Ugh, Getty Images are being dicks again. Let's see if this work: http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/49.../XsaeDilTBrDWSS3uh/oF2kyrgSrNfYmO9HnASj7sFQ==
Can't agree with that. First half hour I thought you were the better side but I didn't think we were bad and there certainly wasn't one team in it. We were getting forward well and creating a few problems, whilst at the other end we kept Aguero very quiet and other than the goal, I don't think you had any shots that weren't either blocked or pot shots from outside the area. After that we seemed to take confidence from keeping Aguero and others quiet at our end(Sterling still looked a threat though) and in attack our final ball started to find players more and more. Our midfield taking control in the second half was key, I said during the game that you guys seemed a bit tired or slow, giving us the edge to allow us to win the ball back frequently and get it forward quickly. Maybe it was the fact that you guys had 10 starters from midweek in the line up whilst we had 3, maybe that was just a coincidence but you wouldn't be the first side to tire in the second half against us. Either way you should have been far more organised defensively, especially with Fernandinho and Fernando in front of the back 4. I do like Fernandinho but I have absolutely no idea what Fernando does, I don't think I've ever seen him play well. I'm sure you'll find form again though, Pellegrini has always been inconsistent but you do play a lot of great football. Maybe he should set his teams up to be more flexible but personally I admire his approach, it's risky but great to watch in full flow. I mean if you're going to spend hundreds of millions you should do it to play with a certain swagger, which City certainly do.
I'm watching MOTD2 Extra, the way they talk about this game is weird. They spend the whole time talking about the Man City squad in detail, including De Bryne, and the spine that wasn't playing, Hart, Kompany, Silva etc. Then decided to talk about Spurs but only talked about Kane and his goal, whether he's a 10 or a 9, and the issue with the U21 tournament and the recent conversation about how it affected him. No mention of Dier, Lamela, Alderwiereld, or even Pochettino beyond Kane comments. Nothing about his approach to the match, our potential league position etc. the bias is just weird. I wonder what they would talk about if Kane wasn't English.
Our win seems to have inspired him, as he got the assist for Villarreal's goal in yesterday's 1-0 win over Atletico. Coincidentally, that made him joint-top assists leader in La Liga with three, as many as Bale and Messi (and at least two more than Showpony) Did we turn him into a No10 by mistake?
I suppose it will go down as an assist but his pass was too hard and away from his team mate.How his mate got to it I don't know,but he did and it was brilliant and he then thumped it passed the goalie. I doubt if any of our forwards would have caught it. Anyway,if Soldado is bringing Villareal some luck,good luck to them!
Been in Devon the past few days so gave my Cousin my season ticket for the game, bloody typical! Watched it in a pub though, amazingly there were 6 City fans and myself watching it, so safe to say I rather enjoyed the afternoon around them. First half was pretty even, City edged it and Hugo had to make one very good save along with a couple routine ones but we also tested Cabellero to the point where both teams could've scored earlier than what they did. Their goal really pissed me off though, not because it may/ may not have been offside but because of the fact it came off of one of those ****ty short corners, I really don't see the point in them, ultimately the aim is to still get a cross in so why risk the chance of being closed down just to get a bit more pace and whip on it when you can just knock one in the box instantly and hope for the best? Was a sloppy pass from Walker and the moment Yaya gets going there's no stopping him, was a decent finish by De Bruyne but I think Hugo maybe could have stopped it, though that's being picky. No one deserved a goal more than Dier, he's been our best player in the early season so far and the strike was brilliant, even if Walker was offside and half way to Australia in the build up. Toby was also due a goal, he's had a couple of headers go near before in recent matches so it was only a matter of time until he prodded one in, what the hell was Cabellero doing though?! In complete no mans land, glad Hart wasn't in goal as I don't think he'd have positioned and moved himself like that. Delighted for Harry, really hope that can be the kick starter he's needed, I've said up until the game that his lack of goals didn't concern me as his performances have still been good but a striker always needs goals and you could see the relief he and the other lads had when scored. And then finally - to the man who I thought was MOTM against Palace - just happened to elevate his performance to a whole new level against City, where on earth has this Lamela been? He was ****ing superb, not just one his best performances but one of the best I've seen from a player in general for a long while and I genuinely mean that, he chased everything down, dribbled past opponents, made the right passes, got the assist for Toby's header and his goal was just a superb bit of composure and skill after fantastic work by N'Jie to mug off the City defender and get a good cross in. It's only taken over two seasons but if Lamela continues this sort of form then we might finally be able to say "money well spent" at the end of the season. Though despite Lamela excelling, I thought the whole team played really well, I didn't see a single weak link in that side on Saturday, there was a lot of graft, nice football, clinical finishing (even if two were offside) and just a general vibe about this team that says they're good enough to compete with the very best. It's worth noting we've only lost one game this season and that was down to an own goal, we fielded the youngest side (again!) in the Prem this season against City, the potential of this squad is just so exciting. Just an extra note, I loved Dier's interview with Spurs TV about how he and the boys are annoyed at the comments made against them by outsiders, it was basically a middle finger to any doubter and pundit who's written us off in recent weeks.
