Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Ted Hughes wrote:Blue Since 76 wrote:Ted Hughes wrote:There is no point in people getting arsey about tonight's result & going into panic mode. It was two non teams playing out a non game. Imo, City were miles better than Villa anyway. The defence was a mess but what else would anyone expect looking at the line up/system & the two kids + unfit Barry in midfield ?
If we play like that v Fulham, THEN panic.
Ted, if it was one game featuring deadwood and kids I wouldn't be too arsed. I'm annoyed we don't take it seriously since we haven't won it since 1976 but I accept it's the lowest priority.
What concerns me more is that last night looked like a repeat of the arsenal game but against a worse side. We couldn't pass, had no obvious shape and a bunch of players who looked like they first met in the tunnel. The constant changing of personnel and formation this season has made us look very ordinary.
Well think about it.
We played Real Madrid & set up (badly) for that, then moved on to Arsenal. That was on Sunday. On Tuesday, he picks a side with injured Milner, unfit Barry, two kids in the centre of midfield but here's the biggie; his back 3 was to be Rodwell, Kolo & Nastasic.
Exactly how would they have performed together ? When would they have worked on it ? Lescott defended literally everything on his own 1st half. Take him out & start the game with 3 blokes who have barely played a game there this season, in a scratch team. What result do you really think Mancini was expecting yesterday ?
It's interesting to have to react to a game that I didn't see but just listened to a radio commentary and then saw very brief highlights.We were always going to play a new team from the selections so far this season.Partly as it's a low priority game but also as it was 2 days after the Arse game. All that means is its a big test for the squad and realistically if we play well we should win as we have "the best squad in the league" and Villa's team would also be "weaker"
Our team ,based on the individuals,was quite strong apart from Suarez and Razak who are very young and finding their way but with the experience around them it should have been ok. Of course Barry isnt yet 100% match fit but that shouldnt be a real problem and Milner is fit.I think the talk of a busted metatarsal is garbage.Fully fit no problem.
The trouble is individuals are simply not playing well.They havent been in the prem matches and it sounded like they didn't last night.Panti should have done better with 2 of the goals,Razak lost the ball badly for one goal and it sounded on the commentary that we simply couldnt pass.Add to that playing a system we are not yet used to and it's a bad recipe.
The biggest thing for me though is the effort seems to be down a notch on what is needed.The defending at Madrid wasn't great but it was being done by 7 or 8 players when it should have been with all 10 in the situation we were in. Same v the Arse. We lost the ball and had to deal with a breakaway with 3 or 4 players dawdling back.They got a great strike on goal which Joe saved well but then scored from the corner.I just see the effort and thus the movement of players off the ball isn't as good as it needs to be.
Mancini will know the problem and sort it.
I think it's always been like that re some players dawdling back Doug, it's just that it's more noticable when it costs us. I have referred to it many times on here re Yaya for instance & he has been one of the main dawdlers this season too but it's not so costly when he playing further forward as when we play him deeper.
What I would say in that regard is that yesterday, as at times v Arsenal, we seemed to be trying some kind of Barca tactic, where the whole midfield was pushing up trying to rob the ball off the oppo in their half. Noticably Barry, who of course normally sits back occupying areas to pick up the loose ball, was charging around chasing Villa's back 4. Some of the other players though were still hanging half way back, out of position but not fully committed to chasing down, hence Villa passed straight through us (just like Arsenal did) & suddenly had 3 forwards charging at our defence with no midfield to assist us.
Suddenly that stopped & Barry etc seemed to be in the normal position & we cruised the game for a while & should have scored a few. I don't know if this changed back as I was mainly concentrating on watching Nastasic & Razak's individual performances, but suddenly we looked vulnerable again & Villa scored.
In the end we were playing 4-2-4 (I kid you not). The old 70's formation with all 4 pushed right up v Villa's back 4 & seemingly under no instruction to track back very much, just stay up until the ball reached them & attack. So you can see how I'm not convinced Bob was taking this seriously !
I wonder though if part of Bob's evolution is to change to the Barca method of defending & whether the defensive coach (old geezer who was on the bench recently) is connected with this ?
