*** City v Watford Matchday Thread ***

[South Stand Balti]

can someone explain to me who saw the game actually happened at the back in the first 45 mins. i was listening to the radio but that really doesnt give you a good picture. MP made changes at the back because the defence was hopeless? what the fuck were micha, demi and lescott doing? Also the invisible man came on and seemed to have changed the game too, was lopes ineffective?

We started with Demichelis and Lescott as CBs. Watford had a bit of pace and exposed our lack of pace in the middle. Pellers changed it half time as they looked like scoring every time they ran at us. The defence was not well protected tho by Rodders and Yaya. Micah tried to get forward as per our tactics but looked a bit rusty. Truth is tho their attacks in the first 45 were mostly down our left. Lopes did nt offer much cover there and lost possession too often but he kept trying. In summary Joleom and Demichelis were too slow as a partnership and we were weak on our left. Tactically Watford used that well in first 45. Great comeback tho great second half atmos too.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

I have given my opinions in more detail in another thread, but in summary I thought:

Richards and Rodwell were hugely disappointing – I suspect if they don’t show more before the end of the season they will be gone to make way for new signings or giving younger players an opportunity

Lopes was a young player in his first game against seasoned professionals who were really up for; his previous games were somewhat easy situations and this will be valuable experience for him

Jovetic looked what he is: a good player coming back from a long lay-off and still needing to get used to his team mates’ style of play

As for the defence, I thought the main issue was Micah and the midfield: Kolarov did his usual thing of going forward but no one was helping him in midfield, and Micah was not in the game so the two centre backs were exposed, especially given their lack of pace as per above. Adding Zabba and Kompany and pushing Martin forward was pretty smart, like adding four new players as it doubled Navas' impact too since he works so well with Zabba now.

[Ted Hughes]

can someone explain to me who saw the game actually happened at the back in the first 45 mins.

i was listening to the radio but that really doesnt give you a good picture.

MP made changes at the back because the defence was hopeless? what the fuck were micha, demi and lescott doing?

Also the invisible man came on and seemed to have changed the game too, was lopes ineffective?

They did a job on us; smarter than our typical opponents. Rodwell & Yaya put no pressure at all on the ball, so they were able to pick passes. They just concentrated on trying to get a 1v1 chase between one of their forwards & Demichelis either by just dropping it over our high line, or getting a flick on as per the goals. Demi was just being left for dead over & over again & we could have let more in. Neither fullback did any covering.

Lopes was being closed down by 3 players & Yaya was in slow passing mode. Rodwell was insignificant.

The Count put Zabba on, who was an extra winger & VK plus JL totally wiped out their attack. Demichelis having been a liability at cb, was superb in midfield, pressing the ball & decent at passing.

Jovetic came on & ran all over the shop dragging defenders about & leaving space for Aguero to do his stuff.

The first half was like thd Dortmund game; Watford pressing us midfield & attacking our back 4 at pace. They battered us. Rodwell & Yaya were the centre mids in that game too.

[South Stand Balti]

I hope Rodwell can stay fit and start to play like he did for an hour at home to Chelsea last season. He can't put a run of games together to get match fit tho and therefore we get performances like yesterday. If Pellers wants to move him on at the end of the season he will struggle. Which club would want to buy or pay wages to a continually injured player? Also, he has a contract with us til 2017 and no one else will match the wages he is earning. Same situation as Mills. I feel sorry for Rodders tho, genuinely talented and is desperate to play.

[Ted Hughes]

I hope Rodwell can stay fit and start to play like he did for an hour at home to Chelsea last season. He can't put a run of games together to get match fit tho and therefore we get performances like yesterday. If Pellers wants to move him on at the end of the season he will struggle. Which club would want to buy or pay wages to a continually injured player? Also, he has a contract with us til 2017 and no one else will match the wages he is earning. Same situation as Mills. I feel sorry for Rodders tho, genuinely talented and is desperate to play.

Not happy with his lack of effort in that game. Understand him not being match sharp but you would think that he would be keen to give everything.

[South Stand Balti]

Not happy with his lack of effort in that game. Understand him not being match sharp but you would think that he would be keen to give everything.

Yes, he did play in a really restricted way. I was hoping to see him influence the game more against Watford. He did put a couple of good tackles in but hardly got around the park.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

We don't want to start loaning Lopes out on the back of one inconsistent performance, he needs to be blooded with our first team and allowed to make mistakes. With the proper post-match debriefing from the backroom staff it will help him to improve his game.

It's not off the back of one game though. It's a tough call whether to loan him out. I personally think that a month or two starting week in week out in the Championship will really help him get used to the physicality of English football and toughen him up and will be better then him simply coming on for ten minutes every 3 weeks when we're already 3-0 up.
Especially as if Jovetic regains fitness and with Nasri coming back and the 'easy games' in cups running out he won't get that much playing time this season.
He definitely has potential though and I'm sure Pellegrini will handle it correctly.

[Original Dub]

If you want a 2nd opinion, I would say that I disagree 1000% with every single word of that & that it basically beggars belief that someond could watch his performance & come up with that.

I also recon 95% of people who saw him play will be very pleased with him.

Me too.

I think that kid takes powerful drugs sometimes tbh.

[MilnersJaw]

The first half was like thd Dortmund game; Watford pressing us midfield & attacking our back 4 at pace. They battered us. Rodwell & Yaya were the centre mids in that game too.

