Fantastic full house and Pepe City undeniably a class apart but a bit of a non event in the end. This "Romance of the Cup" business was all the build up before the game because during the 90 minutes it was one way traffic. Unless you wanted to admire the skills of Pepe's team, with City hardly competing it was actually quite boring. Obviously different styles but it never became a real contest like I expected, and to be honest wouldn't want to watch any more games at the CCS like that again. Admittedly there are very few clubs who can compete on more or less equal terms with them in the Prem, but if that is going to happen if we get up there then I'd rather stay where we are. Back to the nitty gritty of the Championship at Leeds next weekend - and thank fck for that.
OS, I’m not with you on this occasion. It was a privilege to watch a fantastic performance by some world class players. City just didn’t help themselves by going man for man but in hindsight had they gone gung ho, it could have been 4-5 nil. Yes it’ll be back to basics from now on but I enjoyed it - would have enjoyed it more had we scored mind!
Nin - watching world class players running rings around my side wasn't a privilege for me. If I want to watch Man City perform like that I can do it on the box. I know all about the dangers of going gung ho and losing by twice the score we did, but we just didn't attempt to compete. Newport did just that and got their reward. We were totally out of our depth skillwise but at least we should have pressed them when they were in possession. We let Kompany, their keeper and another bloke pass it around at the back - it was a bore fest and as if we were in awe of them. I thought it was a very un-Warnock like performance and even him, Blackwell and Jepson looked like they'd resigned themselves to the result as soon as that De Bruyne free kick went in. I don't want any more of these Slade-like performances in front of me - I'd honestly rather stay home and watch Man City on the box.
Complete one way traffic (I think we had 23% possession ), Citeh were, however, a bunch of diving pre-madonnas, albeit I agree that Bennett deserved that red. It could have and should have been 5 or 6 nil. I enjoyed the occasion though.
The decision not to press the defence and the keeper was a pre-game tactic as was the man marking. If wed pressed high wed have been hammered.
Absolutely agree Hilts. With their pace, movement and ability it would have been carnage. We had a couple of chances and if they had gone our way it could have been a bit different although they might then have gone up a gear or two.
So we'd have gone out - so what? We're out anyway. I can't see the merit in not conceding more at the expense of having a go like County - Spurs are no slouches either. If not pressing higher and man for man marking were sensible pre-game tactics at nil nil, then it should have been changed after the goals.
Thats correct. Zohore and Pilks had decent chances. We did what we had to do. The tactic we used didnt get us anything - but that was always likely to be the case.
I was quite satisfied with our performance in the circumstances, and hope that the players have learnt a few things that could assist their promotion drive. Disappointed with their 2nd (killer) goal though from a defensive point of view. Like to see Paterson remain in midfield not least for his ability to win the ball in the air plus getting into decent goal scoring positions. Just hope Warnock does not play him at left back on Saturday in Bennett's absence. His display at Reading still haunts me.
Paterson at Reading shocked me. He was well off the pace and I was glad to see him pulled. Since then though I have to say he's grabbed my attention as a very viable option in midfield. May not have the guile to create of a No. 10 but he certainly puts himself into scoring positions. Unless we get someone else in (very unlikely), I'd leave him there - must be Jazz at left back and bring back Bamba to complete the back 4.
I like Patterson's combative nature as well. He and Fernandinho exchanged pleasantries on a number of occasions. Never mind Paterson understanding Portuguese I wonder what Ferno made of the Scottish dialect? In fairness Paterson was the one player who got stuck in - legitimately. And he was forever bollocking Zohore to get his arse in gear and press up. I thought Paterson was carrying a bit of timber when he arrived but he looks like he has shed a few pounds, is much fitter and a definite asset.
Let's be honest it was not all doom & gloom, as BfB said Paterson did a shift so did Morrison (who was my MOTM) Ralls & Bruno plus a few more who were not that bad. Good to see Feeney leave his marker on the floor a few times. Zohore could not be bothered in the 2nd half and was my biggest disappointment.
Agree about Zohore not showing any enthusiasm. Maybe it was because he was chasing Kompany around on his own - thankless task.
