Close But No Cigar, City 0 vs. 0 Trafford

“I Can't remember a season where we have dominated the big teams so much and got so little out of it”, Vincent Kompany – 27/04/2017.

Goals: 

Line Up (4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets); 

Bravo (5.5), (Caballero 74' (5.5))
Zabaleta (6.5)
Kolorov (6.5)
Otamendi (7)
Kompany (8)
Toure (6.5)
Sterling (6), (de Jesus 86' (7))
Fernandinho (7)
Sané (6), (Navas 66' (6.5))
De Bruyne(7)
Agüero (7.5)

Referee; Martin Atkinson (7.5)

Stats;Possession, 69%/31%; Shots, 19(6)/3(1); Corners, 7/4; Fouls, 10/8

I shan't drain the match report. The stats above speak for themselves and I doubt there's many fans' who have not seen at least the highlights by now.

Ultimately, "the boring one" came for the draw or perhaps a break-away goal, and will be the happier of the two managers (save perhaps for Fellaini being a plank and getting a straight red card for a head butt on Agüero on 84'). Pep had set out two conventional full-backs which accounted for any counter-attacks, but also lessened the number of overloads achieved on either wing; at least until it became obvious United were simply not a threat (after around 70 minutes), which was too little too late. Result nil nil.

There were some insights into Pep's thoughts, not just on this game but for the summer, in his after match interview. He mentioned the full-back swap, and was somewhat damning of the lack of miles using 30+ players in those positions gives the team, so we can expect (long over-due) transfers in both full-back positions to be a priority. 

He mentioned mentality again, and with this repeated message Pep probably still believes the shots against the woodwork, and lack of confidence to get into the box are a mentality rather than a skill issue.

He also wistfully reflected on what might have been had Gabriel Jesus been available for the whole season. Jesus certainly had a marked impact on the game for the ten minutes he was the pitch. He was the only player to get the ball in the net on 91', heading home Agüero's cross before the flag was rightfully raised for offside. This blog has always placed the lack of firepower as partially due to the Bony for Dzeko swap on Pellegrini's watch, but you have to agree the season may have ended differently with both Jesus and Aguero available for the last three months, and this is a positive for the remaining games. 

Other positives? The immediate impact Kompany is having on the defence, he was immense last night and all around him look better players for his inclusion, especially Otamendi who again looked solid. Also Agüero continues to benefit from having Jesus breathing down his neck, he was very unlucky last night, hitting the post on 9' and having nine efforts in total, mostly created by himself. 

The negatives were obvious. I'm not sure the Bravo injury will have any great impact, but the continued inability to convert possession and efforts to actual goals is now exasperating. Sterling and DeBruyne are the main culprits, but over the last two games Sane has also shown a lack of confidence and positivity - City need to load the box far more and for some reason don't. Perhaps it is the mental fragility alluded to by Pep. However, with a point, a top four finish remains in City's own hands, with a game in hand over Liverpool and with winnable fixture's remaining it would be a disaster to throw that away. Here's hoping the officiating stays as solid as it was last night and we don't lose any more points to referees. #CTID. 

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Robbed (again) Arsenal 2 vs. 1 City (AET) (FAC Semi)

“We are not in final. We tried to do it, to create more chances so I don't have regrets. We tried to do what we wanted to do", Pep Guardiola – 23/04/2017.

Goals: Monreal (71'), Sanchex (101'); Agüero (62')

Line Up (4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets); 

Bravo (6)
Navas (6.5)
Otamendi (6)
Kompany (6.5)
Clichy (5.5)
Fernandinho (6)
Sané (6)
De Bruyne (7)
Silva (6), (Sterling 23' (5.5), Iheanacho 105' (5.5))
Toure (7.5)
Agüero (7), (Delph 99' (5.5))

Referee; Craig Pawson (3)

Stats;Possession, 34%/66%; Shots, 9(3)/20(3); Corners, 6/7; Fouls, 20/20

Another game soured by appalling refereeing at the expense of the Blues. Arsenal had set up with a back five, two holding midfielders and the intent to kick ten shades out of City from the first whistle. Weak refereeing and a refusal to show deserved yellows for several nasty challenges, eventually led to David Silva needing to be withdrawn on 20' with an injury, most likely caused by Gabriel's unpunished tackle from behind. 

