*** City v Shaktar CL Official Match Thread ***

[Beefymcfc]

I cant recall the last match in which we played really well

Its not been a great season so far and based on what has been dished up we wont win anything other than get into the top 3.

PePs team selections have been terrible this season and some players have dropped off from previous seasons performances.

Bernardo is a shadow of the player he was (started on fire then Baldie dropped him )

DS is nowhere near good enough to start ever match.

Gundo the same.

We could go on but the truth is players performances are nowhere near last seasons.

I think your last paragraph sums it up and the question has to be asked, Why?

We know they are quality players but has all the pressure and energy over the last couple of seasons taken it's toll? Has that toll led to injuries in key positions meaning that we're not quite the same, leading to the lesser players having to give more than they can? Does this lead to further fatigue due to expectations?

And finally, as Shakhtar played 10 at the back for most of the game, have teams now figured a way to stop us while we are being affected by some of the above, making it easier to park the bus during a period where we are underwhelming in our play?

I don't know, lots has happened but we top the group and can now have a night off in the next round.

I'm content.

[CTID Hants]

Done!

and dusted!

True but it would nice to have done it in style?

[harveytravis]

I honestly do not know how Gundo starts ahead of Foden.
Its bizarre.
What is it? Just stubbornness? Or what, cant figure it.
Can anyone see any merit in it?

Foden should start at least every other match if he's to take over from Silva next season.

Does Pep watch the England
U21s?

I watched Foden in both matches during the international break and he was brilliant

I just cannot understand Pep's reluctance to start him????????

[PaulieIrish]

That prick Shreeves was really baiting Angelino in the post match interview.

[Nick]

Yep, said it in the media thread. Wasnt shreeves, but never heard anyone but shreeves give players shit before... cunt..

[Nick]

I honestly do not know how Gundo starts ahead of Foden.
Its bizarre.
What is it? Just stubbornness? Or what, cant figure it.
Can anyone see any merit in it?

Foden should start at least every other match if he's to take over from Silva next season.

Does Pep watch the England
U21s?

I watched Foden in both matches during the international break and he was brilliant

I just cannot understand Pep's reluctance to start him????????

100% and we all say / see it. He doesnt trust him imo. But then was Chelsea his chance for tonight ? Being at the game he seemed to be anonymous

[blues2win]

Was at the match. Angelino tucked in the whole time and left acres of space. Finally it caught up with us but we looked vulnerable on that side throughout the match. Cancelo defended very competently by contrast. They defended in depth with a packed central area and not surprisingly our lie crosses and flicks rarely came off. Jesus worked very hard but Raheem and Bernardo weren’t at their best. Two ridiculous brain farts. One an air shot from Ederson which should have been punished and another from Otter.

All in all we struggled to create much and they had their moments. Hey ho into the next round and a dead rubber which helps at this time of the season.

[City64]

Last nights match summed up where we are right now . We simply cant afford any more injuries so players understandably not getting out of 2nd gear also with all the injuries we have lost our dynamism and pace on the break we are having to play a different way and teams have found us out . We can only battle on for now but we will get our shape and pace back into the squad once players return . Its a matter of hanging on in there until the new year hopefully still in all competitions . Too many fans expecting too much at this stage of the season with the decimated squad available imho .

[bigblue]

Rodri is going backwards instead of improving.

I hope him and Canelo are in the adjusting the the PL phase because they are both underwhelming so far. Sometimes Rodri looks to have the pace of Gareth Barry and the touch of Fernando

Mahrez has been our most effective player recently, as he's one of the only people out there (except for Fern who was excellent again) who doesn't seem to be stuck in a rut. The spark seems to be lost at the moment, hopefully it'll just turn out to be a temporary blip

[Hazy2]

No X Factor, but win at Newcastle it has been a good week. My son watched RM V PSG, he thinks with the dippers VAR we are way way short anyway. Hazard or Mbape V Any of our Back 3 or 4, NO THANKS !

[BlueinBosnia]

And finally, as Shakhtar played 10 at the back for most of the game, have teams now figured a way to stop us while we are being affected by some of the above, making it easier to park the bus during a period where we are underwhelming in our play?

This is what I reckon the situation is. Injuries in key positions have limited our rotation and line-up. Our reduced options have allowed managers to find ways to play to our weaknesses on a match-by-match basis, rather than there being a single chink in our armour that teams can repeatedly target. I honestly reckon that we're 2 injuries and/or suspensions (on top of our long-term absences) away from pretty much any team in the league being able to theoretically line up the right way and beat us. We're just fortunate that most managers don't have the mentality to take the risk or figure out the most effective way to utilize their squad.

