aargh, so he's registered on both sitesHe was called more of a rag than a City man because he has 11,000+ posts here as opposed to his 800 posts over there
I thought he was referring to the Bluemoon meltdown site.
Our Rivals' squads next year - Manchester City (2016/2017)
- Thread starter Wumminator
- Start date
I thought he was referring to the Bluemoon meltdown site.
Of course not, they're not exactly a pub side. I wasn't taking a stab at them, I was just pointing out that the only way to play against them is don't let them play out from the back.
There isn't a team good enough defensively to soak up pressure all game and stopping them scoring (without a lot of luck).
It's never easy to breakdown 11 men behind the ball, some teams will find this the best way to go against them.
I don't know if Nasri's time at City is completely done, or if the resident City fans here even care, but he's really flourishing at Sevilla.
When I first heard that he had joined Sevilla on loan I was very curious as to how it'd pan out. I like both Nasri and Sampaoli (Sevilla's coach) but I didn't think Nasri would fit into Sampaoli's ideal team seeing as he's a very demanding coach, but he's seemingly become the teams leader on the field already. He's been brilliant in every game and you can see how the other players in the squad respect him as a player. Sevilla have some brilliant players on hand at the moment in Vietto, Vitolo, Vazquez, Kiyotake, Ben-yedder, etc too, so it's very impressive (to me anyway) that he's already become the leader in the team.
When I first heard that he had joined Sevilla on loan I was very curious as to how it'd pan out. I like both Nasri and Sampaoli (Sevilla's coach) but I didn't think Nasri would fit into Sampaoli's ideal team seeing as he's a very demanding coach, but he's seemingly become the teams leader on the field already. He's been brilliant in every game and you can see how the other players in the squad respect him as a player. Sevilla have some brilliant players on hand at the moment in Vietto, Vitolo, Vazquez, Kiyotake, Ben-yedder, etc too, so it's very impressive (to me anyway) that he's already become the leader in the team.
The implication from some on here that City have now been well and truly found out because of what happened on Sunday and that any team that now sets out to press us is going to get a result is, frankly, quite laughable.
As you say, Spurs got it right on Sunday and that was in no small part down to the fact that the way you press is drilled into the players by your manager and if it's done correctly then yes, of course it will cause us problems. If you asked me at the start of the season which teams I feared Guardiola would struggle against the most, Spurs and Liverpool would be right at the top of the list. Your analysis of the game and what was required to do it successfully is spot on mate - it's high risk but the rewards are huge if it comes off. Same goes for Pep's brand of football and I think there are huge similarities between his and Pochettino's styles of play. You could see that there was a lot of respect between the two in the pre-match press conferences.
Anyway, congratulations on the result and performance and I'm more than a little relieved that we don't have to play you again in the league for a few months
He's suggesting that any team that sits back against City is deliberately throwing the match but hasn't got the balls to come out and actually say it. Trolling the city threads is a favourite hobby of his.
I for one was very sad to see Nasri leave, he is such a talented player. After getting off on the wrong foot with Pep by coming back overweight he really knuckled down and got himself into great shape. By all accounts Pep wanted him to stay but Samir took the option of more certain game time - such a shame.
Nasri in France was a dribbling specialist, his ball control was like Hazard or Isco levels, he was also pacey and direct. At City he was a pale imitation of Silva for most of the time with sideway passes
Brilliant every game?
He was average at best against Alaves and that's why he got subbed before 60 minutes. He scored against Bilbao but he certainly wasn't brilliant in that game either. Again, against Betis he played decent. Had a very good game against Lyon, but he's been nowhere near impressive as you're suggesting.
Yeah, when I heard it was Nasri that asked for the transfer I was pretty shocked. I thought for sure it was Pep wanting rid due to either his fitness not being at the required level for Pep's tactics or bad attitude, but I guess it speaks for Nasri's talent as a player that he wanted to give him a chance.
I agree in that Nasri was in Silva's shadow during his time at City, but, on the other hand, I thought the link-up play between Nasri, Silva and Touré around 11-14 was brilliant. As a United fan, I was envious of the combination play between the three.
In my opinion yes, I think he's been brilliant every game. Well, there or thereabouts. I think considering a very disappointing last season where he hardly played and was struggling with constant injuries, and just seemingly being generally out of favour, it's brilliant how he's come into an already very good team and just turned into their leader on the field in an instant.
