***Official Match Thread: Stoke v City***

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

So what exactly was different tonight? Could it just have been that Stoke didn't park a bus and allowed us to play with a little more space. It seemed to me in that first half that we did have quite a few chances and good situations which hasn't exactly been the case recently and especially at home of course.

But the reality was that we looked very shaky at the back and much of the time when it was on Zaba's side as he was having a torrid time. Milner seemed to have a roving role well forward but that had to be changed so he gave Zaba the cover he needed.So from an attacking point of view we were ok but defensively we didn't look great. Not just Zaba either with VK looking a bit shaky and Joe not always convincing.

In the 2nd half we just seemed to come out with more energy and intent and players being positive and making aggressive runs.Real touch and movement for the 2nd goal creating the chance to cross and we had a collector's item with a good cross and perfect header.From there we could have scored loads and the belief and confidence was back. A good rest now add 2 players to the squad and go unbeaten for the rest of the season.

I wish The Count would just pick a back-four and stick with it from now till the end of the season (in the league). I don't care who he picks as I could make a case for excluding every single one of the defenders, with perhaps the exception of Demichellis (and laterly Clichy). If he does that we should get a bit more cohesion in the whole team and make a push to claw back an extremely jittery Chelsea.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

So what exactly was different tonight? Could it just have been that Stoke didn't park a bus and allowed us to play with a little more space. It seemed to me in that first half that we did have quite a few chances and good situations which hasn't exactly been the case recently and especially at home of course.

But the reality was that we looked very shaky at the back and much of the time when it was on Zaba's side as he was having a torrid time. Milner seemed to have a roving role well forward but that had to be changed so he gave Zaba the cover he needed.So from an attacking point of view we were ok but defensively we didn't look great. Not just Zaba either with VK looking a bit shaky and Joe not always convincing.

In the 2nd half we just seemed to come out with more energy and intent and players being positive and making aggressive runs.Real touch and movement for the 2nd goal creating the chance to cross and we had a collector's item with a good cross and perfect header.From there we could have scored loads and the belief and confidence was back. A good rest now add 2 players to the squad and go unbeaten for the rest of the season.

I wish The Count would just pick a back-four and stick with it from now till the end of the season (in the league). I don't care who he picks as I could make a case for excluding every single one of the defenders, with perhaps the exception of Demichellis (and laterly Clichy). If he does that we should get a bit more cohesion in the whole team and make a push to claw back an extremely jittery Chelsea.

I don't think that back 4 would include Zaba. He really looks like a long rest would do him good.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

So what exactly was different tonight? Could it just have been that Stoke didn't park a bus and allowed us to play with a little more space. It seemed to me in that first half that we did have quite a few chances and good situations which hasn't exactly been the case recently and especially at home of course.

But the reality was that we looked very shaky at the back and much of the time when it was on Zaba's side as he was having a torrid time. Milner seemed to have a roving role well forward but that had to be changed so he gave Zaba the cover he needed.So from an attacking point of view we were ok but defensively we didn't look great. Not just Zaba either with VK looking a bit shaky and Joe not always convincing.

In the 2nd half we just seemed to come out with more energy and intent and players being positive and making aggressive runs.Real touch and movement for the 2nd goal creating the chance to cross and we had a collector's item with a good cross and perfect header.From there we could have scored loads and the belief and confidence was back. A good rest now add 2 players to the squad and go unbeaten for the rest of the season.

I wish The Count would just pick a back-four and stick with it from now till the end of the season (in the league). I don't care who he picks as I could make a case for excluding every single one of the defenders, with perhaps the exception of Demichellis (and laterly Clichy). If he does that we should get a bit more cohesion in the whole team and make a push to claw back an extremely jittery Chelsea.

I don't think that back 4 would include Zaba. He really looks like a long rest would do him good.

As others have mentioned, he played all of last season and then a World Cup. He needs a rest.

[Ted Hughes]

Well Premier League aside, if we pick Zabba & Kolarov vs Barca, & they both play like they have been doing, we are out of the Champions League, even if Barca have two off days. No way would we get away with having Barca's players running behind them both like Stoke's did tonight.

There was one passage of play, where Moses just ran away from Zabba, & Milner caught him, took the ball away, someone lost it & on the other side Stoke attacked & Nasri was on his own, trying to stop the cross coming in, with Kolarov nowhere to be seen.

Two players who had been picked to play attacking mid, doing the fullbacks' jobs on both sides, & not because both fullbacks were caught upfront attacking, simply because both were shit.

We can't get away with that & still win stuff. Either they hit form, or we drop them for most games.

[freshie]

Well Premier League aside, if we pick Zabba & Kolarov vs Barca, & they both play like they have been doing, we are out of the Champions League, even if Barca have two off days. No way would we get away with having Barca's players running behind them both like Stoke's did tonight.

