The Man City Thread*******

 

On yesterday's game, City were the better team for the first 55 mins or so, shafted twice in the first half by the officials buts what's new there, they really do need to have a man taken out with a hatchet to get a penalty this season.

After they scored they did what they have done several times this season, against Arsenal a few weeks ago, Chelsea, Spurs and Monaco - sat back thinking the game was won and lost the lead. From there on Arsenal were the team with all the energy and more legs and looked the more likely winners, despite City hitting the woodwork twice in the closing stages.

On many occasions good approach play was let down as the cross went into the box and there was only one City player there (Aguero) surrounded by three or four Arsenal defenders.

Added to that, the options off the bench were poor. I'm sick hearing of how strong this City squad is and then you look at your bench in extra time and you have Kelechi, Fernando, Zabaleta and Delph. No game changers there.

 

Major surgery needed for that squad in the summer. I think they need at least 8 players to become competitive again at the top end of English football, given that 5 or 6 are leaving due to contracts running out, being done, or not being good enough.

 

Silva likely to be out for a while after being kicked out of it yesterday, and Aguero and Fernandinho also doubts for Thursday

 

Another point on yesterday - in recent weeks Arsenal have looked a team totally devoid of anything, hammered at Palace, barely beating Middlesbrough etc. The only two games were they've looked anywhere near themselves in that time were against City. That has to be a worry, too easy to play against. Even look at Leicester in the first half of the season under Ranieri when no-one was playing for him, what was their highlight of that half-season - hammering City 4-2. Too easily played against

Dublin DOC with his panties in a knot still about Sane's dive, but has as yet, failed to comment at all on Rashford's dive.

Not blinkered at all though.

 

He also expects footballers in this day and age to stay on their feet when headbutted.

 

 

 

As an example, lets use this much tweeted Ander Herrera incident from last Thursday's game.

 

You could reach the stage where after an El Classico, all 22 players would be retrospectively banned for the match the week after.

They might finish ahead of Liverpool depending how Liverpool get on at West Ham