City v Sunderland - Live Thread

[blueboy]

So...it's here. We've got the manager we've always wanted, we bought well (although only 1/2 of them will play today), we're at home for the first game against Sunderland....what more can we ask other than 3 points and a decent performance? 

Anyone still got that 'cityitis' all of a sudden?

The team will be interesting. Will he start with Joe or Willy? That'll send a big message if Willy starts. Who will play at RB and who will partner Stones, as Otamendi has a slight tendon issue and faces a late fitness test? Will KDB start? Who plays on the wings and in the holding MF role?

For me, I'll probably go with this - in the thought that Otamendi may not be risked to start:

Hart
Sagna, Stones, Yoyo, Clichy
Fernandinho, Delph
Sterling, KDB, Silva
Aguero

I think he likes Delph being a left footed player and he seems to have more energy than Fernando. He can sit and let Fernandinho roam forward and provides a little more natural cover if Silva plays on the left.

I'd have no worries with Yoyo at CB with Stones. Both are quick (to cope with Defoe's runs) as Sunderland may decide to sit deep and try and hit us on the counter if we play a high line - both are very tall and good in the air for set-pieces. Both are comfortable on the ball.

Sterling looked far more comfortable on the right hand side. Nolito hasn't shown anything for me so far to justify a start and may have to work his way into the team.

KDB may not be 100%, but a 95% fit KDB would be in my team every week and would play in a switching role with Silva, behind Aguero.

TLMLF can stretch his legs for 10 minutes at the end - if needed. If not, give Nolito and a couple of kids a chance.

Gonna be exciting - as long as the 'cityitis' stays away.

[blueboy]

Team News in 10 mins....

[blueboy]

Here's the team for our first game of the season and of our new era under Pep!! And fuck me....Kockorov is playing!! No Joe Hart - sub.

[blueboy]

Willy
Sanga, Kolorov, Stones, Clichy
Fernandinho, Silva
Nolito, KDB, Sterling
Aguero

Well....it seems that Joe Hart is fucked under Pep!

[blueboy]

Subs:

Hart
Zaba
Fernando
Navas
Delph
Otamemdi
Kelechi

So no kids to start with.

Gotta say....Yoyo or Kockorov? Bizarre!!

[blueboy]

Silva Captain.....

I asked if anyone had that 'cityitis' earlier.....I've caught it about 10 minutes ago!!

Feel a bit sick for Joe Hart....that's a real kick in the teeth for me. Guess that's our new manager - no fucking around. Still...

[blueboy]

No TLMLF....is this THE start of a new era?

Looks like Pep isn't fucking about. If he thinks you're not good enough, or fit enough - you're out of training and out of the team.

Guess we have to trust him - so it's all on today's performance - a shit one, and we as fans, the manager and the team will be slaughtered.

Come on City!!!

[titbumwilly]

Looks like a strange line up to me, but I ain't no Pep. Let's hope he is the tactical genius we are hoping.
C'mon City.

[blueboy]

Here's hoping...

[blueboy]

1-0!

Great play by Fernandinho and Sterling...Sterling wins the pen....only one outcome.

Aguerooooo!

Playing very well - passing is very good, movement excellent.

See how our defence cope whenever they decide to have the ball.

[blueboy]

Still not sure what Nolito offers. He's got the touch, but his final ball is a la Navas.

Can't wait to see some serious width with Sane...as that's looking what Pep wants....but we seem to be drifting back inside. KDB and Aguero are not on the ball enough.

Still, 1-0 at HT - however, the subs are a little light on attacking talent unless he changes Nolito for Kelechi and plays him up front and plays Aguero wide instead of Nolito.

Passing and movement looks ok, just a little slow in the final 3rd.

[leopold]

It all seems to have gone a bit flat late on in the first half, like we've been found out already. Hopefully it's just early season sluggishness, I guess we'll see soon enough.

[Guest]

Tell me what has changed?

[titbumwilly]

Yawn

[Guest]

I'm no expert but I don't get this defender thing ? We have fit centre backs, why are they not playing?

[Nijinsky]

New season, new manager, same old defending

[Guest]

Sorry this is just lucky, should have been out of sight, but I don't even think the players know what they are meant to be b doing

[Nijinsky]

God that was hard to watch

[skyblueoz]

its early days a wins a win and yes I think we were all expecting a bit more cohesion. Still the best manager we could possibly have got is here to make our club the best in the world. His record speaks for itself, so no matter what the results we have to back him & believe in him.

Rome wasn't built in a day and all that so patience is the key. Thought Sterling looked much sharper & Stones looked Assured. But willy gives me the Willy's & his distribution is as pathetic as Joe's

[Wensdi]

I agree with Oz - early days different set up different coach.

[Topdawg]

Will watch on MoTD tonight. I can see it taking a couple of seasons before we get the new identity bedded in.

[Wensdi]

Pretty harsh to make judgment on the basis on one game.  Thought Stones made a grand debut and Sterling looked sharper - and good cross from Navas eh?

[Guest]

I just think this Kolarov thing just takes the shine off it? He is not a Mascharano.  Feel sorry for little Joe, even if on the way out he is better than Willy.  Agree Stones slipped in quite easily and Raheem is much more effective on the right.

[titbumwilly]

Anyone that thought we'd be playing like Barcelona from day one is naive.
Patience is required. We will get there.

[Topdawg]

Watched some highlights and we seemed to move the ball out wide a little quicker and went for the line more with some decent crosses and overlaps.

[blueboy]

Pretty harsh to make judgment on the basis on one game.  Thought Stones made a grand debut and Sterling looked sharper - and good cross from Navas eh?

I think everyone's in agreement that it will take time and we've still got 2 of our new signings yet to play. However, as it's a live thread - I think everyone's entitled to make a comment on what they've just watched.

I don't think anyone's being harsh Wensdi - I think they're just calling what they saw.

For me, Stones looked comfortable on the ball - still, his positional awareness wasn't great for the goal - but that doesn't help when you've got the least positonally-aware player in football partnering you at CB. If Vinny returns, he'll have better communication at the back - and, one thing Joe does is constantly talk to the defenders, not sure Willy does that.

Sterling looked so much more comfortable on the right wing. Nolito, though decent on the ball - has little end product - and makes too many wrong decisions. Guess time will tell with him.

I think we saw the start of something with Sagna and Clichy coming in-field and Fernandinho dropping behind them to start off moves with Stones. It'll need work, but it'll be interesting to see how it develops.

KDB and Aguero weren't on the ball enough for me - and maybe that was because we over-played it in MF, holding onto the ball for too long, allowing their defenders to re-organise. That's the main thing for me, that seemed to be evident from yesterday. Still, when you see David Silva winning headers - it shows that Pep's philosophy is starting to take shape, mentally - his on-field philosophy may take a little longer to become the norm (possibly the whole season).

Still, 3 points for the opener, things can only get better week in week out, especially with Sane and Gundogan still to come...plus whoever else we buy.

[blueboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VDQOxIsseY

[Topdawg]

After the game, Pep said we needed to be a little quicker moving the ball up top. When we can add that to our game, we are going to be much better with a better cutting edge. As bluey says, being slow in MF allows the defence to get sorted out.

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