Never been so happy to see an International Break like this one. We haven't been terrible but a few players concern me
1. Laporte - Hasn't been the same since his knee injury. I am starting to worry about his mentality aswell. His body language is just off. Get the feeling most fans would rather see Stones and Dias start aswell. Sadly another one of Pep blind spots at the minute so fully expect him to start when fit.
2. Rodri - There is a school of thought that he is struggling without the support of Gündoğan and he played better yesterday but like Laporte the concentration and sharpness is simply not there. Struggling in defense and attack. Pep has decided to play him into form so nothing we can do about that.
3. Cancelo - Has had a good season. Full stop but I am tired of these impossible passes that go to no-one. Can he not play the simple passes and not concede stupid possession that puts the defense under pressure. Like Rodri, he is another that Pep has decided to play into form.
4. Bernardo - Form has dropped of a bit. First name on the team sheet especially in big games but needs to find his form.
There have been positives though. Thought Zack was brilliant again. I literally have no qualms him starting if Ederson was to get injured. Talented keeper. KDB has just stepped up, especially in the leadership stakes. Without the likes of Vinny and Sergio we will need him to step up and Gundo is another crucial player in this run-in.
We have still picked up wins without being at our best. Quietly confident we will have a good April. Get a result against Burnley and Atletico Madrid then it sets us up nicely for the rest of the season. Like it when we are the underdog. This period reminds me of the 3 game stretch we had in October against PSG, Chelsea and Liverpool. Few saw us getting much and I remember before the Chelsea game everyone had us losing and one of the pundits was like hang on, we are talking City here but you are all predicting a Chelsea win as if they are playing Burnley.
Not bothered about the FA Cup but if we keep the players fit for the League and CL I will remain confident.
Squeaky Bum Time
posted on 21/3/22
Yeah international break come at a good time for you and bad time for us.
Not sure you’re currently the underdogs though seeing as your leading the league and are fully capable of winning every game for the rest of the season.
posted on 21/3/22
Zack wasn’t anywhere near brilliant yesterday. I found his performance incredibly frustrating.
It was actually a frustrating performance all round really. The 4-1 score line flattered us. A few moments of incredible quality, but for large periods Saints were the better team and looked more decisive and dangerous in their attacking play.
posted on 21/3/22
City the underdogs
No chance.
posted on 21/3/22
comment by RipleysCat (U1862)
posted 47 minutes ago
Zack wasn’t anywhere near brilliant yesterday. I found his performance incredibly frustrating.
It was actually a frustrating performance all round really. The 4-1 score line flattered us. A few moments of incredible quality, but for large periods Saints were the better team and looked more decisive and dangerous in their attacking play.
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Saints was the hardest draw. They were playing at home FFS
We havent controlled matches as much as we would have liked this season but we are still winning matches and we are in a good position for this season.
Think poor performances at times help management know where we need to improve.
posted on 21/3/22
They were playing at home FFS
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What’s with the FFS?
posted on 21/3/22
comment by Tiddles (U17634)
posted 1 hour, 11 minutes ago
Yeah international break come at a good time for you and bad time for us.
Not sure you’re currently the underdogs though seeing as your leading the league and are fully capable of winning every game for the rest of the season.
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With Trent and Salah having fitness issues I'm not so sure the international break has come at a bad time for us. We have 8 games in April and will need to rotate. Get everyone fit and ready to go.
These are the games that will make or break the season. By the end of next month we could be out of all competitions.
But we could also be on the cusp of something unprecedented.
posted on 21/3/22
Cancelo can be frustrating, has moments where he seems to think he’s the Lionel Messi of fullbacks and plus balls too clever for anyone…
Definitely don’t want to see a return of the Gundogan/Rodri combination. We were slower and more ponderous going forwards when they were starting together regularly. Rodri’s best form was earlier this season when he was in the role on his own.
We’ve got a fair few having a dip in form, so agree the break has come at a really good time for us. We need to regroup and start putting in the type of consistent performances this team are more than capable of.