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Martin Samuel sums us up...
4 posters
Page 1 of 1
Martin Samuel sums us up...
by blueboy Thu Nov 06, 2014 8:35 am
Even by the dismal standards of Manchester City in the Champions League this was a low. Defeat at home to what had been considered the weakest team in Group E, reduced to nine players by the end, never ahead at any stage of the match, trailing after two minutes, Yaya Toure banned for the rest of the campaign, this was close to as bad as it gets.
They are not learning in this competition, they are not growing. If anything, they are getting worse. Manuel Pellegrini sets his team up the same way, despite the very obvious pitfalls against counter-attacking teams, major players fail to perform, others do not apply themselves with anywhere near the required care. Europe cost Roberto Mancini his job and it could do for Pellegrini, too. CSKA Moscow deserved their win. They looked the more dangerous team, they took their chances, they defended with gusto.
And they could put City out, later this month, with a result against Roma. If there was one item of good news for Pellegrini after the game it was that the next opponents, Bayern Munich have already qualified. They need the Germans relaxed, they want them at half-strength when they visit Manchester on November 25. The permutations are straightforward: lose the next game and City are out. Draw and if there is a win in the Moscow and Roma meeting, City are out. They must win to stay in or draw and hope the others do, too. They are lucky to have even this lifeline. It is barely deserved.
It is not enough to keep blaming UEFA for City’s misfortunes in Europe. UEFA did not fail to defend Moscow’s first free-kick, they did not misplace the pass that led to the second goal, they did not miss the chances, or commit the offences that earned deserved cautions. UEFA make mistakes but this was City’s calamity. It is beyond seedings and coefficients. There are other English clubs that did not catch a break in their early visits to Europe – Chelsea, Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. They toughened up, they came back stronger. City act as if, without changing, the leap forward will come. They want the spoils without being prepared to do the work.
There is no point blaming referee Tasos Sidiropoulos, either. Some will, and he got a hostile reception at the end – but this was not his doing, even if only a case of mistaken identity preserved CSKA Moscow’s Pontus Wernbloom in the second-half. Already booked for a quite spectacular bodycheck on Yaya Toure – it was as if he had gone over the bonnet of a car stuntman-style – Wernbloom then tugged Sergio Aguero back only for Sidiropoulos to show a yellow card to Sergei Ignashevich. Would it have made a difference? Probably not. City were already down to ten by then and making little headway. The referee’s performance – this was only his second Champions League match – was an irritation. Yet City were achitects of their own downfall.
Toure most spectacularly. Already booked, he then petulantly pushed Roman Eremenko to the floor and was shown a straight red. It was a selfish act, typical of a player whose inconsistency is now a constant worry. He was at fault for Moscow’s first goal, too – but scored City’s equaliser. We still see the great player, but only in glimpses this season. There is too much rough, not enough smooth. To make himself absent for Munich was an act of gross irresponsibility.
As City lurched from one calamity to the next, their fans railed against the authorities, but this is no conspiracy. It is time this group took responsibility. They turn it on against Munich or they exit at the group stage, a laughing stock again. Indeed, there were elements of the old City in this defeat. The horrid stunned silences, the powerless fury – and the smirks from without, of course. The red half, loving every second of fresh humiliation.
Prior to the match, the club laid on a massive firework display. The jokes started there. Up in smoke...out with a bang...in need of a rocket...money to burn. Gallows humour is about all that is left of this campaign as it meanders towards the inevitable. Technically, two wins could still do it – but there was nothing in this display that suggested City had that in them.
City were ill-disciplined and incompetent by turns. They have now conceded two goals or more in five of their last six Champions League matches at home. These are desperate statistics. Yes, they have had tough draws but not every opponent is a world-beater. It is just that City make them look that way.
Moscow are a good counter-attacking team, lively at set-pieces. City made no provision for the first quality and fell asleep when required to repel a dead ball. The odd thrill in the second-half chasing the game does not balance the limp performance in the first. Fernandinho’s dismissal for two bookable offences – both justified – merely compounded City’s failings. He looks half the player that turned out in the Champions League for Shakhtar Donetsk.
It cannot have been much quieter than this behind closed doors in Moscow last time. The home crowd were subdued by what they saw – not just CSKA’s opening goal, but the way they regularly cut through Manchester City’s defence. It was as if Manchester United’s Chris Smalling had left his germs here from Sunday. Suddenly, City were making poor decisions, rash challenges, playing without thinking. The Russians scored twice in 35 minutes and could have had another before half time.
Despite the worst of City’s form in Europe there was confidence, almost presumption, that this would be a much-needed win. They were, after all, two goals clear in Moscow until complacency saw the points slip. Given home advantage and basic necessity they would surely just go out and do the necessary. That comfort blanket was ripped from their hands after a matter of seconds.
