Liverpool 3 – 0 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS
12 Apr
I’m writing this the morning after the night before; a time when the anger that was so prevalent after the shambolic defeat should have partially dissipated. But it hasn’t. I’m still just as livid as I was after the game, so caught up in the disgrace of our abysmal performance. Before we turn our attention to Saturday’s match, we must focus on what went wrong here and learn from it. I’m not usually so dispirited after a defeat, but this was irrefutably worse than most.
Let’s not kid ourselves, that was embarrassing. It wasn’t so much the result as the completely lacklustre and spineless performance. There was no heart, no desire, no ‘Superbia in Proelio’. As fans, whether the players are world-class or bottom of the class, all we want to see is some endeavour, some willingness to fight for the cause. But there was none of that.
As dreadful as we were, let’s take nothing away from Liverpool. They were magnificent, easily the best side we have faced all season. Their workrate, pressing, movement and energy put us to shame. The pairing of Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez clicked, the midfield duo of Jay Spearing and Lucas Leiva outbattled our cumbersome duo, Gareth Barry and Yaya Touré, but above all, they wanted the points.
Here are my main reflections on the game:
A Confused Team Selection
I’m a fan of Roberto Mancini and think we need to stick by him, but he got his team selection horribly wrong last night. By opting to rest David Silva and Nigel de Jong, he sent out the wrong message, saying that he had Wembley in mind and as a result, he left out what he feels are our two most important players.
In my eyes, and possibly those of the hierarchy, attaining Champions League qualification is the most important aim this season. Even more important that beating your local rivals in the FA Cup semi-final. To this end, why he rested that duo is beyond me, and is put into question even more when you consider he played his strongest side in the latter stages of the Europa League. Why play them then if you’re going to leave them out of an important Premier League fixture?
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
Following on from that point, this game made us realise just how crucial Nigel de Jong is to the way we play. Without him patrolling in front of defence, we looked alarmingly poor, lifeless in midfield and just totally bereft of any heart. His role, sitting in front of the back four, winning tackles and keeping possession, is understated by many, but we are a much worse team when he’s not on the park.
Aleks Kolarov
I received a text halfway through the game saying I should start a petition to get Kolarov sacked. And it’s not such a stupid idea. He’s currently a danger to our own defence, at fault for goals so often, so laboured and wayward in possession. I won’t go on about him, but suffice to say, we all know he’s not good enough. Get rid.
Now Time To Move On
We must put this defeat behind us and focus on the next game. There is no better pick-me-up for the players than an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United at Wembley. Both sides will be motivated. And as long as a different City turn up to the one that faced Liverpool, we have a chance.
I am a Liverpool fan and I was shocked by how poor you were. I thought we were excellent but even so whilst watching the game I never once thought that you were going to score. It was a strange game really and I just think maybe something isn’t quite right in your dressing room.
an open letter to Mr Mancini…..
You have your wish to only play once per week…
so why change a winning team that played at a high tempo, got the ball forward quickly and scored 5 goals.
Worse still…..buy a centre forward who scored 70% of his goals with his head and then never cross the ball. Play the best left-footed winger in the country on the right instead of against a rookie fullback and never provide a single cross the whole game.
No ‘tired’ excuse this time….just a set of very mystified fans. Surely it is time to play the best 11 in every game…..
It’s really Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with this bunch. they looked so STRONG against Sunderland last week, and then so bad yesterday.
I realize that Liverpool at Anfield is a much stronger team than Sunderland at CoMS, but still – I wouldn’t have expected such a drop off of calibre.
We can’t pretend to be a top EPL club if we can’t at least CONTEND on the road.
Just when we get an opportunity to put some distance between us and Spurs, there comes Mancini to arrange a team that beats even the best and worst of skeptics. You do not mess up a team whom just beat Sunderland 5 -0!!! Though I have been cursing Mancini for the past 24 hours constantly (most probably do so for sometime to come till the feeling of hurt heals), I do agree with you that we have to stick with him [even if he fails to deliver]. Changing Managers should not be like changing one’s underwear at will.
I could not fathom or still do not understand what made him to make such an awful team selection. It is simply beyond my ken. The absence of Nigel was sooooooo obvious.
Boy oh boy, I thought JO is terrible, but I am 100% certain Kolarov would make JO proud. I can not find any adjective that can describe horrendous to its worst level. Poor Garrido, in his worst day would beat Kolarov hands down on his best day. And if you make a petition to have him removed, I will be the first to sign.
I am personally not very hopeful for Champions league position next season with way things are going, though I do hope some miracle happen and things take a good turn.
You slate Kolarov and I dont slate you. I slate Yaya and you jump on my back. Manu up a little and get a grip and most of all take some criticism of your views. You’re not the don you think you are.
Agree about Kolarov and boy did we miss De Jong. he freedom offered to Kuyt and Lucas was ridiculous. I though Silva was ok when he came on. but the rest of the team was shambolic. I was actually pleased to see Milners reaction as at least it showed he cared. Even Komps had a shitty night. I’m now really worried for the SF and not looking forward to the journey home now
I wholeheartedly agree with your disgust. We were simply on a different planet compared to Liverpool. We were trying to play a technical game when what was needed was an emotional vigour. I can sympathise with Mancini and wanting to rest aome key players for the derby (which is of the utmost importance), and perhaps show a more attacking approach. But the gamble backfired spectacuarly.
