Very entertaining game of football that was. I honestly think City will stroll the league having seen them for the first time; had they not had a keeper that seemed intent on letting United in, they'd have won handsomely there I reckon. I like what I've just seen from Guardiola as well sending the players to clap the fans and his general behaviour on the sideline.
For United, they're decent. Still think Rooney kills them and I don't think he'd get in another team in the top 4/5 sides in the country. I'd be very concerned over Pogba. Spending that amount on someone and then watch them be completely anonymous in the biggest game of the season so far would have me scratching my head. I genuinely thought he was very poor and dominated by City's midfield all day. Ibrahimovic a real star and on a different level to a lot of United's team IMO. Bailly impressive as well.
Great game though.
Fairly well summed up Si. Bravo will not change his style much, and as a result he will cost City some goals this season. In this league he will get peppered with crosses and long shots and will be tested every week. How he copes with it will tell us how far City go. If he manages okay then City will win the league, but if he doesn't then a few others may have half a chance.
I agree about Pogba, but I've been saying the same about him all Summer. The lad is a physical presence and relies on space to run with the ball and create openings. Any half decent coach with midfielders of ability will try to close him down, and unlike in Italy there are alot of teams who have good enough players to restrict his ability to dictate play. I thought he would struggle, but I thought he'd start well before managers worked out how to stop him. For him to start so slowly is worrying for United.
I will take this time to half admit that I underestimated Guardiola. The difference in City is not just players trying harder or having a better attitude, it is a fundamental change in the way they are being asked to play the game. Silva is sitting deeper (which I think would have happened anyway this season) and De Bruyne is being asked to have more influence on the game. Sterling for me is still a weak link up front because he lacks the technical ability required, but stick Aguero back in that team and they are deadly and will take some stopping. Pep has had a massive influence on that team in a short space of time, so full credit to him for that. Whether his desires to have a poor mans Neuer in goal as opposed to a stopper like Hart will undo his work is debatable, but I think it's the only chance other teams are going to have really.
Just watched the highlights of the Manchester derby now as I was out Saturday. It seemed to have even more of an edge than usual with a lot more riding on the result. You can't always tell from highlights but City looked the better side by quite a bit. I think United will get better but I don't think we can carry Blind at CB all season
The first 40 minutes was one of the best performance I have seen in the Prem. City were out of this world, They looked shaky after they conceded and could have gone in level. Overall they deserved their win and I think Mourinho has a massive problem with Rooney. He is playing where Pogba should be playing. Pogba does his best work in the attacking third but isn't get much ball in areas he can hurt sides.
For me it's a problem but an easy solution. Drop him, he's not dong enough to start games for me
United will not challenge city as long as Rooney and Fellaini are in the team. Pogba, Miki and Mata are all more effective than Rooney in the hole and while Fellaini's height comes in useful it's not as important now that Pogba and Ibra are in the team. Blind will be like having an extra centre midfielder in a lot of fixtures but against the best teams his overall defensive skills will cost us.
Would like to see Bailly and Smalling as a partnership.
Forwards win games. The backs decide by how much.
Originally Posted by The Wee Waa Womble
That worked well.
Getting on for half a billion quid since Ol' Baconface left, and still in transition. When you fall off that perch it aint easy getting back on it.
United screwed my Acca.....still you have to laugh.
Not sure Maureen style football will suite united.
Learned comment from The Don
Proper dead this thread these days despite the PL actually looking a decent contest
Fantastic scenes at SJP tonight with Newcastle winning 4-3 with goals in the 95th and 96th minutes, just proves relegation isn't the complete end of the world
Ridiculous really. On the verge of our third home defeat and then that happens. Against another genuine promotion contender it was a big win, because losing would have opened up a gap.
Newcastle are still a work in progress really. So many new players trying to gel, so I'm happy with where we're at to be honest. It's such a long season with 46 games so there's no reason to get too up or down on individual results, it's all about staying consistent and never going on losing runs. That Wolves loss was weird, but since we started with 2 defeats we've won 6 from 8 and are playing some decent stuff.
