I agree he dwells on the ball but going forward he didn't make too many errors today, he pushed high and went inside which game room for Sterling to play out wide
Should've done better for their first goal, and not sure where he was going for last one aswell. He's not a confident keeper, we needs someone who can really command the area. He's poor dealing with crosses and long balls. It's not that he made alot mistakes this game, but I've not been happy with him for a while.
Bringing Balotelli in to play alongside Sturridge is what we need - Sturridge looked a little lost up front alone tonight. Quite simply City were the better team on the night, but it's the 2nd game of the season so I'm not concerned at all. We will improve and get back to winning ways next Sunday
He had to be sold to Spurs as part of the Davies/Sigudsson deal so Swansea could mark it a 0 transfer fee and not pay the 30%
Disagree. We may, MAY be weaker up front, if we score more goals than the opposition then it's irrelevant....That's to be decided after oh, 30 odd games. Two of the attacking options bought weren't available tonight. To say that the additions made in the summer have weakened our squad is simply ludicrous. Going by your posts over last two months I think you'd made up your mind this season was over the minute Suarez left. Shame as I think our team will be better overall by the end of the season. We've only gone and lost a fixture that we lost last year with that "better" team you seem to think we had. Second game.
Thought that might be the case, I'm sure we could have come to some agreement, even to pay a fee including the 30%
We are still 3 points better off than from corresponding fixtures last season. Who else other than possibly Chelsea are going to get something from the etihad this season? Some are overreacting . Average players, that's ridiculous. Things take time and it will come together.
Jaffakop needs to pipe down a bit. We lost to the Champions get over it. 36 games to go and players to settle in patience is needed. Sad some of us are happy Johnson is injured but if he is as bad as most say it's up to the gaffer to drop him. On to Spurs then and I expect a better performance from the team as well as a better result.
If you're glad a Liverpool player got injured that's your call. I happen to want an injury free squad and would never be happy that one of our players is injured. I agree Johnson shouldn't be playing in our first 11 - but that's down to Rodgers picking him, and shouldn't be down to him being injured.
I expect a tough game against Spurs. I think Coutinho had a decent game in terms of closing down but played poorly in terms of what we require primarily from his role, the final ball was lacking and he couldn't find any space. Lallana would be a big help right now
Why? 2nd game of the season against the champions away. We have players to come in, so I'm optimistic rather than concerned. We were beaten by the better team - no complaints or excuses from me.
Disagree on the first goal,he was totally exposed and couldn't do much more than spread himself. Agree on the third,he got into a strange position trying to second guess what was happening
I think that most are frustrated by Johnson hence the reaction to his injury. I'm sure none of us wish him ill but if it gets him out the team then all well and good. Over the years I have been a big supporter of him ,often using his attacking threat to cover his defensive frailties ( remember the top corner screamer against West Ham or the last minute winner at Chelsea) and said he was worth his place because of that. But now he has lost that. When was the last time he had a shot on target let alone score? He used to breeze passed full backs with ease and could put in a good cross. Now....nothing. He dwells on the ball,runs down blind alleys and has no end product. His presence in the team seems to hinder sterling when he's playing same side. He just slows the whole game down. Thinking about it perhaps united should sign him, he would fit beautifully.
Thought GJ was pretty poor tonight. Moreno/Lovren/Skrtel didn't have the greatest games either but both showed glimpses of promise. GJ for me, is done. And has been for a few years now. Javier Manquillo is a young right-back who has showed a lot of promise going forward. Neither him or GJ are the greatest when defending, but Manquillo offers more of a threat going forward. Thought Allen had a great game, pressed well and completed the majority of his passes to good effect. Certainly looked a lot better than Lucas did against Southampton. But the problem for me, is the sitting midfielder role. I absolutely love Gerrard to pieces, but his positional sense leaves a lot to be desired. We can't keep not tracking runs from attacking players in our 18-yard box. It cost us against Southampton for Clyne's goal and it cost us tonight for Jovetic. Markovic looked promising when he came on and a left flank of him and Moreno will be very dangerous going forward into the season. Sturridge didn't really get a lot to work with and looked isolated, maybe switching to a 2-up-top formation with Balotelli might help. At the end of the day, we aren't and certainly won't be the only team to get beaten at the Etihad. City are incredibly strong and I fancy them and Chelsea to run away with it. Liverpool will be challenging with Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham for 3rd and 4th. P.S, Mignolet mate, where the hell were you going for Aguero's goal? Might as well have had a sign saying 'This way to the back of the net'.
That's the thing. Last week his defending wasn't too bad, and again today wasn't awful. But the big thing he had going for him was on the ball and going forward he was very good. Now he seems to have lost that part of his game and doesn't seem confident and because of that, he's turned into a very average full back who is neither outstanding defensively, or outstanding going forward.
This. I thought he stirred it up fine when he came on, but when we went down to ten it cut his legs from under him. Anyway, my markings: Migs: 6 Seemed more comfortable handling crosses tonight and he couldn't be faulted for the first two goals. Not at his best for the third. Johnson: 5 Gets forward - and loses the ball. Most of City's attacks came down the other side though. Moreno: 6 Excited in the first half - until the first goal. Has pace and is aggressive, but we've got another full back who's better attacking than defending. Lovren: 5 Apart from one complete miss at cutting out the ball, he was solid in the first half. Apart from one interception in the second he was leaden. Skrtel: 6 Is he dragging down Lovren, or is Lovren dragging down him? Another who was rock in the first half and lamentable in the second. Gerrard: 6 Some wicked passes and interceptions in the first half. Anonymous in the second. Allen: 6 Would have been 8 in the first half (you get the pattern here?) . Henderson: 6 Everywhere, as always, but not as incisive as he can be. Coutinho: 6 Disappeared after and hour, again. Sterling: 7 Dangerous when we got the ball to him. Ran out of steam in the second. Studge: 6 Came to life for 15 minutes after we went three down, but was equally anonymous after. Subs: Markovich: 6 Looked really lively and had the beating of his man, and linked up well with Moreno. Then we went down to ten... Lambert; 6 Wtf didn't he shoot! Otherwise showed he can work with Studge. Can: 6 Gets stuck in. Seems to have a good radar for interceptions. Seems slow too, which surprises me about a Rogers buy. Overall; 7 Not too disheartened. Had we scored when we were palpably on top, and City were getting nowhere against our midfield and defence, I think we'd have got at least a point. the fact that we didn't really look like scoring during that period is the worrying thing.