So lots of people before today would probably have expected a Manchester City side wounded from their defeat to Chelsea last week to turn us over by a humiliating margin. To be honest, at home this never really happens to us so before the game I was actually mildly optimistic that we could get something out of the game especially given the absence of some key Man City players. Before the game I am sure 99% of us would have taken a point and irrespective of what happened on the pitch you could therefore say it is a bonus point gained. Of course this is only 1 point compared to the 3 points we should have got against Cardiff but I guess most fans would have expected a point from both those fixtures combined so really we have undone some of the damage done there. In the grand scheme of things, a point isn't actually worth a great deal when if we are to stay up this season without shredding our nerves we need 40 points on the board before the run-in. Perhaps the greatest value of the result isn't in the point itself (unless you are of a Chelsea supporting persuasion) but in that we didn't get tonked and kept a clean sheet against the division's best attacking side compared this to a hammering and all the negativity and loss of confidence that goes with it. But to be honest Manchester City were the better side. We kept them at arm's length for this first half an hour but from then on they were dominant. We never had anything more than half-chances for much of the game whilst Manchester City had a handfull of chances deep in our area; if they had got their headers on target they would have won and the feeling would be very different on here. We defended with discipline and lots of effort but I wouldn't say excellently because if we are losing headers that close to our goal there is danger. We created very little and spent most of the game defending which is ok if it works as it did today but had we gone a goal down today that would have been that. Touré should have seen red but it wouldn't have made a difference to the result although I will be surprised if he isn't banned retrospectively. What matters now is that we make the most of winnable fixtures and build on this result as we have repeatedly failed to so in the past. OTBC, DM* out. *(as in Dangerous Marsupial, not David McNally)
It was definitely a good point. And while we did spend most of the game defending there weren;t really any moments where ManC looked like scoring. They were pretty wasteful with their passing and if we had of been a yard sharper infront of goal we could have nicked it. I think the tactics were spot on today. We jst let them pass it around but never gave them the simple pass into the attacking areas. They had to work all their play on the wings and if the crosses did beat the first defender we usually got the ball clear after. There were a few nervy moments but considering this was ManCity we were playing that was to be expected. What really irked me was the awful quality of the officiating! Milner should have had 2 yellows for sure. Toure should have been sent off for kicking RvW and Demichelis should have been booked for the frankly outrageous dive! Ever time the officials weren't sure which way to give a decision, it went to ManC. Very disappointing. I'm still in shock about the Demichelis dive. I can't believe the Ref bought it!
Yes, I thought several of the refereeing decisions were poor - I think Citeh got away with at least 4 'handball decisions'!!!!! Great result though!!
Excellent point today & a very encouraging battling performance. Poor ref today, Moss is usually better than that. But we Have to follow this result up on Tuesday night to really get some belief back into the team. Hopefully Snoddy back for Tuesday, though I haven't heard what his injury was, and we could well sneak something. But overall much better.
If only Redmond would look up before opting to pass or shoot, he got in some great advanced positions today. I thought Pilks was ok too, so no room for (lacklustre) Snodgrass in my starting line up for Tuesday, I'm afraid.
I thought Redders done well today, it's just his final ball or his judgement with the final ball which continually lets his game down. I would still put Snoddy back in if fit for Tuesday as his delivery is more consistently better ? Pilks is looking better with game time & I liked the midfield trio of Fer, Tetty & Johnson, even if his passing was off again today. Just wish we could find a spot for Wes, how we needed a ball player at times today?
CH would find a spot for Wes if Wes would fit himself to the team. It's rather like KP saying "That's how I play, take it or leave it". England have decided to leave it; CH however has not yet closed the door on Wes.
Er, Moss is usually not better than that in my opinion chippy, very much par for his course - great point, which could just have been more.
Redmond tied Kompany in knots several times and his pace lets him get past players and get into good attacking positions his delivery can be hit or miss but on the right he can be excellent. Snodgrass will run down the wing onto the ball and then every time will cut back on to his left foot. He's incredibly predictable and without any real pace he need unpredictability. Redmond's decision making will improve, his delivery from the left wing has already improved after being asked to play there. I'd say that today if we switched Johnson for Howson we played our best team. The disappointing thing is that but for injuries that's not the team that would have played.
I think it's a tough decision for CH, Redmond today was amazing, his pace caused all kinds of problems for MC, but his finishing is still lacking. Against West Ham I would choose Snodgrass just because he scored against them last time, recently scored against Cardiff and we need the points. If he's fit though couldn't both feature?, Snodgrass being a later sub. Why are people branding Snodgrass lacklustre?(not the above post), does a lacklustre player score in the first 5 mins of a match?
Having watched the highlights on MotD, some of Redmond's play was great, especially the way he got past Kompany a couple of times, but to blaze over as he did from GH's pass was criminal. As for Pilks going for goal in the dying minutes when RvW was standing unmarked on the penalty spot .................... I think we may well have 'turned a corner' and am more confident of us staying up then I have been for a few weeks!!
I can see why you feel we might stay up JR but the fact remains we just don't score any where enough goals ! Yesterday was a terrific battling display but even then we were presented with chances and failed to work the keeper let alone take one ! This unfortunately will be our in doing.
Agree too - thought we were much more of a challenge to play against without the predictability Snoddy. Was undecided until yesterday's performance.
If we've managed to stay out of the relegation zone after 25 games without scoring more goals, why will it become our undoing in the last 13? Our current goal scoring rate, whilst low, is giving us form that is better than our table position. Just maintaining that form will result in an improving table position. I'm by no means complacent about the possibility of relegation but I see no reason for the pessimism.
