Rival Watch / Other Teams

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
Villa win again. That's a huge result way to Chelsea. The same Chelsea who outplayed us with 10 men.
Villa were awful in the first half, but brilliant in the second half.
They look like they believe in themselves and excited to be winning, plus they look incredibly fit in the latter stages of games.
So, Arsenal vs Villa on Tuesday, which I think will determine who will be the main challengers to City for the title.
 
Last edited:
Chelsea were pathetic. Better team for most the match but when Villa went ahead they showed absolutely no fight to get back into it.
 
Chelsea were pathetic. Better team for most the match but when Villa went ahead they showed absolutely no fight to get back into it.
They have some players not giving all. I watched Enzo sauntering around the pitch out of possession not even attempting to run down midfielders or close space. Not the only one. Villa simply wanted it more.
I am amazed at Villa players fitness and stamina. They keep such a high intensity until the final whistle. They also over powered us in the last 20-25 minutes when we looked dead on our feet.
We will need to up our game a lot to beat them on Tuesday.
 
Maresca looks to be leaving Chelsea.

Honestly think this is another fumble by the ownership. Enzo reminds me of Arteta and Kompany he'll come good - the guy is relatively new to management, he's learning on the job but I think a top manager is in there.

Also the ownerships constant rotation of young wide players can't be easy to integrate as manager.

Can't help but think they will go backwards again if they change. (which i'm happy about quite frankly)
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrunelGunner
Good that its 0-0 at HT Sunderland vs City, but also disappointing that Sunderland are not leading.
They should be. They are really not very good in the final third and it seems pretty likely they are going to be made to pay for that.
TBH, not quite sure why they are playing a high line and leaving Haaland 1v1. Brave - but a bit naive.

I suspect City will take over now with some half time tweaks.
 
That’s a great result for us.
Now City have to beat us AND hope we drop more points.
I can’t believe City didn’t score with those chances in the second half but we’ve had those games too over the last few years.
Let’s hope that is a sign!
 
I did say that Sunderland away would be a problem for our rivals.

Its a shame Chelsea sacked Maresca because I could have seen that as another Banana skin for City.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jayramfootball
I did say that Sunderland away would be a problem for our rivals.

Its a shame Chelsea sacked Maresca because I could have seen that as another Banana skin for City.

Let's just hope a new manager bounce happens with Chelsea.
At the Ethiad, it's unlikely they will get anything, but you never know.
If we can beat Bournemouth away (tough) then we will be 7pts clear and put severe pressure on City to win.

As always - our next game is huge. The next 'cup final' in a long line of 'cup finals' between now and the end of May.
 
I did say that Sunderland away would be a problem for our rivals.

Its a shame Chelsea sacked Maresca because I could have seen that as another Banana skin for City.

I wasn't sure if they'd get a result purely because they had 7 first-team players at AFCON and Ballard (arguably their best defender so far this season) was missing. Seemed like it would be a major uphill battle.

But Sunderland were superb. Mukiele is looking like one of the signings of the season, he's been fantastic each time I've watched him. I don't think I've seen someone marshal Haaland like that before tbh.

Regarding the title race, my only slight worry is Rodri being back - that's huge for City. He looked very good when he came on. I thought he'd be a bit rustier given he'd been out of action for so long, but he seemed like his old self. And, providing he can stay fully fit, Rodri transforms their team.
 
I wasn't sure if they'd get a result purely because they had 7 first-team players at AFCON and Ballard (arguably their best defender so far this season) was missing. Seemed like it would be a major uphill battle.

But Sunderland were superb. Mukiele is looking like one of the signings of the season, he's been fantastic each time I've watched him. I don't think I've seen someone marshal Haaland like that before tbh.

Regarding the title race, my only slight worry is Rodri being back - that's huge for City. He looked very good when he came on. I thought he'd be a bit rustier given he'd been out of action for so long, but he seemed like his old self. And, providing he can stay fully fit, Rodri transforms their team.

Yes, Rodri is a big boost for them, but I wonder how much he will be able to play?
I'd be surprised if he played every game after his injury.
Also have to remember that he's getting into that situation of recurring injuries that can be hard cycle to break out of. This is actually his 4th return from injury THIS SEASON.
Also, City's worst run of the season was when he was playing.
 
I am enjoying seeing Xhaka doing so well (though a shame he didn't have a stinker against us)
This season he has been brilliant for Sunderland.
I think he might be the only player that was trusted by Wenger, Emery AND Arteta. Says a lot when a player survives and is trusted under 3 separate managers who come in with their own ideas.
Went on to be an invincible total winner at Leverkusen and now shining brightly at Sunderland.
Some career.
 
City 1-0 Chelsea at HT
Only looks like one winner here.
Pressure back on us - next time City play Brighton in another home game before we play Liverpool.
Very likely to only be a point ahead when we face Liverpool.
Can't quite believe how ****e Palmer has been in that half. Possibly the worst performance I have seen for a so called big player ever.
He was that bad.
 
Last edited:
`
City 1-0 Chelsea at HT
Only looks like one winner here.
Pressure back on us - next time City play Brighton in another home game before we play Liverpool.
Very likely to only be a point ahead when we face Liverpool.
Can't quite believe how ****e Palmer has been in that half. Possibly the worst performance I have seen for a so called big player ever.
He was that bad.

Well, Chelsea took a point in the end!

Huge result for us. That's us 6 points ahead of them now.

It was a deserved result too - Chelsea wasted a number of opportunities (as did City), but City's forward line were diabolical this evening. And that's what they get for not taking their chances, whilst allowing Chelsea to get in behind so many times. City's defence looked ropey for most of the game IMO.

Chelsea hung in there and ended up with a point in the end thanks to Enzo Fernandez's late equaliser.
 
I actually think City have blown their last two games pretty catastrophically.

Sunderland are a very good team, but they were missing 7 players at AFCON and their best CB (and threat from set-plays) in Dan Ballard. They could only muster a 0-0 draw.

Chelsea were not only managerless, they were missing: Robert Sanchez, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo. Yet they've gone to The Etihad, actually looked dangerous on the break, and taken a point in a 1-1 draw (could have maybe got more if Pedro Neto wasn't such a clown).

Considering the circumstances, both of these games should have been wins for City and they haven't done it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gil T Azell
`

Well, Chelsea took a point in the end!

Huge result for us. That's us 6 points ahead of them now.

It was a deserved result too - Chelsea wasted a number of opportunities (as did City), but City's forward line were diabolical this evening. And that's what they get for not taking their chances, whilst allowing Chelsea to get in behind so many times. City's defence looked ropey for most of the game IMO.

Chelsea hung in there and ended up with a point in the end thanks to Enzo Fernandez's late equaliser.

Fabulous.
City were really poor in the second half.
Love to see it.
Now it has the reverse effect on the Brighton game before we play - they HAVE to win to avoid the potential of going 8-9 pts behind.
 
I actually think City have blown their last two games pretty catastrophically.

Sunderland are a very good team, but they were missing 7 players at AFCON and their best CB (and threat from set-plays) in Dan Ballard. They could only muster a 0-0 draw.

Chelsea were not only managerless, they were missing: Robert Sanchez, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo. Yet they've gone to The Etihad, actually looked dangerous on the break, and taken a point in a 1-1 draw (could have maybe got more if Pedro Neto wasn't such a clown).

Considering the circumstances, both of these games should have been wins for City and they haven't done it.

One could say they have, in fact, bottled the last 2 games.
For us - one game at a time. Shut out the noise.