When Were We This Bad?

[Beefymcfc]

So is it a mentality thing, the players only playing to the big games and once in front thinking the oppo will fold?

There is the issue today of changing players that are important to our play but at the same time we brought enough quality onto the pitch. Could it be that 'I've done enough today' or the system once they change just doesn't work?

[Beefymcfc]

We would have gone top of the league before the Arse ' 5pm KO but we got fucked over by the officials at Villa park.

You're probably right there but my stream was really shit, making it a 'mare to see anything close up. From the sounds of it one of the goals was well offside and for me this is natural when it comes to us; we regularly get the bad calls. However, this is a normal thing and one hing that we have to overcome.

I noted today that the Rags didn't get those marginal calls that they are used to. You know the ones, they fall down and the ref gives it regardless. That made a big difference to their game because they are so used to it whereas we are used to the opposite.

[City64]

Were City this kind of shit is what we do. Thrash rags, lose Villa and then probably batter Bayern. Its how we roll.

For those who havent yet seen the game .....

Villa 1st goal CLEARLY OFFSIDE ..... shown time and time again on TV

Villa 2nd goal NEVER a free kick !

Villa 3rd goal a complete fluke !

We dominated this match and came away with fuck all end of !

[getdressedmctavish]

Beefy, I had alarm bells ringing when Ya Ya and Nasri walked on for the second half laughin and giggling like they were going down the pub for a bevvy with the chance of a couple of easy birds after closing time.

[Moonchesteri]

Villa 2nd goal NEVER a free kick !

Sorry mate but that's just not true. Stupid foul to give away in such a dangerous are but it was a foul for sure

[Beefymcfc]

Beefy, I had alarm bells ringing when Ya Ya and Nasri walked on for the second half laughin and giggling like they were going down the pub for a bevvy with the chance of a couple of easy birds after closing time.

I don't mind that mate but what got me was that Yaya just seemed to sit in the 2nd half as if it was all done and dusted. Nasri still worked his arse off but it looked like Pellers thought he'd save him for midweek. One we can get away with, 2 creative players gone then we're gonna get hit.

I'll leave the paranoia stuff to everybody else but in truth, they're right.

[sheblue]

Some people think it's the end of the world. Well it's not. We left it behind us today. The team and management need to learn a lot from this. Keep the faith, were still there.

[Dunnylad]

No Aguero, no Silva - someone give me the odds on them being back for Bayern? Are we risking the league title in exchange for our best shot at the Champions League?

[AG7]

No Aguero, no Silva - someone give me the odds on them being back for Bayern? Are we risking the league title in exchange for our best shot at the Champions League?

Yes!
I thought Pellegrini's team selection against Stoke told us as much ... and his team today and subs confirmed it.

[Blue Since 76]

I think part of the problem is the distraction of the CL, which the club obviously feels is most important. I suspect they'd accept 3rd in the PL as long as we get out of the group and then see where we get after that. Not my preference, but the club will be looking longer term.

Another part of the problem is the difference between the Spanish and our league - Real and Barca basically win every game with tough ones against each other and maybe a Valencia or Atletico. I'm not sure Pellegrini realises that a poor team in England will fight tooth and nail for anything. Hopefully after Cardiff, Hull, Stoke and Villa he's realised it and that 80% effort in the league isn't enough.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

<null>

I was thinking along the same lines as the first point, too. That the club think with the investment we have had we can concentrate on CL until we get out of the group and remain in touch in the league, then push on in the league after Xmas. But it is risky as we are seeing

The second point should not be the case. Pellegrini says he has watched the PL for years so he would see such battling performances every week. If not Kidd should tell him and failing all that experienced players on the pitch like Hart, Kompany and Milner should know for themselves. No excuses for it being a surprise!

[PeterParker]

There is only one answer to all this:

GARETH BARRY

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Just a few things to sort out and we'll put this start away from home behind us.The centre back pairing has let us down a couple of times now and I don't think Pellegrini knows quite what his best pairing is.I think he would have said Nasti and Vinnie but it was them who made the mistakes today. At Cardiff it was the keeper and Zaba mainly at fault.

It's hard to allow for individual mistakes so maybe it's dead simple,stop those and we start winning games.We were never great today and it looked to me like Edin and Negredo isn't going to be a great partnership.Having said that we were leading Villa twice and that should have been enough to win especially as they were missing their best 2 attacking players.

That was a bad one today for us fans to take so it needs a win against Bayern to make up for it.

