Spurs vs City review
Jesus. I had my initial thoughts, I said set up defensive, two defensive midfielders and set up for a 0-0, we had a chance if we did that. Guardiola saw sense too and set up like that. But hey, typical City. 8 minutes in, Rose whips a cross in, Kolorov deals with the ball late, gets his legs tangled and scores a beauty of a goal in the wrong net. City were pressed, predictable and struggled and conceded, game plan undone. I warned of this. The same happened against Celtic and they did not learn their lesson. You can't dominate a game when you concede early. All teams will set up to attack quickly from the off now, so Guardiola best find a solution to not conceding and defending well. Soon too, otherwise we could have a Pellegrini mid-season decline, again.
City got to grips on the game, Spurs tired and boom, bad defending again from all the defence and Otamendi caught short, Dele shoots from inside the box and scores, pretty simple and pretty shocking from City. City played a lot better second half, got to grips with the game, pressed but again, a victim of their own stupid mistakes. Fernandinho chops down Alli in the box, even though Zabaleta had him tightly marked and a penalty given. Son and Lamela argue and Lamela ultimately misses, thanks to a good save from Bravo. Son at fault for me, as Lamela is the penalty taker in the absence of Kane, what right does Son have to challenge for the penalty? He isn't on a hat-trick or going for the Golden Boot. This may have unsettled Lamela and kept City in the game. City had chances in the last fifteen minutes. this was where they needed the game at nil nil to push on for a win. Game plan undone. The defence needs sorting and organising. We really missed Kompany today. It might be worthwhile considering playing five at the back for high pressing teams and tire them out and press them towards the end of games. They could do this now, if they cut out mistakes. Some players aren't good enough at the moment however. City looked very poor yesterday and poor on Wednesday night too. They need to pick themselves up and rest well over the international break. Fernandinho looks very tired. He's played every game. That's half the problem, City's squad depth is good, but the important players aren't covered. There is no real options to replace De Bruyne, Nolito, Fernandinho or Aguero. With De Bruyne injured, we need width, players like Nolito. He was suspended and Navas played yesterday and the worlds biggest surpise showed City as predictable and boring. There was a plan B to settle the game yesterday and it worked. There was only plan A for Spurs and City should have dealt with it. Guardiola knew how. Players like Zabaleta, Kolorov, Fernando, Navas are weak links and didn't know. That isn't their fault, they're all good football players, they're just not good enough for what City want to do and achieve.
I worry most about Fernandinho burning out or getting an injury. He's City's best player and Delph and Fernando can't play CDM like him and we'll really struggle to control any game as Fernando and Delph can't read and play the ball like him. We need to be rid of YAYA in January's window and sign another CDM, sure up the midfield and go from there. We need new wing backs next summer and try and control all games position and play from there. Kolorov and Zabaleta cannot do that. Sagna and Clichy are better to play against pressing teams. Zabaleta and Kolorov are good for teams that sit back. I hope Guardiola can see this, he isn't stupid. Kolorov is really effective at CB too against teams that sit back, his balls forward can completely cut out 5 man midfielders and put teams under pressure. Play to your strengths City, not make life easy for opposition. But for now, we need to recover and do a lot better. In the league it is two home games in a row against Everton and Southampton respectively. They play similar football and both have got good players and a good start to the season. An early prediction for the team against Everton would be Bravo in net, Sagna and Clichy at wing backs with Stones at CB with Kolorov (Kompany isn't back and Otamendi will have travelled a lot with not much rest). Fernandinho at CDM (Fernando if he gets any injuries or is tired) and Silva and Gundogan at CM with Nolito and Sterling on the wings. Strikers is up for debate, Aguero should start but he has a habit of getting little injuries whilst away. We looked good with Iheanacho and Aguero on against tired legs, I'd do the same if Everton sit back and really press them. We'd have to lose a player in the midfield (Silva or Gundogan) and play positively. I want a good result, a battering would be a huge confidence boost, and City really need one with Barcelona away the next game after and Southampton at home the game after. Players need to turn up and cut out mistakes and play like how the manager experts them to play. We'll do well this season if they do that each game. If they don't, expect another Pellegrini season like last season. The warning signs are there. Big questions being asked of Guardiola, I hope he has the answers.
