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

[sidSmith]

Yeah, different one. I remember the one you're talking about now. The one I was talking about was first half. Bloody terrible challenge, but typical Stoke challenge.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Out all day and just watched the game. Overall reaction is that we were good but nowhere near as good as we can be.

It's away at Stoke and although they had a few moments they never really threatened much and we were miles the better side. The front 4 are all looking better game by game. Sterling really really good with his movement and energy with and without the ball and although we know his final thing needs to get even better he already has 4 assists in 3 games ( would have been 5 if Kun hadnt missed a penalty) and he is genuinely frightening defenders again.

Kun is getting fitter and looking up for it and will score tons if he stays fit, Silva fits in beautifully with the way Pep wants to play as his touch is so good and he is so so available for a pass and for me KDB is also getting fitter and looking good. So much more to come.

Dinho is also perfect for Pep. Such an intelligent player. I said don't get too excited after Steau lets see what happens v Stoke :)) Now it's lets wait till we play WHU and the scum

[PrezIke]

Phil Neville's review of Sterling's performance today on MOTD would have made you think he had a poor game.

What a joke. Showing his true colours (wink wink). Okay, so Raheem can still improve, but if you only saw MOTD it would feed into the bollocks view that he's not been good.

[Dubaimancityfan]

Fuck off Stoke !
Fuck off Sky cunts !

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

CTID !

LIKE !

[london blue 2]

Phil Neville's review of Sterling's performance today on MOTD would have made you think he had a poor game.

What a joke. Showing his true colours (wink wink). Okay, so Raheem can still improve, but if you only saw MOTD it would feed into the bollocks view that he's not been good.

Started with "im nearly convinced" then went to show each and every mistake, including moaning at him for laying a clear goal on for Nolito.

No wonder fans get on his back with "pundits" like that.

[Beefymcfc]

Phil Neville's review of Sterling's performance today on MOTD would have made you think he had a poor game.

What a joke. Showing his true colours (wink wink). Okay, so Raheem can still improve, but if you only saw MOTD it would feed into the bollocks view that he's not been good.

Started with "im nearly convinced" then went to show each and every mistake, including moaning at him for laying a clear goal on for Nolito.

No wonder fans get on his back with "pundits" like that.

Just mentioned in the Football Media thread. The job the Dipper media did on him cannot be underestimated and the fact that every other football fan now boos him is testament to that.

Thank fuck Pep and City have faith in him otherwise that young mind would have been crushed by now.

Dirty Scouse cunts, I don't even bother talking to them anymore as I find the whole thing disgusting. Stoke have just been added to the list and they'll now get the same reply of 'What, a grown man constantly Booing an oppo player, how old are you?'. How can you talk to them about football!

Goes down a treat.

[Justified logic]

Anyone else notice this by Whelan?

[Wonderwall]

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!

Vassell only worked hard going forward. He got the world's laziest bastard award for work rate towards our own goal.

[Mase]

Just watched a couple of replays of Sterling's pen. Shawcross actually pushes Sterling away first, then throws and arm across him to block him. Absolute joke and a case of Dean wanting to be centre of attention.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Well they passed that test

[Nigels Tackle]

Just watched a couple of replays of Sterling's pen. Shawcross actually pushes Sterling away first, then throws and arm across him to block him. Absolute joke and a case of Dean wanting to be centre of attention.

the look on shawcross's face said it all

[Mase]

Just watched a couple of replays of Sterling's pen. Shawcross actually pushes Sterling away first, then throws and arm across him to block him. Absolute joke and a case of Dean wanting to be centre of attention.

the look on shawcross's face said it all

It was 50/50 at best - more 70/30 from Shawcross in reality. But how can that be judged by a referee instantly? Shawcross on Otter was easy - he's yanking on his arm and pulling his shirt down at the back. It's a foul anywhere on the pitch.

Sterling's wasn't even a foul on the half way line.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Phil Neville's review of Sterling's performance today on MOTD would have made you think he had a poor game.

What a joke. Showing his true colours (wink wink). Okay, so Raheem can still improve, but if you only saw MOTD it would feed into the bollocks view that he's not been good.

Started with "im nearly convinced" then went to show each and every mistake, including moaning at him for laying a clear goal on for Nolito.

No wonder fans get on his back with "pundits" like that.

I loved the way that, after scoring the fourth goal, Nolito went across to Sterling, picked him up and when he put him down he was pointing to him to ensure everyone appreciated the lay off.

If that doesn't make Sterling feel ten foot tall, nothing will but, at least to my eyes, it also seems to indicate that he's well liked in the squad and appreciated.

[Moonchesteri]

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.

Exactly. Somehow it has become "acceptable" to wrestle or grab and hold someone's shirt in the box while you get yellow for the same foul in the middle of the park.
About fucking time referees grow a pair

[Mikhail Chigorin]

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.

Exactly. Somehow it has become "acceptable" to wrestle or grab and hold someone's shirt in the box while you get yellow for the same foul in the middle of the park.
About fucking time referees grow a pair

On MOTD, Neville was trying to say it was acceptable, as it was "all part of the game".

[Feed The Goat]

What puzzled me at the game yesterday was why the Stoke fans were singing Englands number 1 at Willy and then after some poor kicks started singing if Joe Hart plays for England so can I.

Do they think Joe is bald?

[Slim]

What puzzled me at the game yesterday was why the Stoke fans were singing Englands number 1 at Willy and then after some poor kicks started singing if Joe Hart plays for England so can I.

Do they think Joe is bald?

As they have Butland, they are bitter about Joe being the auto number one.

I think they were giving stick because England's number one can't even get a game. And sitting on the bench, well if that's how the number one is spending his "playing time" then yes, so can I.

[john@staustell]

Stoke just give stick, all game, for no reason. Unique ground

[City64]

Stoke just give stick, all game, for no reason. Unique ground

Very true , they are thick as shit inbred cunts of the highest order !

[carl_feedthegoat]

Stoke just give stick, all game, for no reason. Unique ground

Very true , they are thick as shit inbred cunts of the highest order !

Apes.