Premier League Gameweek 7

Incredible how quick we've gone from being in the top 3 22 seasons in a row, to now worry about if we can finish in the top 4. Right now it looks like another EL season.
 
That tackle for the first Spurs goal would have been given a foul if it was us. Several got called against us today.
 
How can Poch drop Son when Kane is fit? Big call.

It really isn't. Son plays as a wide attacker in most games:

------------- Kane
Son - Alli/Eriksen - Lamela

Is how we mostly like to line up.
 
Incredible how quick we've gone from being in the top 3 22 seasons in a row, to now worry about if we can finish in the top 4. Right now it looks like another EL season.
We really took top 4 for granted. Just had no idea how tough it can be, though I think this might be the toughest season in ages.
 
Incredible how quick we've gone from being in the top 3 22 seasons in a row, to now worry about if we can finish in the top 4. Right now it looks like another EL season.
Well if Liverpool wins the title I guess you'll be fine.

Jokes aside it isn't that bad. And it's too early to tell.
 
Remind me what have this great Poch achieved so far in his career?

The past is the past, a manager can't live on past glories. Both Kenny Dalglish and George Graham went from serial winners to losers in a space of a few years.
 
I think he means right now and last season

And he is not wrong

Jose has to prove himself again
Not wrong but neither right this early into season. Tottenham has the benefit of stability the last couple years. Come Christmas run in and we would have the talk about team how good a team is prepared for the end result.
 
Ye this. This is why I was a bit annoyed with our tactics against them in the first half. Shown them way too much respect. Second half when we went with three in midfield and pressed high, we were arguably the better team.

Hope Mourinho is watching this because this is what we have to do to Liverpool next week, who, like City, struggle when they're pressed high up.
I'll give Mourinho a pass on that, though it was irritating (the first half especially), just because it was so early in the season. You sometimes have to wait until someone figures out a team's weakness before you can exploit it. Just happens that Celtic were the ones to do it.

Not sure how we approach Liverpool, just hope it isn't back-foot reactive football.
 
I think Celtic have shown the way. Get in their faces and press them relentlessly. They aren't anywhere near as good as Bayern or Barca, and so they make mistakes and you can get at them.

In such matches having bigger forwards comes handy. Pep had matches in which they then overplayed presses with long balls to Lewy and Müller. With four dwarfs that is not that possible.

Or he had Vidal and Alonso shifting their position and drawing the midfielders with them so there were gaps through with Martinez and Boateng could play long flat balls.

I just do not think that he has all of this tactical methods available (already) at City.
 
The NFL players are so much cooler than the football players
 
The past is the past, a manager can't live on past glories. Both Kenny Dalglish and George Graham went from serial winners to losers in a space of a few years.
However, in the mean time, having nothing show is still the same. Wenger has been serial bottler for over a decade... And Tottenham hasn't been able to finish above Arsenal once.

Why drawing the line 7games into a season?
 
In such matches having bigger forwards comes handy. Pep had matches in which they then overplayed presses with long balls to Lewy and Müller. With four dwarfs that is not that possible.

Or he had Vidal and Alonso shifting their position and drawing the midfielders with them so there were gaps through with Martinez and Boateng could play long flat balls.

I just do not think that he has all of this tactical methods available (already) at City.
Good points. That is what I mean though, there is a gulf in individual quality between City and Bayern (and definitely Barca). But I'd take it back to something as simple as ball retention. A lot of Bayern's players are magicians when it comes to keeping the ball, technically superb. Whereas Barca have made that their trademark since Cruyff. City don't have this ingrained tradition -- Pep has to build it from scratch with players who are currently a cut below what he's used to. These are the teething problems I was expecting at the start of the season, but it's seemingly been delayed.
 
Spurs are absolutely brilliant. They are doing what we couldn't . Pressing high and quick transitions. Bravo will be found out soon
 
However, in the mean time, having nothing show is still the same. Wenger has been serial bottler for over a decade... And Tottenham hasn't been able to finish above Arsenal once.

Why drawing the line 7games into a season?

I'm only talking about Mourinho, and just because he used to win a lot, it doesn't mean it'll continue. Very few managers are like Fergie and can continue being successful for ages.
 
I'll give Mourinho a pass on that, though it was irritating (the first half especially), just because it was so early in the season. You sometimes have to wait until someone figures out a team's weakness before you can exploit it. Just happens that Celtic were the ones to do it.

Not sure how we approach Liverpool, just hope it isn't back-foot reactive football.

Well, Swansea troubled Liverpool yesterday by pressing high up the pitch and winning it back in dangerous areas. Very unlucky to lose the game.
 
Love the way Spurs are making this City/Guardiola play out from the back deal look a foolhardy fad.
 
It really looks so simple to press as a unit. Why teams don't do it more. And especially when you know city will always play out from the back.
 
Sound about right. Their record CB signings fee just pile up, and Pep's never tired of more midfielder

:lol::lol:

In all seriousness, I can see him tiring of Silva as his declines becomes more apparent, while they're bound to hit the jackpot eventually on a good ball playing CB if they keep on making it rain
 
Imagine sticking with Kolarov and Clichy as the left backs. Both are hopeless.
 
Bravo's obsession with playing the ball out from the back will cost City a few times this season. It might very well cost them a goal or two this game as well.
 
It really looks so simple to press as a unit. Why teams don't do it more. And especially when you know city will always play out from the back.
Takes a lot of dedication, team work, team spirit and you need a great motivator as a manager. Not only that, many teams that are based on high pressing usually burn out towards the end of the season.
 
This isnt even close. Its like watching a heavyweight champion punch the shit out of a flyweight.

Spurs are up for it, but they are so athletic and quick. Reminds me of the old gooner sides that wenger used to put out.

Just swarming and fluid. They dont even need to worry about positioning because their players know they are quick enough to recover.