City Still A Class Apart
City 1 - 3 Gooners
If a reminder were needed about just how far City need to develop before becoming one of the regular Premiership "Top Four", it was evident on today's performance.
Now I've always had a loathing for Arsenal, but not just because they play in red and white. I guess it goes back to the boring and dirty sides they had during my formative years in the late '60s and '70s. Those of you who were around will know exactly what I'm talking about.
However, I've got to say that at the moment Arsenal play some wonderful stuff with pinpoint passing and silky-smooth touches and were miles ahead of City this afternoon in every department (including time-wasting !).
As is becoming worrying familiar at the moment, City keep on giving the ball away sloppily time after time. Arsenal however kept possession with ease, but more impressively always looked so comfortable on the ball with time and space to pick their passes.
Despite another awful performance by the referee, there was no question that the Gooners didn't deserve to win; quite simply they were a class apart. Lets hope that City will have watched and learned and apply themselves in the same way next week the other side of town.
It's fair to say that despite a great start to the season, City have hit a bit of a wall since before Xmas and our lack of quality in some positions is beginning to hurt us badly. The unbeaten home Premiership record is now gone, but being unbeaten at home until February is something none of us would have believed this time last season.
The transfer window hasn't really been kind to us and it's difficult to see what difference a 19 year old, swiss based Ecuadorian striker is going to make to our season, but let's wish Felipe Caicedo all the best when he pulls on a blue shirt - if he scores the winner against the Heathens from Newton Heath next week he'll be a legend before he hits 20 !
On the plus side today despite a toothless first 20 minutes, City battled back and almost looked comfortable for long periods of the game without ever really looking threatening - the propspect of Vassell & Mpenza aren't going to give many defences sleepless nights, although Sturridge did show tantalising glimpses of class even though he's miles away from being match fit.
Fernandes probably had his best game for City so far and Elano's contribution was a lot better than is has been for quite a few weeks. It's still baffling that Geovanni is keeping the bench warm most of the time, because whenever he comes on he give us a bit punch and guile; the fans know it and their calls for "Geeeeeeoooooohh" were answered swiftly in middle of the 2nd half, but by then it was really too late to make a difference by then.
The next two games against United and Everton will be a tough test for City and for Sven's managerial and motivational skills. On recent performance, it's hard to see where the points are going to come from in those matches, but City being City are just as likely to confound everyone (including themselves) and pull a surprise or two out the bag. Studying Arsenal carefully in a tape of today's game would be a good starting point.
5 comments:
nice to see you back - I thought you had gone away
Yeah...sorry about lack of posts recently, but due to work commitments, I just haven't had time to put pen to paper so to speak. Hopefully things will pick up soon - thanks anyway !
As Sven said, "We didn't compete for the first twenty minutes" and this has been the case in the last few matches.
If we are to get anything next weekend we have got to come out of the traps all guns blazing and keep it up until the end of the game because as we know they always get a goal in extra time !!!
Sorry I couldn't make it today but I can still say I haven't "seen" them lose at home this season.
You are right. The referee certainly did not favor you yesterday. Eduardo's exquisite goal was nevertheless offside though to be fair the rule is benefit of the doubt should be given to the attacking team.
I have huge respect for City and what Sven has done this season. The club is one with massive potential because of its youth academy and now an ability to compete financially not to mention having one of the best managers in the world leading the charge.
We have played you in the midst of a dip in form to be fair. Early on in the season going to The City of Manchester Stadium would have been a much more difficult affair. We were maybe a bit lucky in that respect.
A lack of strength in the striking department has probably been your main problem. Should the Benjani transfer go through that should help matters immeasurably.
Finishing in the top four is still an option and if you do not achieve such a position this season I will be betting you will be in the running to do so in the near future.
As Chris Waddle said on R5 during the Sheffield Utd game, Sven knew before the season even started, that a top 10 finish was the main aim of this season. Unfortunately (perversely) our good start has given us bigger expectations (City fans with big expectations? Shurely shome mishtake!). I'm not too bothered about getting into the UEFA cup this year, you have to play a *lot* of games to start earning any real money, and we'd be out pretty early on I think. The transfer window has shown that its hard to get players in January, and although being in Europe could attract some big names, the main thing is to get us solid, get rid of the dead wood (I think we're almost there), and just keep building on what we have now. Top 6 next season should be attainable.
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