4 draws but what about the opposition?

[shawzy]

After reading some of the posts today no one has mentioned about the negative play of the opposing teams.
Yes we have drawn 4 prem games on the trot now and it is a cause for concern, but 3 of those games City were away from home.
Granted we let ourselves down against Fulham and in recent matches against them they are our thorn in the side to play against.
Its getting quite obvious now that the opposition are playing tight and scrappy football against us.Hoping they can grab something out of the game.Its not nice to watch but im afraid its going to happen alot this season.Last season the football was more open because other teams didnt have fear of defeat playing against us.
Teams in the top 4 get the same treatment but they have had to put up with this shite negative crap for yrs..They have the know how to be patient and unlock the door to get a goal and grab the 3 points.
We are not upto that level yet and deffo not used to it.
Looking at the stats on todays game we had the upper hand in all areas but currently didnt have the edge to kill off the Brum.


Birmingham City Statistics Manchester City
0 Goals 0
0 1st Half Goals 0
5 Shots on Target 4
4 Shots off Target 6
1 Blocked Shots 3
4 Corners 8
10 Fouls 11
5 Offsides 4
2 Yellow Cards 2
1 Red Cards 0
59.5 Passing Success 71.6
26 Tackles 16
69.2 Tackles Success 75
43.4 Possession 56.6
45.5 Territorial Advantage 54.5

I dont think the manager got alot wrong today.He played all our inform players.Would a young kid like Weiss change the game? In reality i doubt it.
We are going to get plenty more of this treatment in future matches and it is upto the players to make a stand and dont let the frustration get the better of them..Like i said earlier the top 4 have put up with negative play from opposition for yrs.Its time for us to do the same.
We have the quality but patience in play is the key.

[Socrates]

Wigan didn't play scrappy football, they just outplayed us!

[shawzy]

Wigan didn't play scrappy football, they just outplayed us!

So why didnt they get the 3 points and we had 10 men for most of the 2nd half?

[shawzy]

Look all im saying..In recent matches Im seeing teams playing deeper in there own half and trying to catch us on the break.We need to get used to it and learn to be patient more, like the top prem teams do.We will not win games.We are rushing in panic mode expecting goals to come out of it and it dont work like that.

[Socrates]

Wigan didn't play scrappy football, they just outplayed us!

So why didnt they get the 3 points and we had 10 men for most of the 2nd half?

Because football is a funny game. We were unlucky that day not to get a penalty that would have given us what would have been, on balance, a very lucky win. Opposite was true against Fulham where they were unlucky that Zamora was out of form or they could have had a very lucky win in a game where we outplayed them!

[dario2739]

As i've said before, the problem we're having is we're a victim of our wealth and the media circus, in so much as every time a 'lower' team play us they raise their game as they would against the rags or Chelsea for example, only we're not at the level yet to know how to cope with it.
Look at the Villa game, they were f@cked with 20 minutes to go because they played their hearts out, Look at Wigan this week, play a team they think are lowly and they get battered.
I still think we're lacking a bit of something... creativity and a ruthlessness too, but i'm confident we'll click into gear soon.

[shawzy]

Wigan didn't play scrappy football, they just outplayed us!

So why didnt they get the 3 points and we had 10 men for most of the 2nd half?

Because football is a funny game. We were unlucky that day not to get a penalty that would have given us what would have been, on balance, a very lucky win. Opposite was true against Fulham where they were unlucky that Zamora was out of form or they could have had a very lucky win in a game where we outplayed them!

I was at that game and i also seen Tevez miss a sitter from 6 yards out.
I just wish city would settle on the ball abit, and be arrogant and frustrate more.Since the 1st draw iv seen al lack of understanding to kill teams off,but we have the players to deal with it..Very frustrated at the min Socrates

[shawzy]

As i've said before, the problem we're having is we're a victim of our wealth and the media circus, in so much as every time a 'lower' team play us they raise their game as they would against the rags or Chelsea for example, only we're not at the level yet to know how to cope with it.
Look at the Villa game, they were f@cked with 20 minutes to go because they played their hearts out, Look at Wigan this week, play a team they think are lowly and they get battered.
I still think we're lacking a bit of something... creativity and a ruthlessness too, but i'm confident we'll click into gear soon.

