MAN CITY 1 – 2 CSKA Moscow – MY THOUGHTS
6 Nov
Manuel Pellegrini is lucky. He’s lucky, not because City still have a chance of progressing to the knockout stages despite one of the most abject performances imaginable, nor because he has an eminently winnable fixture on Saturday in which to bounce back. Rather, he’s lucky that among the hierarchy at the club, there is no appetite for change. There is no rush of the blood to the head, no kneejerk decisions made on the basis of one game. For that, Pellegrini is fortunate, because this was the type of clueless, ill-disciplined and embarrassing result that gets a manager the sack.
Two weeks ago, the draw in Russia against these same opponents felt like the most damning blow that could possibly have been delivered. Cruising at half-time, Pellegrini and players made the same mistakes as has often been the case and allowed victory to slip away. To show naivety and complacency once is perhaps understandable, but to repeat those errors time and time again is unforgivable. Yet if that result was crushing in the extreme, yesterday took matters onto a whole new level.
This was not just a defeat. This was a shambles that hinted as problems far beneath the surface. It is hard to imagine how emotions can change in such a short space of time from elation after the derby at the weekend to now seething at the side’s inadequacies. Vulnerable in defence, insipid in midfield, toothless in attack. It was a collective nightmare. And while Pellegrini is likely to attract criticism for his inflexible tactics and lack of pragmatism, it is only right that the players don’t avoid the spotlight. The system might be a major flaw, but that should not prevent high-calibre players from passing the ball to a teammate.
Let’s start with the issues surrounding the formation. Pellegrini selected an unchanged side from the one which started the derby, meaning that, once again in the Champions League, he operated with 4-4-2. It should be made clear now that the system in itself is not the problem. With the correct players, with energy in midfield and pace on the wings, and with two strikers who forge a good understanding, it can be a formation that leads to exciting, incisive football. City’s issue, however, is that there are so few players at the club who are suited to it. Of all the midfielders and strikers at the manager’s disposal, perhaps only Jesus Navas and Fernandinho are tailor-made for roles in the system. That Pellegrini is unable to see that and adapt is a source of major frustration.
Fernando is a solid, very competent holding midfielder, but he does not possess the attacking instinct nor the range of passing to function in a midfield two. Yaya Touré’s quality on the ball is clear, but he lacks the mobility and defensive awareness to work with just one other alongside him. James Milner has arguably been City’s player of the season, but his greatest strength is his movement and ability to create angles, not remain positioned out on the wing. Stevan Jovetic likes to float around and drop deep. Sergio Aguero has only been able to create a partnership with the now-departed Alvaro Negredo. Samir Nasri lacks the tactical discipline to be stationed on the wing. David Silva, although unavailable last night, is best when played just behind the striker. Pellegrini might favour 4-4-2 as an attacking option, but he must, surely, be experienced and aware enough to depart from that preference if it does not suit his squad.
Yet for all the blame attached to Pellegrini, he is not solely at fault. The players were hideous last night. Jovetic barely passed to a colleague in the first-half. Yaya Touré neglected his defensive duties at a set-piece and then was typically petulant in earning a red card. Gael Clichy was made to look like an amateur with his panicked clearances and sloppiness in possession. Jesus Navas offered no threat on the right. Even the usually dependable Pablo Zabaleta had a nightmare. The onus might be on the manager to set up the side, but if the players are unable to motivate themselves for a must-win game in the Champions League, then that inevitably leads to question marks about their character.
Frankly, last night was an embarrassing time to be a City fan. To go from watching a group of players express themselves with such elegant freedom last season to currently performing as if having spent the past few weeks drinking copiously on a beach is maddening.
There is a seemingly an apathy that envelops the club where the Champions League is concerned. Fans are passive, unenthused and expecting disappointment. The players lack the spark and passion to make a positive impression. CSKA Moscow are an average side, yet City made them look like world-beaters. Confident on the ball, organised at the back and operating with a sense of purpose, they were everything that City ought to be. Pellegrini may not be hanging on to his job by a thread just yet, but many more performances like this and you have to wonder how long those in charge will remain patient.