The disastrous decisions then kept on coming; Aguero was clearly tripped inside the box by Chamberlain on the half hour, but no penalty given, and then to put the icing on the cake the linesman (Steve Child) disallowed a perfectly valid goal from Aguero on 40' saying INCORRECTLY that cross had gone out, awful just awful. 

Despite everything City had thrown at them and totally dominating the first half Arsenal were allowed, wrongly, to go in evens at the break. If its soul sapping for fans week in week out, what must it be like for the players? 

Arsenal finally decided to play football in the second half, and the game was a much more even affair for it. However, City drew first blood. With Arsenal abandoning the seven man defence, space opened up, and on 62' from an Arsenal corner, City broke  quickly forward via a perfectly weighted ball onto Aguero from Toure, the Argentinians pace took him into the box, and his guile feigned to take it around the keeper, only for him to lift it into the right corner of the goal. Unfortunately for City the script was already written, by this time remember, all things being equal, City should have been two or three goals to the good. But when poor closing from Clichy allowed Chamberlain a speculative cross, and then Monreal, with Arsenal's first shot on target, gets to hit the equaliser - you sort of know whats coming. And in injury time it came, with a nonsense freekick being given against Kompany leading to pinball in the area and Sanchez to score the winner. 

There were other chances for City; Toure had a solid effort on 79' tipped onto the post by Cech, Fernandinho rose to head onto the bar on 81',and Bellerin blocked Delph's effort on 110' when it looked like a City equaliser after De Bruyne's break. In the end though you cannot play 12 men for 120 minutes and not begin to feel the strain, and City could not raise themselves to take the game to penalties. 

So another competition is taken away from the Blues grasp by incompetent officiating. I have no doubt the better team lost on the day - and not through their own misfortune. The sooner the FA wake up and realise they are destroying the game (or what they would describe as their "product") the better. Video referees are needed now, not after trials, not after more dilly dallying by grey suits who have never even stood on a terrace ... NOW! 

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

"Here's To You Vincent Kompany..." Southampton 0 vs. 3 City

“"I know that such moments are worth working for. If I had to work 15 years just to have one moment like this, I would do it." ”, Vincent Kompany – 15/04/2017.

Goals: ;Kompany (55'), Sané (77'), Agüero (80')

Line Up (4-1-4-1, 4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets); 

Bravo (6)
Navas (6.5)
Otamendi (7)
Kompany (8.5)
Clichy (5.5)
Fernandinho (6.5)
Sané (8), (Sterling 86' (5.5))
De Bruyne (8)
Silva (6)
Toure (7)
Agüero (7)

Referee; Neil Swarbrick (6)

Stats;Possession, 41%/59%; Shots, 8(1)/18(8); Corners, 3/8; Fouls, 9/8

A positive step towards the top four at Saint Mary's, a ground which has been difficult for City in recent years. After dispensing with a laborious and purposeless first half game plan, City came out in the second having remembered the basics which have served them best throughout the season.  Kevin De Bruyne pulled the strings up front, whilst providing two assists to add to his "best in Premier League" total, and Leroy Sane was pace and trickery personified, but perhaps the biggest smile on every City fan's face will be because the big man was back with a bang. Vincent Kompany topped an imperious defensive display and clean sheet, with a bullet header passed Fraser Forster, to open the scoring from Silva's corner from the right on 55'. 

The second goal was the pick of the three, on 77' a quick interchange between Silva and De Bruyne on the half way line, saw the Belgian stride charge away from the Southampton defence before squaring the ball to an onrushing Sane to calmly slot home without breaking his run, 2-0. 

Three minutes later is was De Bruyne again, this time overlapping Navas on the right wing, to get to the byline and clip a perfect cross for Aguero to score the second header of the game, 3-0. 

So going into Sunday's matches City sit in third, a point above fourth place Liverpool, but more importantly seven above fifth place Everton.  But with both United and Arsenal playing tomorrow and having a game in hand to boot, this was an important game to come away with maximum points, before going into next weekend's FA Cup Semi-Final. 

