Agreed...was the only player that seemed to stretch the City defense...He's the sort of annoying player that their defense hate playing. Would actually drop Tadic for this one. Has been off the boil the last couple of weeks. Might be a tiny bit hungrier coming off the bench as well feeling that he has something to prove
I thought Long looked good when he came on. Not sure why he was played down the left however. l thought Tadic was the left sided player.
@aguerosergiokun: Happy for a victory against a tough rival that hadn't lost in their turf so far. We're closer now! C'mon, City!
I read that we have played the fewest number of players in the EPL this season, squad size is an issue.
This is what Koeman has said all along...we haven't the depth to rest more than the odd player. Tadic and Mane haven't been so good lately. I also think it is worrying that Pelle has hit a dry patch...it's great we have goals elsewhere, but he is our main striker. He needs just one going in off his bum to get going again.
Don't worry, Ron...you've earnt some leeway. No one is hanging you yet....just don't go on SaintsWeb.
I don't remember a single instance in the when Mane and Tadić hugged the touchline. They don't need to do that all the time, but we miss the width, we need to stretch defences. Full backs we're being cautious today, no wonder playing against Nasri and Navas, and without them bursting forward and Mane/Tadić always drifting inside, we were very narrow today and easy to defend against.
Yeah, it's the downside of having so many players featuring in their international squads...our key players have piled up a tonne of minutes. Will have some tough decisions to make for the away matches against Burnley and Sheffield United; those are the ones where you'd like to rotate some people out, but the former is an excellent chance for three points, and the latter would see us advance to a cup semi.
Disappointing but not a disaster. Shame we didn't squeeze a goal in 1st half, could of been a little different. As others said, they didn't need to work too hard for this which is a shame. I thought Vic was outstanding first half, and was easily our best player overall. Thought Long was useful when he came on, and I'd like him to get a start in the week. The fulcrum of our attack is a bit blunt with pelle at the moment and Tadic seemed to want too much time on the ball at times, although they closed him dowe quite quick. Maybe its tiredness as someone mentioned.
Think it's time for Gardos to become the primary CB backup, assuming he's fit. We've surrendered 9 goals in 13 games...roughly one every 60 minutes with Yoshida on the pitch versus one every 270 without him. Not all his fault, of course, but it's a multi-year trend where we look much less organized when he's out there.
Alderweireld looks such an accomplished defender. Our last two games have showed how critical our middle three are with Wanyama far better at the base and Schneiderlin and Davis/Cork ahead. Not worried after today, City looked more solid and confident than they have for a while and they have Milner and Lampard on their bench showing their depths. I still think we should be aiming for fifth we are four points ahead of fourth. Draw a blue moon under today and move on.
Hard to say; he was injured at the beginning of the year, and then the Toby/Fonte partnership came together.
