***Official: City v Stoke Match Thread***

[Mikhail Chigorin]

We looked a bit leggy second half. That non penalty and booking for Raheem was laughable by Dean. It seemed to throw us out of our stride.
KDB is not up to speed yet and wasn't great.
I think Mase mentioned that Kun always runs behind his man and I agree. It made Sterling and Navas dwell too long before passing. Nullified s lot of our threat second half.
Navas off and Sterling switching to the right made a big difference.
Nacho coming on just topped it off.
Two totally positive substitutions and it paid off.
Fabulous cameo from Nacho. He obviously took on board whatever bollocking he got about not passing to Delph last week and layed it on a plate for Nolito.
Sublime dummy for Sterling to race through and do the same. Game over points in the bag. Pep will be delighted with that.
I know I am. We have a team here. And they will only get better.

Whether, or not, Nolito will turn out to be a veritable 'goal machine' (??) remains to be seen.

However, he was in the right place at the right times to score and that's a nice habit to have. Long may this continue.

Wonder how his goals per minute for us compares to the much quicker Navas?

Imagine his goals per minute ratio is better than Navas' goals per game ratio

Ouch !!

[Beefymcfc]

So the two blatant fouls by AutonomomoVic on Zabs are ok . The raking of Silva's calf is o.k, but Sterling's innocuous hands up is a penalty. Shawcross also had his arms out pushing at Sterling.

See how Dean lightly gave city players yellow cards and compare it to what he missed from the stoke players. Two times also players were taken out off the ball and they didn't show any replays. Dean was rubbish today and not just against City, for both teams.

What annoys me most is his face gestures when he's talking to the players. Is he in pantomime?

By the letter of the law Dean was correct in giving both. Regardless of the fact that none of those would have been given before today (didn't happen last night) doesn't mean that they aren't an offence.

I like Dean, and if the refereeing continues in this vein, we'll be quids in.

I seem to recall news over the summer about a change in focus on shirt pulling and nonsense in the box, but I didn't notice much change last week. I hope this does signal a real change to the way games are refereed in that area of the pitch, as corners are a fucking shambles more akin to wwe these days.

All teams were briefed on the changes and it looks like they've gave them a week to sort it out. Now enforced, I'm expecting to see more of this, or should I say, I better see more of this.

[michaelcityfan]

Stop the nonsense at corners and ibramovitch will be nullified I hope referees clamp down on shirt pulling

[sheblue]

Dean had a terrible game, some awful stuff from him.

[Sparklehorse]

Souness saying we were poor, and quinn saying that not only was the Sterling penalty justified, but stoke were due 2 additional penalties! Quinn makes every excuse under the sun for Stoke and finishes with "the scoreline flatters City, so if you haven't seen the game, Pep doesn't have it all figured out" - Bitter cunts, fuck off

In reality, we won 4-1 away at Stoke.. great day and good omen for the season

I loved the way they were trying to say the score flattered us !!
Games last 90 mins not 70 ! And we score 2 in the last 10 mins. If we'd scored them in the first 10 minutes and been 4-0 up would not have been mentioned.

[City64]

Fuck off Stoke !
Fuck off Sky cunts !

MCFC top of the league .
MCFC in the Champions League .

CTID !

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Has Bardsley's potential leg breaker been mentioned by meeja/pundits?

[edge275]

I literally can't take watching Navas anymore, he's so fucking shite it's actually mind blowing. I need him to leave before I have a coronary.

[PrezIke]

Stoke fans booing loudly everytime sterling touches the ball.

Fucking pathetic. Absolute sad cunts.

The media did a great job on him. Probably the best hatchet job in recent years.

Just finished watching on replay. I was fuming at this. Unbelievable. The entire game.

[PrezIke]

Soft pen but will take it
Happy days

Rules actually being enforced to set the tone for the season. Sterling's was just as "soft."

[iwasthere2012]

Soft pen but will take it
Happy days

Rules actually being enforced to set the tone for the season. Sterling's was just as "soft."

Shawcross was pulling out of Otter.
With Sterling they both had hands up to chest. Sterling got swatted aside by a bigger man. No way was that a penalty.

[Nigels Tackle]

Soft pen but will take it
Happy days

Rules actually being enforced to set the tone for the season. Sterling's was just as "soft."

