My thoughts (better than HMT's as usual)

Well, it had to end sometime (as Lawro would say) and it ended in the hands of the best team in the league who are now looking very likely to win it. They aren't a team of merceneries anymore. They have some of the best players in the league in almost every position and Mancini has got them playing as an organised unit, so virtually every team is going to struggle. Just look at what happened to Man Utd in their fortress that is Old Trafford.

There are more good points to take than bad points. Whilst we lost, a vast majority of it was due to our own mistakes, otherwise we may have came away with a draw. Two of them were penalties which we conceded, and one of them was due to Ryan Taylor making a dumbass mistake. None of their goals actually came from outplaying us.

Good points:

Ben Arfa - The highlight has to be Ben Arfa. He's looking near his best again which is great to see, and imo deserves to start ahead of Best. He could have had two goals today and he was ghosting around some defences like a world class player would.

No Tiote - Man City are easily the best team in the EPL atm, and we still made it difficult for them without our best player in Tiote.

Not outplayed for goals - As mentioned, we basically invited all 3 goals they managed to score, and in-terms of direct head-to-head play, they didn't manage to get anything past us (barring Raylors basic error of not looking at the bloody ball, but that was him, not the team). Apart from that, we shut them out.

Created chances - On a different day we could have had 2, 3 or even 4 goals of our own. Ben Arfa hit the post and there were many other chances we had which were just as good as what City were creating, but on the day it just wasn't meant to be.

An all round good performance - We defended well, attacked as well as we good and generally put in another very good team performance, even in the face of adversity. Played some very classy football and I think any other team would be worried about us if they watched that. I doubt Man Utd will be looking forward to next week.

Best players:

Ben Arfa - Slow start, but got right into it. Very classy performance
Guthrie - Put in another hard working performance
Coloccini and Saylor - Both did brilliantly
Krul - Good saves, but he's a bit pants when it comes to penalties

Poor players:

Ryan Taylor - Got really exposed today and was at fault for two goals.

Summary

We lost, but it was mostly due to facing a superb side AND individuals making mistakes. Not many clubs concede two penalties in one game, yet we still held on and put in a hard working performance. It bodes well for our up coming games, but let's just hope that we can bounce back from our first defeat.

 

Perch's Xavi-Silva pass needs to be mentioned.

 

Cant wait to see Ben Arfa play like that on a regular basis, he was fantastic running at the defence.

 

I feel positive about the United game. They are no where near the quality of City and we can get something if Benny plays like he did today and Tiote comes back. Excellent summary Chappaz!

 

Gosling was another good point, that'll do wonders for his confidence

 

Much better than HMT's usual load of biased bollocks

 

Missed the game today but was trying to keep up with it by looking at tweets. Do people think its time RTaylor was out of the team and replaced by Santon? And why did Perch come on for Cabaye, was he injured or were we just hoping that Perch could score a few before full time?

 

Not risking him ahead od United game next week probaly

 

Cabaye and Ben Arfa went off to save them for Man U presumably, the game was over at that point anyway, nothing wrong with keeping your fringe players happy.

 

How was Sammy?

 

Cant fecking wait for that ****e!

No doubt in Tash's words Richards will be a "diving B**** B****** who should F*** back to the F****** Jungle"

 

Decent, didnt look out of place and had a couple of good shots but obviously not anywhere near as defensive as Jonas, which left us a bit exposed. He and Simpson werent at fault for any of the goals though.

 

Too raw to start. As I said in another thread, he has the Ameobi effect. He can get into the team when she shouldn't be there (yet).

He played well, don't get me wrong, but there was no end product. He either made the wrong decision or panicked, but solving that will only come with experience.

Then again, with Marveaux and Obertan out, who else could we have played?

 

Won a lot of corners though to be honest. He'll learn. Not displeased with him at all and I'd quite happily start the same team against ManU.

Speaking of Tash, where is he? Did he go to the game?

 

Thing with Sammy, is that...give it a few weeks of first team action. He'll begin to make the correct decisions, and wont be be rushed. He did well today, to say he came up against possibly the strongest team in football today. Couldnt have asked much more from a youngster on their first full outing. Was pleased with him.

If he can manage to rid himself of the 'Ameobi Effect' as you call it, we'll have a serious talent on our hands!

 

Didn't seem phased by the situation at all. Making your full debut, aged 19, away at Man City? The lad did brilliantly. Can't wait to see more of him

And I just HOPE HBA plays that well for the rest of the season.

God I really wish that shot went in!! Frustrating.

 

Yep, expect the tirade in a couple of hours

 

You mean, after we've all calmed down and discussed it to death so he can have his moment?

 

More like the **** pass that Lescott flicked on..

 

Yep! Its like I said...to play like he did, against argubly the strongest team there is...he did so so well. Obviously if that was against, say, Wigan. We might have been a little worried.

Im so hyped for HBA after what I saw today.

I said this in the summer, and sort of got shot down. But, we have such a talented squad. Yes, fair enough it might not have depth. But, feck me, do we have talent. Im so hyped for the next few years. if we can manage to keep the strength we already have, and add to it, I dare say we can push for Europe next season as a priority.

Yes, we may have lost today. But we werent humlilated. Im rather proud of the lads today

HOWAY THE LADS