Man City Post Match Thread

[shen]

2 hours ago, Kitchandro said:

Mahrez has offered nothing this season so any criticism of Gray's drawbacks are not really relevant. I'm talking about end product here, not step overs and swivels. 

 

Gray is not a perfect player, he is a talented, young player with huge potential, which will never be fulfilled if he doesn't play.

 

People need to stop thinking of the Mahrez of last season and judge whether his performances this season have warranted a constant starting place ahead of Gray.

 

And then you need to also ask the same question for the time period of the last 7-8 games of the season - considering we've been pretty much safe, he's very likely to leave regardless and Gray is likely to leave if he can't a look in.

 

The answer to both of those questions is quite evidently no.

 

It is shocking short term and more importantly long term planning from the club to keep playing Mahrez instead of Gray at this point. 

 

 

I accept your point of view, but I just cannot agree with you.

 

Firstly, Mahrez' end product, as I and others have already pointed out in this thread and others over the past few months, is still superior to virtually any other player's end product in the team with probably the exception of Vardy. This is despite Mahrez being below his best as everyone will concede. And I will also concede that Mahrez has deserved to be subbed off in several games this season. Yet, I find myself looking back on games and seeing that Mahrez is still a potent weapon who WILL create a chance or two a game at the least.

 

Secondly, it IS relevant which drawbacks Gray has because if he's to replace Mahrez or Albrighton, then he needs to show he's capable of offering similar levels of impact as them. He quite simply hasn't done this and the reason is the aforementioned drawbacks. Yes, he needs game time, but he's actually had quite a few starts and a lot more cameos to affect games.

I've not seen evidence that he's good enough to be a regular starter at this level and while you claim people should stop remembering what Mahrez did last season, I could equally claim that you should start paying the guy some respect, especially in light of his achievements here.

 

Thirdly, we've only been safe for a very short time, not "7-8 games", and I fully agree with Shakespeare to field the strongest team when possible. Mahrez hasn't been sold yet and the sort of form we've been in could actually be a factor in convincing him to stay with us. If he does leave, then that opens up the opportunity for Gray next season so why are you worried? Do you really think that a couple of end-of-season dead rubbers are what's going to convince Gray or Shakespeare? Will those games show a marked improvement in Gray's performances? I somehow doubt that very much.

 

If Gray is sulking, tough shit. He's competing for a place with the current Player of the Year no less and a resurgent Albrighton. We are not a small-time charity club. We're the defending champions of England. He should look at impressing with the minutes he gets and show Shakespeare what he's about in training. If he's not prepared to do that, then I would actually take your advice to potential Mahrez suitors and apply them to Gray suitors.

 

 

[Captain...]

The ref made mistakes, but they were hardly glaring errors. I had no idea why we were protesting the first goal. Ok Sterling was marginally offside and he wasn't offside when he was originally blocking Kasper's view. 

 

The penalty, if he sees the double contact he has to disallow it.

 

The elbow, he just didn't see it.

 

Thought we were great after going 2 goals down. Really took it to Man City and we deserved something out the game. We didn't get anything, that's the way it goes sometimes.

[UPinCarolina]

32 minutes ago, Chester Dontlie said:

Cheers mate!  Congratulations on finding your Mrs, hopefully you'll manage to convert her if you haven't done that already!

Also, that Shinji's goal!!

 

 

She was happier than I was, and I was prancing about.

[WigstonWanderer]

1 hour ago, Captain... said:

The ref made mistakes, but they were hardly glaring errors. I had no idea why we were protesting the first goal. Ok Sterling was marginally offside and he wasn't offside when he was originally blocking Kasper's view. 

 

The penalty, if he sees the double contact he has to disallow it.

 

The elbow, he just didn't see it.

 

Thought we were great after going 2 goals down. Really took it to Man City and we deserved something out the game. We didn't get anything, that's the way it goes sometimes.

Interfering with an opponent If an attacker interferes with an opponent by either preventing them from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which deceives or distracts an opponent, then they are offside.

[Blue ROI]

Had a bad bit of luck with the Man City 1st goal and Riyad's penalty miss but if these things went against us its best that it happened today with little to play for.

 

What happened Albrighton was disgraceful though. If it was Simpson dishing it out its a red all day long.

 

Started off badly but we did alright after the 2nd goal.Had a good laugh at the okazaki bashing before that goal!

 

Felt that a point was there for the taking at least. We dominated large parts of the second half and given we were somewhat depleted it would have been a great result to come away with something. Our performance, workrate and spirit was very pleasing.

 

As good as Shakespeare has been the away form against the top teams has been the one flaw in his campaign. There is hope though when we get ourselves together in the summer that we can rally for another strong half to the season next year.

[Aidan]

10 hours ago, Gav_LCFC14 said:

After playing Man City and Arsenal in the past month, its fair to say these "Big" clubs have no class at all, both are jokes of a club.

absolutely!!!!!!!! The "Mighty"  Gardiola panicky and begging the 4th official to whistle the end of the game at around 95 mins. Big teams indeed!

[Vardinio'sCat]

 

 Thought Amartey looked ok when he came on, did pass it straight out once tho.

 

[Beechey]

3 minutes ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

 

 Thought Amartey looked ok when he came on, did pass it straight out once tho.

 

 

I mean at least I can remember Amartey touching the ball.

[Vardinio'sCat]

8 minutes ago, Beechey said:

I mean at least I can remember Amartey touching the ball.

 

Amartey has played well in the midfield before, although it does seem like a long time ago now...

