"I don't think its fair to make excuses”
, Manuel Pellegrini – 06/02/2016.
Goals; Aguero (87'); Huth (3', 60'), Mahrez (48')
Line Up (4-4-1-1); Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demechelis, Kolorov, Toure (Fernando 52'), Fernandhino, Delph (Iheanacho 52'), Silva (Celina 77'), Sterling, Aguero
Stats;Possession, 66%/34%; Shots, 22(4)/14(7); Fouls, 9/15
Line Up (4-4-1-1); Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Demechelis, Kolorov, Toure (Fernando 52'), Fernandhino, Delph (Iheanacho 52'), Silva (Celina 77'), Sterling, Aguero
Stats;Possession, 66%/34%; Shots, 22(4)/14(7); Fouls, 9/15
The signs had been positive going into the game, a reasonable run of seven games unbeaten in the Premier League, and a dogged display, against a renewed Sunderland, mid-week. Things could have been set for City to go level on points with Leicester at the top of the table. Unfortunately football has, and never will work like that, at least not for City, otherwise we'd all be millionaires, and all the bookies broke.
There were three reasons (in my humblest of opinions) City lost this game, and I'm going to order them against my own personal view on how they affected the result. Others will have other ideas, some will say I'm being disrespectful to Leicester. Good; starting a bit of debate is what a blogs all about.
Number one, wrong set up and players out of position. City looked on paper to be lining up 4-2-3-1; moving Yaya out on the firing line of any defensive duties, and allowing the more dynamic Fernandhino and Delph to assist the static City centre halves. Super, sounded like a plan; it would also release some width with Sterling, and allow Yaya and Silva to bounce the ball off each other creating space. Unfortunately the same list of players actually lined up 4-4-1-1; exposing the midfield two, losing Delph in a meaningless role on the left, and having Sterling and Silva take each others space, while nothing happened on the right.
The first goal actually came from a poorly defended free-kick, given away by Kolorov kicking Mahrez as he came in from the Leicester right to the by-line. City's defence then slept through the resulting free-kick, with perhaps Demechelis most at fault, as Huth of all people got his foot the the ball, 0-1 Leicester.The worst of all starts, especially against smash and grab specialists, such as Leicester. It was going to be a long day from that point on, and so it proved.
Things could have been better had a reasonable referee been appointed, rather than the useless Anthony Taylor. Which brings me to point Number Two, penalties. City should have had two before half time. On 24' Zabaleta was scythed on the edge of the area, but referee Taylor bottled the decision and gave only a free-kick. Then on 41' Fernandinho was barged to the ground on the left of the box, without even a sight of the ball, let alone a touch. Taylor had been giving every such infringement by a light blue shirt as a free-kick, but no, not a penalty, play on.
So City went in at half time 0-1 down, when perhaps a fairer reflection would have been 1-1 or even 2-1, given the 73% possession enjoyed. Even at 0-1, however, you felt that a tweek in tactics, and an injection of a new idea, or even a kick up the backside in some cases could easily bring the game back round.
What was not needed was to gift yet another goal to Leicester on the break by forgetting about Mahrez and Vardy... AGAIN. Unfortunately (again only three minutes into the half), that's exactly what City did, allowing a quick break from a City attack. It took only a couple of bounces which went the wrong way in the challenge, and Mahrez finished sweetly, 0-2 Leicester. So my point Number Three, is that Leicester do what they do very well. Not a million miles from Maurihho's ideas from last season, the break away game plays to Leicester's strengths. It matters not a jot to Leicester that they play 70% of the game in their own half, as they are so effective on the break with the 30% possession they do have. That City's line up did not take account of this (see again reason Number 1), was baffling. If Leicester keep Vardy and Mahrez fit for he duration of the Season (which they have managed so far), given they have no other competitions to worry about, why would they not win the league?
It got worse for City. Referee Taylor (please refer back to Point Number Two) gave a corner to Leicester which was clearly a goal kick, and then Huth climbed all over Demichelis to score a second with his head on 60'. Kun got a consolation goal on 87', but, after the third City didn't look to have the fight in them to battle a robust Leicester defence.
So none of my three reasons for defeat are new, and they perhaps reflect the new "typical City". A side which for a bit more a guile or a bit more luck, and a bit more common sense, would be better off in the Premier League table for sure :/. #CTID.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
