MAN CITY 4 – 2 Borussia Monchengladbach – MY THOUGHTS
9 Dec
Top spot in the group secured, four goals thumped past effervescent opponents and our Premier League struggles washed away amid a sea of Champions League success. All is well in the world of Man City, right?
Well, not quite, because here’s a dose of reality; if we defend in the knockout rounds like we did in the group stage, we will quickly be placing our passports back in the drawer.
Everything should be positive today. All the defeatism that accompanied the disaster at Stoke should be pushed to one side as we celebrate a dramatic series of events that resulted in us progressing beyond the group and providing, in theory, a simpler tie in the next round. The general consensus is that we ought to be laughing at Manchester United while giving ourselves a hearty slap on the back. I agree completely with one of those two points.
It would be all too easy to sugarcoat our problems in Europe by looking at the table and believing we have cracked the Champions League. Some might point to four victories and use that as an example of how we are now maturing as a team, a sign that the manager and players are finally getting to grips with the demands of the competition. That conclusion would merely paint over the cracks that, if nothing changes, will emerge wider than ever down the line.
Let’s face it. We were second best against Juventus at home. We were outplayed by Borussia in Germany, relying on Joe Hart’s heroics and a last-minute Sergio Aguero penalty. We were then outplayed again by a rampant Sevilla in Manchester, only for Kevin De Bruyne to produce a late moment of magic. A thrilling, nigh-on perfect, performance in Spain followed, before we were on the receiving end of another Juventus lesson. And then yesterday, Borussia humiliated us in the first-half before strangely sitting back and allowing us to recover.
All in all, I make that one great performance, one decent one and four bad ones in which we were by far second best and mighty fortunate to get the points.
And what worries me most in all of this is that we do not seem to learn. We are still as defensively vulnerable as ever, still lack the balance required at the top level, still commit the same naive mistakes and still look tactically inferior to any side we come up against. We still run less than the opposition and still attack as individuals rather than as a team. There are occasional glimpses of our ability to adapt – Roma and Sevilla away are the two best examples – but how many times have we seen sides cut swathes through us with incisive, one touch, energetic football. How many times have we called on Joe Hart to make save after save after save to prevent a cricket score. How many times have we looked puzzled at Manuel Pellegrini as he shows no inclination to be a little more pragmatic and pick the best team, not the best players.
I don’t want this to be overly negative. I’d love nothing more than for us to progress to the last eight after a couple of controlled, authoritative performances – and the second half last night showed what a force we can be when we impose our brand of attacking, creative football on a game – but I fear that if we continue to play and defend in the same chaotic, ill-disciplined way, we will be on the receiving end of another painful defeat.
While i dont disagree with your thoughts i do think we have suffered in the league due to wanting to secure champions league first and foremost…i hope im correct in thinking now that we have a bit of a break to the next round we will kick on a bit( especially with players coming back from injury) and be clear of a rivals come the quarter finals.
Well said. You’re not being over-negative. You’re just saying what we’re all seeing and thinking. Our manager is woefully out of his depth. His stubbornness and naivety cannot be allowed to continue. His tactics are awful, his ability to motivate players completely non-existent. His urtter refusal to change our team and/or formation when we’re being battered is embarrassing. What happened to the team at the beginning of the season? As the one in front of us now is slow, unfit, too old and shambolic. Our defensive frailties are a major concern. And you can’t just blame it on the absence of Komps. These are seasoned professionals. Like all the pundits are saying you can’t spend millions & millions on players and then as soon as we lose a few key players to injury we look like a very ordinary and disorganised set of individuals. There’s no leadership from the bench and there’s no leadership on the pitch. These problems must be addressed and soon. Younger fitter players are desperately needed.
We’re just a Vince away…
you are spot-on. This win should ,by no means, paint over our issues. We have conceded 11 goals in the last six games which is an average of almost 2 goals per game. This is horrible defending …
Nice to see you back VFAB.
I too agree with your reflection of recent events.
Yes we have players missing but surely we should be able to replace like for like, to a point, that can slot in and play the same game. Is that not the clubs philosophy?!!
We appear tactically naive with no plan B. You can see the opposition have worked out how to play us due to the predictability of our passing and the lack of any tempo. When pressed the players pass sideways and backwards and there is little or no movement through midfield or up front. Its as though some of them are hiding and when the ball is received the automatic pass is short and back rather than control and turn.
My concern also is how can a team of professional football players who play at the highest level in the domestic game be as embarrassingly shambolic as this lot. Too many individuals and not enough of defend as a team and attack as a team. When some players are having a poor game it spreads like a cancer through the rest of them and the belief and work ethic disappears.
My last point is what happened to having a shot at goal when the opportunity arises. Am i being over ambitious to ask to shoot with either foot!!
The crazy thing about the team is when they are in the mood they are feared by all comers. They can be fluid and irresistible, but not nearly often enough.
Come on City… please… the tags City were once labelled with should be history not present such as lackluster and unpredictable. I hoped we had moved on.
CTID … just angry!!!
Your still here so?