Ahmed Musa won a free-kick for handball against Gael Clichy on the edge of the area and Toure’s famously lackadaisical attitude to defending this season did the rest. Bebras Natcho whipped in the dead ball and Seydou Doumbia, the Ivory Coast striker, left his countryman standing to head it unchallenged past a defenceless Joe Hart. He is a big unit, Doumbia, quick and powerful, smart in his runs and movement – but even so, this was disgraceful defending.
When Stevan Jovetic was brought down roughly 30 yards from goal after eight minutes, Toure seized the opportunity to make amends. His free-kick was beautiful. From just outside the penalty box ‘D’ he curled the ball in towards the near post with goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev grasping at thin air. There were sighs of relief. It was a blip, the first goal. Here was normal service. Manchester City would kick on now. Another misjudgement.
The next chance could have restored Moscow’s lead. Martin Demichelis, in desperately unconvincing mode, dived in, missed his tackle and left Doumbia with only Hart to beat. He screwed his shot wide, but not by much. City missed a few at the other end – Jesus Navas and Aguero both had chances – and then got what their slackness deserved. With ten minutes to go before half-time, a Moscow counter-attack broke down only to be revived by a Clichy clearance that was struck straight to Natcho in the heart of midfield. He swiftly moved it on to Doumbia, who struck it low past Hart – exposed again by crass defending. Doumbia has now scored ten Champions League goals – five against Manchester City. One might say he could be the answer for them in this competition – except on this form they would probably drag him down with them.
They are not learning in this competition, they are not growing. If anything, they are getting worse. Manuel Pellegrini sets his team up the same way, despite the very obvious pitfalls against counter-attacking teams, major players fail to perform, others do not apply themselves with anywhere near the required care. Europe cost Roberto Mancini his job and it could do for Pellegrini, too. CSKA Moscow deserved their win. They looked the more dangerous team, they took their chances, they defended with gusto.
And they could put City out, later this month, with a result against Roma. If there was one item of good news for Pellegrini after the game it was that the next opponents, Bayern Munich have already qualified. They need the Germans relaxed, they want them at half-strength when they visit Manchester on November 25. The permutations are straightforward: lose the next game and City are out. Draw and if there is a win in the Moscow and Roma meeting, City are out. They must win to stay in or draw and hope the others do, too. They are lucky to have even this lifeline. It is barely deserved.
It is not enough to keep blaming UEFA for City’s misfortunes in Europe. UEFA did not fail to defend Moscow’s first free-kick, they did not misplace the pass that led to the second goal, they did not miss the chances, or commit the offences that earned deserved cautions. UEFA make mistakes but this was City’s calamity. It is beyond seedings and coefficients. There are other English clubs that did not catch a break in their early visits to Europe – Chelsea, Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. They toughened up, they came back stronger. City act as if, without changing, the leap forward will come. They want the spoils without being prepared to do the work.
There is no point blaming referee Tasos Sidiropoulos, either. Some will, and he got a hostile reception at the end – but this was not his doing, even if only a case of mistaken identity preserved CSKA Moscow’s Pontus Wernbloom in the second-half. Already booked for a quite spectacular bodycheck on Yaya Toure – it was as if he had gone over the bonnet of a car stuntman-style – Wernbloom then tugged Sergio Aguero back only for Sidiropoulos to show a yellow card to Sergei Ignashevich. Would it have made a difference? Probably not. City were already down to ten by then and making little headway. The referee’s performance – this was only his second Champions League match – was an irritation. Yet City were achitects of their own downfall.
Toure most spectacularly. Already booked, he then petulantly pushed Roman Eremenko to the floor and was shown a straight red. It was a selfish act, typical of a player whose inconsistency is now a constant worry. He was at fault for Moscow’s first goal, too – but scored City’s equaliser. We still see the great player, but only in glimpses this season. There is too much rough, not enough smooth. To make himself absent for Munich was an act of gross irresponsibility.
As City lurched from one calamity to the next, their fans railed against the authorities, but this is no conspiracy. It is time this group took responsibility. They turn it on against Munich or they exit at the group stage, a laughing stock again. Indeed, there were elements of the old City in this defeat. The horrid stunned silences, the powerless fury – and the smirks from without, of course. The red half, loving every second of fresh humiliation.
Prior to the match, the club laid on a massive firework display. The jokes started there. Up in smoke...out with a bang...in need of a rocket...money to burn. Gallows humour is about all that is left of this campaign as it meanders towards the inevitable. Technically, two wins could still do it – but there was nothing in this display that suggested City had that in them.
City were ill-disciplined and incompetent by turns. They have now conceded two goals or more in five of their last six Champions League matches at home. These are desperate statistics. Yes, they have had tough draws but not every opponent is a world-beater. It is just that City make them look that way.