And, just like last time we went down we have proved to the rest of the country that we are a club with a proper big fanbase. Another 48,000 plus there tonight, and that's actually low for us so far. We'll be fine, we'll be up there in the picture come May I'm sure.
Swansea and Villa have both parted company with there managers
Good point for both clubs? Or should both teams have had a bit more of a go?
You're spot on there mate, exactly how I see it. We only really looked like winning once Lallana came on and if Ibrahimovic had haeaded on target they would possibly have sneaked it. If you'd have said come mid October we'd have been two points off the top having played Chelsea, Spurs and Utd I'd have taken that.
Long way to go for all clubs could be close this year, just glad to be in with a shout of the top four at this stage.
Liverpool are in a false position really, because there's no way an average 8 games in the season would normally include away games at Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea, and home games vs Leicester and Man United. From those games (plus the fact that 5 of the 8 have been away) Liverpool have averaged over 2 points per game, which is really really good. Their next 8 games between now and the derby the Monday before Xmas contain no games with 'Big 6' sides. Those 8 games will determine whether you're all thinking they can challenge City for the league or whether you're thinking 4th is a good season.
That's the thing with PL nowadays any team can beat anyone, you have to turn up in every game or you will lose. I think in our case if we play to our potential we'd beat everybody outside the top six comfortably but knowing you're better doesn't prove anything you have to perform in every game...which is good for the league but tough for the players.
Based on what I've seen so far this season I don't see either side as a legitimate title contender. I suppose if Leicester can win it anyone can though
Liverpool's keeper looked very poor, they don't seem to have a left back at the club and I don't see a prolific goal scorer there (other than Sturridge who doesn't play and is a cry baby of the highest order)
We (United) have no actual full backs of note at all, a non league player as a regular CB and next to zero goals from midfield
I would agree about United, but not sure I'd be too quick to write Liverpool off after the results they've already had. Of course, as Stephen says, Liverpool's problem has usually been playing to the level of their opposition and dropping points against the 'lesser teams', which is why I said their next 8 games will tell us everything we need to know about them. If they drop too many silly points in those games then 4th may well be the limit of their ambition, but if they pick up 20 points or so in those games, off the back of what they've done in these 8 games then they have to be contenders. Last nights game was one of those were Liverpool IMO would have lost to a sucker punch in recent times, so that point they got might well be a big one in the grander scheme of things.
City for me will win the league, but I think Liverpool have half a chance, as do Tottenham. United for me are a year early to seriously challenge, and Arsenal and Chelsea IMO are not good enough to do the business over 38 games. Liverpool may end up being the same, but I think they merit their position as 2nd favourites right now, although the gap between 2nd favourites and City may end up being pretty big!
Whilst we are all seemingly back on here today, a small word for my own club. Really enjoying the scrap up at the top of the Championship. It's tough, but the team are battling for results and it's alot more fun than sitting in the bottom six of the PL. I decided this morning to get back up there on Nov 5th for the Cardiff game, and went to buy some tickets. It took me an hour to find a spot in the Gallowgate or East Stand that had two seats together for a game 3 weeks away. The city is embracing the battle, embracing Rafa and this team, and the whole thing makes me realise that relegation can be a blessing if it makes a club change its attitude and culture.
When Barca play PL teams it just reminds me of when NRL teams play SL sides. You get chances against them and they are beatable if you take your chances but they seem to be able to score from nothing or a sniff of chance, quite ruthless...very similar.
Good grief, heart in mouth stuff at the end for Liverpool. Plenty chances could have been 4 or 5 goal difference could be vital in the shake up for the top four gotta take them chances.
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
"The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That's how I see football, that's how I see life."
It's not about the long ball or the short ball, it's about the right ball."
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
"The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That's how I see football, that's how I see life."
It's not about the long ball or the short ball, it's about the right ball."