City v Clarets Match Thread

[KRBFC]

I think some of you lot are getting carried away with the ''this shows we need X next season'', sorry to break it to some of you but we're not competing to win the PL and UCL next season.

[Woodleyclaret]

Brilliant support but poor marking by Maatsen and Roberts gave City easy chances
We move on and press onto our real goal. Championship winning

[Lancasterclaret]

A combination of some poor passes in the 1st half, some very poor performances in the 2nd, and City being very, very good for a big chunk of that 2nd half and that is what happens when you play the best

I did worry after they walloped RB Leipzig mid week to be honest, because our only chance was catching City cold, and they looked as good as anyone for large chunks of the match today

I'm taking the positives from the 1st half to be honest, and taking this as a lesson to what we need to do next season

But if City play like that, everyone they take on loses

Its small comfort I know, but it is reality

[spt_claret]

It’ll be really interesting to see how Kompany approaches this sort of game next season. As much as it’s a learning curve for the players, I suspect it’s one for him too.

I think the biggest thing to learn is the importance of pace in midfield against top teams. JBG isn't fast but he is next to Cork. That change caused us to be completely overrun in midfield and we could barely keep it out of our own third for the first 20 minutes of the second half.
Second learning is probably that against top teams, teams like us can set up ultra defensive or free attacking and it's not going to make much difference, so "playing the percentages" to try hang on as long as possible and nick something might not be the worst idea. It's worked against us this season in the Championship while team who try to meet us get carved apart.

[HiThere]

Couldn’t have started worse with Shearer doing the arse licking talking about no Match of the Day last week,we don’t need major changes for next season ,we’ll wipe the floor with the bottom half of the Prem.

As soon as he started... It was clearly scripted where Shearer did the talking to back his mate up. The contract clearly involved Gary not mentioning it on air. It was laughable really.

[Goalposts]

Been caught on the ball a lot tonight - like the rest of our midfield he lacks any pace

But tonight clearly shows the likes of Cork and JBG are way behind him and both should not be starting next season

I think that’s it for me why he will need more support. Pretty sure vinnie and Craig know that. Legs will be important next year. Bastion to work on , maybe egan Reilly also but i think cork will massively struggle next year.. not despondent we will do well against a lot of teams next year…. I also think its a good reminder for the team in terms of at least 6-8 teams next year will be a battle like this

[Ampth7]

1

That's a worry we lose VK early as let's be honest the club next season would settle right now for 4th from bottom finish on goal difference - like alot of clubs survival the only ambition. Look at this season Villa 11th and 11 points clear of 12th and 12th to 20th just 4 points between the lot of them.

Agree. No shame in losing to this lot, but playing teams like this is becoming a total waste of time. Better off conceding the game and saving legs and bookings etc… Maybe a super league wouldn’t be such a bad idea!?

[DCWat]

Couldn’t have started worse with Shearer doing the arse licking talking about no Match of the Day last week,we don’t need major changes for next season ,we’ll wipe the floor with the bottom half of the Prem.

We do need some changes for next season. As we are, we might, just might have a chance of survival. We certainly wouldn’t be wiping the floor with the bottom half of the Premier League.

Despite the big recruitment over the last 12 months, I suspect that there could be more on the way.

[HiThere]

Pretty sure vinnie and Craig know that.

This is why I found this game as such a benefit to us.

You've mentioned how VK and Bel will learn. I saw this game as massive. To learn from it and know where we are lacking. Because we won't be going into next season aiming to stay up. We'll be going into next season looking at the top 10.

And I think we can do it.

[boatshed bill]

Agree. No shame in losing to this lot, but playing teams like this is becoming a total waste of time. Better off conceding the game and saving legs and bookings etc… Maybe a super league wouldn’t be such a bad idea!?

If the biggest 6 forked off 6 multi-billionaires would buy the next best PL clubs, it would change nothing.

[fidelcastro]

Couldn’t have started worse with Shearer doing the arse licking talking about no Match of the Day last week,we don’t need major changes for next season ,we’ll wipe the floor with the bottom half of the Prem.

What an arrogant statement.

[sjb]

Just disappointed VK didn't start with his best XI. No league game for 2 weeks; Muric, Ekdal & Barnes could all have started, maybe even Benson. Wouldn't have changed the outcome but may have seen the scoreline a bit more respectable.

