Back on the road again for our 4th away game in six matches. This time we are off to Manchester to play the league champions.
I'm sure everyone remembers the last time we played there. Nathan Tyson with a superb strike in a 3-0 demolition job. Without checking, I am pretty sure none of those players will be starting...
Our last league success vs City was way back in 1997 (winning 3-2), our only Premier League success was 2-0 at the City Ground way back in 1993.
Overall Record:
Currently we stand at W33 D27 L40...Time to wind these Citizens back in and teach them a footballing lesson!
Last Game Overview:
Wow....what an improved performance...well, if you exclude scoring. I felt immesely proud as the whistle went at the 98th minute. We looked a team, against last years 4th place finishers.
The Good: The link up play between the front three was great. Henderson showed he is England's No.1, Williams impressing again and Worrall much improved.
The Bad: Yates should have scored in a distinctly average display and O'Brien puffed, but couldn't capitalise on his prior MotM performance. We did play Spurs after all.
The Ugly: Cook giving away the penalty and showing why we need a new pacier (any pace) CB, McKenna standing off Kane and Toffolo showing he isn't quite up to standard (yet).
Special Mention: Johnson for booting Richarlison. Absolute quality!
Signings:
Take a Lodi off Toffolo, Renan is in the house. The second best Brazilian LB in the world now plays for Forest. Even Rev should be happy about that one! Haha
Elsewhere, Aurier and Boly look like they are on the way and Bowler continues to be linked. Not the most inspiring signings, but it provides us much needed cover.
Tanganga looks to be staying at Spurs and Gapko continues to be rumoured. Other than that, we have a Premiership loan signing in our back pocket, although Broja looks to be included in the Gordon deal.
Your Opposition Story:
Man City were pony growing up, so not much to report. I like Manchester, Fat City Records always got a vist as of course did the Hacienda. I remember tripping balls on the Ferris wheel one year as well. Ah...youth.
Form:
Man City only lost once in the league in 2022 (the loss to Spurs at the Etihad).
This season they sit on 10 points, with us on 4 points. I watched the Palace game and after giving them a 2-0 head start they were demolished by Haaland in a 4-2 win.
Team:
Niakhate and Richards remain sidelined.
Lodi to start (surely) and someone else in for Cook, who is not only slow, but currently laid up with ice on his size 12s, knees, hips and head.
Dennis for Lingard, with the front three taking turns to bamboozle City.
Prediction:
Only a fool would predict a win here. Even with a 3-0 headstart and two of their players being sent off (Ederson and Haaland please), we'll still lose. 3-1 to the Blues.
COYRs!!!!!
The Citizens vs The Tricky Trees
posted on 31/8/22
It was always going to be difficult at City. Here are ten reasons to be cheerful:
1. Their squad is worth 4-5 times ours.
2. It’s largely the same squad from last year for them and was pretty much their first XI. Ours is a work in progress.
3. Our first choice CB (Niakhate) was out, as was our first choice LB (until Lodi signed on Sunday) and likely our first choice CM (Mangala). With them fit we could have lost 4-0 🤣 / we only lost 6-0
4. The average score at the Etihad last year was…they were only beaten their once.
5. They have the 2nd best manager in the world after Cooper.
6. They have Haaland.
7. Williams held his own.
8. We picked up no injuries.
9. A great learning experience…that we got out of the way early in the season. It’s the toughest fixture for any team in the EPL.
10. We play Bournemouth at home in our next game 👍🏻
posted on 31/8/22
Well said.
posted on 1/9/22
We lost 6-0 and only 1 booking, that was a silly trip from a striker tracking back!
That tells me we accepted our fate probably before the start of the game!
maybe this way it’s easier put to bed and move on to Bournemouth which is of course a far more important game 👍
posted on 1/9/22
Was great to see you back last night, with fantastic support. Just disappointed you weren’t playing in red. Good luck for the rest of the season.
posted on 1/9/22
Remember folks, less than a year ago we lost 0-4 AT HOME to Fulham
By comparison, this was not a disaster
Just hope Cooper can get this out of their system and ready for the Bournemouth game
I’d also really like to see Surridge start somewhere
posted on 1/9/22
Not sure five at the back was the way for you guys to go, it gave us the midfield and left you without an outlet and your strikers isolated.
Think you’ll be fine this season though, Coopers a great coach and you’ve bought well.
posted on 1/9/22
comment by caniggiaforforest (U6917)
posted 12 hours, 27 minutes ago
MGW, Kouyate, Freuler and Worrall were very poor today. But no one played well, even Henderson. Just got to move on and forget that game. They are far too good for us. I couldn’t care less if we win next game.
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Henderson was going to have a (relatively) bad game at some point. Glad it was last night. 3-0 or 6-0, does it matter?
posted on 1/9/22
Five games gone, four points on the board. Forget about those games; the next five games are much more important and could define our season.
Eight points from the next five games and we will have passed our first benchmark and be sitting comfortably mid-table.
posted on 1/9/22
A midfield that didn’t have KDB for an hour, that at least was a blessing. With him it may have been double figures, he’s that good. Lessons are there to be learnt, lets see if we have learned from that, it wasn’t a masterclass as City didn’t need to get out of second gear, Pep was obviously feeling generous, for which i for one am grateful.
posted on 1/9/22
I was watching Pep through out the game from where I was sitting had a good view of him. He certainly didn’t look like he was being generous he was driving for more goals right until the last!
I actually really like him, his passion is unreal
Also with Cooper I think one point at 6-0 we broke and Awoniyi was offside and the frustration for Cooper boiled over and he had a right rant!
Both showed an desire to win each moment of a game regardless of the bigger picture which is what you want to see