Hard work yesterday trying to watch 3 in a day.It started with an under 18's friendly at Platt Lane against Blackpool starting at 2pm.I got there 5 minutes after the start as the Pool scored their 2nd goal!! That didn't augur well and it soon became 3 nil even though we had enough of the ball and hit the post with a golden chance. 5 nil it finished but I do think we fielded a very young overall side." of our players looked about 13 to me but I am assured they were under 16's.
The timing meant I had to leave this one for the under 19's euro game v CSKA at Hyde starting at 3.A few players missing here ( notably Gunn,Cole and Lopes) but good to see Pozo continuing his comeback. Strange game this for me.In the away game I thought we were much the better side and should have won instead of a 1.1 draw.In the first half it was a little the same although CSKA did seem quite bright and threatening at times.
We took the lead after some clever work by Pozo in the box setting up Fofana who scored at the 2nd attempt. I think Vieira summed it up afterwards when he said our final ball or decision was wrong and as a result we just didn't threaten enough. A few times and Glendon in particular seemed in good shooting positions but didn't take it on so it was just 1 nil at half time.
The 2nd half for me was bit the other way around.Almost as if they realised they were in with a chance.They seemed to press better and higher with Byrne getting little time or space and they had plenty of pace as well to cause a real threat.The first goal was straight down the middle and if we had a defensive midfield player he had gone missing and the 2nd was from a free kick on the left and an unchallenged header.We had a similar chance very late on which Denayer headed onto the underside of the bar.
Overall we were quite flat and predictable. Two of our best situations ended with bookings for diving.Neither were challenged and the one from Fofana was really awful.The other was Bytyqi.Fofana looked good when driving with the ball but not too clever apart from that,Pozo getting better but not holding the ball enough,Byrne does almost all of his work very deep where he can look neat and tidy but I want to see him playing where it really matters to see what he is really made of.
Most of the players had a mixed sort of day with some good moments and some very average ones.
Then onto the Etihad and the sublime football of Nasri/Yaya/Silva and Aguero with the beast thrown in for good measure.We are blessed aren't we. And now a day on I can't bloody walk again!
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