Conceding First

[brite blu sky]

I can remember some of the games you are referring to there.. the pressure cranked up until something gives. I think though there was a fair amount of carnage in the Everton box last night at times.

It is always difficult after a defeat to be balanced, but on a positive note or giving some credit to City, they have got to a point now where we are having prolonged spells of control and have started peppering the ball in and actually creating a lot of chances. it would be interesting to see how many chances we have created since the derby in relation to before it.
It is frustrating a fucl and we are concerned basically that we are missing something and so it wont get any better, but that would be a bit unfair in a sense.. we are lacking the icing on the cake, albeit a crucial lack. But look at yesterdays chances and we were unfortunate that at least one didn't go in and would have changed the whole game.
We didn't get it right yesterday and ultimately shouldn't have been in the position we were, needing to crank it up and resort to panic tactics. But as we know you learn more about a team in adversity than you do when stuff goes right. But looking at the situation we were in i would still say that we are not far off getting there even with the way we played, a bit more speed, a bit more finesse with chances, a bit more composure and communication, a bit more aggression and a bit more chancing it.

In relation to the amount of time we have been able to play like we are now, ie since Brum game, it is still early days.

[Ted Hughes]

I don't see many of them as real chances though. Half chances yes but imo only Balotelli's was a real chance that I would fully expect to end in a goal. The others were hopeful efforts rather than nailed on goals.

If the tables were turned & we were playing against almost anyone & they got in those positions around the box, I would fully expect us to let a bunch of goals in. Only in the away game at Spurs & the home derby under Sven have we been under that kind of pressure & survived, yet 3 lower table teams have done it to us already just this season. We're getting it wrong around the box.

[brite blu sky]

Like i say it is difficult to be balanced after a defeat. Yes a lot were half chances, Silva should have buried that early chance, Tevez drew a good save in the top corner, Balotelli post and good save after it from Tevez's shot, Tevez put it over from Zabbas cross, Vinnies shot blocked by an arm? Silva's late strike that Hibbert blocked with his arm, and all the blocked shots. On another day some of those would have gone in.
It is a bit strong to say we are getting it wrong around the box, it sounds like we are getting it completely wrong when we are clearly not otherwise those chances or half chances would not be materialising.

Once again you have also to give credit to Everton who stayed strong and organised and jumped in the way of everything and didn't ball watch.

[Ted Hughes]

Like i say it is difficult to be balanced after a defeat. Yes a lot were half chances, Silva should have buried that early chance, Tevez drew a good save in the top corner, Balotelli post and good save after it from Tevez's shot, Tevez put it over from Zabbas cross, Vinnies shot blocked by an arm? Silva's late strike that Hibbert blocked with his arm, and all the blocked shots. On another day some of those would have gone in.
It is a bit strong to say we are getting it wrong around the box, it sounds like we are getting it completely wrong when we are clearly not otherwise those chances or half chances would not be materialising.

Once again you have also to give credit to Everton who stayed strong and organised and jumped in the way of everything and didn't ball watch.

Having watched City for over 40 years, I think this is one of the strongest ever sides with one of the best managers I've ever seen but one of the worst when given time & space around the box, particularly out wide. I think we're close to useless in those positions & the goal we did score was a case in point. We pissed & farted around & tried everything to avoid actually getting the ball into the net but when we eventually decided on a course of action it hit an Everton player. The likes of Beagrie, Walsh, Rosler would be ripping the throat out of Everton in situations like that, whilst we now tippy toe around & fuck about. It's poor & well below the standard of the rest of our play.