City 2 - 3 United: Five Thoughts
by Danny Pugsley on Jan 9, 2012 8:00 AM GMT
in Manchester City: Five thoughts
Email
Print
A strange game in many ways, and one largely defined by a contentious incident that shaped the narrative of a compelling match. After waiting so long to once again taste success City's hold on the FA Cup was all too brief, defeat a disappointing and frustrating end to their defence of the famous old trophy. The spirited second half display (which - despite Alex Ferguson's post match comments - was more about City's efforts than United's failings) has left behind many positives (and rightly so), but for all the talk of a 'moral victory' or 'winning in their heads' the bottom line is that a defeat is a defat - regardless of how it is dressed up. The question now is how the side responds to this defeat. Can it be used a galvanising and motivating force? The evidence from setbacks this season very much suggests so.
Either side of the opening goal and red card City were the brighter side, with United cautious and wary in their approach. But once United settled against City's ten men they finished the half with some devastating play and City found themselves 3-0 down and left stunned at some clinical forward play by United as the benefit of extra man told. Time and again United had a man extra out wide (particularly on the right) and Wayne Rooney roaming between defence and midfield to great effect. Credit Roberto Mancini at half time though. His tactical switch - Stefan Savic and Pablo Zabaleta on for David Silva and Adam Johnson - saw three central at the back with the full backs pushing forward, nullifying the space and threat of Antonio Valencia and Luis Nani and allowing City to start their possessions at a far higher point on the pitch. This brought into play the midfield (particularly Nigel de Jong) and helped seize an unlikely initiative - one that almost paid dividends and highlighted again quite what a savvy operator Mancini is.
The sending off? I posted a fair amount up on Twitter following the game regarding this. At the game (i.e. watching live) without the benefit of replays I thought it a clear sending off. Although not entirely convinced that it wasn't a sending off offence, it is evidently not a clear cut red card and the more of it I do see (link here), the more I am inclined to think that Vincent Kompany was unlucky. There was certainly no lunge or jump from Kompany and no lack of control or recklessness on his part. At the very least there is enough doubt for it to be appealed to the FA (which Mancini confirmed post match that they will do), but equally it is difficult to see there being enough doubt about the decision for it to be overturned on appeal.
As much as the team ethic was impressive today, there were some very impressive individual performances in the defeat. None moreso than the trio of Micah Richards, James Milner and Sergio Aguero. Richards and Milner, full of sweat, industry and energy whilst Aguero's display (particularly in the second half) was a perfect example of how to play the lone striker role and was perhaps the best I have seen since Dmitar Berbatov for Tottenham in the Carling Cup a couple of seasons ago (the best individual performance I have ever seen). Less impressive though was Samir Nasri, not often favoured for key games but with absences elsewhere had a big opportunity that he failed to fulfill. With David Silva looking increasingly in need of a break, the onus needs to fall elsewhere but the odd flash aside Nasri has failed to deliver so far. Notable in conceding the first goal was his pulling out a challenge with Wayne Rooney; the starting point for United's opening goal and a move which will hardly endear him to Mancini.
There are certainly plenty of longer term ramifications from today, aside from the fact that City are out of the FA Cup. The Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool now takes on a greater resonance and meaning, but the first leg (on Wednesday) comes on the back of a tough game that all but spent a man short. It seems likely that Kompany will miss the game (along with the second leg and Premier League games against Wigan and Tottenham) and with Kolo Toure away on International duty, a pairing of Joelon Lescott and Stefan Savic looks likely. Also evident was the absence in the midfield of both Gareth Barry and Yaya Toure; Barry albeit a brief one but Yaya's sizeable presence will be missed over the next month. With David Silva looking increasingly tired and no attacking options on the bench with injuries to Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko, perhaps Mancini's contention that the squad is not as deep as widely thought may actually carry some weight. That said, and despite defeat today, looking at the position City find themselves in heading into the second half of the season, would anyone really swap places with any other side?
