not gonna sh!t around the bush, here is my opinion on today:
1) we weren't great
2) we didn't deserve to lose, we have played a lot worse this season
by this i mean, i'm not convinced we deserved to win, but i dont think anyone could argue they deserved to win more than we did
either way, a lot of people (mostly city fans) are criticising the players effort, saying oh "they dont care" or "pellegrini doesn't motivate them".
I have barely missed a game this year and have seen a worrying amount of games where the majority of the players havent looked like they are interested
But for me that wasnt the problem today, the players looked like they cared, even yaya, who has been probably most at fault for a lack of interest, looked like he wanted to win
which leads to a more fundamental problem of a lack of ability, i thought only four players played well enough:
aguero and fernadinho as standard
and mangala who had a suprisingly good game
and also Bony, who was actually very good off the bench (for almost certainly the first time ever), i couldn't believe pellers had bought him on over kelechi, but his performance absolutely vindicated the decision, i thought his hold up and build up play was excellent
Fortunately, this lack of ability problem is easily solved by a mass clearout (which I fully expect come the summer).
As long as we get top 4, which realistically, most would expect us to, we can just move on. I'm not convinced Pel's ever been really good enough for the standard we expect if we are being brutally honest.
At least Guardiola's incoming has been announced, the fans can go home every week thinking "at least we have pep next year"
Imagine the media hype and fan fury is pellegirini's future was unsure...
Today
posted on 21/3/16
I don't expect you to get 4th anymore. Only 3 at home and stoke n arsenal among them. 5 away and you've not been great away all season.
posted on 21/3/16
Can't disagree with the points made in the main article. The outcome of the match hinged on two things in my opinion. DeMichelis's shambolic performance and LVG's superior tactical knowhow.
Pellegirini is clueless when it comes to tactics. He only knows one way to play and other managers have figured this out. They know what to expect.
The only way this could have been worse is if United had bagged more. They were denied, in my opinion, a nailed on penalty in the first half.
Fernandinho was lucky not to be, at the very least, booked for that ridiculous challenge early on in the first half. Personally I thought he should have walked purely for the intent.
Silva is past his sell by date and he is not alone.
United were well organised and took their opportunity. They should have had a penalty after that and on that basis, they deserved to win.
On this form I can't see City finishing top 4. And that worries me.
posted on 21/3/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 21/3/16
Did not deserve to lose? Fack me, are you part scouse?
posted on 21/3/16
I thought Utd were comfortably the better side
If we had a competent referee we would've been 2-0 down and a man down at half time,the penalty was as clear as day and Fernandinho could've seriously injured the Utd player if he'd made contact,an awful challenge
posted on 21/3/16
comment by Paulpowersleftfoot #saveturtle (U1037)
posted 48 seconds ago
I thought Utd were comfortably the better side
If we had a competent referee we would've been 2-0 down and a man down at half time,the penalty was as clear as day and Fernandinho could've seriously injured the Utd player if he'd made contact,an awful challenge
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posted on 21/3/16
Dave the jackal - Aguero picking the ball up all over the pitch is down to how poorly the midfield is operating at the moment.
Also some comments about Silva being done? I don't think so, he's just been rushed back from injury and now being run into the ground because we're short on other options. I expect him to pick up another injury if we continue to play him as we are.
posted on 21/3/16
Thought both were utterly rubbish with us being even more so.
posted on 21/3/16
Silva desperately needs taking out of the team. Aguero we have no choice other than to stick with, can't see where else we will get goals at the moment. But he'll end up injuring himself too or at least burning out with all these runs he's making around the midfield.
posted on 21/3/16
Agreed grated.
If we are going to play 2 up top, Kelechi should be there to pick up the link between midfield and up front role. Not Bony.