MAN CITY 2 – 0 Everton – MY THOUGHTS
25 Sep
It was a game worth more than three points. Full of tension and drama, it wasn’t the performance we’ve become used to but it was one full of spirit and belief and was the type of display associated with champions. In the face of thuggish opponents, intent on stopping us by any means possible, we required patience and it took all of our winning mentality to claim the three points.
Our recent troubles with Everton have been well documented and with the Toffees coming to the Etihad Stadium with the sole intention of parking several buses, it was a test of our character. We passed with flying colours. A superb cameo from Mario Balotelli changed the game and his strike from outside the box, followed up by a late goal by James Milner after a superb piece of David Silva skill secured the win.
Everton’s tactics were horrible but understandable. They don’t have the skill or ability to compete with us and thus resorted to kicking lumps out of David Silva in an attempt to stifle our creative threat. Although Jack Rodwell and Phil Neville both received bookings for their man-marking of our Spaniard, I think their tactic worked. Until Balotelli scored with twenty minutes to go and Everton then had to attack, Silva was ineffective.
Some of the tackles on him were disgraceful, Rodwell’s especially, but it is testament to Silva’s personality that he continued to work hard, make himself available and when the shackles were broken in the second half, he was the standout performer. However, despite limiting Silva’s threat for the main part, by marking him so closely, they allowed our other creative stars more space, most noticeably Samir Nasri. The Frenchman has been a touch disappointing in the past couple of matches, but he was given more freedom and was always looking to be involved.
Other players to impress were Joleon Lescott and Gael Clichy, both of whom have started this season in fantastic form. The former Everton man, clearly looking to impress against his previous employers, handled the threat of Tim Cahill with ease, reading the game well and looking comfortable with the ball. Clichy is a breath of fresh air down our left, full of energy and is a huge improvement on our many recent left-backs.
Another man to have a good game yesterday was the manager, Roberto Mancini. I’ve gently criticised him in recent matches for his substitutions and the fact he tends to leave them too late. But in bringing on Balotelli just minutes into the second half, he got it spot on. With Everton so organised, we needed someone a bit different to upset their rhythm. And Balo is just that person!
He found space where other had found dark blue shirts. Starting out wide, his movement was first class, drifting all over and causing problems immediately. Many would have brought on Tévez when we needed a goal but the Argentine, with his tendency to dribble and drop deep, would have played into Everton’s hands. Balotelli offers something else and Mancini did well in realising we needed that.
Opposition View: I’d hate to be an Everton fan, forced to watch that bunch of unambitious thugs every week. David Moyes has done very well for a number of years with them, but their tactics against us were vile. Man-marking Silva worked to an extent but kicking lumps out of him is unacceptable. With no recognised striker, there was a shocking lack of ambition and they hardly posed any threat to our defence. They’re a combative, very well organised unit, but one that is painful to watch.
So onwards we go to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the Champions League and we’ll need more of the same belief and character in that game. It will be tough but we have the players to make something happen. This win will give us a huge confidence boost. The Everton jinx is over.
Oh my god , how petty and sad is that ? I laughed reading that drivel . Next time you comment on a game of football I suggest you go and watch it
I think you need to actually address what you disagree with before rubbishing the article. Otherwise you come across as being as bitter as your manager.
I was at the game (CB L3), and I have to say I agree with the article on all points except the criticism of Everton being negative. After all, if Everton had played in a more attacking formation then City would have destroyed them.
I agree. I think Everton had no option but to play defensive & I wouldn’t criticise them for that. I think this was our best win of the season so far, yes even better then the Spurs match. Why? Because we showed that we can break down stubborn defensive teams who will come to Etihad and “park the bus”. We are going to have to get used to this kind of tactic. Managers are not stupid, they know if they play an open game with us they will be punished. So well done to the boys (& the supporters) for their patience. Hard well earned 3 points.
Congrats on the 3 points. Moyes’ tactics worked for an hour or so, and given the huge difference in terms of cost of the two teams/squads, there’s no disgrace in losing by a deflection and a self-inflicted moment of brilliance by Silva (class player to be fair).
