***Community Shield: City v Arsenal***

[blues2win]

Positives? Silva and Zuculini when they came on and Jovetic showed decently. Other than that pretty much dogshite all round.

[Ted Hughes]

I thought the cbs did ok 2nd half. Apart from his bizarre goal, Giroud got nothing out of them. I think they were left badly exposed by Kolarov & Clichy & a lazy/outnumbered midfield 1st half.

If we had started with Silva the match would have had a different feel to it. The team was much better on the ball when he came on.

Arsenal just look exactly the same to me; flat track bullies with little else.

We could esily have levelled that game playing in 5th gear. It looks to me like we could quite easily snuff them out just by playing 1 extra in midfield, if we wanted to do it that way. But at full strength, we could possibly just go & batter them anyway.

[Dub City]

Boyata is dreadful. Apart from being club trained I can't see why he got a new deal. He looked promising 3/4 years ago when came in to the team at first but he just hasn't improved at all. Nowhere near the level we need even to be a backup player.

I don't see how Boyata is worse than Clichy or Nastasic in this game.

Comment wasn't based on this game alone. He played well in first couple games not seen him play well since except one preseason game last season.
Agreed others were equally poor today.

[Bluedj]

Agreed, silva and zucculini for me we're by far the best on the pitch. The latter has great confidence, great first pass and a cracking engine, with the will to get on the end of a late ball in the area. I think we have a serious talent here

[Bluedj]

Agreed, silva and zucculini for me we're by far the best on the pitch. The latter has great confidence, great first pass and a cracking engine, with the will to get on the end of a late ball in the area. I think we have a serious talent here

[Ted Hughes]

Agreed, silva and zucculini for me we're by far the best on the pitch. The latter has great confidence, great first pass and a cracking engine, with the will to get on the end of a late ball in the area. I think we have a serious talent here

And we have just signed the modern master of the 'late run' for 6 months. I wonder if Zucculini will be kept at City & be able to pick up a few tips & learn from him ?

Seems strange to play him today if we are loaning him out.

[Bluedj]

It is a strange one Ted, but if he does go out, then I seriously hope it's only for a max 6 mo's. AFCN's again so probably Yaya will be gone as will Frank. Whatever happens I'm enjoying watching the young fella play so far.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

The only thing I took from the game is that Clichy is obviously looking for a move.

[City64]

Got to be brutally honest here that was fucking shite !!! Our fans paid good money to go down to wembley for that dross , sorry to be so negative and all our returning World Cup players still need rest etc etc but the players we had available should have performed a lot lot better . Only exceptions today were Dzeko who had no fucking service whatsoever and Yaya who did ok plus Fernando but he looks very limited ? Fucking hope we turn up at Newcastle next weekend !!!! Nuff said.

[blues2win]

Zuculini's dad apparently said he was going to Sunderland on loan for 6 months and then coming back here. I think you're a bit kind to the CBs Ted. Granted the full backs were poor I thought Nastasic and Boyata were too although they both looked more comfortable second half as we got more into the game. In their defence Yaya was piss poor in a two man central midfield and not surprisingly Fernando looked at sea trying to cope on his own which he didn't.

It's not at all clear that all the World Cup absentees will be available next Sunday. Sagna surely but Aguero not and maybe not Fernandinho and Zaba. The real worry would obviously be if Vinny and MDM weren't ready but we absolutely mustn't rush them back. Magnala will surely not be ready either. I'd take a lucky 0-1 now.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Glorified kickabout. We put out the players accordingly. Nothing to worry about.

[Wonderwall]

Just left thw ground and all I can say is. What a load of fucking shit.

Half arsed performances from so many. Really disappointed.

[Ted Hughes]

The only thing I took from the game is that Clichy is obviously looking for a move.

To left back.

Kolarov wasn't exactly Stuart Pearce in the defnding 3rd either. Clichy did him a favour by being so shit as to take away the limelight.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

The last three Champions from Manchester who won the Shield went on to lose the League.... so some comfort if we don't win.

I thought all along we might need this.

Arsenal looked two weeks more advanced in their preparations. Could be another slowish start for us in the League, and might improve our odds a bit for those who like a bet.

[Beefymcfc]

I knew we wouldn't be the best at the back and expected that Arsenal attack to get a couple of goals. What I didn't expect was how poor we'd be going the other way. Jovetic looked like he wanted it but apart from that we were toothless going forward.

As for the start of the league, I'm in 2 minds with such a heavy schedule. Yes, we could play really well just with the impetus of Vinnie and Demi but at the same they've not had a competitive game in over a month. They'll obviously still have their fitness but it's those nuances between the team that need to be built upon.

Not to worried that we lost, I knew it would be the case, it's going forward that has me a little concerned and I'm hoping Pellers has got this one.

[Ted Hughes]

Zuculini's dad apparently said he was going to Sunderland on loan for 6 months and then coming back here. I think you're a bit kind to the CBs Ted. Granted the full backs were poor I thought Nastasic and Boyata were too although they both looked more comfortable second half as we got more into the game. In their defence Yaya was piss poor in a two man central midfield and not surprisingly Fernando looked at sea trying to cope on his own which he didn't.

It's not at all clear that all the World Cup absentees will be available next Sunday. Sagna surely but Aguero not and maybe not Fernandinho and Zaba. The real worry would obviously be if Vinny and MDM weren't ready but we absolutely mustn't rush them back. Magnala will surely not be ready either. I'd take a lucky 0-1 now.

I recon Pellegrini should have given Rekik 30 mins just to put it into perspective. Some people in cyberworld were suggesting we'd be fine with him & Nastasic as cover behind Vinny & MDM, maybe even some on here.

It has to be taken into consideration that both Boyata & Nastasic only had each other for a partner. You would expect both to be better next to one of the experienced players.

If however we had kept Lescott, VK, MDM, Mangala & Lescott would have been a fucking mint cb combo.

[Nigels Tackle]

Glorified kickabout. We put out the players accordingly. Nothing to worry about.

this
although we will have to put up with arsenal murdered us articles in the papers
will be very different next sunday

[stevefromdonny]

I think we have to trust the coaching staff on whomis ready to play and when. If Vinny or MDM did their hamstrings playing too early we really would have been fucked.

but we will have to play them next week, without having a game for 4 weeks

[Ted Hughes]

I think we have to trust the coaching staff on whomis ready to play and when. If Vinny or MDM did their hamstrings playing too early we really would have been fucked.

but we will have to play them next week, without having a game for 4 weeks

IF they are fit.

If not, it would be better to lose than to lose Vinny for two months.

[blues2win]

We don't have to start them next week and we may not. If they're not ready and fuck themselves for a month with a hamstring that wouldn't be too clever. Of course we all hope they will start next Sunday.

Interesting to see the MEN take. Quite positive about Fernando Kolarov and Nastasic but very negative about Boyata. I thought Kola was his usual self; showed quite well coming forward but not reliable defensively.