When I first heard he'd joined Sevilla, I thought he'd struggle to cement a place due to them having so many players of Nasri's ilk who are very good players themselves (Vazquez, Kiyotake, Vitolo, etc) and the fact that Sampaoli is a very demanding coach who I thought Nasri would struggle with, but the opposite happened. I mean, I rate Nasri higher than said players, but due to those mitigating circumstances I didn't expect too much out of him, but he's surprised me and seemingly become a favourite of Sampaoli's.
Regarding his performance against Alaves, I actually thought that was his best performance yet. He wasn't substituted due to being rubbish, it was an injury concern. Hopefully he's fit to play today.
We're still lacking the final ball and failing to put teams away as we should. Crazy today, two missed pen's and an unreal save to deny KDB but besides that we created little enough. Thought we played well enough just were a yard or two out with the killer ball. Full backs are looking an issue, I know we played Clichy as CB today but he got severly roasted for Lukaku's goal and never really got close enough to him.
How many penalties have they had this season? Absolutely disgraceful.
Most of them are penalties though.
I thought they were quite unlucky today, but so were we against Stoke so it balances out.
Yet strangely everyone of them has pretty much being legit, well bar maybe the Stoke ones where their was farcical ones both for and against though both were pens to the letter of the law. We get so many peno's because we get so many touches in the opposition box plus our whole team takes on defenders now in that area. Or are you trying to say that any of them weren't pens cause I've watched every one.
The only peno decision which went for us this season was Bravo should have conceded one to United in the derby.
Why is that disgraceful?
Sensible post.
The keeper didn't have much to do though, two ridiculous Jagielka swipes and what else?
A lot of posession outside the box and trying to slide in down the flanks, very reminiscent of LVG gone by.
I called this last season and this season as well. They'll blow everyone away during the first 5/6 games and then the grind will start to seep through to their aging side. It's their first half v us a few weeks back that will keep the shine on their progress but the chances in front of goal aren't as plentiful as they were when Pep gave the club the initial lift in confidence.
The next few games will tell us about this side. If they lose v Barca it will be 4 games without a win, a trickie tie v Southampton at home before facing United at Old Trafford and then versus a shit on the stick Pulis side away, that's followed by fecking Barca again.
There is a genuine chance of City being on a run of 0/1 or 2 wins in 7 games when this run is over
Under Pellegrini they'd have probably lost this one when they went 1-0 down.
You hope.
Revisit this post in March.
It seems like Aguero missed around 10 penalties since the beginning of the season already. I know that the real number is lower but it's not bad, it's Martin Palermo bad.
This season:
1 v Sunderland: scored
2 v Steaua: missed both
1 v Stoke: scored
1 v Borussia Monchengladbach: scored
1 v Swansea: scored
1 v Paraguay: missed
1 v Everton: missed
'just' four although feels like much more. He's not scored in five games (for club and country) either which is unusual for him.
You can't be serious. He made 7 saves (one absolute worldie from KDB and a noteable close range effort from Ineanacho coming to mind). City were all over them and deserved 3 points tbh. I'm chuffed they drew but lets not come out with "their keeper didn't have much to do".
And you quoted two 'important' saves to counter my point?
Even Carragher without the aid of hindsight and the MNF tactical cam (ffs) kept chiming in that with all of City's possession Everton's keeper hadn't much to do.
Take out the two idiotic penalties ( more Everton's doing than City imo) and what was there? For all of the pressure Everton faced?
There were plenty of blocks from balls pulled back from the byline but actual saves that pulled it out of the fire from Everton?
Not surprised he hasn't scored in 5 games, that's exactly when I brought him into my fantasy side.
While City drew yesterday and Pep will no doubt be disappointed by the result, I actually think they were hugely impressive, and the performance yesterday highlights their improvement and quality of play, rather than their weaknesses. Yes, they didn't win and didn't create all that many clear cut chances visa-a-vis their domination over the ball, but I felt the way they played as a unit, apart from the final ball which was poor, was really really good. They look terrific in possession of the ball - the technical quality of the football, understanding between the attackers and seemingly choreographed yet impressive off-the-ball movement, was impressive. And off the ball they press and suffocated Everton as a unit.
What did cost them a couple of points, IMO, is that the final ball of the wide players, who tend to invariably be quite young (Sane, Sterling etc) is a bit hit and miss.
What did cost them a couple of points, IMO, is that the final ball of the wide players, who tend to invariably be quite young (Sane, Sterling etc) is a bit hit and miss.