5 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Many Thoughts
A defeat is still a defeat, this is true, yet we have to take a few things into consideration. Manchester city after the re-organization(which I believe came to late) were the better team. I don’t think this can be attributed to the opposition taking their foot of the gas. This was a derby, the mercy rule does not exist, they had the chance to avenge the 1-6. The notion that they eased up is preposterous, cautious after Man City made it 1-3, maybe.
The tactical change was a beauty. Clog the wide areas hence stopping their first half threat. Keep a tight block of 2 holding midfielders and thus allowing Aguero and nasri to still support each other with the occasional break from a midfielder. All this time man City’s disciplined shape never faltered. This was the key, we never chased the game, for if we had, Utd would have exposed it. Playing with ten men is an art, you need to always have 2 players left up front to support each other when the ball is finally played up there. The alternative is 9 men behind the ball and relentless pressure, trying desperately to run out time(see Inter v Barcelona Cl semi 2010)
As for the sending off http://youtu.be/XeCLPHTTT2Y. We can see here by this shaky but multi angled video, Kompany leaves his feet. But his right foot that wins the ball is not studs up it is side foot with a slight passing motion of his right foot, his left is delayed as at no point makes contact with Nani. I think the last shot of this video is the telling one, Nani immediately gets up to try and win the ball back from what he deemed to be a fair loss of possession, remember this is Nani. The rest of his team mates also play on, trying to retrieve possession, only one player reacts and that is Rooney who immediately turns and demands a sending off(2 fingers held up, indicating a 2 footed challenge). We always hear about contentious decisions and how to judge them, the truest test I believe is the players reactions. Nani and 9 of his team mates play on, Rooney doesn’t. I think the key to judge the illegality of any challenge is by gauging the reaction of the 22 players on the pitch. A horrendous, even ball winning two footed challenge will rightly draw a furious reaction from players. This one didn’t draw any reaction at all, apart from Rooney.
As for the individual performances, Aguero was sensational. his work rate, his availability, his hold up play were impeccable. We knew Milner has an engine and Richards too. But with ten men the onus falls upon the forwards and not more could of been asked of him. As for the best performance I have ever seen live I think i was sat with you Danny and Berbatov was sensational, movement, strength, intelligence, hold up play and close control of the like I had not seen since Van nistelroy(who was excellent at holding the ball up and taking away the defenders ability to strip him of possession by using close control and strong lower body). Utd promptly signed him on the back of such performances. He was just as prompt in forgetting how play at such a high individual level. Of interest Spurs had ten men that day also. It was also the last time I recall watching live a player whom I thought would go on to be a very special midfielder. Michael Johnson. My generations Paul Lake in a more self inflicted way.
It was never a sending off. Not even a foul. He goes in with his foot sideways. Takes the ball cleanly. At no point is his left foot anywhere near Nani. Certainly not a 2-footed challenge. Still, what’s done is done.
I agree with everything else danny and the comments above too. I think Mancini showed tactical brilliance at half-time but boy I wish he’d made a move earlier. And that’s not just hindsight. As soon as Kompany was off the field I was bellowing for him to haul Nasri off (horribly out of touch at the moment) and get Zabaleta on. Even with no tactical thinking of any kind that would have stiffened our midfield and allowed us a little breathing space to think about a formation switch for the rest of the game.
I was thrilled with our second half performance and by god we could have had a third at the end there. I thought Nigel had an excellent second half after looking a little rusty out of the gate (which cost us for Wellbeck’s goal). We’ll need him over the next month.
Very Bitter And Blue this morning
Jeremy
The Four Game Ban is B.S.
I know that is the way it is, but that is about the harshest penalty in any sport i have ever heard. First you get sent off second your team plays a man down( which 90 percent of the time your team loses) third the player can not play in the next four matches.
IMO I hate in any sport where action from one game to the next teams should start clean.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bitter and Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
