Vs Manchester City (A): Post Match Thread

[BobTheCharmer]

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

Hardly.

[Gazzla]

We got bitch slapped good and proper. A lot of new players to integrate but still have Balotelli and Lallana to add to our attack. Bad day at the office, we'll get better the more we play and the more our defence has time to get used to each other. Move on and give spurs a good kicking

[Zapater]

Despite that being fairly awful, there were a few positives.

We played well in the first half before we conceded. If we held on it could've been a different second half. Obviously it's going to take us time, but I think we'll be better against teams which aren't City especially away.

I'm not sure what Mignolet was up to in the third goal, I'm really not a fan of him altogether, I wouldn't expect any professional keeper to be doing what he did with that goal.

We had more chances than them and if we finished properly we could easily have gotten 2-4 goals. The game was already gone, but why the **** didn't Lambert shoot at the end? On days where we defend better that should be good for at least a point against strong opponents.

Our big players didn't help us out today with the likes of Henderson in particularly being very average. He looked very slow in possession. A few times in the box he prevented us from getting a clear cut chance. Markovic was very promising, look forward seeing him more and how he develops.

Really disappointing game and underwhelming performance, but still a few positives for the games going forward. Would like to see Sakho and Manquillo in for Skrtel and Johnson which could very much happen depending on the extent on their knocks.

[chadrtc]

That was painful to watch. We gifted City 2 goals, Ming's positioning for the third was shocking. If you gift the best team in the league a head start then you're always going to lose.

No sign of us being any better defensively, but I actually thought we were the better side for a fair chunk of the game tonight... It doesn't get us any points though.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Jovetic is gonna have a Suarez-like impact for City. City is the team to beat with the kind of subs they can call on.

[Rich]

Markovic reminds me of Patrick Berger.

only 10x faster. Looks a very exciting player.

[Fosterbloke]

I wouldn't drop Lovren.

??

I was thinking Lovren Sakho at the back!

[spud_gun]

Anyone else feel that Gerrard doesn't have the legs for a proper defensive midfield role?

[Leyton388]

Its going to take something special for a club to be able to compete with the financial doping of city or Chelsea.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Our defence will be tested again next week because it'll be changed around again due to injuries. Must as well refocus on attack and consider the diamond with Mario and Daniel.

A win against Spurs would really, really be nice.

[Fosterbloke]

Its going to take something special for a club to be able to compete with the financial doping of city or Chelsea.

We have great players too and we came 2nd last season so I don't go with financial doping reasoning at all.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Anyone else feel that Gerrard doesn't have the legs for a proper defensive midfield role?

He isn't playing a defensive role though. He's a deep-lying midfielder who orchestrates play from deep. But when his passes aren't clicking he's a bit of a liability.

[JohnDoe]

??

I was thinking Lovren Sakho at the back!

Well...

Skrtel was our best defender today. I wouldn't drop him either

[Rich]

He isn't playing a defensive role though. He's a deep-lying midfielder who orchestrates play from deep. But when his passes aren't clicking he's a bit of a liability.

He wasn't great tonight and if he doesn't dictate play then he becomes something of a passenger.

Wasn't impressed with his set pieces either.

[john316]

Well...

Skrtel was our best defender today. I wouldn't drop him either

Sums up the game really. He was woeful positionally at times. The situation where Moreno had to come round on a last ditch cover was due to Skrtel wandering off trying to win a ball he could never win. He does it so often where he either gets caught out of position or just fouls the opponent in a dangerous area.