I liked Dier’s "toe to toe" prediction before the game. Pochettino has given the team more of a fighting spirit than they had, and Lamela, in particular, has been very combative, but Dier may have made the biggest difference in adding more spine. In our La Liga cast-off watch, Soldado is neck and neck with Bale in goals and assists, but his team is clear on top for the first time in history. Advantage Soldado.
Time for things to get statty! Yaya Toure has a career passing accuracy of 88.8%. He was 70% on Saturday Kevin De Bruyne has a career passing accuracy of 77%. He was 61% on Saturday (and that includes his assist for Dier) Fernandinho – career 88%, on Saturday 73% Either they all had a collective 'mare...or The Press is starting to take hold.
"Either they all had a collective 'mare..." Or a Lasagna-gate. More likely that when the youngsters tails went up, the older Citeh players could not deal with the intensity of play.
The stats and I agree with you. Spurs ran 6 miles farther than City. The four players who ran the farthest were all Spurs. Alli ran farther than any player in any PL game so far this year. It’s impressive particularly as he looked uncomfortable at first against the best team he faced. His response was to outwork them. A nineteen year old who played in League 1 last year teamed with a 21 year old new to his position to take control against one of the most expensive collection of players in the world. I was also very impressed with how hard Walker and Davies worked to take away space and time from the City players on the flanks.
I think it's quite funny how much the media have focused on the ref after this game. They appear to have very, very short memories, as I can remember some absolutely appalling decisions against us in recent games against City. Fat Frank being miles offside for their opener and diving for a penalty for their second in last season's tie at the Etihad, for example. That was before our dodgy penalty and the debatable red card for Fazio. The Danny Rose red card and refusal to send off Toure in the 5-1 at WHL the previous year was another "highlight". Anyone that's watched our games against them in the last few seasons will have noticed a slice of luck to go with their very good play. Now that the decisions are closer to being even (2 offsides v 1 offside and a red card), it appears that it's a big deal. Why's it a problem now?
The advantage of having youth. They run harder and further. Dier looks a revelation as a holding midfielder. A chance finding or well spotted by Pochettino?
No more 'chance' than say, Bale getting a run in the team when BAE was injured in my opinion, although Poch had tried Dier in midfield during preseason with limited success I think. Not to say Dier wouldn't have been playing at all this season, but he wouldn't have been in midfield if we didn't have the injuries we do injuries and now him and Alli look frankly undroppable there for the time being, even Dier's long term future is at CB and Alli needs some care taken with him to an extent. So I would say that injuries have somewhat forced Poch's hand, but he had tried Dier in that position before (and I think he played it once or twice at his former club too) so Pochettino has to be given some credit too, both for putting Dier in and also for coaching him into the role. And the player himself has stepped up magnificently it has to be said.
"The advantage of having youth. They run harder and further." The exuberance of youth. It is not sustainable, and once again Pochettino must attempt to manage his squad correctly for the final third PL run-in.
Clinton N'Jie, in one performance, did what we all wanted Lennon to do consistently. If he can keep that quality up he'll win us a lot of matches on counter attacks. Great signing. I finally don't feel so bad about letting Lennon go. It's a good feeling to know that you have options on the bench that can make a real difference. It hasn't been that way in a while. Imagine now if we had bought Berahino too.
