***city v arsenal official match thread***

[Hazy2]

Wasted 45 mins, will not kick Navas for trying, bad timing for such a bad team performance. Move on and put it right.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Negative team selection cost us. The two ferns and Milner stifle us

[South Stand Balti]

Bizarre to read people criticising Jovetic & Navas. Take those two out, & Arsenal could have played Henry at the back.

What game were you watching ? both were absolute gash.

The one where all the danger came from stuff that Navas & Jovetic did & pretty much nothing whatsoever from anyhing anyone else did.

I thought Navas and Jvetic had some very good moments coupled with some poor end product. But at least they were both involved and tried to make things happen in an otherwise flat team performance.

[Lev Bronstein]

Silva was crowded out most of the time, Navas, and for the first half Jimmy, couldn't carry the creative load. We fell into a trough of predictability and were dealt with very easily. When Jovetic came on it seemed that we were more threatening, but that could be because the whole team played with more energy.

It was almost inevitable that Vinny and Kun would be rusty, but they have to get time on the pitch sometime, and the sooner the better. Similarly for Jov and Edin.

We've conceded too many soft goals, and today, two more. The pen might have been a bit harsh, but Vinnie does move towards the player and makes it easy for him to fall over. Serious questions have to asked about what was going on for their second, we're a soft touch on set pieces. And that goes for attacking ones as well.

Much as we moan about the refs - often with good reason - we've overcome them in the past and we need to do it again.

This puts even more pressure on the Chelsea game: it was always going to be so. The saving grace would be that Maureen won't need to go all out for a win, a draw would suit him. To be honest, it would suit me as well. 5 points behind with 15 to play, anyone who thinks that it'll be all over and done with is a fool.

[hartfordsheartbeat]

Also. How many fucking corners do we need to create one fucking chance. Gash

It's been 144 since we last scored from one apparently. If this is indeed true there's some serious questions need answering.

[Beefymcfc]

It does amaze me when people say we're clueless when it comes to 'Park-the-Bus' teams. We get the same every fucking week yet we're 2nd in the table. Surely we must be losing or drawing games every week; figures?

It seems it's not only the media who shape peoples minds.

Arsenal played well with an organised side. We did nothing infront of goal, And that's why we lost.

[Ted Hughes]

It does amaze me when people say we're clueless when it comes to 'Park-the-Bus' teams. We get the same every fucking week yet we're 2nd in the table. Surely we must be losing or drawing games every week; figures?

It seems it's not only the media who shape peoples minds.

Arsenal played well with an organised side. We did nothing infront of goal, And that's why we lost.

Bony in our team would have fucked them up & Serge probably would if fully fit. Just unfortunate that we have perfectly the wrong blend of players available to put out a really high quality 11. Maybe by the time we play Chelsea, that will have changed somewhat.

[City64]

Could see this result coming , badly missed Yaya and Nasri and defensively we were all over the place at times , as poor as we have been in a long time . When the game opened up for 15 minutes at the start of the 2nd half Arsenal were there for the taking but we didn't capitalise and just couldn't get the ball into Aguero,s feet . There were a couple of last ditch stops and deflections that didn't fall our way at that crucial stage but then our defending for their second goal was fucking amateurishly appalling . Navas is forever willing but his final ball delivery just isn't there at the moment , Silva looks lost without Yaya and Nasri ....... its a bit of a mess at a crucial stage of the season tbh .

[blues2win]

Agreed Ted.

It's easy to pretend that those who don't play would have made all the difference. Nasri is in a good spell of form but he's never liked playing the Arse. I don't doubt we'd have been stronger with Yaya but some perspective is needed. Yaya started in the home games against Stoke and CSKA. We were really shite in both games and Yaya was as bad as everyone else even getting sent off absurdly in the CL game. We do have a real problem breaking down teams who defend deep in a well organised way and play on the counter attack. The answer to that should be to use the flanks, be prepared to shoot when the opportunity presents itself, make dead ball opportunities count and break really fast on the rare occasions when an opposition attack breaks down, We're not good enough on all four. Not enough good crosses or runs for the crosser in fairness, a lack of willingness to shoot, piss poor dead balls and too slow getting the ball put of defence. Tikka taka and then trying to fiddle the ball through a crowded middle just doesn't work.

[Ted Hughes]

Agreed Ted.

