The "Highlights" were a joke - you would ahve been forgiven for thinking that we were 2-0 up against the run of play rather than having pretty much bossed that first half which is what all the analsysts were saying at half time and has been repeated in the sunday papers. The only good thing about ITV is it makes you realise BBC isn't actually as bad as we think it is!
Because its a cover up! The FA do not want to acknowledge that Kevin Friend is an incompetent fool and that he got it very wrong! Its a sending off every day of the week, but the officials bottled it. Anya got his clock cleaned by the out-rushing Pantilimon having poked the ball over him. It wasnt a red card though as Anya was going wide of goal.
Well I've just got back, yup 4pm on Sunday due to alcohol consumption and delaying the drive home for a few hours! My thoughts are that every cliche box was ticked: the scintillating first half performance from the Hornets culminating in two well taken goals; the big team mentality of the officials and their woeful application of the laws always almost without fail in City's favour; the big name substitutions almost in panic; the injustice of the equalizer, the missed clear cut chance to put them back under real pressure; the horrible goalkeeping error; and the inevitability of the killer 4th goal. What a performance from the boys! If we can translate that to our league matches then a play off place in May not be out of the question. hells bells they put 6 past Arsenal and two of the goals yesterday were somewhat gifted to city - you're no Friend of ours, Kevin not even neutral more to the point, and no slight on JB he'll be hurting the worst. I for one am proud of that performance, both on and off the pitch, and feel privileged to have been there.
This makes good reading.... http://www.viewfromablue.com/2014/01/26/man-city-4-2-watford-player-ratings/
Man City were behind for 58 minutes against Watford. In their previous 27 home games in domestic competitions, they had been behind for a combined total of 46 minutes.
I did not think we would be getting any highlights so getting them was a bonus, and it is all I have to go on. A pity the penalty incident was not shown but most highlights involving Watford seem to focus on the opposition. Beautiful passing moves for our 2 goals, seeing the City defence sliced up like that was wonderful. In the second half we seemed to sit back a bit and invited the pressure rather than continue playing like we did in the first half, is that the case? We seemed to be less tight at marking too. I feel for Bond but to be fair to him I think the ball took a slight deflection from one of our players (watched it a few times) and he was already committed to the save which he would have got but the deflection just took it away from his hands, it did look awful. slightly puzzled why Manni was not in goal tho. I hope they have put the first half in a bottle and bring it out for the rest of the season. They have shown us they can do it and this should give them immense confidence.
http://www.mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Match-highlights/2014/January/City-v-Watford-extended-highlights? Extended highlights, understandably with a heavy focus on the home side though - and still no coverage of the penalty incident. The more I view it, the more I think that our first goal was just exquisite.
I think that I heard Jon Marks say that there would be very extended highlights on Hornet player later this week if it could be arranged. Mind you I might have had a glass or two when I heard it.
yes it was a real gem... just seen it again on the highlights Frenchie, you don't need to put the last sentence... it is taken as a given
The game is over, but for an hour we did better than many have done. A good report here from last seasons supporter of the year. http://franelynn.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/testing-ourselves-against-the-best/ Also it seems that my state was not under the influence as I read that maybe the whole game will be available in the next 36 hours on HP.
Out of curiosity did anyone follow the match on SSN? Just trying to imagine Merson sputtering away at the first goal...
I don't think they had coverage of the FA Cup games because Sky don't show it. Apparently before the game they all said we'd be hammered etc (which is probably fair enough) On another note I wonder if they slate teams like Man City for having so many overseas players like they had a go at us.
I can't do the link for some reason but if you go on the sky sports website under football you will find the Soccer Saturday page. On this there is a video called 'story of soccer saturday 25th Jan' which has the reaction to the goals and the reports from their man at the game. They can't follow it in the studio as they don't have the rights. Quite good to hear Jeff say 'you need to be sitting down for this one' as we go two up!
Yes, its was on Soccer Saturday and a Sky reporter was at the match reporting on how Man City were getting thrashed in the first half. To be fair they did say that Watford deserved to go in at half time with the lead. Before the match they all predicted that the score would be between 4 & 6 nil. It was a pity the we could not at least have got the drawer.
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/10967954._/ Doyley happy with new style of play... http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/10968374._/ ..and Murray
Glad Murray is getting more game time. As for Doyley, he must love being picked continuously by new managers. They'd never come out and criticise GS at this point though...