MAN CITY 1 – 1 Borussia Dortmund – MY THOUGHTS
4 Oct
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Thanks to Joe Hart, we’re still in with a chance of progression from the group. A slim chance, admittedly, and it would need a pair of victories over Ajax in the next two games to provide any real optimism, but if it were not for the heroic performance of our goalkeeper last night, we would be feeling a far stronger strong sense of despondency today.
As it is, there is a mix of emotions: relief at escaping with a point, trepidation at having to face Borussia Dortmund again in what could be a decisive final group encounter, frustration at the continued frailties of our defence and concern about the nature of lacklustre performances. Fortunately, Mario Balotelli isn’t one for emotions and it was his composure from the penalty spot which secured a share of the spoils despite being on the receiving end of a German footballing lesson in pressing, movement and penetration. We are indebted to Hart for preventing a humiliation but despite being on the back foot for much of the game, City still could have scored plenty themselves.
Samir Nasri had a shot beaten away in the opening minutes of the game, Sergio Aguero failed to take advantage of a pair of excellent one-on-one opportunities, David Silva inexplicably volleyed over from close range and Pablo Zabaleta slashed wildly when presented with a great chance. It was a game which could feasibly have featured double figures in terms of the number of goals, but Balotelli’s penalty at least gives the Blues a fighting chance. And as highlighted on the final day of last season’s Premier League campaign, we will battle to the end.
Sadly, for periods last night, that battling spirit and togetherness was worryingly absent. With Gareth Barry rested after playing a number of games in a short time following a lengthy injury, there was a lack of protection in front of defence. Javi Garcia, in his brief City career so far, has offered extremely little save for aerial presence in the opposition box. He seems far more interested in pointing à la Steve McManaman than actually providing cover for our centre-backs, his passing is laboured and lacking in incision and his withdrawal in the first half due to injury seemed a blessing in disguise.
However, his replacement, Jack Rodwell, was the man culpable for Dortmund’s strike after a loose, lazy pass in midfield. It was a poor error, the second time Rodwell has committed such a mistake and unfortunately for him, both have led to goals, but Yaya Toure´s pass to him which preceded the error was symptomatic of our insipid display. It has been a long time since the Ivorian was neutralised to such an extent, Dortmund’s tireless midfield denying him the space and time to make his mark on the game. But Yaya’s passing throughout the game was disappointing. His ball to Rodwell, a needless backwards pass when he had time to turn and start an attack, was a perfect example of his, and the team’s, negative display.
We are still relative newcomers to this competition, but that doesn’t excuse such a display. This was not a matter of adapting to European competition, rather a case of finding a way to move the ball quicker, show more initiative and operate with a tempo that actually suggests the players want to win. The complete absence of urgency, except for a ten-minute spell late in the first half when David Silva and Sergio Aguero threatened with their sharpness, was intensely concerning. It was evident for all watching that Dortmund’s incessant pressing, combined with our lethargy, was causing us numerous problems but there was no visible attempt to improve the tempo.
Much of the pre-match, and indeed post-match, criticism of Roberto Mancini has been focused on his penchant for rotation, his apparent desire to introduce change costing City their fluency and success.The 3-5-2 formation deployed so frequently in pre-season has been deemed ineffective, with critics seemingly overlooking just how scintillating the Blues were in the Community Shield against Chelsea. If worked well, the new formation can be lethal; with genuine width and pace in the side, control in the midfield and bodies in the box, it can be a huge weapon for City. True, it hasn’t worked too well so far but its implementation for a brief spell in the second half yesterday had no bearing on the result. The goal came about due to an individual’s error not a change of system. Mancini will no doubt persevere with it and with Vincent Kompany suspended for the fixture away to Ajax, plus the manager’s apparent distrust in Joleon Lescott in this competition, we may well see it deployed in Holland.
But more than the system, we need to at least display some fighting qualities and show that will to win which was so evident last season. Apart from Joe Hart, it was all too absent last night.
A few points:
1- If you plan to play Dezko as target man, then you should start providing him service directly from the back.
2- As much as I favor 3-5-2 system for its attacking potentials, Mancini should keep in mind his Italian mind set when playing against top teams like Champions of Germany esp knowing the quality of the opposition and knowing that City is a slow team by nature. I would not go for “Boring Boring” city against teams like BVB but would take “Boring” city in a heart-beat.
3-Rodwell is not to be blamed. BVB mid-field was all over City more than freckles on Irish ass [please excuse my language] to the extend that my man Yaya seemed more like a liability.
5-David Silva should learn to kick the ball on the head as opposed to the opposite end that blasts the ball into space. It is not the first time he misses golden chances by blasting up the balls.
4-In the end it was a lucky draw and a point for us and 2 points loss of BVB. We can still beat them in our away game provided we start with right tactic.
6-With all said, City should mainly focus on EPL to finish top 4. As long as we are consistent in our domestic league, we would get there for Champions league.
1) We created chances (almost all in the 1st), but Dortmund are by far a better team than us. The German and Spanish giants have got to be the clear favorites for the CL.
2) We pass the ball from side to side in our own half for half the game. (not just this game either)
3) Where are our fans? Is it possible for us to make some noise during a match? (not just tonight either)
4) The 3-5-2 hasn’t worked and isn’t working. All it’s doing is confusing us and disorganizing us. You have to dominate possession to make this formation work, and we are in no way doing that.
5) We don’t keep meaningful control of the ball at all. (against most teams, and especially against good teams). If Mancini would play our best players and ball controllers (Tevez, Aguero, Silva) behind Dzeko, I guarantee we’d be a much more enjoyable side to watch.
6) As wonderful as Yaya is, if he ran/moved for even half the match we’d be twice as dangerous. Yaya is not the only one who doesn’t move, just the most obvious.
7) All that being said, its great to be on the fortunate end of a questionable call for once.
How can u slate garcia we were creating chances before his injury yayas been diabolical in europe he had a few runs against madrid but his passing in both games was woeful people say hart earnt us a point but weidenfeller was just as good as him and wivout these 2 world class goal keepers we wud have had a goal feast not often 2 goalkeepers play as good as each other on the same day hat off to them both also mats hummels omg how good is he??? <3
1. naisri just back from injury should not have started instead Tevez or Milner-remember him.
2. re: Dzeko why in the world do we play him if we do not give him the air supply he so much requires- ditto last season- thus putting Hummel and co under pressure.
Our defence is going through a dodgy patch but I think we have to look at the midfield too. Looking very slow this year and not solid enough when we don’t have the ball. Decent teams have been slicing through our midfield as if it wasn’t even there exposing Kompany & co continuously. Very different from last year where I thought our midfield was the tightest unit in the Prem. Maybe its something also to do with our sidebacks always being up the pitch and exposing our defence even more? Garcia has slowed down the tempo in MF but we have to give him some more time.