Key word for all future games..We do not need to sign anymore players for a top 4 spot.The current squad can do it.

[Socrates]

Wigan didn't play scrappy football, they just outplayed us!

So why didnt they get the 3 points and we had 10 men for most of the 2nd half?

Because football is a funny game. We were unlucky that day not to get a penalty that would have given us what would have been, on balance, a very lucky win. Opposite was true against Fulham where they were unlucky that Zamora was out of form or they could have had a very lucky win in a game where we outplayed them!

I was at that game and i also seen Tevez miss a sitter from 6 yards out.
I just wish city would settle on the ball abit, and be arrogant and frustrate more.Since the 1st draw iv seen al lack of understanding to kill teams off,but we have the players to deal with it..Very frustrated at the min Socrates

Yeah but Zamora's miss was much more special and he could actually have had a hat trick! Could have lost 2-5 and it would have ridiculous as we ran rings round them! But the other 3 games we have reverted to last season's disjointed away form and we just seem to lack shape in midfield. Shape that Johnson seemed to give us, when fit, but the likes of De Jong just don't seem able to achieve...

[shawzy]

Wigan didn't play scrappy football, they just outplayed us!

So why didnt they get the 3 points and we had 10 men for most of the 2nd half?

Because football is a funny game. We were unlucky that day not to get a penalty that would have given us what would have been, on balance, a very lucky win. Opposite was true against Fulham where they were unlucky that Zamora was out of form or they could have had a very lucky win in a game where we outplayed them!

I was at that game and i also seen Tevez miss a sitter from 6 yards out.
I just wish city would settle on the ball abit, and be arrogant and frustrate more.Since the 1st draw iv seen al lack of understanding to kill teams off,but we have the players to deal with it..Very frustrated at the min Socrates

Yeah but Zamora's miss was much more special and he could actually have had a hat trick! Could have lost 2-5 and it would have ridiculous as we ran rings round them! But the other 3 games we have reverted to last season's disjointed away form and we just seem to lack shape in midfield. Shape that Johnson seemed to give us, when fit, but the likes of De Jong just don't seem able to achieve...

Im confused about De Jong.What he does on the field is good but since he came back in the side we have lost our clean sheets..Im not blaming him it could be coincidence.Id like to see a full fit Johnno over any current MF in the squad.

[Socrates]

Because football is a funny game. We were unlucky that day not to get a penalty that would have given us what would have been, on balance, a very lucky win. Opposite was true against Fulham where they were unlucky that Zamora was out of form or they could have had a very lucky win in a game where we outplayed them!

I was at that game and i also seen Tevez miss a sitter from 6 yards out.
I just wish city would settle on the ball abit, and be arrogant and frustrate more.Since the 1st draw iv seen al lack of understanding to kill teams off,but we have the players to deal with it..Very frustrated at the min Socrates

Yeah but Zamora's miss was much more special and he could actually have had a hat trick! Could have lost 2-5 and it would have ridiculous as we ran rings round them! But the other 3 games we have reverted to last season's disjointed away form and we just seem to lack shape in midfield. Shape that Johnson seemed to give us, when fit, but the likes of De Jong just don't seem able to achieve...

Im confused about De Jong.What he does on the field is good but since he came back in the side we have lost our clean sheets..Im not blaming him it could be coincidence.Id like to see a full fit Johnno over any current MF in the squad.

Must admit, I'm getting a touch of deja vu about De Jong. Could be the new Barton i.e. very visible and appears to be doing good things but somehow manages to unglue the whole side from a central role. We rarely looked very impressive last season after he took over the main defensive mid role from Kompany, I hoped he just needed time to adjust to the Prem and was also aware he was returning from injury. Now I'm just starting to wonder whether we'd be a better side if Barry played his role and we had a more creative midfield?

