***City v Fulham Official Match Thread***

[Slim]

I turned off at half time, did I miss anything?

Only the usual moaning Slim. City had Fulham under control this time around. Also, a few players were able to get a rest. At least a reduction in games now until march.

Okay I see what happened here, my sarcasm was too dry, my bad.

[Indianablue]

Are we just going to sweep under the carpet that VAR cheated again ? no red card for an OBVIOUS hair pull ?

The rules have been quite clear - its a RED CARD OFFENSE.

Disgusting bent decision once again and City need to bring this up.

It's a good point. Not even mentioned on MOTD analysis. Only 1 angle showed on the highlights, not seen anything from other camera angles.

I refuse to believe there is only one camera angle for this, yet again PiGMOL roll on unopposed.

Another to file under VAR, it cant be denied ( unless you are called Hart) thought Foden's yellow was naughty and that was highlighted on MOTD. They pick and choose

[Indianablue]

I've just seen Foden's studs up challenge on Bassey. I'll be surprised if there's no retrospective action for that.

No chance, it was mistimed, it was not malicious endangerment of the player or aggressive whatsoever.

Late, nowhere near the ball, studs down the back of an ankle, raking an achilles is definitely an agressive tackle and one that i'd consider nasty. When i saw it i was surprised, not a Foden challenge at all. Perhaps he'd been clattered earlier

[Wonderwall]

I've just seen Foden's studs up challenge on Bassey. I'll be surprised if there's no retrospective action for that.

No chance, it was mistimed, it was not malicious endangerment of the player or aggressive whatsoever.

Didn't you say Dalot deserved a red the other week...

Yes. I don't understand the question? I have not said it's not a red. I think it is, however, it will not receive retrospective action, as it's not severe enough IMO.

You disagree?

[PaulieIrish]

Hair pull already checked and cleared by ref watch. There was no hair pull. Logic is that Semenyo’s head did not go backwards so he couldn’t have had his hair pulled. Ignored the fact that he clearly stated in post match interview that his hair was pulled and said so to the ref.

Oh and Fodeb should have been a red apparently. So we are very lucky is the outcome…

[Mase]

I've just seen Foden's studs up challenge on Bassey. I'll be surprised if there's no retrospective action for that.

No chance, it was mistimed, it was not malicious endangerment of the player or aggressive whatsoever.

Didn't you say Dalot deserved a red the other week...

Yes. I don't understand the question? I have not said it's not a red. I think it is, however, it will not receive retrospective action, as it's not severe enough IMO.

You disagree?

Yes

[Wonderwall]

I've just seen Foden's studs up challenge on Bassey. I'll be surprised if there's no retrospective action for that.

No chance, it was mistimed, it was not malicious endangerment of the player or aggressive whatsoever.

Didn't you say Dalot deserved a red the other week...

Yes. I don't understand the question? I have not said it's not a red. I think it is, however, it will not receive retrospective action, as it's not severe enough IMO.

You disagree?

Yes

I guess we will see, as they will have to charge him today as per the rules to prevent him from playing the next game.

[carl_feedthegoat]

His subs made no sense apart from taking Dias off.
All this BS about saving players for the mighty fucking Salford is laughable.
We had a real chance to put Fulham away 4 or 5–nil and claw back some goal difference ahead of Arsenal but instead his changes and tactical decisions left us playing the same pathetic second halves we’ve got used to seeing lately.
He even admitted that we were poor after the break, which just pisses all over some of the excuses flying around on here that we played a great game of football.

This second half BS has to stop.

[Harry Dowd scored]

His subs made no sense apart from taking Dias off.
All this BS about saving players for the mighty fucking Salford is laughable.
We had a real chance to put Fulham away 4 or 5–nil and claw back some goal difference ahead of Arsenal but instead his changes and tactical decisions left us playing the same pathetic second halves we’ve got used to seeing lately.
He even admitted that we were poor after the break, which just pisses all over some of the excuses flying around on here that we played a great game of football.

This second half BS has to stop.

Hallelujah, thank fuck other guys can see what they see & say it like it fucking is. If was not for some good defensive work second half could have been embarrassing like Spurs. It didn’t have to be that way, we could have carried on like first half & obliterated the GD with Arsenal. Pep is doing his save your energy shtick, it’s cost us already & will cost us again. The rant about Cucurella a Chelsea player being “tired” is the mask slipping showing his obsession with to many “minutes” again I will repeat this is a self fulfilling prophecy, you keep using “tired” & voila job done, we are not reaching our full potential because of this negativity.

[Hazy2]

So he makes early subs.. it’s getting harder to take this seriously After Sundays win and backing it up, the thing bothering you is ?
.

