Made me laugh but also slightly irritated this morning when a Wolves fan wrote in to Talksport, saying what the big deal was, stressing they had beaten us and not lost to Man C........My reaction was shouting at the radio with, "well you didn't beat 4 Premiership sides on the way including Man U you tosser"!! Credit to many Man C fans coming on saying how good our fans were and how good of a game we gave them.. I've calmed down now!!
This.. Marlon was pulled forward from our previous break and should have been way tighter to De Bruyne. He looked very tired trying to track him back, he has been immense for us and was in spells last night but I believe he needs and has earned a proper break to recharge his batteries..Liam Walsh came on and looked like just the signing we may need at just the right time though. Also Blaming Frankie for the 2nd goal is harsh to me, that ball was put in the box way too easily for me.. they need to get a little tighter in the second leg, but I agree about his distribution, he has clearly been working on it but it can still improve.
jose planning to loan us 2 centre forwards on loan for a month from pool of non participants in EFL CUP! ...LOL
The equaliser has been repeated all day on sky news now and I note that Marlon actually stops running when the ball is played back to De Bruyne. If he would have had the energy to keep going he may have intercepted that ball.
Think we're being a bit harsh picking holes in individuals performances, some perspective needed , we played arguably the best team in the world , took the lead , and were beaten in the last couple of minutes by a world class player . Most premier league clubs haven't done as well there as we did , get a grip guys.
No disrespect Angelica , but Shay Given didn't see it this way, and incidentally I agree with him . I don't understand the ' love in' with Steele , believe he was at fault with Man U goal , should have saved it , then almost identical goal conceded against Wolves. Albeit the first touch he had after Frankie lost his head bringing down their player. Invcidently I think on that case Frankie was largely at fault for the Wolves defeat , but believe overall this season he is more than in credit. There aren't many better stoppers In The championship . I think he has saved us many times this season . All about opinions , afraid on this one I'll have to disagree .
We do need to assess mistakes etc in an honest manner in order to improve. I love Marlon Pack and have always been a fan as many will attest on here, he just seems to be running on fumes at the moment. I am trying to look at the bigger picture and we desperately needed reinforcements. the lads have ALL been immense so far. One or two more and we could really give it a go, we will def need a striker at some point in my opinion.
Agree we need reinforcements , and need to use our high profile presently to increase quality of incomings, but also aware Jan is notoriously difficult to achieve this . In fairness Ashton and Co have managed well when conditions weren't so favourable so let's hope eh! Feeling very positive right now , hopefully will be worthy of my optimism,
a lot of teams have lost by more than 1 goal! 11 of the games v prem clubs has resulted in 11 fixture where MC have won by 2 goals or more! including 2 by 3 goals and 4 goals 3 by 5 goals and 1 by 6 goals so we aint done bad to go away and concede by 1 goal!because 7 of 11 games MC was home!
I was also trying to make the point , not just statistically, but in terms of approach, i.e. Trying to play football, which inevitably, Considering the quality of the opposition , is likely to allow Man C space to exploit as only they can .
I agree we need a Striker , and one with a proven record at this level, I'm also aware that is easier said than done, , It's very difficult , and costly, to persuade another team to release a player of that type of quality at this point of the season. Then there's the DNA issue and ensuring to keep the balance right , as well as ensuring they hit the ground running . Glad it's not my my job to arrange these things, but take your point it's what we need .
Unfortunately last night City did get out of shape when not in possession beyond just Flint. The ball was by the corner flag and at that point there is no danger till players started to press the ball then Bravo creating a large space for Bravo to play into. Whatever the trigger was the midfield became easy to play through. If Smith screens, Bryan would tuck in and Bravo has to go long ... Collectively five/six players were out of shape all from reacting to Man City in possession by the corner flag. Last season City were all over the place. This season from what I have seen the shape out of possession is consistent. It is a vast improvement.
I love the technical aspects and all of your very obvious knowledge and insights,I genuinely thankyou for the explanations but being a pure old school, playground purist and coats for goalposts boomer, I just think the team performance was bleep, bleep wonderful, the players and management performed out of this world, the reception they have had is deserved and outstanding, I am converted and still buzzing from last night. Fantastic it is and I believe there is more to come.
Nice observation Clifton, but playing against 350 mil worth of superstars, most teams in the prem that go up against them struggle.....I thought for much of the game we stopped them from playing and that was without parking the bus....I thought our setup and tactics with what we had was just short of sensational.. My worry or concern is we will be looking to score at Ashton Gate and we will get caught.......my worry is how many times....but that's another day..
My observation was that it was not a complex pattern of play that undone the good. The pattern was a tactic Man City use constantly to create space for De Bruyne. of Bristol City's tactics led to the opening goal and the equaliser. Success and error. An error that can be tightened up - Don't leave their midfield talisman alone. Bristol City may get clobbered at Ashton Gate. It would be nothing to get bent out of shape about. Against the very best players, Premiership teams the side have already experienced success and error. Both can be used to improve the now and future. The youthful BCFC will learn from the above and improve via the experience for the future.
Not going to disagree with your observation Clifton and for me De Bruyne is possibly one of the best, if not the best in the world with the position and role he plays.
The Aguero goal didn't record it but watched and rewound a couple of times ... to me looked like a glance off the side of his head as he was stumbling forward, a goal in case but a fortunate one?
The Aguero goal didn't record it but watched and rewound a couple of times ... to me looked like a glance off the side of his head as he was stumbling forward, a goal in any case but a fortunate one?
