robsblubot

Dunno I like good players... isn't he one?

Please consider yourself flamed then. 😆 Honestly, he resembles Odoi a lot, which isn't a bad thing.. really! Odoi did not develop as well as we hoped, but he did show a lot of promise -- so much so it caught Bayern attention at some point. On the other hand, it's the same situ: as much promise as he shows in the vids, what he does from now on is far more important than what he's done so far. The life of an elite footballer.

It really wasn't (esp considering Haaland performance) if we had a solid team, say anything similar to the team that beat them in CL final (Haaland or not don't really care), at which point I'd agree with you that then the manager would have likely played a big part. With this roster? It was a big result considering the difference in quality of the starting XIs and even more so the players sitting on the bench. Kovacic was sitting on their bench, for ex. Our best attacking player is a 20yo who they decided to let go. Let me put it this way: regardless how we feel about the result, Poch moved farther from a sack, not closer, after drawing there. If he wins against Liverpool, much more possible now without Salah (and Jota) IMO, he will stay for sure.

well that's the fear factor 😆

Because their quick passing causes defenders to have to change direction often, which makes it more likely that they will lose their balance. City's attacking players are also pretty good in changing direction at pace esp FOdden.

Hopefully another stinker by Haaland. I already think he's not that great on the ball--his main virtues lie with off-the-ball movement and finishing--but that performance against us was incredibly bad. 😅

New injury then? He just played (and scored) after recovering from hammy. Much better chances if he does not play. It's a re-injury it seems.

They will play.

Mudryk and Madueke aren't tidy enough in their game (right now or ever); there would be a high risk of them getting pick pocketed and ruining everything. The others are just too young, too inexperienced, to play in a game like this. Try them elsewhere first. You did not like the fact City was unopposed when moving the football, and I don't like it either. The difference here is that I blame the club, not the manger for this. I look at this absolutely ridiculous bench and blame the club. I for one cannot imagine other mangers doing anything different. I mean the very best managers wouldn't come here anyway. Jose would've parked the bus way sooner eh.

Suspect physicality and height to handle high balls as he did in his very first intervention? Which of these players do you think should have been used in the dying moments of the match? Bettinelli, Gilchrist, Samuels-Smith, Harrison, Madueke, Mudryk

There is no such a thing esp not after the 5 subs what that did to the game's intensity. No football game end with the same starting XI these days. Players get tired, which can be a real risk against a team that play so wide and quick as City does. The home team make changes to seek the result and apply pressure in the final minutes -- city can often push the opposition into a half-line for some time. Crazy to criticize the manager after we get a point against City away from home. Are we now suggesting our roster IS REMOTELY similar to City's? really? Shall we go into names of the starting XI and their freaking bench for a reality check?

Exactly! Those two players should have never been part of the roster (IMO on loan), but since that’s what we’ve got on the bench, this was NOT the game for them. You need some to be neat and tidy on the ball otherwise City steals it from you and these players can't do that atm. I think folks criticizing the changes are ignoring the low quality sitting on the bench — both compared to city and our own bench from not that long ago. We are missing senior players who can come in and produce something consistently, which is what a game like this demands. For me the players who should've come on did, and then he closed shop with that he got, once City started piling up the pressure. Can't disagree with the strategy considering the distance between the rosters atm.

The short range finish he saved with his right leg was something else!

this. Opinions in hindsight are always right eh.

Great result! Excellent strategy in my book. The low block helped a number of players. is chilwell back?! That was his best game by far this season. we had an almost perfect game and we still needed Haaland to have a stinker of a game to get a point. That’s how good city is.

The team setup with low block also helps Jackson bc he got good pace and carries the ball well in counters.

Haakand is playing like shit so far.

I think the low block is helping Disasi who is not very pacey.

Don’t want to jinx it but gusto has been amazing against that strong left side of theirs.

That was excellent by sterling tbf nice pass by Jackson too

Sterling was offside

Poch deserves some credit here. This is a good team setup and an excellent strategy against a very tough opposition away from home. End of the day they are still better and are more likely to score, disrupt our game plan and win the match.

Enzo dropping back is causing them a lot of trouble. Wish he did more of this.

Too slow to control the football and apply the finish. Really not good enough by Jackson.

Sigh. If you think he’s one of the best mids in the world that’s hilarious indeed. Madrid is coming…. 😆 Once again I don’t give a shit about what Caicedo did at Brighton. Caicedo *NOW* is average at best for me. Future Caicedo, 2-3 years from now does not play -- this one does. Chelsea requires footballers with different characteristics than Brighton. Our scouting is done differently, or used to be. His amazing defending numbers at Brighton won’t translate here—thought that should be obvious by now. They are far more important to a team who defends and produces at lot of 50/50s than a team who keeps possession. going in circles here tho.