City stop purring and
simply feast
7 goals – a staggering 17 in their last 3 home games – and City sit proudly aloft as the clear leaders in this season’s title race. They were here last season of course, before falling away as the usual pungent sense of uncertainty seeped into the stadium. This feels different though. City were superb against Chelsea, the 1-0 score line making a mockery of their absolute dominance from start to finish. But this was something else. This was a performance for which the word “incredible” was written for. Forget the fortune two goals conceded, forget the stats (80% possession, 20 shots) - City attacked with such pace, movement and verve that it genuinely took the breath away. Kevin De Bruyne played the pass of the season after 20 minutes; and then beat it five times over by the end. City didn’t just score 7 goals – they scored great goals, they scored team goals. This wasn’t Manchester City as we know it. This was Barca in their absolute pomp. Everyone else should be very, very afraid.
7 goals – a staggering 17 in their last 3 home games – and City sit proudly aloft as the clear leaders in this season’s title race. They were here last season of course, before falling away as the usual pungent sense of uncertainty seeped into the stadium. This feels different though. City were superb against Chelsea, the 1-0 score line making a mockery of their absolute dominance from start to finish. But this was something else. This was a performance for which the word “incredible” was written for. Forget the fortune two goals conceded, forget the stats (80% possession, 20 shots) - City attacked with such pace, movement and verve that it genuinely took the breath away. Kevin De Bruyne played the pass of the season after 20 minutes; and then beat it five times over by the end. City didn’t just score 7 goals – they scored great goals, they scored team goals. This wasn’t Manchester City as we know it. This was Barca in their absolute pomp. Everyone else should be very, very afraid.
Don’t believe me? This is just one of the goals. It’s the
goal that Arsenal have been trying to score for 12 years. And City scored three
of them on Saturday.
The double pivot is
not being used correctly
This is fast becoming a bug bear of mind. I don’t have anything against the 4-2-3-1 formation per se; but surely the point of the two midfielders is to have one “destroyer” and one “creator” – so Kante tackles/intercepts – and then passes it to Fabregas – who picks the best ball into the attack. Okay if you’re away at City, I can understand the need to “double up” with two defensive players in that role to stop attacks through the middle. But this system is fast preventing teams from attacking quickly enough, making number 10’s increasingly more isolated and over marked and creating more and more negative football.
This is fast becoming a bug bear of mind. I don’t have anything against the 4-2-3-1 formation per se; but surely the point of the two midfielders is to have one “destroyer” and one “creator” – so Kante tackles/intercepts – and then passes it to Fabregas – who picks the best ball into the attack. Okay if you’re away at City, I can understand the need to “double up” with two defensive players in that role to stop attacks through the middle. But this system is fast preventing teams from attacking quickly enough, making number 10’s increasingly more isolated and over marked and creating more and more negative football.
So this weekend I give you Everton away to Brighton, a team
just promoted, who started the game with two holding midfielders. Saints, at home, to newly promoted Newcastle,
who started the game with two holding midfielders. And most inexplicably of
all… Arsenal, playing Watford and surely needing to be on the front foot –
starting with Granit Xhaka and Elneny. The latter a player who wouldn’t get in
my pub team and is about as creative as a ferret in a stone walled cell. None
of these teams needed those players there. Manchester United used to play with
Paul Scholes and Roy Keane in a flat 4-4-2 for heaven’s sake. You can’t tell me
they didn’t have enough in the middle of the park.
Stop the madness. There are lots of central midfielders
across the land suddenly not getting games because of this desire to play two
sitting players in straight forward fixtures.
And for fucks sake Wenger just give Jack Wilshire a game
already. You literally have nothing else to lose at this point.
Jose wasn’t right to
park the bus, but he was right about Liverpool’s tactics
Everybody knew what was going to happen – so nobody should be surprised. A compelling case should certainly be made for Mourinho to have attacked Liverpool’s fragile defence from the start – but there was also logic to his tactics of hoping to win on the counter in the last twenty. The thing was though, is that for all the criticisms aimed at him since, he was absolutely right on one thing. Liverpool never truly went for it. Klopp didn’t want to lose this game just as much as Jose and he knew that any attempt to go gung-ho might backfire. Liverpool never changed their formation or structure. They started with a false 9 and never took off one of their two more defensive midfielders for a more offensive player. They kept players back at all times and probed rather than pressed towards United’s goal. Yes they should have scored, and would have won the game but for yet another entry in the ludicrous David De Gea scrap book… but this was not a siege and both teams deserved what they both ultimately got.
