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What needs to be done? Can it be done without sacrificing attack? If it's new players we need, who?


For me I'd like to see us concentrate on the simple stuff 1st.

Our spacing yesterday was atrocious at times, one point Vinny and Demi were practically holding hands in the middle while clichy and Kolarov were getting chalk on their boots. Another point Vinny and Demi were so far apart you could put every other player between. Really simple stuff, if the balls in our half or the midfield 3rd, keep your spaces right.

2nd don't go chasing the fucking ball. Vinny actually does it well, but it spreads like herpes and when Demi does his Vinny impersonation and misses by a mile it leaves is proper fucked. Demi also went ball chasing out wide for their 1st, when all CB's are taught to protect the box/goal 1st and contain the situation. School boy error to go chasing when he knows he's 106 years old.

Them two things and Hart playing like he means it would do for me. No new players on big money, no tactical revolution, just do the simple stuff well and defend 1st, look cool 2nd. Oh and the odd game for Lescott. Ta.

The defence needs organising home and particularly away. It does nt matter who the personnel are if they are all over the place. I'm not convinced Pellers has got to grips with this at all. I know injuries and the continual need to change partnerships have not helped, but so many school boy errors! It will be a big test against a very mobile dippers attack on Thursday which will show us the full extent of our flaws unless the Count sorts it at the back

A Kompany-Lescott partnership would be a good start. Lescott is a far better defender than Demichelis, Nastasic or Garcia. He seems to get a bad rep because he looks 'awkward' on the ball.

Kompany and Demichelis regularly give the ball away but for some reason people don't seem to mind them doing it because they don't look 'awkward'.

Demichelis has some good moments, but turns into a headless chicken on numerous occasions. Nastasic is simply not up to the level required. It does amaze me how these guys are allowed to have a long run in the team, continually make mistakes, and it's ok with many on here. Lescott gets one game, looks a bit rusty (which isn't a surprise considering his lack of match time) and is then written off.

The Kompany-Lescott partnership worked extremely well, and since Mancini broke it up, our defence has looked poorer. If Lescott had been replaced by superior players, then I wouldn't have an issue with it, but the fact is he hasn't.

Also, having Lescott in the side would not weaken our attacking ability. He generally retains possession very well, and his range of passing has actually improved this year.

We do need to buy a new centre back although it will be difficult to buy anyone good in January, especially at a reasonable fee. For me 4 centre backs of Kompany, Lescott, a new centre back with Demichelis as a back-up would be fine.

If we could only sort out our away form...

We all as City fans have to accept how Pellegrini now has the teams shape and style of play . It is breathtaking and without doubt with a little luck with injuries we are set to break all sorts of goal scoring records this season . The amount of chances we create partly involves our RB and LB bombing forward at every opportunity , it is fantastic to watch but does leave us exposed at the back on a few occasions so far this seasons but we have to accept this with the amount of goals we are scoring . The amount of individual mistakes defensively however is a concern but thankfully we are good enough to score 3 4 5 6 and 7 week in week out at the other end ......... that can't be bad can it ?

They have just discussed City's defence on Sky, JF Hasslebank just had a look at demichelis & said we need a new centre half, Shay Given said he can't understand why Lescott isn't playing there & Hasslebank agreed.

Original Dub wrote:If we could only sort out our away form...

4 wins and a draw in last 5 (all comps). What's there to sort out ??

On topic, our defending is still a problem, not helped by injuries (Zabba, Micah and Nasti). I wonder if a defensive coach needs to be hired. Does the Count have anyone in his team who does that ??

The big test will be how to neutralise Suarez on boxing day.

Dubaimancityfan wrote:
4 wins and a draw in last 5 (all comps). What's there to sort out ??

On topic, our defending is still a problem, not helped by injuries (Zabba, Micah and Nasti). I wonder if a defensive coach needs to be hired. Does the Count have anyone in his team who does that ??

The big test will be how to neutralise Suarez on boxing day.

T'was supposed to be tongue in cheek...

It's an absolute joy to have this guy in charge.

Ted Hughes wrote:They have just discussed City's defence on Sky, JF Hasslebank just had a look at demichelis & said we need a new centre half, Shay Given said he can't understand why Lescott isn't playing there & Hasslebank agreed.

To be fair I think almost all City fans have wondered why Joleon hasn't been considered as a starter in premiership games.Pellegrini must just see more in Demechelis and he does of course know everything he is capable of.

Watching him play there is tendency to look for interceptions and when they fail (more often than not it seems)he looks a real plonker and puts the team in trouble.Is this just his style or does Pellegrini encourage him to do it to get us on the front foot attacking?

On the other hand there are some very good dependable moments where he takes up good positions and makes good clearances.It's so easy to focus just on the negative parts of a performance (as Hansen always does) but let's focus on the positives and I would like to think he is learning ( about the prem and it's players)and getting better.

Original Dub wrote:

Dubaimancityfan wrote:
4 wins and a draw in last 5 (all comps). What's there to sort out ??

On topic, our defending is still a problem, not helped by injuries (Zabba, Micah and Nasti). I wonder if a defensive coach needs to be hired. Does the Count have anyone in his team who does that ??