[Mase]

Sanè would change games if fit against teams that whack 11 behind the ball.

[john@staustell]

And finally, as Shakhtar played 10 at the back for most of the game, have teams now figured a way to stop us while we are being affected by some of the above, making it easier to park the bus during a period where we are underwhelming in our play?

This is what I reckon the situation is. Injuries in key positions have limited our rotation and line-up. Our reduced options have allowed managers to find ways to play to our weaknesses on a match-by-match basis, rather than there being a single chink in our armour that teams can repeatedly target. I honestly reckon that we're 2 injuries and/or suspensions (on top of our long-term absences) away from pretty much any team in the league being able to theoretically line up the right way and beat us. We're just fortunate that most managers don't have the mentality to take the risk or figure out the most effective way to utilize their squad.

I don't really think it's that new a phenomenon. Remember when Taggart's RAGS were at their prime - many a time the other team would seem to be all over them and yet they always won mostly, and we all thought what lucky bastards they were. They basically used to draw teams on then break like lightning with the likes of Giggs, Kanchelskis etc. And when one goal is scored it opens up more. Mancini used something similar.

The 'total domination' method has no option to do this. And teams have sussed it out, if they have anything about them.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Sanè would change games if fit against teams that whack 11 behind the ball.

Maybe but if the tempo is not right throughout the side then getting in behind the opposition will always be an issue, even with Sane.

[Mase]

Sanè would change games if fit against teams that whack 11 behind the ball.

Maybe but if the tempo is not right throughout the side then getting in behind the opposition will always be an issue, even with Sane.

Sanè coming on would literally increase the tempo.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Sanè would change games if fit against teams that whack 11 behind the ball.

Maybe but if the tempo is not right throughout the side then getting in behind the opposition will always be an issue, even with Sane.

Sanè coming on would literally increase the tempo.

He's not the one doing the passing mate, he's on the end of the passes, his inclusion wouldn't speed up the movement of the ball from back to front. On the counter it would but given the oppo normally sit in against us our opportunities to counter are few and far between.

I think the tempo issue is due to Rodri and Gundogan( and partly Laporte's absence too) , they're both very measured in what they do, their passing stats are normally really high because they don't take many risks. Fernandinho in that holding role is a lot more direct with his passing, his passes have more punch, whereas Rodri's, although accurate, are slow paced, floaty type passes.

[PeterParker]

Garcia and the other young fellas from defence have the plague?

Why are they ignored even in a game like the one from last night?

[sheblue]

I dont really expect us to win anything this season.

Despite VAR, cheating and the injuries were just not at it this season.
So if we consider our form, the cheating and the help the vermin are getting, all of a sudden it looks like an impossible situation.

Which is the way it is. We cant win the league every season, we couldnt keep that intensity up, we just couldn't. And we would have needed to, to overcome the obstacles in our path as well as the opposition.

Overall were going in the right direction. I think were in a little bit of transition, with some senior players in the downward curve.
As long as we strengthen in the summer and get our mojo back well that will have to do for now.

[Mase]

Sanè would change games if fit against teams that whack 11 behind the ball.

Maybe but if the tempo is not right throughout the side then getting in behind the opposition will always be an issue, even with Sane.

Sanè coming on would literally increase the tempo.

He's not the one doing the passing mate, he's on the end of the passes, his inclusion wouldn't speed up the movement of the ball from back to front. On the counter it would but given the oppo normally sit in against us our opportunities to counter are few and far between.

I think the tempo issue is due to Rodri and Gundogan( and partly Laporte's absence too) , they're both very measured in what they do, their passing stats are normally really high because they don't take many risks. Fernandinho in that holding role is a lot more direct with his passing, his passes have more punch, whereas Rodri's, although accurate, are slow paced, floaty type passes.

Passing is one side of it, I agree. But Sanè running at a defence will cause all sorts of problems and will naturally change the tempo imo. Bringing players on that run at defenders will increase the tempo - like at OT last season in the second half.

[Tokyo Blue]

Garcia and the other young fellas from defence have the plague?

Why are they ignored even in a game like the one from last night?

They were getting international experience in the Under-19 match v Shakhtar in the afternoon. They played very well, I thought.