*** City v Watford Matchday Thread ***

[nottsblue]

Sounds like a close one. Credit to Watford as not many sides will lead 2-0 at half time. Thank god for Aguero, though all our forwards have played big roles at various times this season.

The main thing is we are in the hat for the next round. At half time this looked dodgy so well done to Pellers for changing it round a bit and the players for responding. We can forgive the team for being a bit jaded and lethargic as we've had a lot of games last two months. Another 4 goals as well

[feedthegreek]

you have to enter postcode to watch. highlights below.
http://www.itv.com/sport/football/artic ... 2-watford/

[mr_nool]

Who is John Galt?

You eat workers for breakfast you filthy Randist!

[blue wine]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ab47 ... mbediframe

[CuteMancs]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ab47a_manchester-city-4-2-watford-all-goals-25-01-ourmatch-net_sport#from=embediframe

Cheers for this, just watched it.....Thought this match was a sell out, or am I missing something?

[phips]

thanks for the vid of the goals.

boy, we got lucky with Kolarov's shot. but those were some great goals from Aguero

[Saul Goodman]

Wow. Pellegrini said he wanted to take all 11 off at half and that he thought they were half-assing it. Damn. That's some fire right there--haven't heard that from him yet

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Watford's goals were really well worked, so too were Aguero's.

[South Stand Balti]

I really enjoyed that today. Great comeback and the atmosphere was good as the lads were urged on. Lopes was out muscled today and overrun a little but he is young and will have learned a lot. MP will get credit for bringing Vinny on but starting with Lescott and Demichelis? I like Lescott next to Vinny but partnered with Demichelis we have a very slow central defence. I also thought we missed the killer ball we have with Silva and/or Nasri. Still, it's great to see character like that when we don't play too well. Sign of a great side? I think so. Jojo showed well late on too.

[South Stand Balti]

Cheers for this, just watched it.....Thought this match was a sell out, or am I missing something?

They announced 46.5 thousand at the ground. It was a sell out. There were some seats empty around the away fans but I think that was segregation. Seemed full other than that to me

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Cheers for this, just watched it.....Thought this match was a sell out, or am I missing something?

They announced 46.5 thousand at the ground. It was a sell out. There were some seats empty around the away fans but I think that was segregation. Seemed full other than that to me

Did Lopes do anything of note or did the game just pass him by as certain reports suggest?

[gillie]

Cheers for this, just watched it.....Thought this match was a sell out, or am I missing something?

They announced 46.5 thousand at the ground. It was a sell out. There were some seats empty around the away fans but I think that was segregation. Seemed full other than that to me

Did Lopes do anything of note or did the game just pass him by as certain reports suggest?

Reports are spot on mate.But he is young and he was'nt the only one who had a stinker the whole team did first half.

[South Stand Balti]

Did Lopes do anything of note or did the game just pass him by as certain reports suggest?

He was involved quite a bit in the first half. He did beat a man or two on occasion but let himself down as he tried to do too much and overran the ball. It was that sort of frustrating involvement he had. He was also eased off the ball a number of times. Most of Watford's good work came down his side too. That said, he did nt hide and he was nt the only one who did nt deliver.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Did Lopes do anything of note or did the game just pass him by as certain reports suggest?

He was involved quite a bit in the first half. He did beat a man or two on occasion but let himself down as he tried to do too much and overran the ball. It was that sort of frustrating involvement he had. He was also eased off the ball a number of times. Most of Watford's good work came down his side too. That said, he did nt hide and he was nt the only one who did nt deliver.

Cheers mate. He is young though.
I'm really unsure on whether we should loan him out. On one hand a loan move to say a Championship side where he'll play most weeks will really get him used to the physicality of English football and give him a bit more toughness, rather than just coming on when we're 4-0 up and cruising.
On the other hand, training with the likes of Aguero, Negredo and Silva must do wonders for his technical game.
Tough call.

