With Gabon topping group C and two games away from qualification it looks highly likely that City will loose a key player in Bruno Manga for several key games in January and February. Norwich, Middlesbrough and Wednesday away and Derby home. Have we got a strong enough contender to replace him during that critical period?
Manga was my man of the match - a class act at this level who could definitely step up a division. Difficult to compare, but he was better at his own game than Whitts, who actually got the award today, was at his. Not knocking Whitts who had an excellent game in a rejuvenated setup, but that was probably more the reason for it than Whitts upping his game on his own. The improvement must be down to Slade who can bring Whitts back to his best by employing a system and player attitudes that suits him. His play today was a revelation compared to previously this season under Ole and recently Young. Back to Manga and the thread subject - we will definitely miss him for the ANC period. Someone like Turner or Connolly must step up to the mark. I also thought Morrison had a good game today.
Witts well deserved motm IMO. I thought Brayford was immense too. Both cb's played very well and Alf justified his selection.
A good performance in the first half. Much of the second half was sloppy. The side actually had some shape to it and we pressed rather than stood off the opposition. Witt's deservedly won man of the match closely followed by Bruno. He will be missed. The main weakness seemed to be Ralls at full back - not his best position in my view. But a win is a win.
Manga was the best player on the pitch by an absolute mile. Different class. A better team display against a side who must surely be better than what they looked yesterday. Much improved performances by Whitts and Gunner. However I think a lot is down to Forest playing 2 central midfielders and 2 touchline wingers meaning they both had time and space. This is something most weeks wont happen. However the 2 of them were far better than the Forest 2. Also think Marshall would have saved both of our goals. Their keeper was poor.
Agree about their keeper - didn't impress me at all with those attempts to save Macheda's and Whitt's efforts as good as they were. Marshall would have gobbled them up. You're also right about Manga - the guy is real class in this division and showed it again yesterday. After all that international break late traveling, he would have had the right to look a bit jaded but he pulled out a stellar performance. On the other hand, I thought Kenwynne looked fcked from the moment he came on - hardly moved and faailed to close down on their defenders when they started to come forward.
totally agree with this ...... Jones' gave forest an extra man just by being so far off the pace Oh ! and their keeper made one excellent save to stop it going to 3-0
