Yes. Because we have the best defensive record in the league without him. Now why he didn't come on ahead of Yoshida today, that I can't help you with I'm afraid.
Maybe because Aguero isn't a giant and Yoshida is quicker than Gardos? That seems the logical answer to me.
From kick off we treated City like a big club, the crowd was nervy and we allowed them to play their own game. They just kept growing into the game and we never got started. At Arsenal we HAVE to start fast and take the game to them. I'm never sure which Tadic will turn up. Lots of times this season he's gone missing - I remember saying on the poll 'Lallana vs Tadic' it was too early to judge how good he really was - needs to be performing in these sorts of games If we wanna stay where we are.
Yeah that's about the only thing I can understand about it. Not that ultimately it made a huge difference I wouldn't have thought (though Yoshi's positioning worried me a little).
You're right on that one, but then Lallana sometimes had days he didn't turn up. Any player does, particularly creative ones. Jeeze, I remember some of the days when Tiss may as well have been sitting with the crowd. I actually wonder whether the arrival of Mane has unsettled his play a little, but I'm probably just overthinking that one. Totally agree that we treated them with too much respect/awe/fear.
[video=youtube;_Mb6O23tx7I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_Mb6O23tx7I[/video]
Disappointing but City were excellent, and looked a quality side today. No shame in losing to them, although some of the goals were poor. Mike Jones is an awful referee.
Now you mention about the arrival of Mane unsettling him, I'd have to agree. I remember Mane's debut and thinking Tadic was seeing less of the ball. I'd start with Long against Arsenal.
My thoughts are that we were just getting into our stride leading up to half time, the Spider absence was crucial, and I wonder if Long had got through and scored how different the outcome would have been. Citeh were just a class above us in the end and did get a couple of breaks in their favour. Arsenal game will give us a better idea of how things are going to go in the future.
Fine, I have no problems with Schneiderlin going off injured, but who came on was the problem. For me, it just didn't work, and we looked much poorer for the change. If Harry Reed is on the bench, then he should be ready to come on in the event of an injury, not putting a square peg in a round hole. THe final 10 minutes shouldn't have happened, especially against 10 men, but, reigning champions and all that, so won't complain too much. But wasn't the ref shocking?
I had this down as a very comfortable 2-0 City win (it felt like we were lacking a spark against Villa, and amongst other things that gave me little faith ahead of today), so I'm disappointed that we lost 3-0 but nothing more. For me, a draw against Arsenal and a draw against Utd was always going to constitute a very good week for us. Two points out of nine might not sound great, but that's only one defeat against three of the biggest sides in the league, and at least two points dropped in the week for both Arsenal and Utd - two sides who want to take our position. We can still get those two points.
Not impressed with some of our support today though. A few boos, and groans at full time and it's poor when virtually everyone leaves with 5 minutes to play. It's disappointing but remember where we are, and put things in perspective.
One thing that's seemed to go unnoticed is our lack of academy players in the first team. Correct me if I'm wrong but we've had no (or very few) academy players playing the last few months, which is extremely poor if you consider last season and the supposed 'Southampton way'. I'm sure it'd of been a different game today if he'd of actually had confidence to stick Reed out there, and not mess around the defence and attack.
Which is why we started Gardos against Arsenale then. All those giants they have like Cazorla, Sanchez and Wishyouwerehere??? Do not understand it I'm afraid.
