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Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:24 pmby blues2win
One or two looked tired. I’d freshen things up on Saturday. Walker played well but Sterling left him exposed second half until Insigne went off which helped us. First penalty harsh, second was clear cut. Fernandinho made a tired tackle which was quite unnecessary; Walker was covering. For me bring on Bernardo Gundogan and Aguero on Saturday, maybe even Yaya. Silva Fernandinho and Sterling could perhaps have a spell on the bench. No disgrace that’s what the squads for.
Napoli are a damn good side and I’m delighted with the three points but they could have nicked a draw which would have been more than a shame after two excellent goals, de Bruyne hitting the bar and a goal line clearance in the first 30 minutes.
Onto Burnley.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:33 pmby Douglas Higginbottom
Bit nervy watching that second half but they really didn't create much against us apart from making us make mistakes a few times which gave then 2 pens and the Stones block. Had our finishing been as good as in other recent games we would have been out of sight.
Sane did struggle tonight and I expect him to be rested on Saturday. Maybe Silva to get a rest as well. Some of our play from the back was exceptional even if we get worried watching it. Amazing to see a keeper with such good feet and composure. Ederson is the real deal.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Tue Oct 17, 2017 10:58 pmby Peter Doherty (AGAIG)
Team looked knackered. Changes on Saturday please. I'd like to see Silva for Silva. Excellent result and first half.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 2:57 amby Pretty Boy Lee
I'd like to see aguero back in and maybe Bernardo Silva and denilo. Other than that keep it close to what it's been.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 3:46 amby phips
after the first 30 minutes i was thinking that this was the best performance of the season. but considering how much Napoli dominated the second half i had to retract my thinking.
lucky to get 3 points. huge clearances from Fernandinho and Stones.
some of that playing out of the back is gonna screw us over at some point
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 4:26 amby stevefromdonny
phips wrote:after the first 30 minutes i was thinking that this was the best performance of the season. but considering how much Napoli dominated the second half i had to retract my thinking.
lucky to get 3 points. huge clearances from Fernandinho and Stones.
some of that playing out of the back is gonna screw us over at some point
shush people don't like you saying that.
but it was a good game and Napoli had a go, 1 pt needed to go throu
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:46 amby Foreverinbluedreams
stevefromdonny wrote:phips wrote:after the first 30 minutes i was thinking that this was the best performance of the season. but considering how much Napoli dominated the second half i had to retract my thinking.
lucky to get 3 points. huge clearances from Fernandinho and Stones.
some of that playing out of the back is gonna screw us over at some point
shush people don't like you saying that.
but it was a good game and Napoli had a go, 1 pt needed to go throu
Of course it will screw us over at some point, it's inevitable.
However it's the reason we create so maybe chances as when it's done properly it leaves our opponents chasing shadows, creating 2 v 1s higher up the pitch because they've pulled out out of shape.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:56 amby Mase
Sanè was awful so he'll most likely drop Sterling for Burnley.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 6:35 amby The Maine Man
I'm not surprised we weren't at our best for long. Sane, Sterling, Dave and Kev must be fucked. People always say for that money footballers should be able to play several times a week but they're still human. I just hope Pep rotates them all well before we burn out from the intensity.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:04 amby PeterParker
Still, Napoli are no muggers. Until last night they conceided only 5 goals. Italy”s number one team so far this season.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:08 amby iwasthere2012
The Maine Man wrote:I'm not surprised we weren't at our best for long. Sane, Sterling, Dave and Kev must be fucked. People always say for that money footballers should be able to play several times a week but they're still human. I just hope Pep rotates them all well before we burn out from the intensity.
With much better football, but Last might reminded me a little of what I used criticise Liverpool about.
We blitzed them for 30 minutes but should have been well out of sight. We only had two goals to show for our efforts.
We definitely ran out of steam. The out ball from defense to midfield wasn’t there late on, because the movement wasn’t there.
The defense were still playing it out but there was nowhere to release it to.
We need to keep all the front six players fresh, because they are expected to do a tremendous amount of work.
It’s also why we need two excellent FBs for each side of the pitch.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:13 amby Foreverinbluedreams
iwasthere2012 wrote:The Maine Man wrote:I'm not surprised we weren't at our best for long. Sane, Sterling, Dave and Kev must be fucked. People always say for that money footballers should be able to play several times a week but they're still human. I just hope Pep rotates them all well before we burn out from the intensity.
With much better football, but Last might reminded me a little of what I used criticise Liverpool about.
We blitzed them for 30 minutes but should have been well out of sight. We only had two goals to show for our efforts.
We definitely ran out of steam. The out ball from defense to midfield wasn’t there late on, because the movement wasn’t there.
The defense were still playing it out but there was nowhere to release it to.
We need to keep all the front six players fresh, because they are expected to do a tremendous amount of work.
It’s also why we need two excellent FBs for each side of the pitch.
I think the yellow cards to Walker and DeBruyne played their part as we couldn't press them as effectively. Fatigue definitely set in second half too.
Good to see pragmatic Pep bringing his striker off for his utility man to see it out.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:23 amby Piccsnumberoneblue
iwasthere2012 wrote:A win is a win, but the lack of concentration and composure in the second half showed that we are not quite at that elite level we are trying to achieve.
