Match Thread Manchester City(1) Vs Everton(2) - Capital One Cup - Semi Final 2nd Leg - Weds 27th Jan - 19:45 KO

[Norwegian Cow]

even the norwegian media is going on about how we got cheated.

 

[BlueToff]

Isolated incidents in one game. If they were the exception to the rule you'd find most fans fuming at the ref for last night. The reason they're not is because we've had 18 months of these incidents. It's always a refereeing error, or a deflection, or someone's injured, or an individual error. You can't be unlucky for that long, last night is another example of the pattern of the last 18 months hence the fan reaction.

No mate, last night the game turned on that ref call. A clear cut decision.

City were all over us, but we expected that. We were riding our luck, but at the same time holding firm. They'd had two efforts on target in the second half.

Silva's header, which came from a bad clearance by Jagielka, and Sterling's shot that Cleverley blocked.

 

[Pabbers]

We didn't get cheated, its what happens.

Last night hurt, im still hurting now, this club of ours is guna kill me!!!!

 

[BlueToff]

even the norwegian media is going on about how we got cheated.

More than the British media is doing mate - they're just slating Stones!

 

[BlueToff]

We didn't get cheated, its what happens.

Last night hurt, im still hurting now, this club of ours is guna kill me!!!!

We quite clearly got cheated for that second goal, which was the turning point in the game.

 

[Ashtonian]

1. I see your point mate, but I think the main factor has to be that the ball was actually at least half a foot out of play. If it was in-play, Stones would have stopped that cross because of the angle it was at.

De Buryne is a very clever player and picked up that space excellently as well on the edge of the area.

2. Yep, fair enough. At the time I understood the change though, but we could have done with pace.

3. If you watch it back it actually comes from a goal-kick that Rom doesn't challenge for. Demichelles' header then by-passes our entire midfield and Silva is free to play a smart pass through. After that, I actually think both Stones and Jags do well. It falls to Fernadinho, who takes a pot-shot - pure and simple. Baines turns his body ever so slightly and leaves a leg out. Joel would have stopped it easily if not.

easier to post in numbers haha

1. there were two of them that made that movement not one, look back at where our defenders were at the sight of the cross coming in, very poorly positioned.

2. It is still the space that is being left open in that area of the pitch. Barry and cleveley are meant to be protecting the defence so at least one needs to be covering the outside of the box, if they can't stop it fair enough, if it deflects off them and goes in fair enough, but by putting their body in that space, means the player cannot just take a shot and most possibly passes the ball instead to keep posession allowing us to re group.

 

[PeterMeter]

Seen pictures of Aguero's header, shoulderlength offside but that one is almost impossible to get right and he gets the benefit of the doubt because he is Aguero, probably the best striker in the world right now. They could well have two from the two shots they had that hit the posts if you want to take the 'unlucky' approach. Deulofeu should have scored from his chance though.

Would feel it'd be really harsh on Martinez to get sacked over last night, but you could argue in that case that he should've gone after the debacle that was Swansea and before.
Plenty of players need a rest, this is down to our squad but instead of getting cover in important places we have 4 RWs and half a LW who has been crocked for 2-3 seasons straight.
Funes Mori and Jagielka should be our starting CBs and Stones can slot in when needed (has had plenty of opportunities with the injuries we've had).

 

[BlueToff]

It didn't take a genius to work out that city were going to attack us and bombard us in the second half so the reflection of the game in my opinion was what i have been saying for the past few days, martinez couldn't nadapt a team to defend and attack over 90 minutes. He hoped we would just score every time we needed to, then hoped city wouldnt score twice.

The game didn't change on that decision though, because we were still in the cup at that point, and the goals were coming for a long time, i mean they hit the post twice last night! but last night was expected, city played the way i thought they would and we played (and the subs) were made like clock work as well. On the basis of the game the better team won, iregardless of who was playing. But there were defensive errors in our game, and largely it was down to the defence as to at least 2 goals were scored. any other time you could take that away and say 'we will learn from this', except it is a running theme now all season and we keep making the same mistakes.

