Suppose we are wrong to be going nuts here. ****ing loved that game...we deserved to win. Thank **** the fans here were 100% behind every player and the manager
Their 4 best players didn’t play a single minute. Grealish and Doku didn’t play at all either. Bar Son Spurs used all the big guns. Porro rested I guess but that city team was miles off their best team. Not saying it’s not a good result but let’s not do what some have a tendency to do and go ott over a win.
Im behind the team but can also see the clear issues. Good win (as I’ve already said) but I’ll keep it in perspective
There are definitely issues but we are always on here talking about needing to see progress, and tonight we saw progress. Conceded another daft goal at literally the worst possible time to do so, but our response and mentality in the second half were excellent - both areas of huge concern in previous weeks. We also saw a more dogged, positionally and zonally disciplined side to Spurs that again, many (including yourself) have noted for its absence in other games. We played like an Ange side when we needed to, and like a Conte side when we needed to. It showed tactical flexibility and far better game management than we've seen all season. You're right, we shouldn't get carried away but tonight saw progress on almost all fronts of criticism. The only progress box not ticked was our finishing, some of which was woeful.
The point I was making about Ange getting used to the PL was on display tonight. As I said, what he says and what he does are not always the same.
Going forward isn’t a problem. I think the personnel especially the strikers aren’t good enough and sometimes I think its one dimensional but defensively I still think Spurs are far too open which means you can’t be successful (win trophies) That doesn’t mean I want to see anti football and park the bus, just want to see a bit more focus on defending.
No Son or Maddison...our 2 beat defenders off injured and Werner (having his best match for us off injured). We did well. I'm all for fair criticism but when we do well it does my head in to see people belittling it. City unbeaten all season and in trying circs we deservedly won against them ... Roll on the next round v united
The most important thing was to avoid Woolwich and Pool, and to be at home. I don't trust our away form one iota. I'll take that draw.
Quite a few injuries for both teams tonight. Looks like a Werner’s groin and VdV’s hamstring. I suspect Romero came off with an injury too. A good game indeed with spurs showing some grit. Sometimes a good team needs to win ugly.
Well done Spurs.PLEASE KEEP IT UP!!!...Was Pep over confident or wasn't he interested in this "little" cup?
Romero went to the bench then straight down the tunnel so definitely injured. Felt for their bloke...looked serious
I werent even joking earlier when I said to try Solanke and Richarlison as DMs. They're genuinely crap at being strikers but I think they've got the makings of really decent DMs. They're 6ft+ stocky (for footballers), aggressive, don't mind a tackle and have really good engines (when Richarlison ain't injured). Stick them in front of the defence and I think we'd see a serious decline in goals conceded. Edit: And just to add for anyone that may not have known this, Mousa Dembele started his career as a CF/ striker yet became one of our best ever midfielders, so it's not like it's a complete left field suggestion. Probably won't happen with our two of course but it'd be something I'd seriously consider if I were Ange and looking to plug the DM/ defensive issues.
Richarlison was an animal when he came on. He was running into players, verbally wumming them and at one point got a free kick and (while on the floor) he slyly knocked the ball away to waste time He's taken over from Llamela!!!! Thought Davies did well when he came on. Solanke was good...kept their defence on their toes as did Werner. Really impressed with Sarr and Bissouma did well as his replacement. Thought Dragusin was calm throughout and coped well with all the defensive changes. Johnson did a real job for the team and stuck to it as did Kuluchevski. Gray had a difficult 1st half at times but again stuck with it. Ange used his subs well...especially the decision to replace Sarr cos City were demanding a 2nd card for him before ht and could see him being sent of. Was disappointed with Bentencur ... was very hit and miss. There is a decent player in there but for some reason he hasn't kicked on. The fans were outstanding throughout
People calling this a young City team but the average age of our starting XI was 23 (I think theirs was 26 or something) and they had plenty of experience on the field. It was different by the end of course but that’s more about the manager’s choice than anything else. Delighted to grind out a win in the cup against an unbeaten team and coach. Big tie under the lights against United coming up now.
Ange has apparently said Romero was just feeling fatigue so coming off was a precaution. Fingers crossed, because VdV looked like a bad one. If he’s out for a while it’ll make juggling all the comps a nightmare but we’re doing well enough in the EL that we can maybe give Dorrington a game or two in time. The new format removes a lot of jeopardy especially when you make a good start, as we have.
There was a group of Portuguese speakers behind me who were interacting with him constantly when he was warming up. I only got bits of it, like the pigeon/pombo thing, but he seemed to appreciate it! It was also nice to see Werner get a good reaction for both his goal and when he was walking around the pitch after being subbed. Hopefully he'll get a bit of confidence from it and start to shake off his finishing issues, though that might be asking a bit much.
Highlights: Who bet on a Werner goal from a Kulusevski right-footed assist? Easy money. Beautiful finish from Sarr. Keeper was totally unsighted, too. No chance.