Everybody knew what was going to happen – so nobody should be surprised. A compelling case should certainly be made for Mourinho to have attacked Liverpool’s fragile defence from the start – but there was also logic to his tactics of hoping to win on the counter in the last twenty. The thing was though, is that for all the criticisms aimed at him since, he was absolutely right on one thing. Liverpool never truly went for it. Klopp didn’t want to lose this game just as much as Jose and he knew that any attempt to go gung-ho might backfire. Liverpool never changed their formation or structure. They started with a false 9 and never took off one of their two more defensive midfielders for a more offensive player. They kept players back at all times and probed rather than pressed towards United’s goal. Yes they should have scored, and would have won the game but for yet another entry in the ludicrous David De Gea scrap book… but this was not a siege and both teams deserved what they both ultimately got.
Saints finally end
home hoodoo, but still can’t win
Heading to yet another home blank, Southampton finally roused themselves on Sunday as, led by Gabbiadini, they reminded their fans where the goal was. If the first half of this match was everything you expected and more (so… many… defensive… players) – the second could be accused of anything but. This was end to end football of the highest entertainment with a share of the spoils just about right in the end.
Heading to yet another home blank, Southampton finally roused themselves on Sunday as, led by Gabbiadini, they reminded their fans where the goal was. If the first half of this match was everything you expected and more (so… many… defensive… players) – the second could be accused of anything but. This was end to end football of the highest entertainment with a share of the spoils just about right in the end.
Saints fans will hope the result kick starts their season
going forward, and that their talented Italian can continue to plunder more
goals such as these. He will certainly need to when the rest of the team remain
so toothless in front of goal, and Charlie Austin continues to be benched for no
logical reason whatsoever. I mean, Shane Long hasn't scored in 25 games? Who the fuck does he think he is? Jozy Altidore?
They could do with giving Fraser Forster a hug as well, as
English keepers continue to take it in turns for who’s the worst each week.
Poor lad… I mean, Joe Hart even got an assist this weekend.
Foxes lack bite again
The first half of this match was so dull, that at one point a plastic bag blew on to the pitch and I found myself watching that rather than the ball. As if playing walking football, the whistle blew on the sort of rancid 45 minutes that has long been the hallmark of playing a Tony Pulis team at home.
The first half of this match was so dull, that at one point a plastic bag blew on to the pitch and I found myself watching that rather than the ball. As if playing walking football, the whistle blew on the sort of rancid 45 minutes that has long been the hallmark of playing a Tony Pulis team at home.
The first minute of the second half was more exciting than the entire of the first. Vardy narrowly failing to win a penalty by jumping in to Myhill (watch the reply from behind... you knew exactly what you were doing Jamie lad) - and thankfully after that, things continued in a more positive light. Mahrez sporting one of the misses of the season before Chadli stroked in a free kick and Mahrez, eventually, found his way to goal. Despite late pressure though, the Foxes couldn't find a winner.
I tipped Leicester at the start of the season to be dark horses this year. I also tipped Everton to sneak a Champions League place.
I don't know anything about football.
Team of the Weak:
Forster – Fell over for the first goal, was at fault for the
second and ran away from several crosses.
Kolasanic – Looks lost at wing back – sits back too far and watches everything go through Bellerin. Is yet to get his head on anything since the Charity Shield.
Edwards – I think this is what is known as a baptism of fire…
Luiz – Thus far unrecognisable to his colossal presence last season. Conte needs all his defenders to step up… and fast.
Zanka – Out manoeuvred by a vibrant, pacy Abraham. His team look in a rut.
Elneny – The worst player in Arsenal’s squad. That’s a squad which includes Alex Iwobi. Just think about that for a moment.
Gueye – Too. Many. Defensive. Players. Ronald.
Tadic – Total bobbins. Didn’t he use to like create stuff? Now he just wanders around looking annoyed.
Mkhitaryan – Was so anonymous I thought he has Shinji Kagawa.
Carroll – When your own team mate calls you an animal… well… you know.
Kane – It’s no good being the best away striker in Europe when you can’t score at home Harry.
Kolasanic – Looks lost at wing back – sits back too far and watches everything go through Bellerin. Is yet to get his head on anything since the Charity Shield.
Edwards – I think this is what is known as a baptism of fire…
Luiz – Thus far unrecognisable to his colossal presence last season. Conte needs all his defenders to step up… and fast.
Zanka – Out manoeuvred by a vibrant, pacy Abraham. His team look in a rut.
Elneny – The worst player in Arsenal’s squad. That’s a squad which includes Alex Iwobi. Just think about that for a moment.
Gueye – Too. Many. Defensive. Players. Ronald.
Tadic – Total bobbins. Didn’t he use to like create stuff? Now he just wanders around looking annoyed.
Mkhitaryan – Was so anonymous I thought he has Shinji Kagawa.
Carroll – When your own team mate calls you an animal… well… you know.
Kane – It’s no good being the best away striker in Europe when you can’t score at home Harry.
Goodnight fine people... sleep tight and don't let the City attack bite.
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