Mhsc

Honestly when did bringing on more defenders to try to be solid and hold out for 3pts last work as a technique? Not since Conte or Mourinho's era. I have always found it baffling. Attacking is part of defense because by being a threat you also limit what they are prepared to commit to going forward. Against a team like City it is borderline moronic to think they wont score if you just let them attack you over and over.

And we concede. No threat going forward since the subs. Made it too easy for them tbh

We are always the side that turns another teams run of bad form into the beginning of a nice win streak for them. But I am the reckless kind of optimistic that still believes this time will be different.

You think so? I would be shocked if they sacked him, as frustrating as everything is, sacking another manager would just be more of the shambles they supposedly are against.

I wonder if our recruitment team or Poch are closer to the sack atm?

I've pretty much tuned out of the season now, life too busy, do we have any positives from this group? Petrovic any good? Nkunku?

Sterling our only guy in his prime and it shows

Same old defensive problems and refereeing problems, but at least we look somewhat dangerous and fluid going forward.

Have said it so many times but VAR like this will never work, give the managers a challenge system and detail review if they use it, not these super frequent disruptions that don't resolve anything and ruin games both getting the decisions themselves wrong and also constantly interrupting the flow of the game.

We are pretty boring to watch aren't we?

Not even slightly his fault?

Thank you for your service Vesper

And yet he's been our best player in some games. What I think is fair is to say he's not very consistent - not yet at least.

I'm not that fussed about his pass to Rice, a mistake is a mistake and everyone including the world's best make them, but he was poor for the whole game and couldn't find a way to raise his level which is disappointing. Looked like a man that hadn't played in years. Wonder what's going on there? Lacking in confidence? Still adapting to the football? Unlike some on here I have the feeling there is a really great keeper in him and we just need to be patient.

Absolutely gutted we couldn't see it through. Based on what we saw they don't have a chance in hell at the title. Improvement in the team has been good and have the feeling we will trend towards top 4 as the season progresses.

Sanchez and Colwill both look really rusty, Mudryk has been a little anonymous but overall pretty good performance so far - some people really stepping up so far. Still a long way to go.

Should have given that as a pen live it was obvious, biased ref as usual

Ah looks like Cole Palmer playing as a false 9 as he did for City sometimes. That's more encouraging.

No CF, Saka vs Cucu, Thiago playing in a 4 ATB. We could ship a lot of goals today unless some people put in some really surprising performances. But there is still hope for now, lets see what happens.

Looks like a really weak side to me. Maybe the worst lineup we've put out since Potter's reign. But lets see what happens. Poch has surprised me positively a few times...

Some of Poch's big decisions increasingly getting vindicated: faith in Gallagher and Disasi, Colwill as a LB, playing Sterling through bad form into good form. It is interesting watching it develop because this "be patient and give it time and it will start to work" thing is super frustrating in the short term but if he gets more of these calls right than he gets wrong we'll end up in pretty good shape over time.

Lets keep going and try to get 6 or 7 and really make a statement, get some confidence into these lads too

Come on VAR. Stop it. You can see they're trying SO hard to find a way to stop us.

Luck has really turned last couple of games - total fluke Broja finish last game and now this own goal from a Sterling cross. About time things balanced out a bit.

Never known a great player that was laughing and smiling after missing chance after chance after chance like it is all a joke on the playground