To be honest i had a bad feeling about this game as soon as i heard it was in tandem with the Hillsborough anniversary. A tie at Anfield is not what any team would be looking for at a moment like that.
But it was as i have wrote about before the usual suspects that scuppered us. James Milner is simply a wasteful buy. He may have been hot property around the time of the world cup, but he has simply brought nothing to our team that we did not already have and it pains me to see him on the wing where we cold have had Bellamy’s pace and aggression.
Mancini also needs to realise that against top six sides like Liverpool and Chelsea utilising the battering ram that is Ya Ya toure is simply useless. A liverpool fan said to me he looks like he is over weight. This is not to pick on the player but to illustrate how people can see his wastefulness.
Silva could be deployed in that position and the wing could become avaliable for Phillip’s or even Weiss. I can not be the only one thinks this. Can i?
I would just like to say well done and thanks to the City fans who attended the game last night. Absolutely class during the silence for Hillsborough.
Thanks Steve.
I’m a Liverpool fan and thought that Toure was the only player doing anything for your team – it just looked like nobody else could be bothered to run with him so left it as one man against a whole team (ok, Johnson had a few moments early on too, but the rest of your midfield & attack was anonymous).
I’m surprised to see you guys are so patient with Mancini though – somebody like Mourinho would’ve walked the Premiership this year with the squad you have. And next season there is no guarantee that the rest of the big clubs will be so weak, so this has to be looked at as a lost opportunity. That you are even struggling to just qualify for the CL, much less challenging for the top spot, is a damning indictment of Mancini.
Forget where you were a few years ago before the mega-millions were being spent; the simple fact is that Man City have the best squad in the Prem right yet are still content to act like bullies that will only put up a fight against the little guys…
Rome was not built in one day. To change managers every single year brings nothing except instability. The truth of matter is that managers are human and infallible and Mancini is no exception to it. It is true our team has been struggling through out the season and yet we have been in top 4 through out. I am sure given enough time to him, our team would improve by leaps and bounds
What bugged me (as well as being completely outclassed all over the park and the lack of fighting spirit, as you mentioned) was the fact that he leaves out silva and de jong, but then brings them both on when the game’s finished at 3-0. Why? What can they possibly do other than get injured for saturday?
Good, honest article. I agree Kolarov is sub-standard, but who was the last good left-back we had? And I mean really good? Maybe we should stick by him for his free kicks – he might end up like Zaba, awful to start with but now one of our most solid full-backs.
Greetings,,
First of all i would like to wish Man City the best in the FA Cup.
Now to my point, i don’t understand people when they say we support mancini!!
i mean seriously you have a team that contains world class players and a president that has full support to the manager whether it was financial or wtv.. and all i see is MANCINI playing 4 def and 3 defensive midfields against small teams ,, are you serious ?
why do i feel like man city are a league one club ??
we are supposed to be challenging the title this season, were a big club, but we have totally the wrong manager who never playes attacking game even tho he has ,, tevez-balo-dzeko-wright philiips-silva-adam johnson-milner.
with all these amazing attackers ,, he still sticks to hise 7 player defensive plan !!!!
for people who think mancini is a great manager,, his history isn’t that great and if ur gna say the he got the scudetto with inter, the 1st year he got the scudetto was coz juve got stripped from it & the 2nd season he won it cause milan had negative point and juve were in seria B and no1 rly competed.
if we want trophies , you need a strong chairman and we have 1 of the strongest one, we have the best players, all what is left is a strong Manager to lead the club.
ps: how do u think city would be if we had mourinho or guardiola ? =)
Cheers.
Thanks for that minutes silence you can all be very proud of them fans at angield on Monday
Okay, so you slate him…
1st goal) Tevez gave the ball away and got injured in the process. Not Kolarov’s fault.
2nd goal) Johnson I think it was tried to clear the ball but gave it straight to their player. Then Kompany madee a rash decision to slide in when it would have been better to stand his ground. Not Kolarov’s fault, he did his best to close down the run of Kuyt.
3rd goal) Johnson didnt close the ball down after a poor ball by Boyata. Boyata then failed to close down the ball from Miereles. Manager also at fault because Kolarov our smallest defender should not be left with Carroll, their tallest striker. Not Kolarov’s fault, he wouldnt win that header ever.
I watched the United game against Liverpool in Anfield (remember, Andy Caroll did not play that game). And it was how Manchester City is being described above.
There is something about King Kenny and Dalglish.
For Mancho, he succeeded in beating Liverpool although under Roy, 3-0 also. So I think the result is fair for him.
This is a team that has seriously lacked that winning mentality. And it is fluctuating right now in our team. I have looked at the achievements of Mancho this season and I know sincerely he is the man for this job.
Beating Liverpool 3-0 first time in ……… years.
Winning in the DW Stadium first time in history.
Having 6 of our players in the English national team first time in history.
Reaching the top spot on the table, first time in 82 years.
Reaching the FA Cup Semi-Final, first time in 19 years.
Winning by a 5-0 margin, first time in ………. years.
Rated best 3 defense in Europe, first time in history.
To mention a few. And you believe he can not take us places.
GOOD LUCK IN THE SEMI-FINALS. I SEE THE WEAKNESS EXPOSED BY LIVERPOOL SOMETHING TO BE CAUTIOUS AND WORK AGAINST.
MANCINI’S MAN CITY, A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.