It's easy to pretend that those who don't play would have made all the difference. Nasri is in a good spell of form but he's never liked playing the Arse. I don't doubt we'd have been stronger with Yaya but some perspective is needed. Yaya started in the home games against Stoke and CSKA. We were really shite in both games and Yaya was as bad as everyone else even getting sent off absurdly in the CL game. We do have a real problem breaking down teams who defend deep in a well organised way and play on the counter attack. The answer to that should be to use the flanks, be prepared to shoot when the opportunity presents itself, make dead ball opportunities count and break really fast on the rare occasions when an opposition attack breaks down, We're not good enough on all four. Not enough good crosses or runs for the crosser in fairness, a lack of willingness to shoot, piss poor dead balls and too slow getting the ball put of defence. Tikka taka and then trying to fiddle the ball through a crowded middle just doesn't work.

With Aguero as the only person looking to score, Navas has very few areas to play the ball. He can pull it back or he can try to feed it into the 6 yard box. Arsenal know that & are looking to stop it. Dzeko would have created doubt in their minds but ridiculously, Navas was taken off thus ruling out any kind of cross at all. But even when Dzeko does play, he requires a very good cross to get his head on it. I think Bony will allow us the variation of just whacking the ball in at his head & he will get on it.

Even if he doesn't score many like that, he changes the mindset of the oppo defence, just by threatening to. Hopefully we can stay in touch with Chelsea & see what happens when Bony becomes an option.

[Mase]

Can't understand why Navas played today with only Sergio up front. Surely he'd be most effective with Dzeko playing? Just totally made us off balance I think.

[blues2win]

Critics of Navas complain about the number of times he passes up golden opportunities to take his man on, cutting back inside instead. Ted says what's the point of taking people on when there's no one to cross to. I think both points have merit. It is infuriating to see acres of green grass ahead of him apparently wasted far too often. On the other hand it's unreasonable for him to have only Aguero to pick out unless its on the back of a very fast break from defence. What would help is if midfield players bust a gut to give him alternatives. If the two Ferns play Fernadinho should be trying to get into the box with late runs. Milner from the other flank should also be trying to get to the far post. Fat frank of course is a master of this. One up front doesn't work well without midfield back up. Of course if Dzeko and Yaya aren't playing we don't have any height so low crosses are all that's available. We also need to cross from the other flank. Clichy did ok defensively but didn't offer much in attack. If he crosses Navas or Zaba for that matter need to make a run to the far post.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Critics of Navas complain about the number of times he passes up golden opportunities to take his man on, cutting back inside instead. Ted says what's the point of taking people on when there's no one to cross to. I think both points have merit. It is infuriating to see acres of green grass ahead of him apparently wasted far too often. On the other hand it's unreasonable for him to have only Aguero to pick out unless its on the back of a very fast break from defence. What would help is if midfield players bust a gut to give him alternatives. If the two Ferns play Fernadinho should be trying to get into the box with late runs. Milner from the other flank should also be trying to get to the far post. Fat frank of course is a master of this. One up front doesn't work well without midfield back up. Of course if Dzeko and Yaya aren't playing we don't have any height so low crosses are all that's available. We also need to cross from the other flank. Clichy did ok defensively but didn't offer much in attack. If he crosses Navas or Zaba for that matter need to make a run to the far post.

All sort of valid but when he has the ball in a crossing position where a ball hit just behind the defender with a little curl will be perfectly between the keeper and their deepest defender then that's what I look for him to do. I am sure today he had that possibility at least 6 times today if if he managed it once I don't remember it. Even if he does have only one option to hit he should get closer to it or not cross and recycle the ball but when he does cross it's too often just giving the ball away.

Sad to say but there are a few scum players who do know how to cross a ball.

[Nick]

so i get all the beef around the selection/team

but why does the team selection result in zero pressure/pressing/pace/urgency???? and a not give a fuck attitude?

mike dean is clearly still on the take

why the fuck was aguero booked? he didnt even complain after getting booked for no reason.

Aguero clearly unfit

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

why the fuck was aguero booked? he didnt even complain after getting booked for no reason.

Possibly the most blatant yellow of all time. He nearly took Gibbs' shirt off.

[Ted Hughes]

Critics of Navas complain about the number of times he passes up golden opportunities to take his man on, cutting back inside instead. Ted says what's the point of taking people on when there's no one to cross to. I think both points have merit. It is infuriating to see acres of green grass ahead of him apparently wasted far too often. On the other hand it's unreasonable for him to have only Aguero to pick out unless its on the back of a very fast break from defence. What would help is if midfield players bust a gut to give him alternatives. If the two Ferns play Fernadinho should be trying to get into the box with late runs. Milner from the other flank should also be trying to get to the far post. Fat frank of course is a master of this. One up front doesn't work well without midfield back up. Of course if Dzeko and Yaya aren't playing we don't have any height so low crosses are all that's available. We also need to cross from the other flank. Clichy did ok defensively but didn't offer much in attack. If he crosses Navas or Zaba for that matter need to make a run to the far post.