What a shambles. It was direct versus indirect and aimless. Can’t blame the manager, at least he showed some interest.
As you well said City are not moulded to operate with a 4-4-2 system. Its been obvious from every single game we opted to play with this system. But MP persists to play like this. That’s either stubbornness or stupidity. Secondly stating that the players lack confidence is pure b..lsh.t. What the players lack is discipline ,motivation and determination. To show your the best you have to compete and beat the best. So far we have only done this (on occasions with some luck) domestically. Last to get a incompetent Referee once, against a team is possible but to get two consecutive opposing referees taking decisions which determine results is a conspiracy. WELL DONE UEFA FOR SUPPORTING A CLUB WITH RACISM ISSUES.
For myself, I’d now like to see one or two of our under-21′s drafted into the team. This surely is part of the definition of “holistic”. I’m a bit disappointed that the manager who brought through Isco is apparently so reluctant to consider this step. Why else do we have an Elite Development Squad?
To suggest the authors opinion on confidence is BS and then categorically state as if it were fact that the problem is x,y,z is a bit of a nonsense and all a subjective assessment. However, for me there were very definite signs of lower confidence levels last night, for this look no further than Clichy’s performance.
Last season we tend to score more goals than we let in and that masked our defensive fragility and I believe every fan would be okay with that as long as it an be sustained and you win games. However; with Negrado gone [and with it 20+ goals] and Yaya’s goals dried up, our team dynamic has changed and Pellers stubbornly fails to see it and our defense is now exposed. His stubbornness on playing 4 – 4 – 2 with current players is a big big problem.
The buck stops at the manager esp when you have a problem that occurring over and over and you simply play dumb by saying I am so surprised why we can not play.
Though players have role but he is merely responsible for not leveraging right tactics based on teams weaknesses and strengths and merely saying every damn week “we are going to play the way we play”.
I think the formation is only half the problem at the moment (if not less), however solving half of the problem is better than not solving it at all.
You are absolutely right and I agree with you. He needs to do something. They do not pay him big bucks to field a team and wear a suit during the game. They pay him to sort out issues [which includes formations and other things as you rightfully mentioned above] like this one.
Doing nothing, insisting on all is okay, we do as we always do and we do not know why we do not perform well can only bury us more.
My impression from early on in this game, was that the Moscow Manager came with a detailed breakdown of his opposition and a VERY specific game plan.
Whereas Pelligrini, just trotted out the same team he did on the weekend against UTD.
In both matches he brought the RIGHT people on, but critically brought the WRONG people off: for UTD read Milner, against CSKA read Fernando.
However, the problem runs deeper than that. We were as insipid in UCL matches with Mancini as we are now with Pelligrini.
So who is to blame: The club? The Manager? The players?
I think it might be the manager IMHO
Dieter Hamman said before the UCL campaign started, that if City persisted with a 2 man midfield with Yaya and Fernandinho/Fernando. They would get nowhere.
I think that the key is in having a manager strong enough to say, get rid of their best player. Mata/Mourinho for example.
Or, at least, recognise where YAYA should play. Is there a City fan that thinks that “defensive midfielder” is Yaya’s position?
I would MUCH prefer him to Jovetic or Dzeko alongside/just behind Aguero
Its all being said before I don’t know why our defensive midfielder is playing in the oppositions half. Its all very very strange. Nasris “tackle” was pure thuggery. The players behavior towards the ref after the game was brutal. Not acceptable at any level – a poor ref that he was the players need look no further than themselves. V.k made himself look like a plastic gentleman (again) I don’t like him or anyone crying like a big girl – its very bad form!!! So while we must take this nasty sting (another one) I will console myself safe in the knowledge that this team is our first generation. There’ll be others’ are we going to start crying now??? No way – the next ten years are going to be awesome. All that talk about plastic club.. Emptyhad…buy success blah blah blah will be rembered for being nothing but bluster. So cheer up & get the hamlet’s out. Blue moon always rising!!!!!
Time for 4-5-1 using both fers and milner for solidity.vital we start to win consecutively if only 1-0s as it really is only a confidence issue..guarantee 3 wins on the trot and all will be brighter!!!