[daveh1962]

To all the doom and gloom merchants look at the opposition we have got draws against

Wigan defeated Chelsea
Aston Villa defeated Chelsea
Fulham defeated Liverpool

we are not playing champagne football but we look a threat when going forward we were without 3 of our top players we are moaning when we are 4th in the league with a game in hand on the teams below us. People need to get a reality check.

[Blue2]

Wigan - lost 4-0 to Portsmouth
Birmingham - lost 2-1 at home to Bolton
Fulham - lost 2-1 to Wolves
Villa - lost to Blackburn 2-1

Meaningless stats to some degree, the fact is we are playing shite.

[daveh1962]

So what we seem to be saying is that this season each team seems on its day able to beat another. Well we have only been beaten once and are proving difficult to beat. To say we are playing shite is harsh. We have not had a settled side due to injuries lets calm down and see where we are in January.

Other players are only just coming back from injury and are clearly not fully fit.

[shawzy]

Wigan - lost 4-0 to Portsmouth
Birmingham - lost 2-1 at home to Bolton
Fulham - lost 2-1 to Wolves
Villa - lost to Blackburn 2-1

Meaningless stats to some degree, the fact is we are playing shite.

Exactly..Who gives a toss about what other teams are doin.
Look im not putting the team down and yes we have had injuries and players coming back etc.
In recent games i have seen a hurried look about them and they want to calm it down abit and control the tempo and boss the match in our own way.
Today we deffo missed Toure playing the lovely passes on the deck from defense.Not slaggin Hughes cuz his tactics this season have been a massive improvement on last year.BUT i really thought Johhno would have been worth a 2nd half runout today.He can change a game more than anyone.
On a positive note we didnt lose and were 4th..Overall on the teams we have drawn with we should be 2nd place.Maybe im just expecting 2 much 2 soon and i apologise for that.

[Dazzacity]

It the fact we have drawn 4 games against sides we really should be beatin, bar Villa. If those draws were against the likes of Chelsea and co Id be pretty happy. But they wasnt and now we really need to get something out of the tougher games ahead. You have to look at the big picture. Yes, 4th is good but that is only due to others around us droppin points and I dont like lookin at football that way. We should be doin it on or own. imo we have missed out of makin it comfortable for ourselves. We now have to really perform and all this drawin will soon catch up with us. Its also the fact that we are again an easy side to play against and we have not looked all that good .

Its all good sayin we are forth, but wouldnt you like, and expect, us to be beatin the likes of Wigan, Fulham and Birmingham?

[dazby]

I was very critical of our play last night. We lacked patience and lost it far far too easily.

However, we are 4th. 4th. Can't complain about that.

I'll have my whinge on other threads.

[lythamblue]

Its all good sayin we are forth, but wouldnt you like, and expect, us to be beatin the likes of Wigan, Fulham and Birmingham?

And wouldn't L'pool be expecting to beat the likes of Fulham etc?

Wouldn't Manyoo be expecting to beat teams like Sunderland and Burnley?

Wouldn't Chelski be expecting to beat teams like Wigan?

Wouldn't Spurs be expecting to beat every fooking team on the planet like they normally believe they should?

Things don't work out that way .... not in football and not even in general life events either!!!!!

We have played ten games against teams that will end up near the top, be safely mid table and be in a relegation scrap. Generally a good time to reflect on that is now and after all that we are 4th (whether you like it or not.)

This is a marathon not a sprint and we are still in the very early stages of putting a steady side together. Over the next 28 games we will actually lose to worse teams than B'ham, Wigan and Fulham, but also beat teams far better than us. It don't matter where the points come from.

We have 19 points from 10 games (six of them played away from home) and if continue to average 1.9 points from the 28 games we have left, we will be in a Champs league spot at the end of the season, which will be a great result.

Those of you who ever thought we could go straight into the season and win the title ..... have the minds of children who believe that they are fairies at the end of the garden.

Chill out and stop reacting afer any result when we don't achieve all 3 points.

[Dazzacity]

Its all good sayin we are forth, but wouldnt you like, and expect, us to be beatin the likes of Wigan, Fulham and Birmingham?

And wouldn't L'pool be expecting to beat the likes of Fulham etc?

