Man City away post match sulk

[Exiled_red]

For me the issue for discussion is why a player should serve a 3 match ban for an accident? The journalists should be making this the point. I know it won't change the rule now but pressure could force the FA to change the rule in future. This game has gone.

IMO alot of people are focusing on the lack of intent and that doesn't really come into it. I don't think that you can argue that it wasn't dangerous play, his foot was high and he endangered an opponent - that was proved by the injury that the guy suffered, I don't like judging a challenge based on how injured someone is or isn't but in this case it shows that it was dangerous and under the rules that makes it a red card. I don't think you can really argue with that. There was no intent for Mane to injure the guy and I'm fairly sure that in the same situation 90%+ of players would do make the same challenge, but that doesn't make it any less dangerous.

I guess that I am probably in the minority here but I don't have a problem with a ban for violent conduct or dangerous play being more than one game. I think that the FA should evaluate whether it should be a 2, 3 or 4 game ban in such circumstances rather than the automatic 3 game (starting point) ban that it seems to be. What I think should be addressed is the fact that people who deliberately go out to injure people only get the same 3 match ban, I think that people who deliberately stamp on people or similar should be looking at much longer bans.

[Buzzo]

What the **** was Matip doing for Aguero's first goal?

Watching both he and Klavan were culpable on that one.

In terms of actual humpings, I saw us lose 4-1 to Luton on the Astro turf back in the 80's. My first game watching my heros

Didn't we also get pumped by Coventry another time with Peter Ndolvu scoring 4 or 5?

It happens.

[Exiled_red]

This may be a fairly old school opinion but I don't think that the constant changing of the back 5 helps. The defence needs to develop an understanding and play as a unit making a couple of changes between games doesn't help. I can understand the need to swap out the young fullbacks (TAA and Gomez) with Clyne injured, but we should at least keep the same keeper and centre backs and try to develop and understanding there.

[rodo]

Watching both he and Klavan were culpable on that one.

In terms of actual humpings, I saw us lose 4-1 to Luton on the Astro turf back in the 80's. My first game watching my heros

Didn't we also get pumped by Coventry another time with Peter Ndolvu scoring 4 or 5?

It happens.

the ndolvu hat trick was a 3-2 home defeat the 5-1 i referred to earlier in the thread cos i went and fat arse micky quinn had scored a few and they hadnt one for ages sadly at my age I have seen us get a few hidings

[Buzzo]

This is a decent article offering some perspective.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41215027

[danperkins]

This may be a fairly old school opinion but I don't think that the constant changing of the back 5 helps. The defence needs to develop an understanding and play as a unit making a couple of changes between games doesn't help. I can understand the need to swap out the young fullbacks (TAA and Gomez) with Clyne injured, but we should at least keep the same keeper and centre backs and try to develop and understanding there.

we have been changing our backline around looking for answers for years. Putting aside the obvious personnel deficiencies, that lack of consistency in picking a settled backline is bound to have a massive effect on the balance back there.

[Shaggy]

How do can's stats compare to the ghosts of henderson and Wijnaldum?

Also terrible. They won one tackle between the three of them.

Thing is it's rare for Can and Henderson. Not for Gini.

[BigChief]

The way we play will always brings blame on the defenders. To play this way we need our midfielders in top form (thus winning those second balls and not allowing Fernandino and De Bruin time to make measured passes through the middle so easily) or world class defenders that often play in these systems.

Jones and Bailly as our centre backs would be ripped to shreds every week for example. The root of our problems lie with Hendo and Gini getting back to form and fitness post haste.

[Kenneth]

Basically, Henderson isn't good enough to control a game from the middle of the pitch. Laying off sideways passes and picking the ball up from the CBs isn't enough.

[Irishnev]

It was one of 'those' games - realistically we could have been 2 up before they scored. The red card then changed the game (obviously) - looking back on it I can understand why it was given but it doesn't take away from the fact that it was harsh. He did however kick him in the face! I saw people say on twitter that if he had gone at it with his head he'd probably have got there first and it would have been a red for Ederson - fine margins and all that.

I'm disappointed how we withered and lost the fight afterwards but City are the one team who can absolutely thump you when you are not at it and a man down. We just need to move on and forget about it. Our defence is a worry and the lack of a true DM showed yesterday because we gave City too much time in midfield - did anyone even try to kick KDB or Dilva?

Salah and Mane will be fresh for Sevilla and hopefully Phil will be feeding them. Salah needs to do some shooting practice as he missed some guiltedged chances.

The thing is that this doesn't feel as bad as a close 1 nil loss and our hardest game of the season is out of the way. 3 points off the top so no need to worry ��

[Exiled_red]

One thing that I wondered about is how much Mane is the player who kind of sets the tempo for our pressing and closing down, we said that Lallana was the one doing it last season and, obviously we had Suarez before that. I think that the team looks for someone to do that and give that never say die attitude and the fight for lost causes etc. After Mane went off the meek surrender that followed (judged by the fact that our entire CM won 1 tackle between the three of them in the entire game) and the lack of closing down or pressing the ball could have been caused by Mane (and Lallana's) absence in the side. We really lack leaders in the side and players with the right mentality. I know people have been calling Mane the black Suarez or similar but he really does have the same sort of mentality that Suarez had the playing on the edge, putting himself about and not worried about hurting himself. One thing that I haven't really seen mentioned is that both Mane and Ederson were fully committed to that challenge which is what you want, both of them must have known that they would get clattered by the other whether they won the ball or not which is the sort of committment that you want, unfortunately I don't think some players in our side have that level of comittment.

[Kenneth]

The professional foul rule forces strikers to go for as many close calls with the keeper as possible. Get their first and you've pretty much won the game for your team and the risks associated with getting their second aren't usually as severe as Mane suffered.

[gratziani]

Deffo feel like we have a team when it all goes well we look nigh on unbeatable

Just seemed to lose their focus with Mane going off , it looks like he is our kryptonite and when he doesn't play the team goes down a notch because of his pace and out ball.

What i have seen this year i would get Robertson in at left back and Milner at right back.

Get some solidness at the back with Lovren and Matip and settle on that until Clyne comes back.

[Irishnev]

Interesting stats below

[ame="https://twitter.com/dankennett/status/906836467430907906"]https://twitter.com/dankennett/status/906836467430907906[/ame]

[Snigger]

I blame Klopp has for this scoreline. 3 years to sort out a defence and he hasn't. Midfield has also been an issue.

The same midfield that bossed Arsenal though - just a bad day.