Post match thread v Man City

[McDermotX]

I agree with most of this

I thought he was below his usual high standards today, a bit sloppy in possession and nearly gifted a chance to Augero

You can handle the odd off day from him when he is normally so good

Agreed....thought Jose was looking under par in the first half, giving away the ball a fair bit which is very unusual, but still defensively strong when called upon. Even cut out a ball in the second half similar to the one for the Sturridge goal last week.

Much improved in the second half, making foraging runs, linking up with Downing and always available for the midfielders, but I just wish he was more confident with his shooting ability given some of the positions he finds himself in. Certainly I don't expect a John Arne level of shooting, but Enrique does come across as someone who should be very capable with his left foot.
Still......decent 7/10 performance in all.

[ronanm]

If we had a finisher..

[Roboklopp]

Aye, think we need one to be honest, even if AC does come good in the long run.

[RedReet]

lucas was superb, anyone else get annoyed by charlie 'one foot' adam he slows play down or makes the wrong pass too many times by the fact he has 1 foot, not good enough for a centre mid at his level, surely he must be working on it

If it wasn't for his ''one foot'' we wouldn't have scored and he almost scored minutes later with his imaginary foot. Was probably Hart's best save IMO.

What a bizarre post...

[Maxiedge]

Just had a quick glance at the Man City 'Blue Maroon' forum and I've never seen such a bitter bunch after a game. It's absolutely vile some of the **** their spouting. They've been completely spoiled by the spending of the new owners and have absolutley no class.

[PTP]

really enjoyed the game yesterday - feel a bit unlucky to not of won cause we battered them second half but city were still dangerous even when on the ropes due to the quality they had.

Just frustrating that we easily could have picked up 8 more points at home (utd/norwich/swansea/city) and we'd be right in the mix at the top - just a little bit of luck/bit of quality/killer instinct.

That was my one concern yesterday - at times, when city where applying pressure, certainly the first half - suarez was coming wide to get space, and was just so isolated, and our only real danger man.

get gerrard back in there and a striker who can can be be a consistent threat and we'll be looking good

[Chazza]

Just had a quick glance at the Man City 'Blue Maroon' forum and I've never seen such a bitter bunch after a game. It's absolutely vile some of the **** their spouting. They've been completely spoiled by the spending of the new owners and have absolutley no class.

This is the match report from the Official city website, when this is being peddled by the club then you cant expect much more from the fans

Joe Hart produced a brilliant display against Liverpool as ten-man City held on for 1-1 draw at Anfield.

The Blues had taken a first-half lead through skipper Vincent Kompany, but the hosts were gifted an equaliser within two minutes following an unfortunate Joleon Lescott own goal.

Though the Blues had chances to score again, Mario Balotelli’s late sending off meant it was backs-to-the wall stuff for the last ten minutes – and ultimately it was Hart’s heroics that preserved City’s unbeaten start to the season.

So often, in fact, have the Blues returned from Merseyside with nothing more than a chastising defeat that many supporters have annually written the match off before it was even played.

Not anymore. Those days are, hopefully, now consigned to history, but nonetheless – this was always going to be a stiff test of City’s title credentials.

With the 2-1 defeat to Napoli still fresh in the memory, Micah Richards and Gael Clichy were restored to the starting line-up along with Sergio Aguero, Gareth Barry and Samir Nasri.

Former City favourite Craig Bellamy withdrew from the squad following the tragic death of Wales boss Gary Speed and the one minute silence was impeccably observed by the sell-out crowd.

A few of the Liverpool players had been talking up the meeting between the teams in the Press - as you’d expect - with the odd line of ‘especially when you think of the money they’ve spent’ – or quotes to that effect.

If they were accurate, the fact is there was very little difference in terms of transfer fees paid between the two starting XIs – but such trivialities don’t make good headlines and as Mark Twain once said, “Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story. - Really?????

The Blues were the better team and on 31 minutes, that pressure was rewarded when Kompany rose to meet David Silva's corner and knock it past Pepe Reina in emphatic style – albeit via his shoulder!

However, the celebrations were cut short in the cruellest of circumstances with Lescott wafting out a leg and deflecting a wayward Charlie Adam shot past a stranded Hart for a Liverpool equaliser within less than 90 seconds.