[Goaters 103]

Disjointed performance but thank god the cavalry arrived in Kompany and Zabba. Zabba stretched the field and set Navas free, Kompany ensured Watford didnt retain any possession and effectively assured we penned them in their own half for the last half hour.

Puzzled as to why Demichelis was kept on in midfield and even more puzzled Lopes was kept on after half time. Rodwell maybe a tad unlucky, but Richards performance was pathetic - ponderous on the ball, slow in thought and foot & kept giving daft fouls away. He wont be long for this club unless he wakes up but Im sadly not sure he has it in him.

Thankfully we had the nous, and Aguero's predatory instincts, to save ourselves but Dzeko too was very poor today. In the first half they were all pony, with the back 4 looking worryingly vulnerable.

End of the day we are still one of the last 16 on the dance floor but we'll need to be 100% on weds night.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

We need a central defender.

[South Stand Balti]

Cheers mate. He is young though. I'm really unsure on whether we should loan him out. On one hand a loan move to say a Championship side where he'll play most weeks will really get him used to the physicality of English football and give him a bit more toughness, rather than just coming on when we're 4-0 up and cruising. On the other hand, training with the likes of Aguero, Negredo and Silva must do wonders for his technical game. Tough call.

Yes it is a tough one to call. I think the staff at City would get a better view of his potential though if he went on loan to the Championship until the end of the season. It would toughen him up too but he could end up sat on the bench in the Championship which is no good at all. On balance I would keep him until the end of this season and look again then. I think we all want a young player to make it.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

My thoughts:

Watford started well and we were largely overrun in midfield and so their confidence grew and I thought two-nil was a fair reflection at halftime. The second goal looked offside, although I only saw it live.

Micah was poor and that reduced Navas’ impact, though Jesus worked hard throughout. Rodwell was bypassed and Lopes found it more difficult with the close physical attention from the Watford players. That left Yaya very deep in midfield, where he is not best, and meant we had little service for Dzeko and Aguero, who both struggled to get in the game.

The introduction of Zabba at halftime meant normal service was resumed on the right, while bringing on Vinnie, and pushing Demichelis into midfield, freed up Yaya. I guess Lopes was kept on for a period in the second half so as not to damage his confidence and also in case injury forced our hand with the final substitution. The Count also probably bared his fangs at half time.

All in all a good cup game, more fun than a straight-forward 4-0 would have been. Well done Watford, and I didn't notice any United chants this time.

Jovetic is making steady progress towards his big month in February 

[South Stand Balti]

My thoughts: Watford started well and we were largely overrun in midfield and so their confidence grew and I thought two-nil was a fair reflection at halftime. The second goal looked offside, although I only saw it live. Micah was poor and that reduced Navas’ impact, though Jesus worked hard throughout. Rodwell was bypassed and Lopes found it more difficult with the close physical attention from the Watford players. That left Yaya very deep in midfield, where he is not best, and meant we had little service for Dzeko and Aguero, who both struggled to get in the game. The introduction of Zabba at halftime meant normal service was resumed on the right, while bringing on Vinnie, and pushing Demichelis into midfield, freed up Yaya. I guess Lopes was kept on for a period in the second half so as not to damage his confidence and also in case injury forced our hand with the final substitution. The Count also probably bared his fangs at half time. All in all a good cup game, more fun than a straight-forward 4-0 would have been. Well done Watford, and I didn't notice any United chants this time. Jovetic is making steady progress towards his big month in February 

Just about spot on that summary. It was good fun as you say and Watford had a great chance to make it 3-3 near the end. Proper Cup footie today.

[branny]

A strange thing happened today. I was working so had no chance of seeing the game. I checked the ht score on my phone and just started laughing. "There goes the quadruple" I said to rag whilst giggling. Previously I would have been pissed off and more than a little concerned. At no point did I think we were gonna lose, just that 0-2 will make the 2nd half interesting. After near forty years following the blues this is most "untypical City".