There's 3 where the keeper made very good saves. A close range from Ineanacho, a great effort from KDB and a shot curling in the top corner from a shot inside the box by Augero. That's aside from the two blatant penalties.
So yes, they created enough to score 3 goals aside from the two penalties and can therefore count themselves unlucky that the keeper played out of his skin that day. . You saying the keeper hadn't to do much outside the pen is ridiculous. I've just named three great saves the keeper had to make aside from the penalties.
It's also funny you've said they don't do much else other than pass the ball sideways. One of the great saves came from a 20 yard shot going straight in the top corner and the goal itself came from a wide cross.
I'm tempted to buy Sturridge too to see if the theory holds, but I don't think I'd ever feel clean again with one of those cnuts in my side.
If I was a City fan I'd be very excited going on that performance. You made Everton look lost the majority of the game. As good as you're looking already, there's two things you're missing in my opinion. The first, as you said, the final ball, which I'm sure will eventually come, and the other being defensive solidity as you still look quite vulnerable at the back. Though, with all the chopping and changing there (bar Stones), I'm sure Pep will figure it out, and if he doesn't, the pressing game Pep employs and just the force of attack you have will probably make up for it regardless.
That's my general thoughts on the matter, too.
The problem for City is defensively.
Stated prior to the season that if Pep sticks with Hart, Kompany and the full backs he will struggle to be successful this season. He's brought in Bravo, Kompany has been injured. However the full backs are still a massive concern. Clichy and Kolarov are hopeless, Sagna is bang average and Zabaleta has had injury concerns. Clichy sold the goal yesterday whilst Stones dived in, Kolarov has been at fault for a few goals. Wouldn't surprise me if a left back is signed in Jan.
In an attacking sense they look brilliant, can't believe someone claimed Everton keeper had little to do, he was outstanding again yesterday.
Stated prior to the season that if Pep sticks with Hart, Kompany and the full backs he will struggle to be successful this season. He's brought in Bravo, Kompany has been injured. However the full backs are still a massive concern. Clichy and Kolarov are hopeless, Sagna is bang average and Zabaleta has had injury concerns. Clichy sold the goal yesterday whilst Stones dived in, Kolarov has been at fault for a few goals. Wouldn't surprise me if a left back is signed in Jan.
In an attacking sense they look brilliant, can't believe someone claimed Everton keeper had little to do, he was outstanding again yesterday.
I think the final ball is more down to belief and swagger, Pep's Barca and Bayern sides admittedly had better players but their was this confidence about them that they didn't hesitate on the final pass, the pull back for the tap in and the through balls thus they killed teams off most the time. With City theres still a little lack of belief around everyone bar KDB, Silva as good an all as he is is majestic around midfield but tends to underhit that killer pass as opposed to his peak 3-4 years ago, Sterling sometimes gets his feet in a muddle, Sane too yesterday. Fernandinho imho is probably the best b2b midfielder in the prem on current form and he also panics. Navas has always been like that. Aguero takes too much out of the ball at times instead of playing the quick 1-2 and while its unfair to compare our standard of player to those he had at Barca and Bayern. Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Muller, Thiago usually get those balls spot on because they don't flinch like we do imho. Its been our achilles heal from the start of the season.
Pep's pressing will always concede a chance or two but not every team will take it like Everton did yesterday. We got caught with only 2 players in our own half twice yesterday. From box to box we look amazing but in the two most crucial area's of the pitch we're not quite there yet which I suppose is understandable given how early it is in our development. Either way exciting times for City and the Premier League in general. Koeman is the second person to say we're the best team he's ever faced.
Transferred in De Bruyne, cnut got injured.
Loved this
Very disappointed with Koeman yesterday. Wasn't expecting him to set up for a 0 - 0 or an on the break 1 - 0, especially going off City's latest form. It's no secret to any PL manager how shaky they are at the back. It's scandalous that Koeman didn't take the game to City. You can forgive teams like Burnley & Hull going in with this kind of approach, not top half PL teams though.
Dunc our best summer signing
Imagine he got the sack ..
Mind you he's gonna be in for some shock trying to play pressing football in the Christmas period.
..Mind you he's gonna be in for some shock trying to play pressing football in the Christmas period.
So it's not all rosy and nice.
Maybe a little, dare I say, crisis?
Maybe a little, dare I say, crisis?
They're going through a rough spell at the moment but they've had some tough games. I'd still say they're favourites for the title.
Was actually very impressed with them tonight. If Fernandinho doesn't slip they win.