Vs Manchester City (A): Post Match Thread

[Buzzo]

Some encouraging signs, some worrying signs.

Shame we had to play City so early in the season - too early to make any real judgement.

Moreno looks like he could be a find (mistake aside).
Markovic looked decent as well.

Not sure about Skrtel and Lovren as a back 2...

...Dunno. City looked awesome at times though.

[dom9]

OK -let's look at why the defence was not operating as well as we'd have liked. Half of the defenders who played are new. It will take time for them to gel, settle in, get used to playing with each other.

I think our two best defenders today were Skrtel and Johnson (puts crash helmet on) and that probably is no coincidence. Neither were bad today.

Some people wanted Manquillo in as well. A defence of 3 new players against the best attack in the league? That would have been pretty suicidal. As it was, with 2 new defenders, it was still an order too tall.

I have a feeling that it will be some time before Brendan has our defence playing as he would like. So I'm expecting quite a few more errors in the short term. It's the price of reconstruction.

The only thing I am confused about is why Sahko is not playing. I think only Brendan can explain that one.

[Chazza]

First 35 mins we were very good controlling the game and getting into good positions but couldn't get the final pass through and were reluctant to shoot from outside the box.

The goal changed the game and not many teams come from behind against City at the Etihad.

Not sure if the Lovren and Skrtel partnership is a long term solution and i would like to see Sakho in the side soon.

[Exiled_red]

I thought that we were the better side for the first 35 mins or so, the first goal was probably against the run of play, City really gave us the run around, but defensively we were poor tonight.

I thought that Moreno looked promising but it was a terrible error for the goal, hopefully he will learn from that.

Markovic showed some promising stuff when he came on and I thought me might have got another goal and made a game of it, until we went down to 10 men.

Lambert got his goal, which will hopefully be his role this season to come off the bench and get goals.

Can barely had time to make an impact.

Lovren I am not convinced is a defensive leader, his positioning has been poor at times and doesn't look to be organising the defence. We badly need some organisation there, it's not clear if that is his role or not.

[Rigadon]

Fair result. Scoreline was a bit harsh.

Thought we played well, in the first half, but City looked stronger and comfortable, throughout.

[Rich]

Cautious optimism, plenty of positives, even if a few worrying signs. Losing away to City will not have any bearing on our performance this season IMO.

Moreno and Markovic going forward both look great with sensational pace already seen. That first half we controlled for long periods, admittedly without creating too many clear cut chances.

Coutinho has started the season poorly, Sturridge has been isolated and defensively there plenty of work to be done, our midfield didn't quite function correctly either with Gerrard ineffectual and Allen struggling to impress.

Obvious we've got Balotelli to integrate but it looks like we need to find a way to have Sterling playing centrally, Markovic on the left and play both Sturridge and Balotelli upfront.

[kingfunk]

We had more attempts on goal than city tonight, they scored 3 of 4 chances.

[Slinky Skills]

TBH, I'd rather we played Can in Stevie's position and let Stevie play at the tip of the diamond, he can still be a threat I reckon.

Really frustrating game, we looked so good and were unlucky with the first and then poor for the other two goals.

Need to be more clinical but I can see us struggling for goals this year and we still don't look great at the back.

Johnson's been ****e so glad he's out injured, ****ing unlucky with injuries. Coutinho was dross again.

[Red_Polo]

We had more attempts on goal than city tonight, they scored 3 of 4 chances.

They were better chances.

[Leyton388]

i didn't expect much from this game tbh and more hopeful. Now if the same happens at spurs then we really are ****ed.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

TBH, I'd rather we played Can in Stevie's position and let Stevie play at the tip of the diamond, he can still be a threat I reckon.

No way. Gerrard can't shoot at will anymore with his groin the way it is. He can't offer that same threat, the same mobility, agility and power in that position.

[danperkins]

Yikes!

City didn't even play well and they cut through whenever they bothered their arses. Felt for Moreno, first 35 mins he looked composed and solid... after that he had a mare and looked a bit lost. Lovren & Coutinho for me were shocking. Lovren is meant to be the organiser of the defence, but sure there's no point in shouting at people to get in their positions when you're all over the place yourself... he was awful. No doubts people will find some way to blame Skrtel but he didn't put a foot wrong tonight.

Wouldn't read too much in that result, their just a better side than us & they are virtually the same side as last season.. so their settled and have that continuity. We are trying to adapt without Suarez & are have made big changes to our back line which is always a danger.

Markovic looked bright, thought Allen did very well tonight. Hendo,Stevie & Johnson could have been sitting in the stands with Balotelli smoking the sheesha. We'll get better.

[Icon]

First loss and we virtually written off by some....

[ChesterDave]

They were better chances.

Sturridge missed a free header (well it should have been a header but it just hit him) from about 8 yards and Lambert passed into space at 3-1.

We had decent chances too.

[dom9]

Markovic reminds me of Patrick Berger.