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At the start of the season (and almost all the way up to the Christmas) it was our defence that was constantly scrutinised and criticised ... but that never really was our problem now was it?

We have gone a whole month, six competitive games without conceding a single goal. That's a whole nine hours of football without letting one in ...

Our real problem however is at the other end ... according to our official statistics we have scored only 1 goal from 37 attempts (7 on target) in the last two games ...

And what are we doing about it? (apart from selling one of our strikers) ...

The rags have had the same problem, and still have it ... their defence is leaking goals left, right and center ... but they are scoring more at the other end which translates into points ... we on the other hand have had way too many draws already this season.

What's the solution? Short of Cavani or Falcao joining us in next 48 hours??

A new manager and a different style of play.This is how we are. It still might be enough.

I don't really want to single out anyone but Nasri is a massive problem for me. I'll try explain.

Basically we're not creating clear cut chances. As you say, we're had 7 shots on target from 37 attempts returning just one goal. How many of those attempts off target where glaring misses? I'd say very few.

We're facing teams who basically set up to shut us down, QPR did it tonight with one up front and a natural full back on the right wing and others do it week in, week out. Reading at home also springs to minds.

That presents a challenge - find a way to break them down. Right now we have Silva returning to form but he is only our playmaker in the middle of the park, stop him and you essentially stop City as an attacking threat.

That's where Nasri *should* be stepping up but isn't. He has been bloody awful this season, a passenger who offers little or nothing in possession of the ball. He has the ability, no question about that, but he's not performing.

Throw in the fact that we have no wingers to genuinely make the opposition shit themselves and you have a very limited side that's easily found out.

While we're a bit short up front by selling Mario, we could have six strikers on the park and it would still be no use if the service is shit. That's the biggest issue for me right now.

The problem today was their keeper, he didn't give us a thing. And maybe if Zabba had a bit more hair on his thinning forehead the ball would have had a bit less power and dipped under the bar. It could have been 2 or 3 nil quite easily today, even with us not playing too well.

xavi6 wrote:I don't really want to single out anyone but Nasri is a massive problem for me. I'll try explain.

Basically we're not creating clear cut chances. As you say, we're had 7 shots on target from 37 attempts returning just one goal. How many of those attempts off target where glaring misses? I'd say very few.

We're facing teams who basically set up to shut us down, QPR did it tonight with one up front and a natural full back on the right wing and others do it week in, week out. Reading at home also springs to minds.

That presents a challenge - find a way to break them down. Right now we have Silva returning to form but he is only our playmaker in the middle of the park, stop him and you essentially stop City as an attacking threat.

That's where Nasri *should* be stepping up but isn't. He has been bloody awful this season, a passenger who offers little or nothing in possession of the ball. He has the ability, no question about that, but he's not performing.

Throw in the fact that we have no wingers to genuinely make the opposition shit themselves and you have a very limited side that's easily found out.

While we're a bit short up front by selling Mario, we could have six strikers on the park and it would still be no use if the service is shit. That's the biggest issue for me right now.

This for me too. Nasri hasn't stepped up to the plate, and i gave him a chance as last season was his first with us, hoping he would improve. Sadly he hasn't and i honestly think he needs to go. When he plays, we play with 10 men. 2/3 good games a season is not enough at this level for a player of his quality.

We need a striker that scores for fun (fat Ronaldo).

xavi6 wrote:I don't really want to single out anyone but Nasri is a massive problem for me. I'll try explain.

Basically we're not creating clear cut chances. As you say, we're had 7 shots on target from 37 attempts returning just one goal. How many of those attempts off target where glaring misses? I'd say very few.

We're facing teams who basically set up to shut us down, QPR did it tonight with one up front and a natural full back on the right wing and others do it week in, week out. Reading at home also springs to minds.

That presents a challenge - find a way to break them down. Right now we have Silva returning to form but he is only our playmaker in the middle of the park, stop him and you essentially stop City as an attacking threat.

That's where Nasri *should* be stepping up but isn't. He has been bloody awful this season, a passenger who offers little or nothing in possession of the ball. He has the ability, no question about that, but he's not performing.

Throw in the fact that we have no wingers to genuinely make the opposition shit themselves and you have a very limited side that's easily found out.

While we're a bit short up front by selling Mario, we could have six strikers on the park and it would still be no use if the service is shit. That's the biggest issue for me right now.

I agree with this too, especially the part that Silva is our only playmaker in the middle and oppositions target shutting him down ... Every time he went near the ball there were three to four QPR shirts closing him down ...

But having said that, the strikers we have seem to have somehow lost that final touch. The same Aguero and Dzeko were scoring for fun last season ... and Tevez at the end of the season. I remember them finding the net from the weirdest of angles and positions and from the smallest of space around them, while this season they are fluffing even the easiest of chances.

I just can't pin point to how all of a sudden all of them have lost form, all at the same time.

AG7 wrote:
I agree with this too, especially the part that Silva is our only playmaker in the middle and oppositions target shutting him down ... Every time he went near the ball there were three to four QPR shirts closing him down ...

