Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United (19/08/23)

[The Prophet]

People going on like we aren't playing the dominant force in Europe

 

They've only done this to Real Madrid, Bayern, Arsenal, etc.

 

But stop them creating space, stop being rushed on the ball, be more incisive, basically do what almost every team in Europe has failed to do at the Etihad for a good year.

 

[Pilko]

Feel like Almiron's lack of quality is really hurting us here. We're getting plenty of the ball down that right flank and it's fizzling out into nothing, bar that cross Trippier got across a minute or two ago.

 

Good goal by City but Alvarez had far too much space to line the shot up; Joelinton slow to get back and too much space between Burn and the centre backs.

 

Foden is fast turning into one of those players who saves their best top drawer performances for when we play them. Bit like Ozil used to for Arsenal.

[SiLvOR]

Not an utter disaster, but very painful seeing us given the runaround so much. We've obviously been battered far worse here, and we're not out of this yet, but we need to get out of our heads a bit I feel

[Kanj]

Just now, Aiston said:

Almiron literally the only player moving around the pitch to try get himself open for a pass....gets heavily criticised for it. The hate for him on here

 

the effort is fine the execution is shite 

[MrRaspberryJam]

Thought we’d be pressing all over them like we normally do. Didn’t think we’d change our game plan. 
 

thankfully have some very good options from the bench this season. 

[JUICE690]

Just now, Rich said:

They’re so good

And so dangerous. Just need a sniff of goal and, bam!

[Cronky]

Every game that City play ends up looking like this. Even against the likes of Real. So difficult to get the ball off them and then keep it.

 

We just have to hope they don't score again and tire.

[Geordie Boyo]

Still fucked off for that booking on Tonali. Barely a foul let along a booking.

 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Geordie Boyo

[Miggys First Goal]

They’re too good. 

[Pixelphish]

Think I'm coming round to the fact they're ruthlessly boring.

[joeyt]

Think it's obviously frustrating that when Gordon drags Walker into the middle pitch then the space is available down the left wing but Burn just doesn't have the ability or pace to exploit it

 

City have passed it really well from the back mind

[alexf]

Our formation looks abit archaic when up again a Pep team. They just had the extra man all over the pitch and have us well scouted which to be fair probably isn't too difficult as we never change. 

 

But expected abit more energy. Dunno if it's just cus City are so good at keeping the ball but we look really slow to react and press the man in possession. 

 

We also rush the ball way more than them and try to force the forward pass. We could learn from them in terms of being patient and waiting for the gaps to appear. 

[Andy84]

Still in it 

[midds]

City seem happy to play keep ball and make us work, very few stoppages in that half. They even let us have a bit of the ball in safe areas to keep the game ticking along and deny us the breaks in play we got most of last season, Pep's not dft. They may have a few out but they still look great and we just need to hang in and stay in it as long as possible. We'll need to rest a few too for the last 20, we've more important games to think about in the next 4 weeks 

[ElDiablo]

Foden and Walker's movement causing all sorts of problems.

 

Not bad overall, perfect finish away from keeping them at bay and 0-0.

[Aiston]

Longstaff/ Anderson would be better against City, we don't really need Joelinton's physicality.

[Shays Given Tim Flowers]

Miley for Joelinton 

[Gawalls]

Some seriously over the top reactions here - this was always a free hit.

[Ste]

I don’t think we’ve been timid, I think City are putting on a clinic. We can’t get near them and they’re defending so well when we have possession. 

[Miggys First Goal]

Let’s look on the bright side, a few years ago and we’d already be three or four down. 

[HawK]

1 minute ago, Willow said:

Seems like a few fan expectations went awry after the 5-1 villa win, christ

 

Not seen any of those posts myself to be honest, think most are just disappointed with a few individual performances which is making it hard for the team to gain a foothold.

[looneytoon]

Joelinton hungover after being selected for Brazil team yesterday? Certainly playing like it

[54]

From the little of what I've seen, Man City are really up for this, they are so switched on, and taking this as seriously as they can. Almost like they're playing Liverpool a few years back, or a Champions League quarter, they're not going through to motions like they would it it was Burnley or Brentford turning up.

 

They've given us the utmost respect, treating us as a genuine threat and as such are making sure they dominate this, forcing us into mistakes, every pass is pinpoint and they're suffocating us.

[Holloway]

Bruno's complaint of feeling like a boy given the runaround against these kind of holding up, except for mebbies 10 minutes

[Smal]

Just now, joeyt said:

Think it's obviously frustrating that when Gordon drags Walker into the middle pitch then the space is available down the left wing but Burn just doesn't have the ability or pace to exploit it

 

City have passed it really well from the back mind

Burn can’t go forward though really. His cover is needed defensively. It’s Joelinton’s job to overlap Gordon today I think, he’s just looked bizarrely lethargic.