There was one passage of play, where Moses just ran away from Zabba, & Milner caught him, took the ball away, someone lost it & on the other side Stoke attacked & Nasri was on his own, trying to stop the cross coming in, with Kolarov nowhere to be seen.

Two players who had been picked to play attacking mid, doing the fullbacks' jobs on both sides, & not because both fullbacks were caught upfront attacking, simply because both were shit.

We can't get away with that & still win stuff. Either they hit form, or we drop them for most games.

Zaba looks like he needs a month off and Kolarov needs to fuck off

[getdressedmctavish]

Very sad about Zab but something has gone, hopefully temporarily, he cant get close to his man. Vinny was non existant. How worrying was that! Mangala's first movement is as slow as fuck. A nightmare. Jimmy's energy is a must in that team. He was everywhere.Fernandinho fucked up everything but finally did his job and began bursting forwards into space and playing with some authority. As Doug says the difference was that Stoke had believed their own hype and tried to play us at football, only one winner.I think we'll win the away games, even the hard ones, though I expect the rags may defend and try and win a tight game by scuffling. The bus parkers at home will be the problem the Count has to solve but a full complement of options should sort it.Jimmy first name on the sheet for me.Absolute delight tonight. Don't wanna see the schoolboy starting again.

[phips]

very impressed with the squad in the second half. the first half was dismal but Manuel must've given them an ear full at halftime because they come out and played much better.

the negatives are that Kolarov looks so bad that I can't see him staying around for very long. hopefully Clichy isn't injured and if he is hopefully the 10 days off will help him recover quickly; Zaba was getting roasted by Moses which isn't encouraging; and Kompany still looks like a shell of his former self.

this was a great response not only to getting pegged back to 1-1 but off of a very disappointing draw with Hull

[Duckman]

The way Fernandinho is playing makes my blood boil.

[Mase]

very impressed with the squad in the second half. the first half was dismal but Manuel must've given them an ear full at halftime because they come out and played much better.

the negatives are that Kolarov looks so bad that I can't see him staying around for very long. hopefully Clichy isn't injured and if he is hopefully the 10 days off will help him recover quickly; Zaba was getting roasted by Moses which isn't encouraging; and Kompany still looks like a shell of his former self.

this was a great response not only to getting pegged back to 1-1 but off of a very disappointing draw with Hull

Are you Phil Neville in disguise?

[john@staustell]

The way Fernandinho is playing makes my blood boil.

And Hart - I'm sure it's been said but I cant be arsed reading all the thread.

[Cocacolajojo1]

Duckman wrote:The way Fernandinho is playing makes my blood boil


And Hart - I'm sure it's been said but I cant be arsed reading all the thread.

I honestly think it's pointless to get over agitated about one player at the mo. The entire team, with a few exceptions, are playing a lot under par at the moment. It's obviously not down to individuals IMO. The entire organization, both attacking and defensive, is suffering from frailties in basic areas. As much as I still don't think Ferna1 is anywhere close to where he was when he came to us, I think it's unfair to single him out. The team as a collective needs to get their act together.

[patrickblue]

Er, we've just won 4-1 away at Stoke, a ground we've not ever won at in the prem. A ground which is generally regarded as a bit of a nightmare to go.
What's all the negativity?

[sheblue]

Duckman wrote:The way Fernandinho is playing makes my blood boil


And Hart - I'm sure it's been said but I cant be arsed reading all the thread.

I honestly think it's pointless to get over agitated about one player at the mo. The entire team, with a few exceptions, are playing a lot under par at the moment. It's obviously not down to individuals IMO. The entire organization, both attacking and defensive, is suffering from frailties in basic areas. As much as I still don't think Ferna1 is anywhere close to where he was when he came to us, I think it's unfair to single him out. The team as a collective needs to get their act together.

That is true, but hart was really annoying last night not just his keeping but again his kickouts and distribution of the ball were woeful, and thats is being nice about it. Constantly he lumped the ball long and Stoke won it back easily. Stoke are one of the last teams he should be doing that against. What ever happened to playing it short now and again. I cant believe the manager is telling him to hump the ball up the pitch all the time, just giving away possession.

The defending was very poor at times the whole back last night had issues, zabs does need a bit of gardening time. Mangala has a huge amount to learn, if he ever will.

[Cocacolajojo1]

That is true, but hart was really annoying last night not just his keeping but again his kickouts and distribution of the ball were woeful, and thats is being nice about it. Constantly he lumped the ball long and Stoke won it back easily. Stoke are one of the last teams he should be doing that against. What ever happened to playing it short now and again. I cant believe the manager is telling him to hump the ball up the pitch all the time, just giving away possession.

