Perspective

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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2011
6,977
311
83
A galaxy far, far away
Okay - maybe a disappointing loss. We missed big chances (Coutinho, Sterling) and conceded due to the ineptness of Skrtel and a goalkeeping error.

But for large chunks of the match we went toe-to-toe with City and looked capable. Henderson and Allen look comfortable and confident. Sterling, despite that error, is playing well, showing composure more often than not. We played like that whilst missing three first team players.

The point is - compare were we are right now to last season.

On boxing day 2012 we lost 3-1 to Stoke, away.

We were 10th, on 25 points.

The team was Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Skrtel, Agger, Lucas, Gerrard, Downing, Shelvey, Suarez, Suso.

We have improved, and this January will improve again. We have players coming back in February, and will sign one or two (or should do).

Take heart from this performance. Don't mind the result. We were worthy of at least a draw, but that's football. The signs of improvement are there, and we will be in the running for 4th right to the wire this season.
 
It was a brilliant game of football. City kept the ball on the deck fantastically well, but our counter attacking play was some of the best stuff I've watched this season.

After the disappointing Arsenal/Chelsea clash, both teams showed today how football should be played in these big games. It's a bit gutting, that's 3 great performances against City and we've not won once. We won't play that well and not get a point again all season.

Onwards and upwards, we're still in a fantastic position. Roll on Sunday <cheers>
 
Master Yoda said:
Absolutely.

Think it indicates something that we feel a little disappointed losing at the Etihad.
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Hopefully, FSG back Rodgers in January to further improve the squad so we have some players on the bench who can impact a game whilst improving the starting XI. So many positives this season and such improvement in a short space of time. They need to be behind him. Not necessarily with 100mill each window like the classless Chavs or City, but money there for the right players in January to step forward again.

Disappointing, but positive.
 
Two girls said:
Hopefully, FSG back Rodgers in January to further improve the squad so we have some players on the bench who can impact a game whilst improving the starting XI. So many positives this season and such improvement in a short space of time. They need to be behind him. Not necessarily with 100mill each window like the classless Chavs or City, but money there for the right players in January to step forward again.

Disappointing, but positive.
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Was thinking when Moses came on - in a month that could be Salah. Big difference.
 
Skrtel had a strange game, excellent one moment and awful the next. BR needs to have words with him, though.. The shirt pulling is getting ridiculous, concentrate on getting your head on the ball.

I'm proud of our performance, but, that can't become a habit, if we want to be competing at the highest level we have to be beating these teams when we play well. If we don't turn up then so be it, but we were far too wasteful today, that Coutinho miss cost us in the end. If we put in a great performance against Chelsea and still have no points to show for it I'll be very disappointed.
 
I thought Skrtel had a very good game today. He was still doing the shirt pulling (not as much as usual though) but so was Kompany so the ref just left them to it.

Sakho was harshly treated by the commentators. Sure, he had a rough patch but it was a team issue rather than individual, he was getting caught as the last man.

Henderson, Sterling and Allen all played well. Suarez had a off day but was still involved and should have had a couple of assists to his name too.
 
Didn't see the game due to a sudden close family bereavement early hours on Boxing Day. Heard we played well and had a good goal disallowed. Still happy with our position as top 4 was always the target.
 
Not quite sure why Skrtel's getting so much stick. Yes the first he should have done better but Kompany is a beast of a player and the goal saving challenges MS made easily made up for that. City are a brilliant team and yet we were hard done by not to get a point. It's tough enough playing City but playing City and the ref too is hard.
 
Skrtel made a few significant last ditch tackles.

big gutted we didn't get at least the point we deserved, but proud the best team in the country needed help to beat us, shows how far we have come and where we are heading.
 
Those commentators criticising Sakho are absolute morons.

Defensively - he was brilliant all game. He had a spell in the second half where his passing was messed up but managed to regain his composure.

I think it's time to sell Skrtel and buy a long term RCB to partner Sakho.
 
A proud performance in a game we deserved to win.

City know that we were easily the best team they've payed all season, and know they were lucky as **** to come away with all 3 points.

We're in the title race, no doubt. City will go on to win it imo, but that's not a guarantee. I'm proud of BR and the players&#8230;


If a loss ever felt like a win - that was it.
 
Master Yoda said:
Skrtel makes so many last ditch challenges because his positioning is often poor.
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I disagree, Playing the way we do will always lead to the centre backs struggling positionally. We are so open you can't expect our two centre backs to be able to cover every blade of grass, it just isn't humanly possible. Playing in a more traditional back 4 (as under Kenny) Skrtels positioning was spot on 99% of the time. I thought Kompany (one of the best centre backs of recent times) was caught out as often as Skrtel yesterday and yet thanks to a whole heap of luck, an atrocious piece of goalkeeping and the most biased ref we've faced all season Kompany was on the winning side and Skrtel wasn't. Out of our two playing yesterday Skrtel was the more solid of the two yet Sakho seems immune to criticism on here.

Let's be honest we were playing a team who are one of the best in the world....a team who scored 4 against united, 6 against Arsenal and 6 against Spurs. They are one of the best counter-attacking teams seen in a long time. They scored two against us and really, had we scored the chances we were given we wouldn't be criticising any of our defenders.


Anywhoooo all that aside I was very proud of how we played yesterday. I bet City won't face many tougher challenges at home this season and despite the defeat I hope we take the many positives into the Chavski game <ok> Keep playing like that and we will earn a place in the top four.
 
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