Moscow are a good counter-attacking team, lively at set-pieces. City made no provision for the first quality and fell asleep when required to repel a dead ball. The odd thrill in the second-half chasing the game does not balance the limp performance in the first. Fernandinho’s dismissal for two bookable offences – both justified – merely compounded City’s failings. He looks half the player that turned out in the Champions League for Shakhtar Donetsk.
It cannot have been much quieter than this behind closed doors in Moscow last time. The home crowd were subdued by what they saw – not just CSKA’s opening goal, but the way they regularly cut through Manchester City’s defence. It was as if Manchester United’s Chris Smalling had left his germs here from Sunday. Suddenly, City were making poor decisions, rash challenges, playing without thinking. The Russians scored twice in 35 minutes and could have had another before half time.
Despite the worst of City’s form in Europe there was confidence, almost presumption, that this would be a much-needed win. They were, after all, two goals clear in Moscow until complacency saw the points slip. Given home advantage and basic necessity they would surely just go out and do the necessary. That comfort blanket was ripped from their hands after a matter of seconds.
Ahmed Musa won a free-kick for handball against Gael Clichy on the edge of the area and Toure’s famously lackadaisical attitude to defending this season did the rest. Bebras Natcho whipped in the dead ball and Seydou Doumbia, the Ivory Coast striker, left his countryman standing to head it unchallenged past a defenceless Joe Hart. He is a big unit, Doumbia, quick and powerful, smart in his runs and movement – but even so, this was disgraceful defending.
When Stevan Jovetic was brought down roughly 30 yards from goal after eight minutes, Toure seized the opportunity to make amends. His free-kick was beautiful. From just outside the penalty box ‘D’ he curled the ball in towards the near post with goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev grasping at thin air. There were sighs of relief. It was a blip, the first goal. Here was normal service. Manchester City would kick on now. Another misjudgement.
The next chance could have restored Moscow’s lead. Martin Demichelis, in desperately unconvincing mode, dived in, missed his tackle and left Doumbia with only Hart to beat. He screwed his shot wide, but not by much. City missed a few at the other end – Jesus Navas and Aguero both had chances – and then got what their slackness deserved. With ten minutes to go before half-time, a Moscow counter-attack broke down only to be revived by a Clichy clearance that was struck straight to Natcho in the heart of midfield. He swiftly moved it on to Doumbia, who struck it low past Hart – exposed again by crass defending. Doumbia has now scored ten Champions League goals – five against Manchester City. One might say he could be the answer for them in this competition – except on this form they would probably drag him down with them.
blueboy- Legend
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Re: Martin Samuel sums us up...
by shakencity Thu Nov 06, 2014 8:43 am
Jeez, i feel like crying after reading that 
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Location : Bury
Re: Martin Samuel sums us up...
by ManCityMan Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:17 pm
All true i'm afraid, he failed to mention that the free kick against Cliche was harsh to say the least given the close proximity when the ball was blasted at him. However, as it turned out it would have made no difference and Cliche went on to thoroughly embarass himself, his team, his manger and the fans. Some of the others were not much better, in fact James Milner was the only one who seemed to show any urgency, popping up all over the pitch in his usual eager style.
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Re: Martin Samuel sums us up...
by blueboy Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:20 pm
Thing is...if you leave your arm out you're asking for trouble. How many times do we see players like Terry or even Micah for that, keep their hands behind their back?
It's tiny bits of detail, that should be simple to iron out.
Agree, after such a good game in the derby, Clichy was fucking awful last night, in pretty much everything he did.
It's tiny bits of detail, that should be simple to iron out.
Agree, after such a good game in the derby, Clichy was fucking awful last night, in pretty much everything he did.
blueboy- Legend
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Re: Martin Samuel sums us up...
by ManCityMan Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:43 pm
How many times do we see the ball propelled into a player at close range and the ball striking the arm/hand but the handball not given? Because these referees use common sense and hands/arm sticking out or not there is no way you can avoid that and the rule is supposed to be about ball to hand not the other way around. Some referees dont seem to realise that in these circumstances the ball is powered into a player which is not playing the ball with the hand/arm. IMHO
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Location : Glasgow
Re: Martin Samuel sums us up...
by blueboy Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:08 pm
Thing is, his arm was out, now if you are trying to cross a ball through a gap and his arm is out, intentionally or not, you are leaving yourself open to giving a free kick/penalty away.
Bit different if his arm is by his side or protecting his body and a player hits it straight at you.
Just poor decision making - they all know they 'could' give a free kick away, so why stick your hand out? Put it by your side, then there's no excuse.
Bit different if his arm is by his side or protecting his body and a player hits it straight at you.
Just poor decision making - they all know they 'could' give a free kick away, so why stick your hand out? Put it by your side, then there's no excuse.
blueboy- Legend
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Re: Martin Samuel sums us up...
by TMG Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:26 pm
The ref was once again shite the decisions we have had go against us in recent weeks have been shiter but these are excuses, the players performances last night across the pitch was shiterererererer
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