Man City post match thread - 0-2 loss

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

Man City were poor, a real shadow of the team they were last season. Despite that, we did have a much better structure than for much of this season although we were helped by the pedestrian pace. Definitely worth a point but let down by defensive errors for their goals and poor finishing by us. 

 

Bilal was the standout. Class. Soumare worked hard as indeed did Mavididi although he lacks the confidence to go forward more. Our back four is fragile really. 

Crap timing of subs again. 

 

Some glimmer of hope if we can get in some key players. 

 

 

Edited 29 December 2024 by Cadno'r Cymoedd

[Bilo]

2 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

Given that Buonanotte played the full game, can we finally move on from the daft ‘RVN isn’t playing him because he’s going back to Brighton’ claims?

I do wonder if he's what RVN actually wants, though. He was poor today and we are in dire need of more pace, which isn't his biggest attribute. 

 

I think it's odds-on that Edouard goes back and we get a Man United loanee in to replace him, though.

[RedSoxUK]

6 minutes ago, Bert said:

Why does he keep taking a centre half off with 5 mins to go? 

I don't know the reason why, but he's done this a few times now and it's something Ten Hag likes to do.

[Nolucklcfc]

Having Justin as an attacking full back is really killing our attacking play. Cooper tried it too. 

[CaliFOXnia]

1 hour ago, eddylcfc said:

Mcatee in Jan 👀

I thought it when he came on, as I have done for the past 2 seasons when we were linked. At the moment though I don’t think it’s his profile we need (similar to BEK and Facundo), I’d prefer an Abdul type winger to play on the right and someone to replace Stephy in a similar mould. 
 

McAtee looks a very good player it’s just a shame we now seem to be well stocked in that profile of player (noting FB will go back to Brighton). I can’t see him being cheap, either. 

Edited 29 December 2024 by CaliFOXnia

[Nick]

Just got home, quite buoyed by the performance. On a different day we’d have got something from that game. I think our forward three with Vardy on top was really promising. We moved the ball much better on the break and when under pressure. I didn’t see the possibility of a point or more coming for us until the Palace game but I’m more positive now that if we play like we did this afternoon we have more of a chance against some teams that come before. It’s maybe not over yet but we need a hell of a window.

[UniFox21]

I feel for Buonanotte, that role seems a thankless task. Trying to play that inside role, with little to no support from your fullback must be rough

[trooky]

26 minutes ago, adejo92 said:

How's Justin given Savinho so much space? Literally completely left him.

 

Another one to the many Justin has cost us.

 

He's going to be Ward levels of responsible for our incoming relegation. 

 

JJ was marking Silva in the middle when Foden shot. JJ has been piss poor all season but don't blame him for Jakob's mistake. 

 

If JJs starting position was that wide marking Savinho we would all have been slating him for that.

 

Buonanotte should have been out there covering Savinho. 

 

He got absolutely no help from Buonanotte all game who just drifts inside and plays as a 10, even in defence. 

Edited 29 December 2024 by trooky

[Ted Maul]

Much improved today- plenty of positives, plenty to build on-

 

- Soumare had his best game for us and is now one of the first names on the teamsheet.

- Bilal is a serious player- worst comes to worst, we'll be able to sell him on for double what we paid for him.

- Vestergaard excellent again- looks every bit a top flight defender. 

- Jakub a more than capable deputy- defence looks settled in front of him.

- Hamza showed enough to be given a go at right back over Justin.

- Team looked much more structured and balanced, bodes well for getting Bilal and Facundo in the team together.

- Much more positive and fluid going forward, ball was moved out of midfield faster and generally we looked dangerous.

 

The main thing though- effort. Quick to press, contested for the second ball, good running and availability off the ball.

 

It's another loss, but we've shown signs in the past 2 games that we're capable of staying up. A lot hinges on whether Rudkin pulls his finger out and we bring in 2 or 3 PL standard player in Jan.

[Tommy G]

We just need two full backs in Jan as that’s clearly our weak areas. 
 

JJ and VK are just substandard and there’s no argument for either of them. 
 

Swap Okali for either Coady or Vesty and that’s a team. 

[FrankieADZ]

id actually say today could be our best performance(as a whole)this season

 

 

[Levi Port]

Class, difference between the two was finishing, that was it. 

[J. James]

1 hour ago, ian__marshall said:

Hopefully Haaland is tapping up Daka 

At last!

Daka is mentioned in the same sentence as Haaland!

[Trent Steel]

At the end of the daily I was quite impressed with the fight but qe si.play don't have the firepower to draw or win games like that end of.

 

We need to be winning the bottom half of the table games to stay up...

[Number 6]

It's worth pointing out that while they drew the game, Man City did dominate against Everton. That wasn't the case today. We played well.

[Sunbury Fox]

Good effort but until we start keeping clean sheets we are not winning many games in this league. 

 

Mads' absence is killing us. He knocks that ball away from danger for their first goal, I'm sure.  

[Paninistickers]

Just now, Tommy G said:

VK are just substandard

I just don't buy this. I like the lad. Absolute 100%er and never goes hiding. 

