Playing 3-5-2 away at Anfield can only ever work if the team outbattle the opposition and dominate possession.We did neither and were extremely fortunate to escape with a point If there is a reason for playing Kolo Toure as part on that 3 and leaving a far superior player in Lescott on the bench,I've yet to hear it. It's not the first time the team selection has bewildered me to be fair but this one with numbnuts up front doing **** all as usual and Kolorov,who continues to steal his wages,as a theoretical wing back meant we would always be outnumbered in midfield. Every year we come to Liverpool,whether it's Anfield or Goodison,get outbattled in the centre of the park by a team that want it more,and either get stuffed or luckily escape with a point.Its not actually rocket science to play 4-2-3-1 with de Jong & Rodwell protecting a back 4. These matches you earn the right to play how you want to play and until the coaching staff realise this,sadly days like yesterday will continue Will Mancinis perseverance with the wretched Balotelli ever pay off? I would get rid in a heartbeat
The funny thing is in other forums fans are saying Balo had a good game (i am not one of them) I don't rate Dzeko so the sooner aguero is back the better.
I know you guys aren't happy, but I felt it was an excellent game of football, one of the best 90 minutes I have seen in a while. I admired your guerrilla tactics of trying to spoil YNWA, not giving the home support free range at the start of the match. You may have your internal issues, but I love how citeh are as mad as a bag of cats, and I think it is a shame that your manager, who is as nuts as they come is clipping Balotelli's wings, OK you don't want him sent off, but you don't want him characterless, which is why he is also goalless too, in my book. Either you enjoy the lad's bizarreness and embrace what he brings to your team, or let him go. You don't make him into something he isn't. The lad has had a life, few of us could imagine, and he brings something unique to football, so it was a shame to see this quiet and uninspiring version of him yesterday. Much like "Feed the goat", I think you should simply "unleash the Balotelli"
I guess it must have been a great game for a neutral but for me it was frustrating, why have we changed a winning formula, we should get back to what we were doing last season.
I joined the other forum a couple of weeks ago chippy,so will post on there as well when I figure my way round it Joined the fantasy footy one as well
From where I was sat I thought City did okay. Liverpool looked the better team but it was their cup final so that's to be expected. City don't look right defensively. They look like conceding in every game, perhaps the pre-season prep was not ideal. I didn't think Liverpool were as good as people were making out but I didn't think City were as bad as people made out either. Liverpool were made to work hard for their goals whereas City werent. If you defend as badly as Liverpool do there is nothing in the game for you. That said I feel Liverpool can take some encouragement from the performance and I'm quietly confident they can turn Arsenal over on Sunday. City can be relatively happy they've come out of two tough games with 4 points.
It was a good game and City were lucky to get a point. I agree with the OP on Baloteli he's not good enough on a regular basis. I like zonal marking but again agree with the OP that Lescott should have started. I've said for a long time that as long as Mancini is in charge it gives other teams a chance, a better manager with the current resources available would have this league sown up pretty quick.
Yes City were poor, if that is the best Liverpol can offer then they will struggle to get into the top 7 and a place in Europe. So even City playing badly and Liverpool playing probably as best as they can, and they still couldn't beat City just goses to show what a poor Liverpool side they were.
I don't know about that, I used to think he was too cautious and played to stop the other team score too much rather than to score themselves, but last season Mancini proved me wrong. I personally think he's a pretty good manager, it's not easy to win the league no matter how much you're spending. You've still got to get the tactics and training right and keep the players going. As a United fan I can't say I like City that much, which I know is a bit radical, but if I am being completely honest, I gained a lot of respect for Mancini last year for the way he got the team playing. Still pissed that he won the league though.