As usual the point you make are valid good insights. Individual mistakes have been high up on the list of problems. One of my rants recently was about us seemingly not taking the oppo seriously enough. Ok big games we step up to a level that is bordering on sublime, but the lesser teams are not seeing that City so the general tone is too relaxed and individually that manifests itself in mistakes... mostly caused by inattention or lack of total focus.

It now seems to me that this is the main problem. No-one is going to say that if we put in the effort we showed v the rags that it would not have simply blown, Cardiff, Hull, Stoke and Villa away.

If we go and beat Bayern it isn't going to prove anything is it? Because we could just go to Norwich or wherever, underestimate them and lose.

Maybe a lack on intensity is what brings about the mistakes.If we beat Bayern it says a lot about how good we can be but winning the premiership is about winning games away from home against teams that are basically all effort and organisation.

Before the season started it was always going to be our defence that decided whether we win the league or not and so far it's suggesting that we won't. Early days though and I am, backing Pellegrini to sort it out and quickly.

[Twobob]

Mate, first instinct was to pull the negative title up and then your statement about being positive but knowing how you post i know that its not a bullshit bollox post and i get what you mean.

After this last week one post comes to mind and i cannot recall and don't care to search for it (as i have a long island to sup) however a poster was ridiculed for mentioning 'typical city' i do know the poster that first gave him grief liked riles royces but thats as far as i can be arsed about.

Maybe it is tge LIIT's or the Cypriot air but after this week the key weakness is the prem away from home, it stink of 'typical city' that we pummel the scum and win our first CL game and shit it against the villa but i'm fairly chilled this time round, i believe that we have a better manager than the scum have and Maureen's bullshit is old hat now. Lets see mate.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Nasti had a mare and the forwards weren't ruthless enough.

One of them bitter pill to swallow games, but hardly crisis time. As a team we were far better than we were v Hull, just need to toughen up and to for the kill

[Tesl]

No Aguero, no Silva - someone give me the odds on them being back for Bayern? Are we risking the league title in exchange for our best shot at the Champions League?

Yes!
I thought Pellegrini's team selection against Stoke told us as much ... and his team today and subs confirmed it.

Agree this is EXACTLY what we are doing, clearly management thinks the CL is more important than the league and that's what they are prioritising.

Which is a huge shame because I hate everything the CL stands for and couldn't give it a shit how far we progress in that tournament, I'd rather win the PL before the CL every time.

[MilnersJaw]

Ridiculous overreaction thread. We played excellent on Saturday apart from silly errors by certain players. And unfortunately that's all it takes.

[Beefymcfc]

Ridiculous overreaction thread. We played excellent on Saturday apart from silly errors by certain players. And unfortunate that's all it takes.

Ridiculous overreaction to the OP.

Without looking I'm wondering when a start of the season was so bad? Don't get me wrong, I'm positive about this season and know that it's very close 'cos we're all dropping points but I'm just wondering if this is the worst season since the Sheikh came in?

Who had the best starts recently, Sven, Hughes, Mancini or Pellers?

[Alex Sapphire]

Back on topic, our first 6 games under our last few managers, since we moved home were like this:

Keegan managed 11, then 7 points, scoring average 11 goals
Pearce had 2 cracks as well also 11 then 7 points, average 6 goals
Sven took 12 points in his single attempt, but we only scored 5
Hughes contribution was 9, then 15 points, average 15 goals
then Mancini waded in with 15, then 16, then 12 points, average 15 goals

I know you will each read into that what you will. I just had a few minutes spare, so no thanks necessary.

[Herb]

When were we this bad eh?

It's not a fair question as it doesn't ask in what respect.
In Europe? Well, 1 game played and 3 points taken away from home beats all our historic averages for the group stages of the CL - would have too wouldn't it - well done the Blues!
In the League Cup (Capital 1)? Well, 1 game played and a resounding win by our 2nd string against opposition of a reasonable standard which is, I think, also our best start in the League Cup on the basis of goals for / against . . top stuff City!
Premier League? An odd start with pure unadulterated brilliance diluted with keystone cops moments - 90% brilliant though and promising some tasty stuff once our new manager gets his new players settled into their new club and his new system is fully installed . . until then expect a few of the usual settling in hiccups. So so so far but such a lot to look forward to and with bragging rights already secure - nice one Pellers, I just love rubbing those rag noses in it, much appreciated mate!
FA Cup? Not kicked off yet so it's wait and see.

What was that about being bad - when were we ever this good?