Manchester City Discussion

[LFCMike]

None of Salah, Mane or Jota are centre forwards either. Jota and Mane have shared the role through the middle this season but Mane hadn't played there very much at all until this season and Jota was also seen as more of a wide forward before he came to Liverpool.

[RandoEFC+]

The thing is, Mane, Salah and Jota are all primarily goal-scoring forwards even if they don't necessarily play centrally. You can't really say that of Man City's options in those areas apart from Raheem Sterling really. Foden, Bernardo, Mahrez you'd describe as creators more than finishers and Gabriel Jesus, while an out and out goalscorer really, isn't of the standard required.

Even before Aguero tailed off and ultimately left, I was always saying how Man City missed Edin Dzeko since he left. Obviously there are strong links to Haaland for this summer but the lack of a striker who can act as a focal point and score different types of goals for you has been a weakness in their squad for a while, even if their strength elsewhere has allowed them to largely get away with it.

I don't think this is their problem last night though. They've got a mental issue in Europe which sees them manage to find new ways to lose each season.

[Danny]

3 hours ago, LFCMike said:

None of Salah, Mane or Jota are centre forwards either. Jota and Mane have shared the role through the middle this season but Mane hadn't played there very much at all until this season and Jota was also seen as more of a wide forward before he came to Liverpool.

No but what I mean is when City play with a world renowned recognised striker it used to be Ageuro who was a centre forward. Your equivalent of Aguero is Salah. City don’t have a singular world class focal point going forward in the way you do, or the way they used to.

And just ignoring the how’s and why’s of why that’s the case cos I’m just talking about coaching, it’s very good coaching from Guardiola to have a team as a whole grab 82 goals in the league when their two top scorers have about 11 and 10 goals each this season. Not many managers would be able to get that many goals from so many different players to make up for the fact that they don’t have a forward that can score 20-25 in the league alone and supporting strikers who can grab 15-20

[Danny]

1 hour ago, RandoEFC said:

The thing is, Mane, Salah and Jota are all primarily goal-scoring forwards even if they don't necessarily play centrally. You can't really say that of Man City's options in those areas apart from Raheem Sterling really. Foden, Bernardo, Mahrez you'd describe as creators more than finishers and Gabriel Jesus, while an out and out goalscorer really, isn't of the standard required.

Even before Aguero tailed off and ultimately left, I was always saying how Man City missed Edin Dzeko since he left. Obviously there are strong links to Haaland for this summer but the lack of a striker who can act as a focal point and score different types of goals for you has been a weakness in their squad for a while, even if their strength elsewhere has allowed them to largely get away with it.

I don't think this is their problem last night though. They've got a mental issue in Europe which sees them manage to find new ways to lose each season.

I’m not even sure last night was his fault really, City were dominant for 90 minutes and none of the changes made should really had led to losing a 2 goal lead so late on and so dramatically. It was just that magic of the cup moment, and more magic of Madrid in this cup.

The mentality is an interesting one because clubs like Liverpool and Madrid have it built in that if they are at home and are in a serious game the fans will help them through. But clubs who don’t have that history, don’t have that from their fans, even if like Atletico Madrid’s fans they are going mental.

[RandoEFC+]

17 minutes ago, Danny said:

I’m not even sure last night was his fault really, City were dominant for 90 minutes and none of the changes made should really had led to losing a 2 goal lead so late on and so dramatically. It was just that magic of the cup moment, and more magic of Madrid in this cup.

The mentality is an interesting one because clubs like Liverpool and Madrid have it built in that if they are at home and are in a serious game the fans will help them through. But clubs who don’t have that history, don’t have that from their fans, even if like Atletico Madrid’s fans they are going mental.

We spoke about it in the matchday thread. You can always tell watching Liverpool and Real Madrid in particular that competing for European trophies is just a normal part of being that football club. The pressure's off in a way because they've won it a bunch of times already and they always feel as if they have nothing to lose because they'll be there year after year giving it another go.