[Beechey]

4 minutes ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

 

Amartey has played well in the midfield before, although it does seem like a long time ago now...

 

Was meaning how invisible Andy King seemed, Amartey was better I think

[brucey]

Well it's going to be Amartey-Ndidi for the last 2 games as everyone else is injured, so we'll see how they do...

[Vardinio'sCat]

1 minute ago, Beechey said:

Was meaning how invisible Andy King seemed, Amartey was better I think

 

AK 'blends' in even when he is on the ball.  It is a lot easier to pick out Wilf and DA, and I often wonder how much this skews the way we look at players.

[Vardinio'sCat]

8 minutes ago, brucey said:

Well it's going to be Amartey-Ndidi for the last 2 games as everyone else is injured, so we'll see how they do...

 

Think of all the headers we'll win...

[brucey]

1 minute ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

Think of all the headers we'll win...

Ndidi's heading in the box always makes me slightly nervous. I get the feeling he'll header an own goal from an opponent's set piece at some point.

[Dan]

6 hours ago, Poznan34 said:

We've lost half of our songbook with Ranieri going and no longer being champions. 

We lost the bulk of it when our away ends decided by and large they'd sing about 5 times a game.

[Dan]

Tell you what, we have had some pretty shocking luck away from home this season haven't we?

 

I'm not trying to make excuses as our organisation away from home has been dreadful all season, it's improved under Shakespeare but we're still a little negative for my liking at times.

 

Today, that farce of a first goal, that penalty from us.

 

Arsenal, a huge deflected goal with about 2 minutes left.

 

Burnley, a handball goal with about 2 minutes left.

 

Stoke, the Vardy red card that was arguably not even a foul.

 

Spurs, an absolute nothing penalty given to them.

 

We've not had much fall our way on the road this season, for all of our own flaws.

 

Oh and of course, Atletico.

[CosbehFox]

Shame it took us forty minutes to realise we were had a chance of getting something. Paid them far too much respect earlier doors.

 

We made it an enjoyable contest which was great to watch. Spoke to some Man City fan who said that was a lot better than that 5-0 the week before.

 

We had two decisions which were borderline/some give, some didn't. Just one of those things with luck what occurs. Most of all it should tell the squad (and a lot of back up players) we are decent and can be good enough.

 

Chilwell that's by far the best I have seen him play. Absolutely superb. Kept Sterling quiet and great on the ball.

[CosbehFox]

13 hours ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

really is a shame what a toxic club Man City are, I had some affection for them when we had the FA Cup tie a few years ago and genuinely liked Mancini. Seems as soon as they won their first title they just sold their soul and just wanted to be another top club rather than have an actual identity 

Had to listen to one of their fans be absolutely deluded post match. 'We are two full backs from winning the league. Alex Sandro and Kyle Walker done deals. David Silva is a complete midfielder and great tracking back'. 

 

13 hours ago, Koke said:

State of this lot..

 

 

Thankfully someone in the away end got a chant going replacing 'Ranieri' with 'Mancini'. 

 

The end was an odd one. Couple of times there was great noise but that was it. You had twats saying stuff like United are better than you. Pretty small time and people still trying to do a Champions chant. 

[HighPeakFox]

According to Shearer, this was 'accidental'. I expect when he kicked Lennon in the face, that was too. I went out in Buxton, tried it on a few people, they all just smiled and said 'not to worry fella, it was an accident - let me buy you a pint.'

 

 

 

[dynamark]

Got to Agree amartey looked more effective than king.He played the ball with a bit more urgency and actually made some tackles rather than marking the spaces.You have to get close to these guys to defend against them chilwell did it pretty well with Sterling

[Louise]

King was involved in some good passing moves. Amartey looks panicked every time he has the ball.

[Koke]

1 hour ago, Cardiff_Fox said:

Had to listen to one of their fans be absolutely deluded post match. 'We are two full backs from winning the league. Alex Sandro and Kyle Walker done deals. David Silva is a complete midfielder and great tracking back'. 

 

Thankfully someone in the away end got a chant going replacing 'Ranieri' with 'Mancini'. 

 

The end was an odd one. Couple of times there was great noise but that was it. You had twats saying stuff like United are better than you. Pretty small time and people still trying to do a Champions chant. 

 

Personally think it's pretty small time by Man City fans singing about a man and a club that have no relevance to them. We're not rivals and Ranieri is not an ex Man City player.

 

Man City - world class talent & manager with tinpot fan base.

[HighPeakFox]

I enjoyed some of the banter between our fans and theirs, but some of the behaviour of certain people near me,  in our section, was the very definition of 'tinpot' 

[Blue ROI]

58 minutes ago, HighPeakFox said:

According to Shearer, this was 'accidental'. I expect when he kicked Lennon in the face, that was too. I went out in Buxton, tried it on a few people, they all just smiled and said 'not to worry fella, it was an accident - let me buy you a pint.'

 

 

 

John Motson was defending Man City big time for the first goal and Fernandinho incident.

[volpeazzurro]

17 minutes ago, Louise said:

King was involved in some good passing moves. Amartey looks panicked every time he has the ball.

Can't comment on Kings passing moves as I didn't see the game however, in general terms I do agree with the panicky nature of Armarty and think that sums him up quite well. In which case there could be light at the end of the tunnel as a run of games now and a good pre-season might start to address that problem. I still can't help wondering why, given his past and Afcon exploits , we don't at least give him one game at centre half?

I think he's a very genuine and my last bit of gossip on him from down the training ground was that he does extra training after the main sessions to try and improve his overall strength and body conditioning. He seems like a very dedicated young lad by all accounts.