The defending was very poor at times the whole back last night had issues, zabs does need a bit of gardening time. Mangala has a huge amount to learn, if he ever will.

I'm not arguing against any of that. Hart was woeful. Putting in Caballero won't change anything though, as it's still a team issue.

Er, we've just won 4-1 away at Stoke, a ground we've not ever won at in the prem. A ground which is generally regarded as a bit of a nightmare to go.
What's all the negativity?

I am very happy about this. I dreaded a 3-1 thrashing or worse and as the game started it might have easily ended up like that. Game of two halves and all that.

[Original Dub]

very impressed with the squad in the second half. the first half was dismal but Manuel must've given them an ear full at halftime because they come out and played much better.

the negatives are that Kolarov looks so bad that I can't see him staying around for very long. hopefully Clichy isn't injured and if he is hopefully the 10 days off will help him recover quickly; Zaba was getting roasted by Moses which isn't encouraging; and Kompany still looks like a shell of his former self.

this was a great response not only to getting pegged back to 1-1 but off of a very disappointing draw with Hull

Are you Phil Neville in disguise?

PMSL

[Hazy2]

Er, we've just won 4-1 away at Stoke, a ground we've not ever won at in the prem. A ground which is generally regarded as a bit of a nightmare to go.
What's all the negativity?

I was there we were shocking for 45 mins they should have had 2 maybe 3, WE COULD HAVE HAD THE SAME, good job Walters failed his fitness test !They died and were knackered plus carrying one or two players with knocks "I spoke with a Stoke player after the game, who said they had no energy to get close to City and they got space to batter them. Zabba keeping Sagna out based on form is strange, We need a back 4 that can sit in position and let the others do there bit. Fullbacks are not fit for purpose. Zabba is looking very old and slow sad to watch him TBH. Mase AK is of the reservation.

[Goaters 103]

Pleasing to win again, finally, but we got away with another dismal first half showing and it greatly helped us that Stoke were missing Shawcross, Bojan and Walters who you could argue are their 3 most influential players.

Zabba again looked awful, and too many still look off colour. Looking at Chelsea's upcoming fixtures - Burnley H, Leicester A - we will need to win at Anfield in 2 weeks time, otherwise the gap will be insurmountable. Can I see us winning at Anfield? Nope.

[Blue Since 76]

Er, we've just won 4-1 away at Stoke, a ground we've not ever won at in the prem. A ground which is generally regarded as a bit of a nightmare to go.
What's all the negativity?

I agree. We got battered for at least half an hour and were lucky with things like the handball - don't think it was, but it could have gone either way.

The team looked short of confidence, nervous and very out of sorts, as they have for weeks.

Then Aguero did what he does and even though they pegged us back, we kept going and the build up to Milner's goal in particular was us back to our best.

I'm disappointed we've now got a break, but if they can take the form and confidence from the second half into the next few games, then as a minimum we'll make Chelsea work for it. Certain games can change a season - Hull away last season, after the Barca game and down to 10 and suddenly some anger appeared and we looked like the team who became champions. Hopefully last night was the game to get us out of our recent rut and we can get on a run

[Ted Hughes]

Duckman wrote:The way Fernandinho is playing makes my blood boil


And Hart - I'm sure it's been said but I cant be arsed reading all the thread.

I honestly think it's pointless to get over agitated about one player at the mo. The entire team, with a few exceptions, are playing a lot under par at the moment. It's obviously not down to individuals IMO. The entire organization, both attacking and defensive, is suffering from frailties in basic areas. As much as I still don't think Ferna1 is anywhere close to where he was when he came to us, I think it's unfair to single him out. The team as a collective needs to get their act together.

Fernandinho had some truly awful moments first half, but he also had some great ones both attacking & defending. His failure to set up Aguero for a goal was absolutely criminal, but the run that got him there was superb, as was the pass to Silva for Agueros careless handball (which incidentally was a worse mistake than anything Fernandinho did wrong).

Second half, Fernandinho had some great attacking play & imo, occasional mistakes aside, he looked a lot more like the allround player we signed from Shakhtar, than the 2nd rate Nigel DeJong we have tried to make him into. If we're just looking at the bad bits & ignoring the good, then Aguero was shite. If we're looking at both aspects over 90 mins, both players were looking much more like their true selves.

Pellegrini again changed a lot of stuff in this game, & asked players to do different attacking & positional jobs. Milner roving about, Fernadinho supporting the attacks whenever possible, Silva dropping deeper sometimes into Yaya's position (which failed). This was not the same City game we usually see.

People keep saying the Count has only one plan, when in actual fact he has shown more variation in two seasons than Mourinho has in his whole career. If you look at City in the corresponding game last season, with Negredo; it's two entirely different football teams.

[kennyboy]

The joy of us winning was destroyed for me when Chelsea scored late....