City vs WHU - LIVE THREAD

[blueboy]

OK, a few hours to KO.

After Chelsea got a controversial 3 points today and move to 10th (so far), today will mean we could break further records if we keep a clean sheet, but more importantly, get another 3 points.

Be interesting if MP picks an attacking 4 with KDB making his home starting debut.

Gonna be a tough game if we see the WHU who have done really well away from home so far.

Streams to posted shortly.

[blueboy]

Live Streams:

http://cricfree.sx/

http://footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/index.html

[blueboy]

Team News in 5 mins

[blueboy]

[blueboy]

Nothing we didn't know would happen.

[Guest]

Other than Vinnie and Zab, that is probably our strongest lineup, so time to see if the pursuit was worth it.   I think they will be stellar today. 3-0 without breaking sweat !!

[blueboy]

I'm not so sure it'll be that easy.

My only concern is that we have started off with 5 games, with 2 'wide', fast players who track back.

Now, all of a sudden, we have to find a system that suits KDB, whilst also keeping that balance. We saw mid-week, we were completely out of balance within the team when Navas was dropped.

I know we all give him stick for his end product, but his threat of pace and that of Sterling's, has worked in the first 5 games - pushing the opposition full backs further back, worried about attacking and making their wide men come back and defend - which in turn, has given licence for Sagna and Kolorov to get forward more.

Weds, we just didn't have that option. Everything was slow, inside and predictable, which they exploited on the counter-attack.

I'm hopeful with Sterling, Silva and KDB, 2 of them can keep wide, interchange and keep that shape that's kept us unbeaten so far, without conceding.

Be interesting to see how Otamendi copes today for his first start - against a WHU team that have fast and tricky players.

An early goal would really help the team to settle and get back into our stride, and enable us to keep control, keep the pace up and force them to over-commit.

[blueboy]

Silva injured in the warm up? Navas in?

Can't work it out - just missed the end of what they were talking
about.

[blueboy]

Confirmed - Silva out, injured in the warm up, Navas in.

So I guess KDB will play in Silva's role - which is his preferred position.

Come on KDB, time to shine fella.

[Guest]

Indeed now is the time!

[Guest]

See what we are made of now!

[Nijinsky]

I cant believe what i'm seeing every bit as bad as Tuesday

[Wensdi]

Yep - Back to black.

[Guest]

We might play with some urgency now but then again! Time for the manager to change it! Oh wait again no chance with that.

[Guest]

Kdb has turned sterling into a liability it would seem too. The lad looks a shadow of the early games!

[Guest]

It's not going to go in! And we are getting nothing from this ref!

[Guest]

They've been time wasting since 13th min

[Guest]

Sort out out Sergio, you are not at the races son!

[Guest]

Finally, I like him, really comfortable on the ball, and finally some pace!

[Guest]

2 weeks running carthorse defenders! They need to start red carding these!

[blueboy]

1. Great finish by KDB

2. What's happened to Kolorov's defending? Back to his usual self.

3. Otamendi looks good in the air and on the ground.

4. Mangala has had a good game.

5. Hart was poor again for that first goal. Good strike, but should never be beaten from that far out-again, on his near post. KDB's was from a central position so could have gone either way.

6. TLMLF has done- not a jot in this game.

7. Aguero has been poor. No movement.

8. I wish KDB would occupy that space between their defenders and MF, instead of keep drifting wide.

9. Sterling and Kolorov need to ensure Moses is pushed further back instead of worrying about his pace going forward. More overlapping.

10. Navas' crossing is nothing short of pathetic. However, he's giving us width, which will help us in the second half.

Would love to see Roberts having a real go at their LB. He's a real weakness, but Navas is allowing him to dominate and is going back inside. Run at then FFS, commit them.

Second half - we need Aguero doing far more, TLMLF adding more and KDB to keep a little more central to support Aguero.

Oh, and lets see Patrick Roberts run at their defenders - he's on fire after midweek. Take a chance, take a risk MP!!

[Guest]

All to play for now! Pace pace pace! Sideways shit and I'm going to watch last weeks fooking x-factor! Sort it out Manuel!

