To be honest Ripley I was flicking between the Arsenal and Dortmund game as well so I missed the reason you refer to.

I watched the last 20 minutes of the City game and all I could pick up was Gary Neville go on about how terrible zonal marking besides the fact that 4 of the top 6 teams in the premiership use it.I dont think the change in defence cost City the game.The game was well and triully lost by then

So we've now established that you didn't watch all of City's game.

I do not share your opinion on Dzeko. You feeling it necessary to having to resort to such hyperbole only serves to weaken your own opinion in regards to his effectiveness (or lack of).

You also say that you think it is easier to get points away from home in City's group "because you just sit back let the home team have a go and hit them on the break". Yet that very approach was City's downfall in this game - they sat back and didn't take the game to Ajax. City did play higher up the pitch at the start of the second half, but never once did we try to dictate the pace or possession of the game. In that respect (Ajax dictating the pace especially) was the reason why they beat us convincingly.

Right after City scored, we have a great chance to score again, and for a brief moment had Ajax on the ropes. Yet as soon as that second chance to score (after our first goal) had passed, we sat back and allowed Ajax back into the game. In short, the very thing that you say we should have done (sit back and allow the home side to "have a go" ) was our undoing.

By the way, the reason why Tevez didn't start was because he ran his socks off against West Brom on Saturday, doing more than any other player throughout the duration of that game to account for us being a man down. He wasn't 100% match fit to start tonight for that very reason.

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I was under the impression that this kid (OP)was peculiar.

Alas, he is a Goo ner, it all makes sense now.

I endorse the notion that everyone is entitled to their own opinion; just as much as I reserve the right to think that the OP is talking out of his backside.

However, I do subscribe to his assertion that RVP is; a bit of a nob.

edit: a whole nob.

I'm very hurt Woohoo

"Who should be in the starting line-up?"

This is one of the issues that a team with too many stars, too many enlarged egos and too many diverse backgrounds, has to deal with. As pressure builds during the PL season, it will only get worse and Mancini needs to recognise this issue AND get his arms around it.

Having said that, Man. City should have had this game wrapped-up in the first 30 minutes. They are probably prematurely out of the tournament again this year.

comment by Globaled (U7198)
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It's the reason why Mancini's team bottled the league last season.... no wait....

Given your professional diagnoses of the situation, I'm sure Sheikh Mansour will be knocking on your door any time soon as Bob's eventual replacement.

I beg to differ Ripley, when City scored it was against the run of play.All 3 goals had little to do with City conceding posession to Ajax, they were always going to be more dominant, it was more of poor closing down for the 1st goal and why Hart didnt have a man on the post for the second I dont understand at all.

The 3rd goal was again poor closing down and I thought as much as Kompany was stuck on the turf Yaya and Barry could have done better in helping to close that space.

Im convinced its much easier to win games away from home when you defend well and take your opportunities on the break.Dortmund is not even the 2nd best team in Germany at the moment but they gave a masterclass at the Etihad because the situation suited the formation Klopp set.

Watch them at home and you will see they arent as classy as they were that night.It brings that night in Madrid into perspective again, when Korolov scored the 2nd goal City should have held on to the 3 points.Tough champions league groups are like world cup groups you got to get the points in the 1st 2 games otherwise a comeback becomes almost impossible.

Mathematically City are still in this and if you can beat Real at home I guess nothing can stop you from beating Ajax and possibly sneaking a win against Dortmund but I suspect the Dortmund game will be a draw and you will possibly beat Real and Ajax.

8 points which is not the worst thing but it comes down to those 1st 2 games.

By the way regarding Dzeko Im all for giving players a chance especially when they put their hand up but I thought last nights game was too important and tactically tevez playing close to Samir and Aguero would have posed more questions to the dutch team.

I hope they retain him at least till the end of the year.That way if he doesnt take his chance then maybe Mancini wont have to answer questions about whether he is being unfair to him when Tevez and Aguero are clearly better players.

By the way I think Chelsea might join you out of the group stages then I guess the whole issue of money wont be relevant at all.Im confident Shakhter will win their home game against Juve which gives them 10 points.So 2nd place is either Juve or Chelsea, tight call but Juve do have that home game!

As good as Ajax were in possession, defensively they look very very suspect. When City could be bothered, they went through their defence with ease tbf

Mario didn't get long but I have to agree with Boris (call the press). Balo sulked because Kolarov took the freekick.

U actually did ur club a favour allow u to focus on just the PL like last year you guys arent ready to challange on multiple front like Man U and Chelsea

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Scrummy, I'm sorry, but you've just given yourself away big time. As a result, I have absolutely no desire to engage in any further discussion with you. You are a waste of people's time here.

Ripley, what u talking about?

Who will you be watching this weekend scrummy? Arsenal or City

Hope it's arsenal