I also remember he passed the ball to a Dortmund player who then scored lol.

[SomeMichaelGuy]

Just seen the tunnel cam, can only assume Kompany's "big half time talk" did the job. That and Kun clearly having superpowers. Also all the counts changes.

Difficult for me to add anything else as I only seen the highlights, but managing to pull out decent results when games aren't going to plan is the surely a sign of a strong side - though I'm still unconvinced by our defense.

[Goataldo]

Just seen the tunnel cam, can only assume Kompany's big half time talk did the job. That and Kun clearly having superpowers alongside the counts changes.

Difficult for me to add anything else as I only seen the highlights, but managing to pull out decent results when games aren't going to plan is the surely a sign of a strong side - though I'm still unconvinced by our defense.

I watched the tunnel cam on the premise/promise that there was some epic Kompany motivational team talk; that was what the OS billed it as - fair play to them, I watched it on that basis - nice tag line. The way it was advertised it was like there was a fly-on-the-wall camera in the dressing room. I saw no such thing; just a strong bit of 'let's be aggressive all over the park, let's have it' as they re-entered the fray. Standard stuff from any captain.

The most important factor for me, and not for the first time, was the psychological impact a fully-onit-Vinnie gives us. So key to winning. Kompany just being on the pitch creates a huge difference, the guy is such a positive influence to our attitude. When we were singing his name he had more swagger than Liam Gallagher and a hundred times more nous; you could see his mood pulsing out through to the others. Just watching the lad when he's at it, it makes me snarl and smile at the same time. A leader by example, he inspired that comeback with his actions on the pitch. His captain's armband wasn't even on properly. I'd bet my life he just shoved it on and didn't bother arsing if it was on properly, just half all over a rumpled short-sleeve end. Priorities.

[Twobob]

I watched the tunnel cam on the premise/promise that there was some epic Kompany motivational team talk; that was what the OS billed it as - fair play to them, I watched it on that basis - nice tag line. The way it was advertised it was like there was a fly-on-the-wall camera in the dressing room. I saw no such thing; just a strong bit of 'let's be aggressive all over the park, let's have it' as they re-entered the fray. Standard stuff from any captain. The most important factor for me, and not for the first time, was the psychological impact a fully-onit-Vinnie gives us. So key to winning. Kompany just being on the pitch creates a huge difference, the guy is such a positive influence to our attitude. When we were singing his name he had more swagger than Liam Gallagher and a hundred times more nous; you could see his mood pulsing out through to the others. Just watching the lad when he's at it, it makes me snarl and smile at the same time. A leader by example, he inspired that comeback with his actions on the pitch. His captain's armband wasn't even on properly. I'd bet my life he just shoved it on and didn't bother arsing if it was on properly, just half all over a rumpled short-sleeve end. Priorities.

Ive just done a little sex wee!

He's key to our success and we need him fit, shows how weak we are at the back without him - Watford had Demo/Lescott for pace. When Vinny came on Lescott turns into 'title winner Lescott'.



Not long left now but we have to hope and pray

[Goataldo]

I watched the tunnel cam on the premise/promise that there was some epic Kompany motivational team talk; that was what the OS billed it as - fair play to them, I watched it on that basis - nice tag line. The way it was advertised it was like there was a fly-on-the-wall camera in the dressing room. I saw no such thing; just a strong bit of 'let's be aggressive all over the park, let's have it' as they re-entered the fray. Standard stuff from any captain. The most important factor for me, and not for the first time, was the psychological impact a fully-onit-Vinnie gives us. So key to winning. Kompany just being on the pitch creates a huge difference, the guy is such a positive influence to our attitude. When we were singing his name he had more swagger than Liam Gallagher and a hundred times more nous; you could see his mood pulsing out through to the others. Just watching the lad when he's at it, it makes me snarl and smile at the same time. A leader by example, he inspired that comeback with his actions on the pitch. His captain's armband wasn't even on properly. I'd bet my life he just shoved it on and didn't bother arsing if it was on properly, just half all over a rumpled short-sleeve end. Priorities.

Ive just done a little sex wee!

He's key to our success and we need him fit, shows how weak we are at the back without him - Watford had Demo/Lescott for pace. When Vinny came on Lescott turns into 'title winner Lescott'.



Not long left now but we have to hope and pray

Totally. We are so capable of pulling some serious shit off this season, it's mind-boggling. I'm hoping that that first half against Watford was the perfect time for a needed and massive kick up the arse. We got complacent pretty quickly and then got seriously un-complacent pretty fucking quickly thereafter. A tad worrying watching us get schooled for a half and them (Watford) pick us off easy by playing a high pressing line what with with Barca coming up, but there's that feeling that we are capable of doing whatever's required going forward, against absolutely anyone, anywhere. We are a goal machine.

[Goataldo]

And I love Joleon alongside Vinnie. ALL DAY LONG. Medals.

[bigblue]

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but there is a 13 minute long highlight clip on the OS now. Much better than the 2 minute FA highlights:

http://mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Match-highligh ... highlights

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but there is a 13 minute long highlight clip on the OS now. Much better than the 2 minute FA highlights:

http://mcfc.co.uk/citytv/Match-highligh ... highlights

Cheers for that.
Looks like Jovetic got very involved once he came on which is pleasing.
Also, Watford played some really good counter attacking football that first half by the loos of it, fair play to them.