 

Prepared to accept the ball under pressure, some nice cross field runs, niggles away at times at De Bruyne and Fidon,  couple of decent overlaps today and a proper Fuchs style cruncher on front of the east stand midway through second half

[SkidsFox]

1 hour ago, StanSP said:

Also, think I've seen enough to believe we might be okay but as long as we put in the same amount of effort. Chances will come and we're not going to play against players like Haaland, Foden and Savinho all the time. 

 

Improve the full back situation and hopefully that'll bring more confidence to the defence. 

We're showing signs of playing as a team again.

Trouble is all the teams we play in January - Villa, Palace, Fulham, Spurs - could destroy us if they are on their game. We have to hope at least a couple of those don't show up on the day (looking at Spurs in particular) and we can snatch a couple of wins. At least there is now a glimmer of hope.

[HesNotGudjonsonn2]

1 minute ago, Paninistickers said:

I just don't buy this. I like the lad. Absolute 100%er and never goes hiding. 

 

Prepared to accept the ball under pressure, some nice cross field runs, niggles away at times at De Bruyne and Fidon,  couple of decent overlaps today and a proper Fuchs style cruncher on front of the east stand midway through second half

But why will nobody pass to him by choice in the attacking third? It is only if there is absolutely no other option on. 

[phoneticerror]

2 minutes ago, Paninistickers said:

I just don't buy this. I like the lad. Absolute 100%er and never goes hiding. 

 

Prepared to accept the ball under pressure, some nice cross field runs, niggles away at times at De Bruyne and Fidon,  couple of decent overlaps today and a proper Fuchs style cruncher on front of the east stand midway through second half

He was class today.

[Ian Nacho]

Had a go but ultimately not good enough to punish them. 

[FrankieADZ]

we defo need a new RB, along with like 3/4 others 

[moore_94]

Ruud Van Nistelrooy Post Match

 

A defeat but do you must take plenty from that performance?

RvN: “Yeah, I did. That’s why it hurts that we didn’t take anything from the game, because of the performance. We invested a lot, the players did, in getting a result in a certain way. It was excellent play. It was great play out from the back into the midfielders and final third, creating chances. It’s a shame. I wish we could have taken something from the game because of the performance the players put in today.”

 

Big Vardy chance before second goal?

RvN: “We created those moments in a great way. There was some excitement going on, because of the level of football, in the stadium. That’s how I felt it. At half-time and at the final whistle, there was a good connection with the crowd, creating those chances from playing well. As a striker, you know that you need a bit of luck there in taking these moments. It’s where games are decided.”

 

Pleasing to have connection with crowd after last home game?

RvN: “It’s very positive. You are referring there to the Wolves game. That wasn’t easy for us but we could understand it in a way, the disappointment. Not on an individual, we can never understand that, but as a whole, yes. But today, the performance reflected in the stands. It was visible in the reaction to some great attacks, some great football, and the work-rate where players are chasing and fighting until the end. That’s why I feel sorry for the team, that we couldn’t take any points from this performance.”

 

How have you kept confidence up despite three defeats?

RvN: “There are two ways to look at results. Looking at results purely, when you lose you are bad and when you win, you’re great. But of course we’re working with the players every day. We want to play in a certain way. We want to develop players in their roles in that game model, in that idea of football. When things come off on the pitch on a day like this, against a great side, as a manager and a coach and as a squad, you feel like you’re developing something, and that is a nice feeling. But the best feeling is to make sure we collect points. But it’s a foundation to build on, that’s for sure.”

 

What did you make of El Khannouss?

RvN: “Decent performance! He was good, he was excellent. It suits him as well, the way we’re trying to play. Kicking the ball up the park, he won’t be the one to hold it up for you but when we start to play through the middle, finding the half-spaces, finding Facundo and Bilal, these players can flourish. That’s what the team did today. They made each other strong. Players were playing in their roles and reaching their top levels. That’s what you want from the team and I think Bilal deserves a big compliment today, for his work-rate off the ball and on the ball for how skilful and technical he is.”

 

Defence?

RvN: “After the Wolves game, I referred on structural mistakes and individual mistakes, it’s something we have to separate. Jakub had a fantastic debut and a great game today, so credit to him, but he’s not happy with the first goal. That’s credit to him that he’s thinking like that. He owns that. It’s something we have to accept and it will happen. We have to reduce these moments to stay in the game or take the lead ourselves. On the other hand, it’s taking those opportunities we had against Wolves and at Anfield. I think we had a couple there we could put away. Both boxes is what we know will make the difference in points. That’s what we’re looking at.”

 

A Premier League debut for Will Alves today

“Will is somebody that’s been training really well, that's why he's in the squad. He deserved his debut because he’s showing us that he’s a threat and can create something for others around him.”

[FoxesFourLife]

Just back from the match thought we played really well a 90 minute performance just lacking that bit of quality or luck to get a goal also starting to see the benefits of Rudd's coaching the players are starting to gel and look like a decent unit. 

[Dmitry]

19 minutes ago, Chico1958 said:

If we play like that for the rest of the season, we 'might' just get out of the mess we're in. 

Midfield looked good today, if luck had been on our side we could have got one or two ourselves.

Defence still looks dodgy tbf.

 

If we play like this (and have more luck scoring sure goals) we are not getting relegated. Desperately need two very good defenders.