The big test will be how to neutralise Suarez on boxing day.

T'was supposed to be tongue in cheek...

It's an absolute joy to have this guy in charge.

I thought it was ! But just wanted to put down the impressive away form we've had lately in black and white !!

Original Dub wrote:

Dubaimancityfan wrote:
4 wins and a draw in last 5 (all comps). What's there to sort out ??

On topic, our defending is still a problem, not helped by injuries (Zabba, Micah and Nasti). I wonder if a defensive coach needs to be hired. Does the Count have anyone in his team who does that ??

The big test will be how to neutralise Suarez on boxing day.

T'was supposed to be tongue in cheek...

It's an absolute joy to have this guy in charge.

I caught the sarcasm, I think until we move to the top of the league, our away form and defending will be sensitive subjects to some on here (and rightfully so). Yesterday they scored two goals. Clichy slipped on a very wet pitch on the first goal, and the second one was a total fluke, and again could be contributed to conditions (or blood in VK's eye).

The way the media portray it is that we have one of the leakiest defences. You only have to look at the table to realise its bullshit. Dippers have conceded one less and when we win on Thursday we'll be level or better. Arse & Chelsea play tomorrow & if its a high scoring game both could have conceded more.

Sure i've seen a statistic that showed we concede the fewest shots on target and this goes hand in hand with the individual balls ups as at least 4/5 opposition goals have been handed to them rather than earned. The og yesterday is another prime example. A fluke to get Fulham back in a game they were never really in. If on the other 99 times out of 100 that had not gone in, the scoreline would've been bit different, and the media knives wouldn't be being sharpened.

We will score a bucket of goals this year, possibly a club/prem record.

We will hammer a few more top teams along the way and i'm sure we can hit the magical 10 in one game.

We will probably win league and possibly with one of the best ever goal differences.

Yet despite this our defence is concentrated upon not our sublime attacking prowess.

FUCK OFF media. Go and wank over the rags as per usual. We'll get on with the business of winning games and trophies in the best fashion we can

Original Dub wrote:If we could only sort out our away form...

We need to be scoring more goals.

We don't need to worry about the defence; it'll sort itself out.

Florida Blue wrote: I caught the sarcasm, I think until we move to the top of the league, our away form and defending will be sensitive subjects to some on here (and rightfully so). Yesterday they scored two goals. Clichy slipped on a very wet pitch on the first goal, and the second one was a total fluke, and again could be contributed to conditions (or blood in VK's eye).

Our away form has been brilliant lately and I'm not even close to complaining, this season is fucking mint.

I just scratched my head watching yesterday as general consensus is we should buy a defender next month, but it really was silly stuff that cost us.

We do have some major tests to come and I guess one is on Boxing Day.But in theory we have had some of the easier away games so far and to come are:
Swansea
Newcastle
Everton
Scum
Arsenal
Liverpool
Spurs

Some tasty games there when we will have to be a little better defensively which mainly means stop making those stupid mistakes.Nothing to say we won't win those but I would like to get a points lead in the near future just in case.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Ted Hughes wrote:They have just discussed City's defence on Sky, JF Hasslebank just had a look at demichelis & said we need a new centre half, Shay Given said he can't understand why Lescott isn't playing there & Hasslebank agreed.

To be fair I think almost all City fans have wondered why Joleon hasn't been considered as a starter in premiership games.Pellegrini must just see more in Demechelis and he does of course know everything he is capable of.

Watching him play there is tendency to look for interceptions and when they fail (more often than not it seems)he looks a real plonker and puts the team in trouble.Is this just his style or does Pellegrini encourage him to do it to get us on the front foot attacking?

On the other hand there are some very good dependable moments where he takes up good positions and makes good clearances.It's so easy to focus just on the negative parts of a performance (as Hansen always does) but let's focus on the positives and I would like to think he is learning ( about the prem and it's players)and getting better.

I think that some of the stuff Demichelis produces defensively is better than we are used to seeing from VK & JL but the problem is when he gets it wrong. He leaves everything totally exposed. Imo Colin Hendry was a similar idea (but better).

Demichelis is on video doing this kind of thing before we signed him, so unfortunately, it's unlikely to change.

Why does Pellegrini want him ?

Imo, Puyol; Kamikaze nutcase, multi title plus Champions Lg winner. Same idea.

I think the Count sees two things in D. One his vast experience, second his ability to sweep forward with the ball quickly as against Lescott's more ponderous movements.Actually think we defend pretty well for an attacking team, and agree that the madness which occasionally goes on is down to our style of play with midfielders none of whom can tackle much and fullbacks high and wide. Should have beat Fulham by six with a bit of calmness in front of goal.

Defensive woes?

sheblue wrote:Defensive woes?

Exactly. I complained when Mancini turned us from an entertaining team to a more defensive set-up. I also complained when Pellers did the exact opposite but as long as it works then I'll live with it and enjot it how it comes.

At the moment we are flying and if it works, why change it. It didn't work early on but our latest form is putting wins on the board. What more can you ask?

sheblue wrote:Defensive woes?

Top contribution. We're the full stops sold out?