Away Form

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Last season we were awesome at home with a near perfect record and it's that form that won us the league although not forgetting the humiliation of the scum at the swamp. Out away form however was a bit mixed.We had a great start with 5 early wins including that big one but also the thrashing of Spurs but then we had the away slump which nearly cost us.

Starting with LPool in late November we had a run of 9 away games with only 1 win (Villa) and scoring only 4 goals in those 9 games and it ended with that dismal night against Arsenal which effectively changed the approach of the team/manager.Looked at now it was quite a startling run of games. Losing 1 nil at Sunderland,Everton,Swansea and Arsenal and a nil nil at WBA was as bad as it could have been for a while but we overcame that to win the title.

This season,I know its still quite early but although we haven't been on fire like last year we also haven't given away those goals to lose one nil either.Is our away form looking better than last year overall ?

[carl_feedthegoat]

The key here is not conceding , to think we have played average to good for the best part of the season and are only 1 point behind the Munchens.
I think we are very similar to last season overall , we might be perceived to be nowhere near last seasons form but looking at the stats we are not very far off are we?

To think we (myself more than most) have been slagging off the defence like its our god given right to not concede a goal when the reality is we have only conceded 10 fuckign goals! amazing.

[Alioune DVToure]

The key here is not conceding , to think we have played average to good for the best part of the season and are only 1 point behind the Munchens.
I think we are very similar to last season overall , we might be perceived to be nowhere near last seasons form but looking at the stats we are not very far off are we?

To think we (myself more than most) have been slagging off the defence like its our god given right to not concede a goal when the reality is we have only conceded 10 fuckign goals! amazing.

I agree with this. Our form has been constantly at the level of last year's average, which suits me much more than the boom and bust of August-April last season. We're steadier but less rampant.

[mr_nool]

The key here is not conceding , to think we have played average to good for the best part of the season and are only 1 point behind the Munchens.
I think we are very similar to last season overall , we might be perceived to be nowhere near last seasons form but looking at the stats we are not very far off are we?

To think we (myself more than most) have been slagging off the defence like its our god given right to not concede a goal when the reality is we have only conceded 10 fuckign goals! amazing.

I agree with this. Our form has been constantly at the level of last year's average, which suits me much more than the boom and bust of August-April last season. We're steadier but less rampant.

Exactly! Everyone harps on about how great we played last season, but seem to forget that there were highs and lows. We started and finished unbelievably well, but played some real dross in between.

[john@staustell]

Plus everyone now plays like an away team when we visit them. Last year we cut through them all on the break.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Plus everyone now plays like an away team when we visit them. Last year we cut through them all on the break.

Till WBA showed them what to do and we struggled from then for 9 games away. Have we now worked out how to win away against packed defences?

I have no doubt that if we have the same form at home as last season we will win the league.But on the basis that is unlikely we do need to be more effective away from home and not have anything like a slump in form/results

[Swales4ever]

Plus everyone now plays like an away team when we visit them. Last year we cut through them all on the break.

This!
plus as much as facts, summed on OP re away slump started from the Merseyside trip, are just indisputable facts, my slightly paranoid frame of mind cant help but thinking that those slumps were, somehow, influenced by "atypical footballing factors".

Overall, I couldn't agree more on that our away form, so far this season, means much more business. absolutely.

[dazby]

Last season we were awesome at home with a near perfect record and it's that form that won us the league although not forgetting the humiliation of the scum at the swamp. Out away form however was a bit mixed.We had a great start with 5 early wins including that big one but also the thrashing of Spurs but then we had the away slump which nearly cost us.

Starting with LPool in late November we had a run of 9 away games with only 1 win (Villa) and scoring only 4 goals in those 9 games and it ended with that dismal night against Arsenal which effectively changed the approach of the team/manager.Looked at now it was quite a startling run of games. Losing 1 nil at Sunderland,Everton,Swansea and Arsenal and a nil nil at WBA was as bad as it could have been for a while but we overcame that to win the title.

This season,I know its still quite early but although we haven't been on fire like last year we also haven't given away those goals to lose one nil either.Is our away form looking better than last year overall ?

Yes. We started on fire, then lost it a bit, then got it back again. This season, due to the Euros, injuries and better management, it's a slow build. It's a real shame we didn't progress in the chumps league as I believe that Jan/Feb we are going to be on fire and carry that form home to a breakaway win in the league. We will win it by a minimum 5 points. There will be disappointments elsewhere, but the league will be a shoe in.

Our squad management is so much better this season, apart from Yaya. I really hope Mario kicks on now and bags a few more goals, as it will really take the heat off Sergio, who looks ready for a break already. Garcia is needing more time to get used to the league but the rest look to be managed well.

I think we'll be fucked over in the FA Cup otherwise we'd be on for a double. However, I have no fear whatsoever that we are going to win the league comfortably.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

We still look poor and unlikely to break teams down. Last season we lost at Everton to a deflection, at Sunderland an offside goal, at Arsenal and Swansea to late decent strikes. If you think that the possibility of these things happening has gone you're mistaken. If you don't score you run the risk of losing to flukes, freaks and Howard Webb type decisions. We haven't changed and our away record in 2012 is average at best.

[john68]

I keep hearing the media comparing how we are playing now with how we began last season. By isolating that high period, it has allowed them to use it as a tool to hammer us as failures. The real comparative facts do not hold up, but they choose to ignore that. What is sadder is that some City fans have picked this up and once again, as happened at time last seasons there is discontent in some quarters.

