Fans perception of priorities and the managers were shown to be totally at odds with one another yesterday. From a fans perspective, Wigan at home with a wembley date for the winners was always going to take preference over an unlikely turnaround in spain 3 days later, in a competition that we really arent likely to win. Clearly Pellegrini thought differently, as the side he selected to start yesterday had probably the weakest back 5 possible, with one of our weakest defensive midfield formation in yaya & Garcia sat in front of it. Had anyone bothered to watch Wigan at Forest the week before they wouldâve seen a confident side playing 3-5-2 and pressing Forest into submission in the middle of the park,running out comfortable 4-1 winners. The system and personnel we started with would have been one that Uwe Rosler wouldâve dreamed about and they set about us from the outset,pressing hard in midfield not allowing our fullbacks any space to run into and whenever City had the ball they were coming up against an 8 man unit stifling any attacking intent giving Scott Carson in the Wigan goal a ridiculously easy afternoon. As seems to be the norm, it was a defensive gift which proved pivotal as a clumsy foul by DeMichellis to give away a penalty was converted easily as Wigan took a deserved lead and City were getting more and more frustrated mirrored by the crowd as they picked on referee Anthony Taylor,who in truth was having a decent game allowing it to flow.Half time came with Wigan still deservedly in front and Pellegrini had work to do in the dressing room to turn around what had been a wretched first half from City. Whatever Pellegrini had said had clearly fallen on deaf ears as very poor defending,particularly from the horribly one footed Clichy,allowed Perch to steal in at the far post and extend Wiganâs lead. Pellegrini reacted by sending on Milner,Silva and Dzeko on for Navas,Negredo and the disappointing Toure as once again City had to turn round a 0-2 deficit against lower league opposition to progress.The changes helped City finally up the tempo as they played with far more purpose and began mounting waves of attacks on the wigan back line,marshalled superbly by Boyce.Soon after Dzeko narrowly missed out on pulling one back as his header hit the post,Nasri shot through a crowded box to finally beat Carson and City were right back in it.Wigan defended for their lives,throwing bodies in the way of everything typified by a goalline tackle on Dzeko by Boyce and wigan,after 5 mins of added time,held out for a famous win. Momentum is such a crucial thing in sport and by playing such a weakened side,Pellegrini has not allowed any from the cup final win to be carried over so we could go to Barcelona a confident ,in form side.Perhaps if the unlikely happens and City turn it around in Spain,then to some degree it could be said to be justified.But from a fans perspective we just see a great cup competition devalued and another wembley trip taken away from us,for the sake of what?
Demichelis ffs, just why? How many more times has the poor fella got to stink the place out before Pelligrini realises he's absolute mince? I couldn't believe what I was watching for an hour of that match. The keeper didn't have a save to make, as you were absolutely awful. That other donk in CM - Garcia, how the **** does he get a game for City? Fair play to Wigan for the way they approached the game, but most of your side need to hang their heads in shame, as they just didn't turn up.
Keep hearing about this best squad in Europe garbage We have literally 14/15 players who's inclusion doesn't weaken the side Garcia DeMichellis could've lined up alongside Jamie Pollock and Alfie Haarland and not look our of place
better hope this is not the curse of the CoC winners setting in PPLF, the last couple of teams to win that have gone on to have a terrible end of season.
Wouldn't be the end of the world tbh,media hype was a bit ridiculous Don't think we'll add to the COC,fully expect us to go out on Wednesday and Chelsea to win the PL
Wednesday i think may be a step too far but i still see Chelsea dropping points before the end of the season so all is not lost there.