Only sore point really was Webb’s performance. In particular, how he could book Osman for his challenge but then not even award a free-kick for what looked like a worse challenge on Saha was a bit baffling. And Kompany’s stamp on Cahill looked deliberate, yet Cahill was the only one to get carded. Bizarre.
I do agree with Webb’s performance as Cahill’s tackle deserved a red card not yellow that is a game changer. Everton tackes were vile and mean and clearly intended not to stop Silva but to hurt him out of the game and Cahillls two footed tackle from the back was an intentional, mean and harsh tackle to inflict injury. A referee should be firm in punishing such tackles and not favor teams who think they deserve charity and favor because they are not endowed with resouces like City. Moyes interview was really pathetic,I had a lot of respect for him but not anymore!
Wes is right. Webb was an absolute disgrace. Komapny off and City down to 10 different game. Also mr view from a blue how can you say Lescott was man of the match. Not in the same class as Silva.
Everton should have had a free kick on the edge of the area when Kompany again pulled a man down.
Oh well Arab money buys refs as well as Scottish money
A REAL BLUE (TOFFEE MAN)
!!!!!
Bizarre?!
Your manager ranted about this soon after the game finished (presumably) not having seen the replay of CAHILL’S OFF HIS FEET, STUDS UP LUNGE.
You do not have the same excuse, you’ve had time to look at it. Are you occulatorily challeneged or just a plenus punctum?
Unambitious thugs you say. Nice. Come down from your high moral ground and read our view
Laughing here. What you just detailed perfectly is your Everton obsession and inferiority complex.
With good reason too as we’ve actually won stuff.
If those tackles were bad then I’m afraid you’ve been watching too much Serie A. You can spend all the money you like but United will keep on beasting you.
Most other footie fans will be watching and laughing at your inevitable falling short. You’re the modern day geordies and nothing more.
Thanks for keeping us entertained, you tragic bastards.
It seems short-sighted fools like you are missing the point. The question is not if United beats us or not this season, what is really important to see what resources you have, how you are going to use them and where you will be in 3 years, if you have enough resource to keep the momentum. 3 years ago, no one would have thought City would be where it is now. And if you peanut size brain can connect the dots for the past 3 years, you may get a faintest idea where City will be in 3 years from now. And I am affraid to say that the count down for your worst nightmare has started 10,9,8,7,…. .Pretty scary huh!
If Balotelli had not have scored with a deflected shot, the criticism would have been that Mancini showed no imagination and did a like-for-like substitution with Dzeko. Fortunately it worked out. The Everton defence wasn’t put under enough pressure once they had won the ball, and Tevez rather than Balotelli would have been the logical choice to remedy that shortcoming. So it may have worked out this time, but if Mancini uses the same ploy again, then get ready for the alternate and just as likely outcome of 0-0 – and a few less plaudits.
>>If Balotelli had not have scored with a deflected shot …
If David Moyes parents had decided to stay virgin, He would not exist today!
Well you did win but the Balotelli (utterly detestable character) goal did take a BIG deflection and give Howard no chance whatsoever.
Dissapointment set in long before that as Silva started to dive around and act like An Audition for an Equtiy Card as for the thug’s Comment well I’m sorry that’s football and Kompany is one of the worste there is and he didn’t dissapoint yesterday either, personally i think the plug will be pulled before you get the chance to win any Silverware, I hope so anyway….
Keep on hoping old son.
Hope is all you sad twisted scouse losers have.
As for describing the thuggery that was aimed at depriving Silva of his legs being described as ‘diving’ and your twisted view ofd Cahill’s self inflicted injury, you are deluding only yourselves.
As for Balotelli’s goal, I sit right in line with it behind the goal. It took a slight deflection, but it wasn’t that which beat Howard, who had an excellent game, he was unsighted and hence had no time to cover it.
@viewfromablue i think you forget how bad we use to be! There was a point when our most creative person was Joey Barton
If clattering opponents and blaming the referee for their (all too regular) defeats is the best Moyes can come up with then Everton are in deep trouble this season. Watching a side that bad I can’t see where our next three points are coming from.
And today’s Retard of the Day award goes to Jem for this, er, gem:
“personally i think the plug will be pulled before you get the chance to win any Silverware”
You really *haven’t* been paying attention, have you?
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