[Devils_Advocate]

Barring Jenas who's a bit dull I thought the BBC coverage of our game today was excellent and it was exciting to see the three presenters have a new series of their MOTD Top Tens coming out

9/10

[Goalposts]

What more could he have done? For me one of our better performers.

Thats why I’m saying he needs more support, he is part of the jigsaw, just needs someone like him to take a bit of the pressure of

[Lankers]

City fan in peace, thought you put in a really good performance first half, we just have a freak of nature up front in Haaland. I think you will fare well next season in the premier league and as others have said, this game will give Vinny something to think about when adjusting to the prem. I always check the Burnley scores weekly and it puts a smile on my face when I see you continue to win (as I have family ties with Burnley.)! Good luck for the rest of the season, not that you need it haha.

[CrosspoolClarets]

I said a few days ago that Pep would start Haaland today, a defeat for the sorcerer against the apprentice would have been too much for him to handle. Arteta is a bit different, Arsenal are a good team.

This was a stronger City than started midweek, Walker and Foden improve them a lot. He showed us immense respect, they were well up for it and this wasn’t the way City play against lower league teams.

So it is what it is, what it was always going to be, and I fear for Sunderland next game up. I have no doubts the reaction.

[boatshed bill]

Thats why I’m saying he needs more support, he is part of the jigsaw, just needs someone like him to take a bit of the pressure of

Yep, fair comment.

[Stayingup]

Its interesting that two teams who have taken points from City at tge Etihad this season are Brentford and Everton. Both of these teams had experienced Centre Halves.

[HiThere]

What an arrogant statement.

[Croydon Claret]

We came through it with no injuries

[boatshed bill]

Just disappointed VK didn't start with his best XI. No league game for 2 weeks; Muric, Ekdal & Barnes could all have started, maybe even Benson. Wouldn't have changed the outcome but may have seen the scoreline a bit more respectable.

TBH, I'm wondering if Barnes should be anywhere near first choice.

[HiThere]

We came through it with no injuries

I'm gutted I'm not going to lie. I wanted us to put in a solid performance and come away with a narrow loss. But if we ever thought things were going to be easy it knocks them back into reality. We move on and cement promotion.

[TheOriginalLongsider]

I thought City were hanging on at the end

[boatshed bill]

I'm gutted I'm not going to lie. I wanted us to put in a solid performance and come away with a narrow loss. But if we ever thought things were going to be easy it knocks them back into reality. We move on and cement promotion.

Isn't it weird being proud and sad at the same time

[RVclaret]

Its interesting that two teams who have taken points from City at tge Etihad this season are Brentford and Everton. Both of these teams had experienced Centre Halves.

Everton camped in their box all game with every player behind the ball, scored from their only shot on goal. Brentford played quite well but again a very deep block. Probably the only way you’re gonna get something at City tbh.

[HiThere]

Isn't it weird being proud and sad at the same time

Ha, I was thinking exactly the same thing. We'll be fine... looking forward to this big summer transfer window.

[Croydon Claret]

I'm gutted I'm not going to lie. I wanted us to put in a solid performance and come away with a narrow loss. But if we ever thought things were going to be easy it knocks them back into reality. We move on and cement promotion.

Me too. Had high hopes of doing better then we'd previously done.

A good dose of reality will see us coming out the other side a better team though

[NRC]

IMHO it wasn’t so much being overrun in midfield, it was the ability to make inside runs and have the players to spot them to play the ball. We don’t do that as often as I’d like - we tend to recycle, and I think that’s the difference between the championship and the PL

[Jakubclaret]

If the biggest 6 forked off 6 multi-billionaires would buy the next best PL clubs, it would change nothing.

What a load of crap if that's the case as it stands there's nothing stopping any billionaire buying another club & competing with the top 6, the truth of the matter is not all billionaires are drawn to buying football clubs & spunking dosh the appeal just isn't there.

[Conroysleftfoot]

Isn't it weird being proud and sad at the same time

certainly is.

[fidelcastro]

It amuses you that I find it arrogant that stating that we'll wipe the floor with the bottom half of the PL?

Sums you up, Muchacho Frank.