Shawcross was pulling out of Otter.
With Sterling they both had hands up to chest. Sterling got swatted aside by a bigger man. No way was that a penalty.

let's see what the motd lot make of it later on

[PrezIke]

Soft pen but will take it
Happy days

Rules actually being enforced to set the tone for the season. Sterling's was just as "soft."

Shawcross was pulling out of Otter.
With Sterling they both had hands up to chest. Sterling got swatted aside by a bigger man. No way was that a penalty.

The reason, which the announcers pointed out, was he showed no interest in the ball. Raheem was just trying to get in the way. My reaction was that it was soft as well, but I think Dean is trying to make a point about defending in the box, overall.

We got away with a few fouls and one pen, although so did they, especially the one by Diouf on Silva that should have been a yellow and nothing was given. That was atrocious.

[sidSmith]

Soft pen but will take it
Happy days

Rules actually being enforced to set the tone for the season. Sterling's was just as "soft."

Shawcross was pulling out of Otter.
With Sterling they both had hands up to chest. Sterling got swatted aside by a bigger man. No way was that a penalty.

The reason, which the announcers pointed out, was he showed no interest in the ball. Raheem was just trying to get in the way. My reaction was that it was soft as well, but I think Dean is trying to make a point about defending in the box, overall.

We got away with a few fouls and one pen, although so did they, especially the one by Diouf on Silva that should have been a yellow and nothing was given. That was atrocious.

Was that the scissor tackle with studs showing that Silva avoided? Intent was there even if Silva got out the way. If it's not the one you're talking about, mine is another.

[sheblue]

Stoke fans booing loudly everytime sterling touches the ball.

Fucking pathetic. Absolute sad cunts.

The media did a great job on him. Probably the best hatchet job in recent years.

Just finished watching on replay. I was fuming at this. Unbelievable. The entire game.

It's pathetic. But I am sure it will make him stronger in the long run.
Anyway for now they are......Fucking Neanderthals.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Soft pen but will take it
Happy days

Rules actually being enforced to set the tone for the season. Sterling's was just as "soft."

Shawcross was pulling out of Otter.
With Sterling they both had hands up to chest. Sterling got swatted aside by a bigger man. No way was that a penalty.

The reason, which the announcers pointed out, was he showed no interest in the ball. Raheem was just trying to get in the way. My reaction was that it was soft as well, but I think Dean is trying to make a point about defending in the box, overall.

We got away with a few fouls and one pen, although so did they, especially the one by Diouf on Silva that should have been a yellow and nothing was given. That was atrocious.

Was that the scissor tackle with studs showing that Silva avoided? Intent was there even if Silva got out the way. If it's not the one you're talking about, mine is another.

Think you might be talking about Bardsley's horrible lunge earlier in the game, Silva was blessed he got out of the way and Dean's a fucking twat for not even giving Dave a free nevermind sending the dirty rag cunt off.

[aristation]

What is the problem about Navas he had a great game in defence. He may be crap at shooting but he adds to the game plan by his possession and closing down

[Slim]

What is the problem about Navas he had a great game in defence. He may be crap at shooting but he adds to the game plan by his possession and closing down

Part of our defence includes not giving the ball away in our own half...which he did....a lot....fuck Navas.

[Mase]

What is the problem about Navas he had a great game in defence. He may be crap at shooting but he adds to the game plan by his possession and closing down

Part of our defence includes not giving the ball away in our own half...which he did....a lot....fuck Navas.

I switched on for the second half and immediately Navas kicked the ball out of play in our half looking for a City player. I like the guy, he works hard, but ffs so did Vassell. He'll be fine as a squad player but don't start him away at Stoke!

[PrezIke]

Soft pen but will take it
Happy days

Rules actually being enforced to set the tone for the season. Sterling's was just as "soft."

Shawcross was pulling out of Otter.
With Sterling they both had hands up to chest. Sterling got swatted aside by a bigger man. No way was that a penalty.

The reason, which the announcers pointed out, was he showed no interest in the ball. Raheem was just trying to get in the way. My reaction was that it was soft as well, but I think Dean is trying to make a point about defending in the box, overall.

We got away with a few fouls and one pen, although so did they, especially the one by Diouf on Silva that should have been a yellow and nothing was given. That was atrocious.

Was that the scissor tackle with studs showing that Silva avoided? Intent was there even if Silva got out the way. If it's not the one you're talking about, mine is another.

It's a different one I think. It was later in the 2nd half and Silva went down in some pain rolling around on the ground after he caught either the back of his ankle or calf.