[leopold]

They've had two shots and have two goals. We need some lessons in finishing, we've been fucking useless. Serge looks like he's half asleep, Sterling hasn't been in it and Navas has been piss poor. KdB isn't looking like the player we bought yet.

Still, be good to see how we come back from this.

[blueboy]

[shakencity]

i'm expecting one-way traffic in the 2nd half...City to win 4-2

[blueboy]

Thought KDB's passing has been excellent Leo.

Mangala off with an injury and DEM on!!

Great!!!

[Guest]

Pace pace fooking pace ......... please!

[blueboy]

We really need a goal in the next 10 mins.

Navas' crossing again, has been poor. What's to lose? WHU want to defend and hit us on the counter. GET ROBERTS on for Navas!! Come on, "He who dares, wins...Rodney"

[Guest]

Sergio what's going on son? You knock them in for fun for the Argies? Sort it out!

[Guest]

Navas say no more! And yaya come on! These will cost us.

[Guest]

Fuck off ref! Been told to give us nothing

[Guest]

Oh Navas you are simply shit nothing else comes close!

[Guest]

West ham sorry you've been disgraceful this half! Anti football at its finest!

[Guest]

Not giving them credit! Smash and grab and time wasting for 60 mins! Manuel nothing has changed you cannot change jack shit. Sergio isn't at the races but Kdb looks good. Navas can simply fuck off!

[blueboy]

KDB was very good today.

I think we should give MP credit for bringing off a non-existent Sterling....but what the fuck is he thinking, keeping Navas on?

I've seen a great home debut from KDB, but the Manager sits there, with a kid who looks to attack players like Messi on the bench, yet he will NOT take a chance at 2-1 down, when we need a goal, to give him a chance!

Why bring Bony on? Why Kelechi?

Our problem was that we got in great positions out wide, but the final ball was nothing short of shit.

I guess this was on the cards today. Awful mid-week, and that carried on today.

Aguero looks a shadow of the player we know he is. 

TLMLF a was pathetic, as was Kolorov. 2 players who have been excellent so far until today.

Silva was a massive miss, but if we concede 2 early goals to WHU at home, with Silva and Kompany out, that says that many of the others aren't good enough, or they are not giving 100%.

Over to you Manuel to sort this weeks shit out.

[titbumwilly]

Not bothered really, it was a freak result against a disgraceful team that were time wasting from the 13th minute, and any other day we would have won by 5 or 6.
Forget it and move on.

[leopold]

Sadly, I don't agree about this being a freak result. West Ham have laid down a blueprint for how to beat us and, the sad part is, it's exactly the same as last season!

There was no point lumping high balls into the box as we had nobody who could get to them. Why not drill them along the floor? Why not get it into dangerous areas instead of launching them way over the top? There was no point having three strikers on the pitch and nobody able to get the ball to them. And sorry, but KdB wasn't effective enough in getting the ball into that area, although I expect him to improve as he settles in.

Navas is shit. We need to get rid and bring in someone who can cross a damn ball.

[titbumwilly]

I thought KdB was very impressive, maybe I am easily pleased.
Yes the long ball stuff was wasteful, and Navas was shit, but even conceding that, we could have scored 5 or 6 in the second half.
If we had created no chances I would be worried.
West Ham will win the square root of fuck all this season, we will win at least one trophy.
That's why I am not too fussed.

[Guest]

Spot on there TBW, probably why i wasnt too upset after the game. Good wake up call and we move on.

[TMG]

Beginning to hate CL ! We were on a great run. Confidence high & then MP changes the winning line up to play against Juventus. We play our usual 'cagey' way in Europe, confidence drops & then we take it into the next PL game
I really dont think we'd have lost that game but for the mid week game. I am now not confident against Spuds next week, although having said that I cant see them putting 11 men behind the ball

[blueboy]

I thought WHU were excellent yesterday. Their defenders were immense and their keeper had a decent game. We were warned prior to the game, they had beaten both LFC and Chelsea away from home, so it was certainly not lucky.

What I saw yesterday was a team that's hot streak has been interrupted because of the International break. We weren't great against Palace.

Far too many players had an off day.