Wouldn't Manyoo be expecting to beat teams like Sunderland and Burnley?

Wouldn't Chelski be expecting to beat teams like Wigan?

Wouldn't Spurs be expecting to beat every fooking team on the planet like they normally believe they should?

Things don't work out that way .... not in football and not even in general life events either!!!!!

We have played ten games against teams that will end up near the top, be safely mid table and be in a relegation scrap. Generally a good time to reflect on that is now and after all that we are 4th (whether you like it or not.)

This is a marathon not a sprint and we are still in the very early stages of putting a steady side together. Over the next 28 games we will actually lose to worse teams than B'ham, Wigan and Fulham, but also beat teams far better than us. It don't matter where the points come from.

We have 19 points from 10 games (six of them played away from home) and if continue to average 1.9 points from the 28 games we have left, we will be in a Champs league spot at the end of the season, which will be a great result.

Those of you who ever thought we could go straight into the season and win the title ..... have the minds of children who believe that they are fairies at the end of the garden.

Chill out and stop reacting afer any result when we don't achieve all 3 points.

Some people are watchin games and have a bit of concern over results and the way we are playin..Is that ok with you?? No need to try and insult people just because they see things from a different angle than yourself. All Im sayin is that we really need to perform against the top sides when we play them as to make up for droppin points against side we should be beatin. No good sayin "ah well we have drawn 4 games in a row but we are 4th in the table" that wont last very long Im afraid and it will get to a point where we will need good consistent run of form if we want a top 4 finish, mark my words.

And I couldnt give a toss what Liverpool and Chelsea are doin. We should be doin things on our own, not relying on what other sides do. I just feel we have missed 3 great opportunities to really nestle in that top 4 and take weight of our backs. I tell you now, if this form keeps up we will be lucky to get a Europa spot. Thats why we HAVE to improve..dont you think??

[Dubaimancityfan]

After reading some of the posts today no one has mentioned about the negative play of the opposing teams.
Yes we have drawn 4 prem games on the trot now and it is a cause for concern, but 3 of those games City were away from home.
Granted we let ourselves down against Fulham and in recent matches against them they are our thorn in the side to play against.
Its getting quite obvious now that the opposition are playing tight and scrappy football against us.Hoping they can grab something out of the game.Its not nice to watch but im afraid its going to happen alot this season.Last season the football was more open because other teams didnt have fear of defeat playing against us.
Teams in the top 4 get the same treatment but they have had to put up with this shite negative crap for yrs..They have the know how to be patient and unlock the door to get a goal and grab the 3 points.
We are not upto that level yet and deffo not used to it.
Looking at the stats on todays game we had the upper hand in all areas but currently didnt have the edge to kill off the Brum.


Birmingham City Statistics Manchester City
0 Goals 0
0 1st Half Goals 0
5 Shots on Target 4
4 Shots off Target 6
1 Blocked Shots 3
4 Corners 8
10 Fouls 11
5 Offsides 4
2 Yellow Cards 2
1 Red Cards 0
59.5 Passing Success 71.6
26 Tackles 16
69.2 Tackles Success 75
43.4 Possession 56.6
45.5 Territorial Advantage 54.5

I dont think the manager got alot wrong today.He played all our inform players.Would a young kid like Weiss change the game? In reality i doubt it.
We are going to get plenty more of this treatment in future matches and it is upto the players to make a stand and dont let the frustration get the better of them..Like i said earlier the top 4 have put up with negative play from opposition for yrs.Its time for us to do the same.
We have the quality but patience in play is the key.

Agree with most of what you said except the part about Weiss. I think most of us agree that SWP's form has been very poor lately and the manager should try something different. SWP is involved a lot but he can't beat defenders anymore and his
crosses have been mostly very bad. I think MH should either put Tevez on the right or give Weiss a chance. Would it have hurt to
put in Vlad yesterday in the last 15 minutes ??
One more thing, why wasn't Benjani on the bench. With the form that RSC is in, Benji would have been the logical sub. He couldn't
have doen any worse than RSC !!