So hopefully Kompany's display gives Pep pause before picking the team against Arsenal, and this is the start of the rest of Vincent's City career, and not a false dawn. Certainly both this season and last could have been a different story had City's talismanic skipper been fit. #CTID.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Steady, City 3 vs 1 Hull

“It was important for us to win after many days without a win. We started well and created chances and we had the right attitude.n”, Guardiola – 08/04/2017.

Goals: Elmohamady 69' (OG), Aguero 48', Delph 64'; Ranocchia 85'

Line Up (4-1-4-1) (match ratings in brackets); 

Bravo (5.5)
Navas (7)
Kolorov (6)
Stones (6)
Clichy (6.5)
Toure (6.5), (Fernando 74' (5.5))
Sterling (8)
Delph (7)
Sané (6.5), (Nolito 66' (5.5))
Silva (7.5), (Iheanacho 75' (5.5))
Agüero (7)

Referee; Michael Oliver (4)

Stats;Possession, 68%/32%; Shots, 23(7)/6(1); Corners, 7/3; Fouls, 6/8

A sunny day in Manchester, and City with a "banana skin" fixture against a Hull City side scrapping for their survival, and coming to the Etihad with consecutive wins verses 'Boro and West Ham under their belts.

As it turned out, City were comfortably the better side for much of the game, without ever really seeming to click into top gear. David Silva oiled the wheels throughout, until his withdrawal on 75', and Fabian Delph showed he is willing to fight for a place in the squad come next season, with his second solid display in the holding role in five days.

There were other positives. Delph's application to cover for Navas when the he went forward from right back, allowed the Spaniard much more confidence in the position, putting in several good crosses. On the half hour one of these found Elmohamady at sixes and sevens with Sane on his left shoulder as he put into his own net, 1-0. City didn't really look back from that point. 

Sterling was particularly impressive, and with Agüero putting in a shift throughout, it was only a matter of time for the second came. And it was that very combination that provided just after half time, as Sterlings pace and agility took him into the box and towards the by-line, squaring back for Kun to force the ball home off two Hull defenders, 2-0. 

With Hull pressed back, and lacking an out ball, City continued to press. On 64' Delph finding himself released more and more from defensive duties, latched onto Sterling's pass across the front of the eighteen yard box, having been released by Silva. Delph looked up and rifled the ball left footed into the bottom right, 3-0. 

That should have been game-over, but having played with some poise almost ninety minutes, the City defence reverted to type and let in a very preventable goal. Bravo will take the brunt of the stick, but he was arguably unsighted as Stones failed to clear his lines and a scuffed effort from the Hull centre half crept through Bravo's weak attempt to stop it. It can't be easy for Bravo, but with two out of every shot on target he's faced all season going in the net, my opinion remains he needs replacing in the summer.

So a workman like three points, as City step on towards hopefully making a top four berth their own over the next few weeks. Next up Southampton away, the location of one of Pellergrini's worst performances last season, and another "banana-skin". #CTID.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

The final nail in the coffin - Chelsea 2 vs 1 City

“Today the Premier League is gone” , Pep Guardiola - 05/04/2017

Goals;   Hazard (10'), Aguero (26'), Hazard (35')


Line Up (4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets); 

Caballero (5)
Navas (5)
Kompany (7)
Stones (6)
Clichy (4)
Fernandinho (5)
Delph (7)
Silva (6)
DeBruyne (6)
Sane (6) 
Aguero (6) 

Stats; Possession 40%/60%; Shots 10(4)/17(7); Corners 2/9; Fouls 10/14

Frustrating. Another match vs a top 6 side that City come away disheartened and deserving more. 

From one London trip to another, I came into this game with similar expectations. I know we 'can' beat anyone. We saw that against Barcelona. But if this season's experiences have told us anything, its that the script had already been written.

Here are the 5 things I learned from yesterday's defeat to 'Champions Elect' Chelski. 

Pep's shop window -  Navas at right back showed that Pep is now willing to try absolutely anything. However, I think Pep has now got to the point where he needs some interest in City's current 'surplus'. Delph, on the day, proved a serious point. Navas was okay, but all a bit too late for the Spaniard at the Etihad. Clichy, a performance akin to his whole season. Just not up to it. Time to shift these guys on.

Here's to you.. - how good was it to see Vin back in the shirt. Pep labelled him as aggressive and he certainly was, not giving Costa a sniff all game. A leader. Oh how we have missed him.