The hosts, buoyed by the goal, then almost went ahead after Jordan Henderson and Glenn Johnson both went close, but Aguero also could have restored the Blues’ lead seconds before the break.

With Luis Suarez giving a good impression of a dying swan under almost every challenge, as well as asking Martin Atkinson to show a yellow card to his tormentors, the City players’ patience was being tested at times.

Barry, Kompany and Balotelli found their way into the official’s notebook while Skrtel and Henderson’s persistent fouling went unpunished – as did the infuriating fawnings of Suarez. Barry now faces a one-match suspension as the result of his caution.

In a frantic last ten minutes, Balotelli was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on Skrtel, reducing the Blues to ten men, though Silva still had a chance to grab all three points but with just Reina to beat, took too long to fire a weak shot towards goal.

Hart then made two stunning saves in succession at the death to preserve a hard-earned point for City – but a welcome 47th birthday present for Mancini nonetheless.

[RichC]

the first tackle on Suarez where Kompany went straight through the back of him set the tone for the day - the bile that Alan Smith spouted about Suarez being clever getting the freekicks was disgraceful, any other player it would have just been "a clear foul" compelte agenda against him at the moment - very annoying!

[Maxiedge]

This is the match report from the Official city website, when this is being peddled by the club then you cant expect much more from the fans

That is pure and utter drivel. What a bunch of classless pricks.

What about Aguero asking for our player to be booked? I'm not condoning Suarez doing it but, if your own player does it as well, then just leave it and don't mention it in the match report.

[baronvonskidmark]

Thought that we played really well yesterday and deserved to win. Adam has improved immensely and he seems far more physically fit than previously. When he got booked I did wonder if it was going to be a repeat of Spurs when he got sent off, but he seems to be not only fitter but a bit smarter with making tackles. He also seems to be covering more ground much more quickly - he was making runs into the box but also getting back to defend. I also think it's great that he talks us up a lot - for example last week he was asked if beating Chelsea at the bridge was a fantastic result for us, but he said that we are a big club with good players who expect to win every game. Well in lad!

I think that Bellamy or Maxi would have made a difference and part of me wonders if having an orthodox left winger is so crucial if we have a left back like Enrique who is always bombing on making runs and can get crosses into the box.

[Lecter]

This is the match report from the Official city website, when this is being peddled by the club then you cant expect much more from the fans

Mental arithmetic clearly isnt a strong point amongst the City faithful

[Mostar]

Thought that we played really well yesterday and deserved to win. Adam has improved immensely and he seems far more physically fit than previously. When he got booked I did wonder if it was going to be a repeat of Spurs when he got sent off, but he seems to be not only fitter but a bit smarter with making tackles. He also seems to be covering more ground much more quickly - he was making runs into the box but also getting back to defend. I also think it's great that he talks us up a lot - for example last week he was asked if beating Chelsea at the bridge was a fantastic result for us, but he said that we are a big club with good players who expect to win every game. Well in lad!

I think that Bellamy or Maxi would have made a difference and part of me wonders if having an orthodox left winger is so crucial if we have a left back like Enrique who is always bombing on making runs and can get crosses into the box.

I think so too.

Craig's pace and trickery and Maxi's intelligence, 1-2 touch passing and very good understanding with Suarez would have made just enough of difference yesterday imo to get us the win.

[Maxiedge]

Every single match report I read mentions City tiring because of the midweek Champions League game.

Firstly, wasn't the whole point of them spending ludacris amounts of money was so that they have a squad that can deal with two games a week?

Secondly, isn't the mid-week Champions League excuse just becoming a bit old? It's part and parcel of the game and if you don't like it then don't finish in the top 4.

[Neil Young]

Every single match report I read mentions City tiring because of the midweek Champions League game.

Firstly, wasn't the whole point of them spending ludacris amounts of money was so that they have a squad that can deal with two games a week?

Secondly, isn't the mid-week Champions League excuse just becoming a bit old? It's part and parcel of the game and if you don't like it then don't finish in the top 4.

It certainly worked for us on Sunday.

[Chazza]

I think so too.

Craig's pace and trickery and Maxi's intelligence, 1-2 touch passing and very good understanding with Suarez would have made just enough of difference yesterday imo to get us the win.

And he would have wanted to put on a performance against them probably more than any other team, given the way he was cold shouldered by Mancini