the great defender everyone thinks he is, I have no idea where this theory that big PL teams are watching him, maybe relegation threatened teams & top end Championship teams are, but I doubt even a team like Everton are interested. He’s definitely not PL material yet, maybe someday, but not anytime soon.
I’m surprised by the negativity, though we were obviously second best, we played some good football in parts and I thought it was encouraging (particularly Traore).
Wake up and smell the coffee old shag. They took their foot of the gas and cruised home. We could not lay a glove on them.
A few thoughts on last night- which I thought was disappointing 1) Burnley deserved to win, but we gave them a massive helping hand 2) Shocking defending from Elder (not fouled) and Greaves respectively for their 1st and 3rd goals 3) Team selection. Pelkas for Oscar??? WTF was that about? Pelkas may have a role with us bit its not as centre forward, false 9 or whatever he was supposed to be last night. No Oscar meant their centre halves had an easy 45 minutes. After Oscar's goal on Saturday he shouldn't have been benched - poor decision from Rosie IMHO 4) Playing out from the back. When it worked it looked pleasing on the eye, BUT it didn't always work and City must move the ball quicker to beat the press of the better Championship teams or they will punish you. 5) Playing from the back ALL OF THE TIME! Since we played without a recognized CF, and their defense was so high, surely the ball should have been over the top to Ebiowei more often as he had the beating of his man all night. Rectified this to a degree in the 2nd half 6) It all went pear shaped down our right when Coyle had to go off injured - Coyle haters take note 7) Good cameo from Tufan. Good goal and he should have scored with an earlier chance as well 8) I hope Kompany gets poached by a bigger club in the summer and Burnley get thumped every week in the PL - Lancashire To55ers Rant over - until Saturday at least
A couple of players played better than they have been doing recently but we didnt play as a team Was not starting with Oscar a good idea? How many other managers would have done that?
LR must be ahead of his time Watch Pep bench Haaland now and not bring him on until Man City are losing
I can see how someone like Tetteh suits this system better than Oscar, but to not play Oscar when Tetteh's not available was brave. Pelkas can leave at the end of the season for me, no matter what position he plays in he just struggles to produce. Allayhar seems to have lost his flare since coming back from injury, which is a shame. It was nice to see Traore playing more directly, he drew plenty of fouls from it. We're still lacking proper width, we have to go out and spend a few quid on some decent fullbacks in the summer. (Yes, Coyle did well before his injury, but he's still not a top 6 fullback)
Beyer and Ekdal both 6’2 .. as is Al-Dakhil .. full backs short by comparison but then again so is Kieran Trippier for example and he’s done ok