[boatshed bill]

What a load of crap if that's the case as it stands there's nothing stopping any billionaire buying another club & competing with the top 6, the truth of the matter is not all billionaires are drawn to buying football clubs & spunking dosh the appeal just isn't there.

Wait and see. It's the winning that counts. What would make anyone believe that the removal of the top 6 clubs would leave a level playing field?

[Jakubclaret]

Wait and see. It's the winning that counts. What would make anyone believe that the removal of the top 6 clubs would leave a level playing field?

Because currently they are in pole position it's not necessarily a given that being the case that it would indicate some sort of a green light to form a queue of billionaires buying the outstanding, there's nothing stopping them now from doing that the motivation for them to get involved just isn't there, they might not even like football never mind investing in it.

[SussexDon1inIreland]

At least Ireland won

[boatshed bill]

Because currently they are in pole position it's not necessarily a given that being the case that it would indicate some sort of a green light to form a queue of billionaires buying the outstanding, there's nothing stopping them now from doing that the motivation for them to get involved just isn't there, they might not even like football never mind investing in it.

My take on it would be that removing the biggest forces from the competition would encourage others to try their hand.
This, of course, depends entirely on whether the TV money was still available to a PL devoid of its top 6

[Goalposts]

Everton camped in their box all game with every player behind the ball, scored from their only shot on goal. Brentford played quite well but again a very deep block. Probably the only way you’re gonna get something at City tbh.

Very true , that approach would be the Watford at burnley approach or boro at burnley approach though both of them were 1-0 up at the time. We tried to go toe to toe with city and the gap showed, though i think VK and cab will turn this to an advantage to the players to show them how much more they have to grow. I thought tella in patches showed he will be a threat in the prem and foster didn’t do much wrong.. not to despondent i actually think the team will take a lot out of this game.

[Burnleyareback2]

At least it wasn’t 5 again.

[FCBurnley]

JJ Watt will be happy We only lost by a touch down ! And they missed the point after lol

[Billy Balfour]

I don't think there are many clubs that could live with Citeh in the second half. They were phenomenal.

[tiger76]

I don't think there are many clubs that could live with Citeh in the second half. They were phenomenal.

Yes they really upped their game 2nd half, no disgrace losing to a side of that quality.

And at least our cup exits this season have been at both Manchester clubs, that certainly beats us bombing out to lower league opposition.

A harsh learning curve for some of our youngsters today, however they will benefit in the long run as will the management team.

And for anyone fearing for us in the Prem it's worth pointing out we won't be facing teams the quality of City every week.

At the start of the season if you'd offered me

Winning the Championship.
Making round 4 of the League Cup.
Making the last 8 of the FA Cup

I'd have bitten your hand off for that outcome.

[Carwin261]

Just disappointed VK didn't start with his best XI. No league game for 2 weeks; Muric, Ekdal & Barnes could all have started, maybe even Benson. Wouldn't have changed the outcome but may have seen the scoreline a bit more respectable.

Don’t think Ekdal was fit after coming off with a shoulder injury against Hull City .

[BB4Claret]

First post on here, so please go easy on it.
First of all, respect to VK for sticking with the players who got us this far in the cup. They earned the right to play against City.

Looking at the game, we were missing both Brownhill and Benson, who, I believe would have made a difference. (I’m not saying difference to the outcome, though.)
We have every reason to be reasonably optimistic for next season in the Prem. Not many teams would have done much better than we did against City in that form today (especially that beast, Haaland).
The score line says we got hammered, but we know we can be and will be better.

[superdimitri]

I said a few days ago that Pep would start Haaland today, a defeat for the sorcerer against the apprentice would have been too much for him to handle. Arteta is a bit different, Arsenal are a good team.

This was a stronger City than started midweek, Walker and Foden improve them a lot. He showed us immense respect, they were well up for it and this wasn’t the way City play against lower league teams.

So it is what it is, what it was always going to be, and I fear for Sunderland next game up. I have no doubts the reaction.

He showed us a lot of respect and even made sure they put the game to bed at the start of the second half.
He knows how good we can be and knew that it is possible to beat them.

That for me is the most positive thing taken from today's game. One of the top teams in the world felt the need to field a strong team against us.