Sterling looked knackered, Kolorov's defending was back to being laughable at times and he rarely helped Sterling.
TLMLF was trying to play balls over the top for Aguero, which were madness and we just gave away possession time and time again.

That was probably the worse game I've seen Sergio play. He was dire and doesn't look fit.

I believe KDB had a very good debut. His touch is excellent, his passing range impressive and he always looks to go forward first and looks to play a quick pass if on.

Navas. Where to start, as he's so frustrating. He really helps in attack with his pace and he tracks back in defence. When he doesn't play, we look lethargic. However, he must have had the opportunity to cross a ball from the edge of the box, out wide - 15/20 times and possibly one didn't hit the first defender. That's just not good enough and must frustrate the Aguero and the others.
Maybe it's time to get him on the left and Stirling on the right, that way, he'll have to check back for Kolorov to cross or inside to shoot as he has no left foot?

Can see Roberts getting a run out midweek, maybe he's an option.

Thought Otamendi had a decent game. Looks good in the air, decent on the floor. Mangala played well until the injury.

I really think Hart is going through a dodgy spell. Think he could have done better for both goals mid-week and to be beaten from that angle by Moses so far out, was poor in my opinion.

Fernandinho worked hard, but I don't think helped him when you had TLMLF back to his lumbering about the pitch best yesterday.

The Manager for me was correct to bring Stirling off, but when you sit there and see 20/30 really poor crosses going into the box. why, as a Manager, add more strikers in there? Just baffles me his selections sometimes.

I really hope the Manager gets stuck into the likes of Aguero, TLMLF, Hart and Stirling and gets them pulling their fingers out.

Overall, not great, a slight concern, especially as we were at home - and lets hope this week can be put behind us and we get back to quick, decisive football and we start finishing better.

[skyblueoz]

Thing is he changed a winning line up to play Juventus because Stirling & silva both came back in & Aguero was out due to the knock against palace. We lost Kompany, during the game due to injury. The only change was Navas out & Nasri in. He only actually changed 1 player the rest were forced upon him, though he did not have to bring Silva or sterling back. Could you imagine the uproar if he had left them both on the bench if fit. I personally think we are to quick to blame the manager, I think that poxy international break has more to answer for. Why did aguero need to fly half way round the world for a bloody friendly???

[skyblueoz]

I think he used more strikers as west ham were not venturing over the half way line, I must admit though Roberts would have been a good option out wide but I see why bony & kelechi were used especially when you saw the amount of loose balls that were bouncing around in the west ham penalty box & we were not getting on the end of them. Problem was when they came on we still didn't get on the end of them.
I actually thought Sterling played ok from what I saw. The 20th minute onwards.

[blueboy]

I think that was what I said above Oz.

What I saw yesterday was a team that's hot streak has been interrupted because of the International break. We weren't great against Palace.


My point with the Manager was; why bring on two strikers (to make it 3), when the crossing into the box was pathetic. We now have exactly the same situation as before, but with 3 strikers inside the penalty area, all going "ffs Jesus, my daughter can cross a ball better than you!"

[Guest]

Blue you can't give West Ham credit, their anti-football was worse than Chelsea.  Yes I know it's up to us to rise above that but I thought it was a different level yesterday.  They were time wasting from the 10th minute.   That is just shit, plain and simple.

[blueboy]

Sorry BB, I thought apart from the time-wasting, their defence and their keeper were excellent.

Time-wasting is one thing, but it's not the reason we got beat. We were 2-1 at HT. We ended up with 76% possession, 29 shots. Of those 29 shots, how many were:

 - blocked by a defender
 - saved by the keeper

We had enough possession in the danger areas, but through good defending and poor crossing, shooting and pass selection, we didn't score again.

It wasn't as if we hit the post 5 times, or the crossbar. They made numerous challenges, loads of headers on the edge of their box from our poor crosses, especially from Navas and TLMLF....it's not their fault they won them, that's their job.

On the time-wasting though, yes it's crap to see at this level. But it'll be forgotten about by tomorrow and the table will show 3 points to WHU.

Thought Noble was excellent when he grabbed Jenkinson up off the floor and tell him to stop wasting time.

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