I'm not in the least bit worried. We're still short on players with no bench and we only lost because KDB is an absolute monster. Without KDB we'd have won that game. If we keep performing like that we'll start smashing it from Feb onwards when our fixtures turn for the better. Every single one of Man City's goal were absolute quality, and we really could have scored more than 2 easily. Ratings - Dubravka- MOTM - 8.5 - Plenty of good saves. Proving himself a good shot stopper. A bit weak in the air compared to pope, but his ability on the ball is better. MOTM for me because he kept us in the game. We could have scored more but so could City with some of our sloppy play at times. Trippier - 7.5 - Mostly good. Unfair to blame him for much. Lots of good tackles. Caught out a bit by Doku though in the first half. Schar - 8 Botman - 8 - He showed yesterday what we miss when he isn't around. His tackling is superb. Burn - 6 - Acted well as a target man at times, we still really do need better. Walker had far too much space for their first goal. Seemed to settle into the game as we went a bit more defensive. Longstaff - 6 - Worked hard, but didn't offer that much quality. Good squad player but nothing else. Bruno - 7.5 - Fantastic passing, mostly good performance, but poor discipline at times means he doesn't get an 8. How he hasn't been sent off this season is a mystery. Miley - 7 - Worked hard, tries his best. Can't fault him much. Gordon - 8 - Wonderful goal, caused City problems Isak - 7.5 - Much better than Wilson. Worked harder than usual to close down, probably because of more rest time. Disappointing he couldn't have scored his 2nd big chance of the game. Goes missing though if we don't have the ball. He probably isn't full fit yet. Almiron - 7.5 - What he lacks in creativity he makes up for in his work rate and ability to cause havoc in his closing down. Underrated player. Great tackling ability for a non-defender.
For being completely outplayed for 75mins or so, these ratings are very generous. Plucky underdogs. Dubs - 7.5 Trippier - 6.5 Schar - 7 Botman - 7 Burn - 5 Longstaff - 4 Bruno - 6.5 Miley - 5 Almiron - 6 Gordon - 7 Isak - 7 More like it IMO.
A bit harsh considering we were against the best squad in the division by far. I don't think we were outplayed that much, we caused them problems at times and defended mostly well, they were completely out of ideas until KDB came on and won them the game by himself.
Spot on! Always hard to take when leading the game but KDB is a class above, looked like he had saved all the quality City have been missing from him for his return.
We can't add marks because the opposition are way better! It's like saying City were 6 and 7 out of 10, because they're just better players so would have 80% possession. I'm basing it on what I saw, plus stats (Longstaff was poor), plus the fact EH told them to "go for the throat" in the second half, which resulted in us having zero meaningful shots and losing the second period 2-0.
Really not, De Bruyne might have made the breakthrough, but they had countless chances and all the play before then. Unfortunate to lose it at the end, but we were comprehensively out played for most of the match.
That scoreline would have flattered us spectacularly, they were all over us, had all the ball and were controlling everything, and easily went ahead. We got 2 goals quickly, which put them on the back foot a bit, but they were still dominating and creating countless chances before De Bruyne came on. Foden, Silva, Rhodri etc were all over us.
Do think De Bruyne was the difference in the end. City might have got an equaliser without him but then again they might not have. IMO they wouldn't have scored the second and third goals without him as whilst not running out of ideas they hadn't been hurting us. First half I think we gave as good as we got in that we counter attacked and looked dangerous when we did. Second half I do think it was all them though. I do think we didn't sit back as such but were forced back because of how well City played with the ball and off the ball. We struggled to cope and then due to injuries and position in development we didn't have a match changer (at least a positive match changer) to bring on. Have to say though if KDB played like that after so long out I'm pleased he wasn't match fit yet.
spot on People don't see the full picture when watching on TV how Man City stroked the ball around Even the players that didn't have the ball were pulling our players out of position
I'd argue everyone did see the full picture - as myself and @Charlie Dogscock have just said we were comprehensively outplayed. Nobody can argue with that. Of the two teams, maybe Isak could've started (in the absence of Haaland) for the visitors, and possibly Botman. Bruno/Gordon/Trippier on the bench. Nobody else would even be in their squad, so it's just not surprising, but they've built this up over 15 years during which time we had Ashley. Let's see how we get on in a few years when we draw League One Man City in the FA Cup....
I'm not moaning about the position we are in or the players we have I think we have done brilliant in the last 2 seasons
I'd disagree. This season has been, at best, underwhelming regardless of the previous season's incredible success. Losing so toothlessly against Everton, Brentford, Luton and Forest would be awful under Ashley, with a worse team than Howe's putting out. Being absolutely battered by Liverpool as well as Spurs and lucky to not concede 8 or more wasn't great. Neither was the awful naivety displayed losing 2-1 at home to L'pool, and 2-1 at home to Milan. Being comprehensively outplayed by crappy Chelsea in the LC wasn't fun either. All I'd say is of those games I've listed, none of them were good enough and were really disppointing, given the backdrop of the amount of money spent. Overall, we've looked at times like an Ashley side this season. There's been excellent results, but less regularly than there have been poor ones. That it's happened following such an incredible campaign is both baffling and concerning in equal measure.
Concerning, yes. Baffling, no. Second season syndrome vis a vis successful team. Injuries. Tonali’s gambling. Limited squad capability. FFP.
Lets review where we are at the end of feb when we've gotten some decent fixtures and no fixture congestion to create any excuses over.
That's absolute horse piss, though. Football is football. Why does Howe get special dispensation because there were a few more games or the opposition were big and tough? That's utter bollocks. We are playing matches - Liverpool, City, Chelsea, even Forest - where we are comprehensively second best. You telling me the likes of Villa, West Ham, Liverpool, Brighton don't have fixture congestion? They're ALL above us and still in Europe. Honestly no offence but your comment is one of the worst I've seen, not sure you've thought that through? Let's judge Howe when he's got easier fixtures and has taken us out of Europe and the League Cup? So, what, Fulham is a free pass because it's an extra game? Wow. Just....wow.