Around other clubs, particularly PSG and Man City, there's always that anxiety and pressure of expectation, and almost a sense of embarrassment these days that they really should have got over the line once by now. It's a decade this season since City first won the Premier League title in this era. Both them and PSG have enough quality to have picked up at least one Champions League title each in that time. There is so much scrutiny on this situation at both clubs now that it's getting worse not better. They'll get over it eventually though.

[Danny]

6 minutes ago, RandoEFC said:

We spoke about it in the matchday thread. You can always tell watching Liverpool and Real Madrid in particular that competing for European trophies is just a normal part of being that football club. The pressure's off in a way because they've won it a bunch of times already and they always feel as if they have nothing to lose because they'll be there year after year giving it another go.

Around other clubs, particularly PSG and Man City, there's always that anxiety and pressure of expectation, and almost a sense of embarrassment these days that they really should have got over the line once by now. It's a decade this season since City first won the Premier League title in this era. Both them and PSG have enough quality to have picked up at least one Champions League title each in that time. There is so much scrutiny on this situation at both clubs now that it's getting worse not better. They'll get over it eventually though.

Chelsea eventually won the CL but did so being bang average and finishing outside the top 4. Part of it is the joke these owners dig for themselves, they have contributed to the hysteria of the Champions League and the commercialisation of it by wanting it so badly. But City could win the league again this season and it will be a better achievement than winning the Champions League because an English or Spanish league title will always generally be a bigger achievement. But the era of football we live in now perpetuates the myth that the Champions League is the big one, which it is in Cup competitions, but not in comparison to two of the biggest leagues in the world 

[Waylander]

Pep could have brought on an extra defensive mid around 85 mins and just see the game out.

Fernandinho  would have been ideal.

 

[Stan]

1 hour ago, Waylander said:

Pep could have brought on an extra defensive mid around 85 mins and just see the game out.

Fernandinho  would have been ideal.

 

Fernandinho came on at 85 mins  

[Dr. Gonzo]

3 hours ago, RandoEFC said:

We spoke about it in the matchday thread. You can always tell watching Liverpool and Real Madrid in particular that competing for European trophies is just a normal part of being that football club. The pressure's off in a way because they've won it a bunch of times already and they always feel as if they have nothing to lose because they'll be there year after year giving it another go.

Around other clubs, particularly PSG and Man City, there's always that anxiety and pressure of expectation, and almost a sense of embarrassment these days that they really should have got over the line once by now. It's a decade this season since City first won the Premier League title in this era. Both them and PSG have enough quality to have picked up at least one Champions League title each in that time. There is so much scrutiny on this situation at both clubs now that it's getting worse not better. They'll get over it eventually though.

It’s a bit weird we still have that mentality carried over from our golden days though.

I think it’s something like only 14 times we’ve been in the CL this century. But we’ve made 5 finals in that time.

[Cicero]

21 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

It’s a bit weird we still have that mentality carried over from our golden days though.

I think it’s something like only 14 times we’ve been in the CL this century. But we’ve made 5 finals in that time.

It's imbedded into the culture of the club. It's why I always bang about European pedigree. There's a mentality deeply rooted in the entire identity of the club which helps rid pressure. 

I still fully believe if we never won in 2012 we wouldn't of in 2021. 

[RandoEFC+]

35 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

It’s a bit weird we still have that mentality carried over from our golden days though.

I think it’s something like only 14 times we’ve been in the CL this century. But we’ve made 5 finals in that time.

Pretty much what Cicero said. Liverpool have also had the other side of it where the English title became a massive monkey on their back. There were other opportunities to win the title before it happened. Off the top of my head there's the Benitez "facts" season where you were bang in the hunt and the infamous Gerrard slip season where it was in their hands. Even the year before Klopp finally got you over the line, you had it in your hands before drawing a game (can't remember which one ) and opened the door for City. This one doesn't really count as much for me though as jokes aside, I don't count drawing a single game out of the last 8 or however many it was as a mentality problem, but it's still worth mentioning. Anyway, Liverpool had that bit of insecurity about them when it came to the domestic title whereas in Europe you can see that doesn't exist. Maybe it would have if you hadn't won the Champions League under Benitez and the European dry spell stretched as far back as the domestic one did. But Man City very clearly have that insecurity about them in Europe. They will get there eventually though surely.