David Silva olé - if Kante wins player of the year, it wasn't based on last night. David Silva did what he does best, made him look bang average. The best player to wear the shirt in my lifetime. No debate. 

Contribution or lack thereof - with only Sergio reaching double figures thus far, we need to be more clinical. We haven't replaced the contribution from Yaya. Sane has been electric but we seem too reliant on him and Sergio. Kev has hit the post more than any other player this season, which you can call bad luck, but something has got to give. We need more 'killers in the box' 

Our own worst enemies - Individual errors are the story of our season. Still don't think we have been outplayed this season. Yet the league is all but out of our grasp.

If you hadn't already written us off, yesterday did seem like a final nail in the premier league coffin. Nevertheless, the remaining games are crucial with Champions league football by no means a certainty. Lets finish as we started, blues. Next stop Hull. 

@PatrickElano

Flat ... Arsenal 2 vs. 2 City

“... after the goal we forgot to play”, Guardiola – 02/04/2017.

Goals: Walcott (40'), Mustafi (53');Sané (5'), Agüero (42')

Line Up (4-1-4-1, 4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets); 

Caballero (6)
Navas (5.5)
Otamendi (6)
Stones (6)
Clichy (4.5)
Fernandinho (6)
Sterling (6), (Toure 45' (5.5))
De Bruyne (6.5)
Silva (6), (Zabaleta 89' (5.5))
Sané (7.5)
Agüero (7)

Referee; Andre Marriner (4)

Stats;Possession, 44%/56%; Shots, 8(3)/14(5); Corners, 3/8; Fouls, 8/15

The first game back after international breaks is always a difficult one to call. With Chelsea having unexpectedly dropped points at home the previous day, and Arsenal having suffered their Season wobble a little earlier this year, the City faithful were hoping for a statement performance. Something with which to bounce into Wednesday nights "six pointer" with Chelsea at the Bridge, which would bring some self doubt to the champions elect. Unfortunately the team gave a performance, which was a play in ninety minutes of what has been the best and worst of City this Season. 

The first ten minutes were purposeful, strong, confident football; bringing a breathtaking goal from Leroy Sané. Put through by a world class pass from Kevin DeBruyne from the City half, the young German had the pace and strength to hold off Belerin (no slouch himself), and the calmness to slot past Ospina from an acute angle. Minutes later DeBruyne almost made it two with a rasping shot from inside the box rebounding off the foot of the right post. 

But then, almost inexplicably, City retreated back on themselves, failing to capitalize on a great start, and giving Arsenal time on the ball, and therefore belief, as they clawed their way back into the game. A lack of urgency and tempo (a trait seen in the latter part of both Mancini's and Pellegrini's time in charge), has crept into Pep's team too often this season for it to be a great side, and today it again cost City. Just before half time, another weakness, lack of concentration in defence (from a usual suspect in Gael Clichy) saw Arsenal equalise. And despite City again showing great class in the build up and execution to immediately respond with a second goal, with Aguero finishing expertly in the bottom left having been slotted through by Silva; going into half time even at 2-1 to the good had few convinced that City would put the game to bed. 

At half time, Sterling was withdrawn rather than make-shift right-back Navas; presumably with a knock, as Navas had given zero confidence that he was nullifying the constant threat of Sanchez down the City right. The introduction of Toure did however give Fernandinho greater chance to protect Navas. But before that change in formation had time to bed in, Arsenal had equalised again.  A further failing had slowly crept into City's play, a bizarre lack of short passing ability from the back, with more passes than not going to an Arsenal player. This built Arsenals possession and forced a number of set pieces, finally resulting in a corner for Arsenal from which Mustafi rose above Otemendi to score, 2-2. 

After that both teams seemed to lack conviction, with City arguably having the better of the rest of the game, it was still without tempo or urgency. 

No City game is complete without a refereeing howler, and Andre Marinner dutifully stepped up in the 91st minute to add to the two points he had cost City against Spurs in February by not giving a blatant push on Sterling as a penalty. This time it was a control with the hand by Monreal, not given, so costing a further two points. It was not an easy decision, but one you want a referee at this level to be able to make. 

So a lost opportunity, and City move forward to Wednesday without the momentum which had been starting to build over the previous weeks. #CTID.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me

Flat ...