But having said that, the strikers we have seem to have somehow lost that final touch. The same Aguero and Dzeko were scoring for fun last season ... and Tevez at the end of the season. I remember them finding the net from the weirdest of angles and positions and from the smallest of space around them, while this season they are fluffing even the easiest of chances.

I just can't pin point to how all of a sudden all of them have lost form, all at the same time.

Agree. I was shocked at some of Tevez 1st touches. The one he tried to cut back to Nasri after his fumble would have been a turn and shoot a year or two ago.

Aguero has missed a few howlers and dzeko is out of sorts too.

Playing vs a 9-0-1???

I agree the formations and the substitutions (really take off Tevez for Rodwell??), that stiffle any attack. That said today came down to simply 10 mean behind ball and Julio Cesar.

mourinho

We have only 1 player creating anything at the moment, Silvs. Mancini masterfully stifled him last night by shifting out to the right. As awful as Tevez was and is at the moment, bringing Rodwell on was ridiculous. Poor management was evident last night.

Problem?

Beefymcfc wrote:Problem?

Exactly, we draw 0-0 away at a relegation doomed team, we pissed them, they had the odd chance, it just wasnt to be last night.


So yea, lets sack the manager and buy 21 new players to see if we can beat QPR next season (if they are in the prem)

We should have drawn last season too to be honest.

I think were short of a player with skill and pace who will run at defenders and scare the shit out of them. Also Kun and Tevez seem to be working hard but not in the box enough. We really miss the impact of Johnson too. Totally gone backwards this season and its so frustrating to see us throwing the league away.

Crossie wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Problem?

Exactly, we draw 0-0 away at a relegation doomed team, we pissed them, they had the odd chance, it just wasnt to be last night.


So yea, lets sack the manager and buy 21 new players to see if we can beat QPR next season (if they are in the prem)

We should have drawn last season too to be honest.

This is football, as Mancini says. This is football. This happens, you loose or draw a game now and again. Doesn't mean the team all of a sudden are "limited"

Crossie wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Problem?

Exactly, we draw 0-0 away at a relegation doomed team, we pissed them, they had the odd chance, it just wasnt to be last night.


So yea, lets sack the manager and buy 21 new players to see if we can beat QPR next season (if they are in the prem)

We should have drawn last season too to be honest.

If I recall it rightly they were more possitive and went for it a lot more than today.
They gained a point and we dropped two, simple as.
As scum won't drop points tonight and at the weekend we need to win against the Dippers.
CTID!!

xavi6 wrote:I don't really want to single out anyone but Nasri is a massive problem for me. I'll try explain.

Basically we're not creating clear cut chances. As you say, we're had 7 shots on target from 37 attempts returning just one goal. How many of those attempts off target where glaring misses? I'd say very few.

We're facing teams who basically set up to shut us down, QPR did it tonight with one up front and a natural full back on the right wing and others do it week in, week out. Reading at home also springs to minds.

That presents a challenge - find a way to break them down. Right now we have Silva returning to form but he is only our playmaker in the middle of the park, stop him and you essentially stop City as an attacking threat.

That's where Nasri *should* be stepping up but isn't. He has been bloody awful this season, a passenger who offers little or nothing in possession of the ball. He has the ability, no question about that, but he's not performing.

Throw in the fact that we have no wingers to genuinely make the opposition shit themselves and you have a very limited side that's easily found out.

While we're a bit short up front by selling Mario, we could have six strikers on the park and it would still be no use if the service is shit. That's the biggest issue for me right now.

He is second fiddle again and he hates it.

Too many threads.
Too much hand-wringing analysis and not enough enjoyment of our dizzying success.
Questions which initially appear rhetorical before being answered by the individual posing them, thus narrowing the scope for debate.


We're fine, relax. Van Pillock won't keep scoring at this rate forever and Carlos is due a few goals. With Yaya, Kompany, Nasty and Micah back in the fold we'll rocket. We'll have too many options for teams to deal with. Plus García and (hopefully) Sinclair are coming on so happy days.

Enjoy yourself. Things could/have been MUCH worse.

AG7 wrote:At the start of the season (and almost all the way up to the Christmas) it was our defence that was constantly scrutinised and criticised ... but that never really was our problem now was it?

We have gone a whole month, six competitive games without conceding a single goal. That's a whole nine hours of football without letting one in ...

Our real problem however is at the other end ... according to our official statistics we have scored only 1 goal from 37 attempts (7 on target) in the last two games ...h

And what are we doing about it? (apart from selling one of our strikers) ...

The rags have had the same problem, and still have it ... their defence is leaking goals left, right and center ... but they are scoring more at the other end which translates into points ... we on the other hand have had way too many draws already this season.

What's the solution? Short of Cavani or Falcao joining us in next 48 hours??

Get a grip, we have been playing very well recently a lot better than we were earlier in the season.We drew one away from home and Cesar got all the plaudits for some top class saves.Disappointing result that's about the size of it.

If Mancini & Tricky were as complacent as some of you lot, we would be fucked.

Luckily they know we do have to improve & will try to do something about it.