Spurs 3 – 1 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS
22 Apr
A quite baffling match. The emotions after the final whistle following a defeat are normally fairly similar; there is frustration, anger and disappointment. Yet after yesterday’s loss to Spurs, there were a concoction of different feelings and it was quite tough to put your finger on exactly what City fans thought.
There was certainly annoyance at the result, bewilderment at the way in which the Blues threw away a comfortable lead to come away empty-handed and fury at the performances of individuals (heavy stares in your direction, Edin Dzeko). But there was also a tinge of indifference. This result, although disheartening, didn’t quite hurt like the losses away to Everton or Southampton. In those matches, not only was the possibility of retaining the Premier League still alive (faint or otherwise), but City were abysmal throughout and it was manifest from early on what would happen. At White Hart Lane, the title was gone and the Blues were very impressive for 60 minutes before inexplicably switching off. The 3-1 scoreline looks convincing but it didn’t fit the pattern of the game by any means.
It is, of course, easy to overreact after a defeat. The performances at Goodison Park and St Mary’s Stadium merited a deluge of criticism, but yesterday’s showing was a contrasting one. In the first half especially, the Blues were terrific, displaying all the characteristics of this team at their best. There was intensity, purpose and fluidity going forward: Carlos Tévez at the centre of all our good play. He was a livewire, his movement causing all sorts of problems and it was his never-say-die attitude, poise, determination and vision which created the opening goal.
But then City sat back. Joe Hart said after the game that City ‘existed in the second half and were made to pay’. He was spot on. All our fight and drive had been sucked out and there was a feeling that the Blues were content to do nothing but protect their 1-0 lead. That absence of a ruthless streak has been damaging this season, that inability to take advantage when on top, and Spurs fought back superbly late on. Energised by Andre Villas Boas’s substitutions, they were fresh, sparky and bounding forward.
In direct contrast, Roberto Mancini was passive. He has these days every now and then – days where he doesn’t react to events on the pitch at all – and that cost us. Spurs had gained a grip on the game and had started to control midfield, but whether through stubbornness or a lack of tactical acumen, Mancini altered nothing. There was the option to introduce another midfielder and push Yaya Touré further forward or change matters another way, but the Italian did nothing. Spurs pressed and pressed and got their goal. And then another one. And then another one after that. Only then did Mancini make a change. It was far too late.
In addition to the manager’s shortcomings, we also saw perhaps the worst individual performance of the season from a City player. Complete with horrendous control, an inept first touch and an utterly non-existent work ethic, Edin Dzeko’s display was atrocious. And that’s being generous. But what’s worse is the fact he looked so disinterested and wore the expression of someone who has already given up. A poor game here or there is disappointing but not a major problem. The fact he didn’t try was unforgivable. He was an embarrassment and if that is his attitude, he shouldn’t play for City again.
The season now boils down to the FA Cup final and it does seem slightly strange that perceptions about the whole campaign may rest on the results of one fixture, but that is what looks like happening to a certain degree. Winning the trophy and finishing second would be acceptable – not a bad season by any means but equally not a great one – whilst if City were to lose the final, there would no doubt be very vocal questions marks about Roberto Mancini’s future. Those are the margins in football. They’re small but make all the difference. Just like concentrating for 90 minutes does…
Unforgivable a bad performance forgivable going on a 7 month holiday to Argentina to play golf love the logic
all the problem is mancini and it will be solved when he learns to control his players.
Dzeko has nothing to play for I think look at him before MC and now AT MC !!!!!
I really dislike Tevez for what he did and nothing is going to change that. However, his performance on the pitch is top-class. Since his hissy-fit, I have all been for his leaving the club. Thinking about it now, unless a proper replacement for him is found, as long as it is professionally beneficial to Club and him, I really do not mind him staying till his expiry date arrives. Club comes first and he has been massive for the club.
to be honest if we get Aguero fit he the replacement despite the record they had together starting games its to simple to defend when both of them play get Cavani and stick them both up top was gonna say get Suarez but again hes to similar
As normal when we play you we are missing key players, this time it was Lennon, Sandro and Kaboul and yet our cockney class came through (somethings you just cant buy) and we deservedly smashed your magnificent club with legends like Shaun Goater and Paul Dickov to boast about. Nasri should of been sent off so justice was served up in London town. No doubt your yoyo club will buy buy buy in the coming transfer window but 9mt cant buy class, tradition or cockney magic.