All sort of valid but when he has the ball in a crossing position where a ball hit just behind the defender with a little curl will be perfectly between the keeper and their deepest defender then that's what I look for him to do. I am sure today he had that possibility at least 6 times today if if he managed it once I don't remember it. Even if he does have only one option to hit he should get closer to it or not cross and recycle the ball but when he does cross it's too often just giving the ball away.

Sad to say but there are a few scum players who do know how to cross a ball.

He did put that ball in, but as usual nobody put a foot on it.

[ayrshireblue]

Critics of Navas complain about the number of times he passes up golden opportunities to take his man on, cutting back inside instead. Ted says what's the point of taking people on when there's no one to cross to. I think both points have merit. It is infuriating to see acres of green grass ahead of him apparently wasted far too often. On the other hand it's unreasonable for him to have only Aguero to pick out unless its on the back of a very fast break from defence. What would help is if midfield players bust a gut to give him alternatives. If the two Ferns play Fernadinho should be trying to get into the box with late runs. Milner from the other flank should also be trying to get to the far post. Fat frank of course is a master of this. One up front doesn't work well without midfield back up. Of course if Dzeko and Yaya aren't playing we don't have any height so low crosses are all that's available. We also need to cross from the other flank. Clichy did ok defensively but didn't offer much in attack. If he crosses Navas or Zaba for that matter need to make a run to the far post.

All sort of valid but when he has the ball in a crossing position where a ball hit just behind the defender with a little curl will be perfectly between the keeper and their deepest defender then that's what I look for him to do. I am sure today he had that possibility at least 6 times today if if he managed it once I don't remember it. Even if he does have only one option to hit he should get closer to it or not cross and recycle the ball but when he does cross it's too often just giving the ball away.

Sad to say but there are a few scum players who do know how to cross a ball.

He did put that ball in, but as usual nobody put a foot on it.

Ha managed it once but Koscielny managed to get a toe to it to take it away from Aguero and Jovetic. That's the ball he needs to play more often instead of hitting the first defender or settling for an easy corner which, for some reason, we can't score from.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Critics of Navas complain about the number of times he passes up golden opportunities to take his man on, cutting back inside instead. Ted says what's the point of taking people on when there's no one to cross to. I think both points have merit. It is infuriating to see acres of green grass ahead of him apparently wasted far too often. On the other hand it's unreasonable for him to have only Aguero to pick out unless its on the back of a very fast break from defence. What would help is if midfield players bust a gut to give him alternatives. If the two Ferns play Fernadinho should be trying to get into the box with late runs. Milner from the other flank should also be trying to get to the far post. Fat frank of course is a master of this. One up front doesn't work well without midfield back up. Of course if Dzeko and Yaya aren't playing we don't have any height so low crosses are all that's available. We also need to cross from the other flank. Clichy did ok defensively but didn't offer much in attack. If he crosses Navas or Zaba for that matter need to make a run to the far post.

All sort of valid but when he has the ball in a crossing position where a ball hit just behind the defender with a little curl will be perfectly between the keeper and their deepest defender then that's what I look for him to do. I am sure today he had that possibility at least 6 times today if if he managed it once I don't remember it. Even if he does have only one option to hit he should get closer to it or not cross and recycle the ball but when he does cross it's too often just giving the ball away.

Sad to say but there are a few scum players who do know how to cross a ball.

He did put that ball in, but as usual nobody put a foot on it.

He hit more players than not today....and that's because he doesn't get the cross in quick enough, his split second delay fucks the cross up.

[Ted Hughes]

True, but you can't do that if you run the fullback as many are complaining about. So there in itself is the problem Navas has to do right by people on here. He tries a variety of stuff & gets a couple of decent balls in per game, which Van Horseface would be tapping into an empty net.

[twosips]

I don't mind Navas and I can see why people are defending him but i think today his delivery was a little poor if im being honest. He crossed 18 times apparently and none of them connected. Over half of them just hit the first man - i think the problem lied in how predictable it was,

He tried so he's not to blame really. I also thought Jovetic was okay for about fifteen minutes when he came on and then after disappeared into nothingness like everyone else.

We need a plan B cos with just Silva we're fucked as im not convinced Jovetic will ever fit in and without Nasri and Yaya we look desperately bland.