Taking a closer look, the picture is completely different. By transposing the results against the same teams the picture is quite positive. Of the 14 games we have played this season...(W 9, D 5, L 0 Pts 32 ), our record last season was W 8, D 5, L 1, Pts 29. Not the disaster that the media would have us believe. This season, our goal difference is 17, last season after those same games, it stood at 15.

This season against the same teams we are actually doing better. Not a great reason to beat ourselves up then.

After the Wigan game, I heard a reporter (ex pro?) tell the World that our defence was shaky. CHECK THE FUCLIN FIGURES YER LAZY ARSED WANKER. I really wish I knew who it was.

[john68]

Piccs,

As much as I love and respect you pal, you are once again getting yourself all worked up about nothing. We are very much on schedule. We were Champions last season. This season, our comparative record is even (if only slightly) better.

When that final goal of last season went in, did you scream and dance with delight or did you sadly look round at the cavorting, celebrating city fans and ruefully think..."Champions of England.....but it could all have been so much better"?

I know Honley is a dark place, overshadowed by black outcrops of Pennine Millstone Grit but breaking into a smile every now and then is not a criminal offence mate.

Luv n hugs

[City64]

We are that solid it makes headline news when we concede a fuckin goal !

Some team sooner or later are gonna get a proper spankin from the mighty blues i am sure ! :)

[getdressedmctavish]

I think Mancini thought about making us more adventurous, took one look at the goals going in, and decided on the tried and tested plod and grind. That said, we're better at it. Think it is still gonna be tight with the rags. We'll get draws where we lost but if they keep getting wins it might not be enough. still got Ya Ya to wake up plus might get something in the window.First or second. Not the end of the world,lol.

[blue-nova]

Our away form isn't exactly on fire - but the start of last season was a bit of a freak - especially with the results at Spurs and Utd. This season our away form is good enough, so long as we avoid a slump.

I've a feeling that the title will once again be decided by two six pointers - and we all know who they're against.

[john68]

I thought it was pretty obvious how Mancini has evolved this team and his tactics over the last couple of seasons. Maybe some of it got lost because of our success.

The way i have always seen and translated it is:
Last season, other coaches expected the Italian defensive mindset style of City from the previous season and were caught on the hop by our sudden attacking strategy. We took teams apart early on, but it seemed pretty obvious that at some point they would wise up and having studied the games, would work out how best to play us.
From that point, it got harder to break teams down and it looked like our form was fading. Notwithstanding the losses of Yaya and Kompany, It was harder for us to get the results.
Mancini used the strategy of inserting De Jong and moving Yaya forward later in games and that redressed the balance, giving us some improved results. I don't suppose Tevez wandering off helped much either. Much of our later success was dependant on Yaya's effectiveness going forward later in games and we saw how we suffered in the last (QPR) game when he was injured.

That later reliance on Yaya got us over the line but a reliance on one player isn't a great overall strategy. This season, he needed to find and cement a plan "B" and the 3 at the back was born as an alternative for us to use when necessary. It takes a long time to embed a new formation and in the short term has caused us to stutter on occasions. The Spurs game was turned round by going 3 at the back. As it is played more and becomes more instinctive, those short term problems will hopefully resolve themselves.

In the longer term, a City team that can change formations instinctively as the need arises will be a very hard team to stop. I have always tried to look at the longer term picture and sometimes a step back is necessary to ultimately move several steps forward.

It caused us pain in Europe against the better quality teams but I think eventually we will reap the benefits.

[Goataldo]

A soothing balm to lips chapped by idle chatter (I hope). Nice one John.

[getdressedmctavish]

Very enjoyable and persuasive post from John. The Spurs victory was due to 3 at the back, nothing to do with Dzeko? lol. In general however I think a very good analysis. Obviously, if you haven't got wingers yo get your width from elsewhere. The wing back system has the advantage that there is potential for crosses without what I believe Mancini perceives as the defensive liability of true wingers. And looking around one can see his point. Probably only Valencia can do both jobs. Jonno looks wank at blunderland, we dont play our Swan, and Hazard looks as naive as I thought he would. Even the lad at Barcelona who we wanted looks very hit and miss.My main worry is that the chances we make are so rarely clear cut. Its no fun being a City striker at the moment.

[bobby brows]

We're currently on target for 92 points!

Away from home we've added victories at Fulham and West Brom where we drew last year (both sides who have improved enough to give United a game) and drawn at Chelsea where we previously drew.

West Ham is the only blip as we beat every relegated side away from home last year.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

We've managed to beat Fulham, West Brom, and Wigan ffs. When we play decent oppo we look poor. Madrid pan handled us and should have been out of sight at the break, Ajax similarly twatted us. We were very fortunate at Scouse not to lose too. I do accept that we were the better team at Chelsea and that bucks the trend with what was a decent performance. Its not scintillating form at all.

Oh John, I've moved.

[Tokyo Blue]

We still look poor and unlikely to break teams down. Last season we lost at Everton to a deflection, at Sunderland an offside goal, at Arsenal and Swansea to late decent strikes. If you think that the possibility of these things happening has gone you're mistaken. If you don't score you run the risk of losing to flukes, freaks and Howard Webb type decisions. We haven't changed and our away record in 2012 is average at best.

If this is true, then you should be able to name half a division who have similar away records. Off you go.