Man City are a very good team, regardless of who they put out on the pitch.
That’s the bleeding obvious out of the way and I suppose we should expect another spanking, similar to what should have happened against Leicester.
Fortunately, I called that game totally wrong, I suspect along with the vast majority of us and football did what it always has done, in saying no result is guaranteed.
Which is the total beauty of the game that sets it apart for me.
So while it would be fair to say we should be beaten fairly easily, I think if we set up right we can frustrate Citeh, just as we did Leicester.
Straight into squad news and little has changed.
Davis is still a couple of weeks away and all our long term injuries are just that; out for ages.
The interesting one is Jonathan Kodjia, who apparently hasn’t trained because of whatever illness (probably manflu) affected him on Wednesday.
I personally think that’s total rubbish and my money says he’s off, which is a massive indication of what Dean Smith thinks of him. Even if Smith doesn’t rate him, it says it all that he’d rather play without a striker than play Kodjia, particularly in our current position.
I suppose of course that Kodjia might genuinely be ill and there is a lot of it about, where I’ve personally seen very hardened grafters taking time off over the last couple of weeks.
As some of you know, I love a conspiracy theory and it just seems all too convenient to be ill right now.
As for Citeh, Kevin De Bruyne is fit after coming off against Utd midweek.
Aymeric Laporte is close, but not ready, same as Leroy Sane.
Will Drinkwater start?
I’d definitely think so as he has the ability to offer more than Hourihane and certainly Lansbury, in his overall game.
What does Pep think?
“It’s a historic club with a fantastic stadium. They changed their set-up, with five at the back rather than four at the back.
“Unfortunately, they had a big injury in the last week. We’ll try to maintain the dynamic we have.”
Not much about the game itself, then.
But the five at the back comment pleased me, as it backs up what I keep saying, in that we don’t play 3.
No doubt I’m just being pedantic, as we all saw how we played midweek, but it just bugs me.
And if we stick with the five, I suspect we might be able to get something out of the game.
Going gung-ho is definitely not the way to go, against a side like Man City, who will punish you on the counter.
I’m cautiously going for a 1-1.
Given that this should be a shoe-in on paper for Citeh, I’d definitely take that.
If we can nick one and hold them off, I’d be ecstatic.
But I think that’s pushing it.
UTV!
Just poured myself another glass of excellent Gavi and Keira Nightley is just stunning. Why are you all still watching and getting hot under the collar?
Have you ever counted how many 2nd balls we win and how many the opposition win? We just ball watch all the time were always 2 steps behind never on the front foot all the time. Its lazy and i think the negative tactics is rubbing off on the team. Smith out its time for a change.
Jesus 4-0.
Can I change my sweep to 8?
Well that was entertaining wasn’t it. No one going to change my mind on Smilh, he’s had his chance times up. No don’t ask me who would you get, to be honest not a fucking clue.
What was the tactics before kick off? Defend, defend and defend. Smith said in interview about kicking long into spaces which is great if we have quick wingers or wing backs. Unfortunately he elected to play none of them so ball just keeps coming back.
Anyone who thinks this shower can get anywhere near 40 points is deluded.
I hope those fans were only going to get a cuppa when it went to 3…if they were leaving then don’t EVER return…….what the hell do we expect……our team at best only a few months old…..some less and Drinkwater new…I know he has had a nightmare but anyone would with a team that have10 years together……even if its 10 at the end its not as bad at Watford 3…….
I dont blame them for leaving. The least we would expect is the team to fight and go for it. We are in the relegation zone, draws are really no good. You wont score if you dont get the ball anywhere near the opposition box. Yet we think we can play 10 defensive players and 2 attacking midfielders and get a result?? What on earth is Smith thinking i really dont know? Its a shower of shit and the white flag was raised before kick off.
Unrealistic expectations. There’s a world class difference between the sides and then add our injury problems.
Smith, of course, is an easy target but I don’t know of any miracle worker looking for a managers role. And please don’t cite Southampton and Watford their squads etc. are significantly better and have played together for several seasons in the EPL
Maybe Pepe Reina can play up front?
We lack organisation, courage, determination. OK we have no striker but just keep the ball and move and pass. We are just rolling over, just as pretty much all of us knew we would. Hardly a ringing endorsement for any player considering a move to us.
We are deep in it. Watford reacted and decided to go for discipline, organisation and team spirit. Really not sure where we go from here.
Anyone expecting Smith to make half time changes! Do you think Citeh will try and buy back Luiz?
We have one player that can get the ball in their box, our goalkeeper, a dab hand at kicking long balls to no one,
This could be 0-10.
And that’s 5.
Has Nyland been at fault?
I think Heaton would have saved at least 2, myself.
How many defenders did we have then against 3 of their players and they still score. Relegation fodder. I hope Leicester beat us in the semi final 2nd leg because we would be an embarrassment to the world of football in the final.
I counted 5 of our’s and two of theirs,
Still no substitutes. Smith must think it’s going to plan.
Nakamba hahahahahahahahahahaaha when you need a goal!
I suspect that’s more about tring not to concede any more.
Getting a goal wouldn’t help the result/
Might give the fans something to cheer about maybe? A goal would give the player some sort of confidence boost no?..Conceding another or two or three really makes no difference. So i dont agree with that.
At last…someone has stated the bleedin obvious…well done Hichens6….we had no chace before we got promoted never mind today.If we had even managed to attack with purpose it would have been 5 from break aways. I feared we would get about 10 scores like this when we came up…mind you we might still do.
Norwich are 7 points below us and they beat City. Its really not impossible. At least going for it gives us a chance and we can say well we tried. What can we say about today?
Freak result – they happen to other sides that is 🙂
I’ve never seen such a one sided game. Embarrassing beyond belief.
We want new faces in the dressing room he says, they will lift the club up.his he having a laff,
Howe might be leaving Bournemouth – just saying 🙂 🙂
Interesting to see Smith’s press conference after the game. I guess he will say “they took their chances we didn’t”
Ole ole ole oh f**k