Unfortunately, professional soccer is not about buying class but it is about buying trophies. You can have the class be the same trophy-less shit year after year and only be joyous for occasional wins here and there. On the other hand we love [buying] trophies and I do hope in the summer we keep buying and buying to win more trophies. As long as we do that, I could give a rat’s behind to the word ‘class’.
And how does it feel to be having your best year since about 1963 and STILL be looking up the table at Arsenal?
Who, I might add, seem to have no ambition further than “grab some UCL Group Stage matchday revenue.” And still your lot can’t top them.
Have fun watching Bale play for Real Madrid next year.
How does it feel to only be interested in football since 2009?
You glory hunter
Born in Manchester, been to many games in the lower divisions, know what relegation is like, watched us not beat our neighbours for the first 18 years of my life. Whereas, I now know what its like for us to win trophies play quality football and for Jermain Defoe to say after the game how amazing it is to win because ‘they are a great team’. If you expect a few jealous cockneys getting mouthy coz of beating us for the first time in a while changes how good all this is, then you are as deluded as someone who believes your even the biggest team in north London.
Whenever we play spurs we get more bitter comments on here from their fans than anyone. It’s purely jealously; both clubs have had their ups and downs but it is city that have experienced a couple of major triumphs over United while Spurs are yet to conquer Arsenal.
Brother was written across my first City shirt. 2009 was, what, Etihad?
A spot-on description – totally baffling. When you say they switched off in the second half, that’s a perfect description, as though somebody had actually pulled a switch. It seemed to start with Joe Hart, who on receiving a backpass, kicked it straight out of play halfway to the centre line without a City player in 30 yards. Our back four, who’d been as solid as they’ve been all season, suddenly stopped running and started making schoolboy errors. The only players who showed consistency throughout were Tevez and Dzeko (and Dzeko only because he was consistently poor from the first whistle).
While I was delighted to see Adebeyor go off with his tail between his legs, his pre-match forecast that the City team would end up fighting each other came true, but I never expected to see all of them fighting everyone else…
Disagree…I was gutted to see Ade go off…had he stayed on we would have probably got at least a draw, he was garbage!
Hello blue kipper types
I was actually at the game so I’m nit just r expecting hearsay or going on a few minutes of highlight and I can tell you in all honesty that at no point were citeh that impressive or dominant. Indeed up until citeh scored Spurs were well on top ( okay it was only five minutes) the citeh had maybe 15minutes on top buoyed as they wer by the goal but after that it was pretty even with spurs having the better of the chances towards the end of the first half. Second half started pretty even and scrappy then AVB made changes and badda-bing-bang-pow game over! And that is truly how the game rolled
Mark L, are you Justin Lee Collin’s fat lookalike? All that money and your still crap. Kompany will go to a big club, as will Silva and Aguero, you will sign a few mercernaries who will throw their toys out of their prams and fail to get you top4 then boom ting. Enjoy watching Utd tonight fatty.
I love the fantasy in the 2nd and 3rd lines, laughable. Just coz bale is gonna leave for a big club don’t be bitter
Though I do not want to turn this into “Prince and Pauper” novel, I got to tell you it has felt great to buy mercenaries and win the FA Cup and the title so far and have an other FA cup almost in the Bag and a guaranteed Champions league spot. And hopefully, we keep buying trophies and mercenaries [can not wait for Cavani] as we are money bags. In the meantime, the likes of you can look up the table at our ass knowing that the only thing you get from a no class Manchester shitty is a load of shit. Enjoy the shit because as the name suggests we have tons of it for Arsenal-wannabes like you.
“Kompany will go to a big club”
Won’t be Spurs then! Some light reading BTW…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2313183/Vincent-Kompany-I-want-stay-Manchester-City–forget-Barcelona.html
What graceless winners you are…
The frustrating thing for me in this game, was that Mancini had decided before the first whistle that Aguero was not fit to come off the bench. In that case, why not give Guidetti a spot there? Does the boss believe in youth or not? In a situation like this, he has to be a better option than Lescott as emergency forward? Daft way to limit yourself to not be able to change a game.
Loving the gloating Spuds nuggets posting on this article. Anyone would think they’d won a trophy in living memory or something.
Enjoy your next Europa League campaign and try not to blub into your jellied eels when Bale leaves for a big club in the summer.
ICLES
Get Falcao & Bale and we will win everything!
mancini is true we are lacking desire,passion but that does not indicates we need new signings… if silva was injured, y cant he get in denis suarez(real talent).. mancini should work with youth instead of geting new signings….