But the game did turn on that decision mate, as we lost our bottle after that goal went in and lost our shape at the back, and a piece of quality did for us.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

We lost 3-1, not 2-1 you meffs. ANOTHER 3 goals conceded

 

[Ashtonian]

But the game did turn on that decision mate, as we lost our bottle after that goal went in and lost our shape at the back, and a piece of quality did for us.

what does that tell you about our defense then?

2-1 down but still in the cup and we 'lose our bottle?'

At that point in the game we should be taking the fight back to city, show a little bit of desire. If our defence is bottling it as you say, then again that is poor defence management between both the manager and the captain.

 

[COYBL25]

Carry on with the good work today @Ashtonian .

You're clearly fuming, however the Cracken will soon be awake @davek

Are you ready ?

Godspeed x

 

[BlueToff]

easier to post in numbers haha

1. there were two of them that made that movement not one, look back at where our defenders were at the sight of the cross coming in, very poorly positioned.

2. It is still the space that is being left open in that area of the pitch. Barry and cleveley are meant to be protecting the defence so at least one needs to be covering the outside of the box, if they can't stop it fair enough, if it deflects off them and goes in fair enough, but by putting their body in that space, means the player cannot just take a shot and most possibly passes the ball instead to keep posession allowing us to re group.

Haha yeh it is

1. Agree, was it Silva there with him? However, he wasn't positioned to get a first-time shot away, so I think we'd have got out to him. De Bruyne - it was on his better foot and he had the technique to pull it off. Yes, they should have been marked better, but the ball was clearly out. It's a huge turning point.

2. Oh I agree, i'm saying that, in that situation though, we were restricting them to pot-shots and that deflection could literally have taken it anywhere. It's why I don't like Cleverley in that role though, he hasn't got the positional awareness - Barry just didn't have the pace after being caught out closing down Aguero.

 

[BlueToff]

what does that tell you about our defense then?

2-1 down but still in the cup and we 'lose our bottle?'

At that point in the game we should be taking the fight back to city, show a little bit of desire. If our defence is bottling it as you say, then again that is poor defence management between both the manager and the captain.

Well, probably poorly phrased. Our heads went, basically. But also, City were all over us and could smell blood - and they had the two quality players to pull it off...

 

[Saint Domingo]

No mate, last night the game turned on that ref call. A clear cut decision.

City were all over us, but we expected that. We were riding our luck, but at the same time holding firm. They'd had two efforts on target in the second half.

Silva's header, which came from a bad clearance by Jagielka, and Sterling's shot that Cleverley blocked.

And another night the two that hit the post go in. The world of ifs and buts is brilliant, but for every time a call goes against us v s big team we've had a fall go our way v a smaller team. We've given away so many pens in the league but also got off with several blatant ones.

The pattern of the last 18 months is not determined by one off incidents, the responsibility sits with the manager.

 

[BlueToff]

And another night the two that hit the post go in. The world of ifs and buts is brilliant, but for every time a call goes against us v s big team we've had a fall go our way v a smaller team. We've given away so many pens in the league but also got off with several blatant ones.

The pattern of the last 18 months is not determined by one off incidents, the responsibility sits with the manager.

Last night was a one-off game though. It was a semi final... That turned once more, on a massive call that the ref got wrong, and I can guarantee we wouldn't have got at the other end.

I agree totally, of course i'm concerned by the defence. Do I think that there are signs of improvement? Yes. It was good to see us have the confidence to go back to Robles when needed last night, and the lad made some good saves.

Martinez is to blame for selecting Howard which has cost us the points this season, but our style of play hasn't. We've conceded three goals all season as a result of playing out from the back - and even then two of them weren't directly from that per-say.

Onto the FA Cup now, and time to get it together in the league. McCarthy being fit is huge for us. If Martinez finally sees sense and plays Joel, I think our defence will improve as well.