[Dr. Gonzo]

1 hour ago, RandoEFC said:

Pretty much what Cicero said. Liverpool have also had the other side of it where the English title became a massive monkey on their back. There were other opportunities to win the title before it happened. Off the top of my head there's the Benitez "facts" season where you were bang in the hunt and the infamous Gerrard slip season where it was in their hands. Even the year before Klopp finally got you over the line, you had it in your hands before drawing a game (can't remember which one ) and opened the door for City. This one doesn't really count as much for me though as jokes aside, I don't count drawing a single game out of the last 8 or however many it was as a mentality problem, but it's still worth mentioning. Anyway, Liverpool had that bit of insecurity about them when it came to the domestic title whereas in Europe you can see that doesn't exist. Maybe it would have if you hadn't won the Champions League under Benitez and the European dry spell stretched as far back as the domestic one did. But Man City very clearly have that insecurity about them in Europe. They will get there eventually though surely.

Makes me think sports psychology is something more managers/DoFs should look into.

It also explains how Madrid ended up in this final despite not playing that well over 2 legs against City & Chelsea. They’re mentality beasts - probably helps their squad is loaded with players who’ve won it several times with them.

I can’t understand the bottling though from City, although I think you’re right, it’s inevitable they win one sometime soon. 

But it is pretty funny  … too bad if they win one it’ll probably change their mentality a bit.

[Waylander]

6 hours ago, Stan said:

Fernandinho came on at 85 mins  

Just rechecked how did I miss that 

Interesting so he did put on Fernandino before the Madrid onslaught yet notice De Bruyne was off at 72 mins, was he injured?

[LFCMike]

44 minutes ago, Waylander said:

Just rechecked how did I miss that 

Interesting so he did put on Fernandino before the Madrid onslaught yet notice De Bruyne was off at 72 mins, was he injured?

I think it was probably a case of him taking his chances that they had enough to see it through and saving him for the weekend. If the title race isn't so close or City already had it won I'm not sure he makes that sub at that time in the game.

[Happy Blue]

Need a big shake up this summer, beef up the midfield and add another striker.  talk of us buying Frenkie De Jong now too again, maybe Sterling the otherway  ..id also like us to buy Haaland, Mbappe, Goretzka, Sane and Llorentne

We need to move on Sterling, Gundogan, Zinc, Fernandinho, try sell Mendy  freshen up the squad. defense is the best in England so that's fine and with 5 subs next season (9 on the bench) it's time to spend that prize money we have tucked away

 

Sane - Haaland - Mbappe

Foden - De Jong - De Bruyne

Cancelo - Laporte - Dias - Walker

Ederson

BENCH Steffen, Ake, Stones, Rodrigo, Goretzka, Llorentne, Silva, Mahrez, Alverez

Edited May 6, 2022 by Happy Blue

[Stan]

Why would you bring Sane back? He didn't want to be at City any more did he? 

[RandoEFC+]

Yeah are you inSane?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry.

[Happy Blue]

1 hour ago, Stan said:

Why would you bring Sane back? He didn't want to be at City any more did he? 

He left because of game time, id play him more 

[DeadLinesman]

He left because he heard Pepsi gets bottled on a yearly basis.

[Happy Blue]

2 minutes ago, DeadLinesman said:

He left because he heard Pepsi gets bottled on a yearly basis.

@Dr. Gonzobeat you to that mate, its not funny now 

[DeadLinesman]

15 minutes ago, Happy Blue said:

@Dr. Gonzobeat you to that mate, its not funny now 

It will always be funny. Just like the Manchester United team from 2013 onwards.

[Happy Blue]

We can technically lose a game now if we hammer a few of them and get infront on the goal difference. Liverpool's slip up takes a bit of pressure off us 

[MUFC]

Halaand joining City?

[DeadLinesman]

Cheque Guardiola on the rise again.

[Happy Blue]

23 minutes ago, MUFC said:

Halaand joining City?

Yes, looks like it