A lot of players making poor decisions and losing composure and technique as they went along.
Thought Silva made more errors of judgement in one game than I seen from him ever. He just wouldn’t release the ball.
Sane? Well enough said. Showed terrible technique all game and yet you’d back him to skin a tired defender at the end of a game and score.
Fernandinho and Stones were very good I thought and are becoming real leaders.
Jesus became static as the game went on second half and at times got in the way of a player better positioned.
Bernardo Silva was very good and should have been introduced earlier. Similar with Gundogan but I’d have left Sterling on as he was better than Sane IMO.
That’s my tuppence worth.
Very happy with the win but I hope we learn from that. Pep included.
His report card says ‘could do better’
Oh! the first 30 minutes was as good as it gets and Ederson is the buy of the season as far as I’m concerned. He’s a God.
This is exactly as I saw it.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 8:20 amby CrownPointBlue
Catches win matches.....goals win games.
We could / should have been 3/4 up after 40 minutes then we could've slowed the game down to practice match pace & made our subs earlier.
It's no wonder we looked tired,the work rate,mentality & intensity of this team is phenomenal & it's understandable that it became a little ragged & disjointed. Additionally,Naples are a fine,fit young team. Credit to them for staying in the game at 2-0.
The next 3 games offer the chance for some rotation & well deserved rest for Dino,Jesus,Leroy & David & some valuable match time for Baby Silva,Gundo,Danilo,Yaya,Mango,Kun & hopefully Vincent.
Keep calm & carry on.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:15 amby Foreverinbluedreams
Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:iwasthere2012 wrote:A win is a win, but the lack of concentration and composure in the second half showed that we are not quite at that elite level we are trying to achieve.
A lot of players making poor decisions and losing composure and technique as they went along.
Thought Silva made more errors of judgement in one game than I seen from him ever. He just wouldn’t release the ball.
Sane? Well enough said. Showed terrible technique all game and yet you’d back him to skin a tired defender at the end of a game and score.
Fernandinho and Stones were very good I thought and are becoming real leaders.
Jesus became static as the game went on second half and at times got in the way of a player better positioned.
Bernardo Silva was very good and should have been introduced earlier. Similar with Gundogan but I’d have left Sterling on as he was better than Sane IMO.
That’s my tuppence worth.
Very happy with the win but I hope we learn from that. Pep included.
His report card says ‘could do better’
Oh! the first 30 minutes was as good as it gets and Ederson is the buy of the season as far as I’m concerned. He’s a God.
This is exactly as I saw it.
Agree with most of it, thought Sane was a mixed bag, he wasn't all bad. His control let him down, same with Silva, unusual for both but he was a constant threat, great pass on the first goal.
One bit in particular IWT that I take issue with is your suggestion that he didn't skin a tired defender, he wasn't up against a tired defender at the end, Maggio only came on for the last 20 to help contain Sane, he still managed to get by him twice, hauled down the first time for which Maggio got a yellow and Reina did remarkably well the second time to close down his shot.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:43 amby Wonderwall
Thought we looked top notch as others have stated. Devastating first 30 minutes but we couldn't keep that tempo up, it was a ridiculous pace and intensity. The decision making whilst attacking was poor on a lot of occasions last night. Jesus made some excellent runs but was not fed, we hold onto the ball far too long at times when a pass was on. Dave was a culprit, which was very unusual.
On a massive plus side, if the rumour is true and we will be in for Faouzi Ghoulam in January for £3m I will be very happy. Thought he was excellent last night and our play will have him wanting to be part of it (I hope).
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:46 amby Douglas Higginbottom
Quite a bit of negativity on here but I guess no surprise there. Good side Napoli and when we were at our best we blew them away, when we dropped from that they looked more than decent but we still held them off reasonably well.
Yes one or two not at their best through the game but everyone can't play their best all the time. I have no doubt Pep will make some changes in the next few games and it will be interesting to see just how he sees it. Maybe back to Kun and Jesus up top if he doesnt decide to rest Jesus.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 11:18 amby Swales4ever
Mase wrote:Sanè was awful so he'll most likely drop Sterling for Burnley.
nah... bravo is up next...
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 11:25 amby Swales4ever
Douglas Higginbottom wrote:Quite a bit of negativity on here but I guess no surprise there. Good side Napoli and when we were at our best we blew them away, when we dropped from that they looked more than decent but we still held them off reasonably well.
Yes one or two not at their best through the game but everyone can't play their best all the time. I have no doubt Pep will make some changes in the next few games and it will be interesting to see just how he sees it. Maybe back to Kun and Jesus up top if he doesnt decide to rest Jesus.
Watching Dave's decision making resembling more that of Jordan dumb Henderson, I found myself wondering whether the only possible setback of Pep's tactical high focus demand, may result in mind fatigue sooner than legs'.
not complaining in the slightest, of course!
just sharing the opinion that a sensible rotation at any role, no matter what seniority, appears pretty much needed, if Pep is gonna keep up this level of unreal quality steady throughout the whole season.
Re: ***city v napoli official cl match thread***
Posted:
Wed Oct 18, 2017 11:53 amby dazby
Hey there gang. I didn't watch the game but I'm keen to read your assessments of Napoli. Good side?