[carl_feedthegoat]

So he makes early subs.. it’s getting harder to take this seriously After Sundays win and backing it up, the thing bothering you is ?
.

You related to Kamala Harris by any chance ?

[john@staustell]

I thought the subs worked ok. Given that people like Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Rodri etc were clearly shagged out. He used the experienced players to come in and try and keep the energy up. Seemed to work given the result. Which is all that matters

Full reserve team on Saturday, no mistake, given the noises he's making

[carl_feedthegoat]

I thought the subs worked ok. Given that people like Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Rodri etc were clearly shagged out. He used the experienced players to come in and try and keep the energy up. Seemed to work given the result. Which is all that matters

Full reserve team on Saturday, no mistake, given the noises he's making

Rodri was very unhappy at being subbed - that’s a fact.
Or maybe him slamming his back rest down on his chair when he sat down was just pure happiness.

We played shit the second half and were lucky not to concede couple of times - those are just facts mate.

I forgot - Haaland shagged ? He’s been injured for a few weeks and hasn’t played ffs ! How shagged can he be !?

[stupot]

I thought the subs worked ok. Given that people like Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Rodri etc were clearly shagged out. He used the experienced players to come in and try and keep the energy up. Seemed to work given the result. Which is all that matters

Full reserve team on Saturday, no mistake, given the noises he's making

Rodri was very unhappy at being subbed - that’s a fact.
Or maybe him slamming his back rest down on his chair when he sat down was just pure happiness.

We played shit the second half and were lucky not to concede couple of times - those are just facts mate.

We played well 1st half and were lucky not to concede - that's also facts.
Rodri was great 1st half and very iffy 2nd, Haaland had the niggles, Bernardo had run himself into the ground, Foden was poor and could easily have been sent off. That's 4 of the subs, Dias wasn't the other by the way, Nunes was

[Hazy2]

So he makes early subs.. it’s getting harder to take this seriously After Sundays win and backing it up, the thing bothering you is ?
.

You related to Kamala Harris by any chance ?

I’m not but as you have referenced the Democrats. Are you our Joe Biden..

[Wonderwall]

So he makes early subs.. it’s getting harder to take this seriously After Sundays win and backing it up, the thing bothering you is ?
.

Some people are just simply unappeasable Hazy

[Hazy2]

So he makes early subs.. it’s getting harder to take this seriously After Sundays win and backing it up, the thing bothering you is ?
.

Some people are just simply unappeasable Hazy

Yep spot on, I was soaked last night. Tram from East Didsbury. Into town. A few beers and a very competitive game. Looked comfortable it was not.
3-0 take it move on. Return journey happy blues. The new guys from Jan have settled in seamlessly. I think we have the makings of a very good team.
I said 2 years ago on here get Marc.. he’s going to be another Vinny. If you cannot put your I hate Pep tantrum to bed. Crack on it’s boring!!

Last night was a fans night. The rainy City.

[Indianablue]

Subs last night were decent shouts, Haaland was said to be feeling a niggle, the others were decent replacements for players that had done a fair bit of running.

Pep is saying too many games , players are feeling it. Since Nov 22nd we've been playing every 3 to 4 days. If your in comps, this will happen every year. Perhaps Pep should plan better for this in the second half or at least get his players to simplify play and not play a high line. Last night after half time the vbai lost count of the times the ball wasn't crossed into the box and we played it short , sideways and back to the keeper. The big lads that had come up for a cross into the box must have loved it 150 yds for nothing. If Van Dijk goes forward to the 18 yd box , the ball gets put into him or his mate. Secondly we insist on these stupid short goal kicks and try to play out around our penalty area. What is wrong with the keeper punting a long one into their half for Marmoush or Semmy to chase down?
opposition do this to us and are much better at winning 50/50's

Perhaps things will get better now the fixtures free up a bit who knows , perhaps Peps system only works for a full game when we play just 1 game per weeks, Perhaps its why we come good at the end of a season.
Either way it happens every year, the fixtures wont get less at the PL chases down income streams. We need to adapt better

Last night the first 45 was the best we had played for a while , better than our first half at Anfield so all is not lost.

My final thought is the Palace signings look fitter than ours , except for Khusanov and Nunes. Perhaps we need to improve our condition training

A bit of a ramble i know

[Nick]

People need to stop saying semenyo is a palace signing

How tf can rodri be mad at being subbed when ita nico coming on?

[dave watson's perm]

So he makes early subs.. it’s getting harder to take this seriously After Sundays win and backing it up, the thing bothering you is ?
.

Some people are just simply unappeasable Hazy

"Some people"