Haven't we heard this all before....

[bluemoon]

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes on his side's 0-0 draw with Birmingham: "In terms of performance level it was probably the poorest we've played for some time. I was expecting us to show more quality. Shay Given was outstanding and needed to be at times. We are a work in progress and I'm sure we'll have more days like this but we'll take it as positive that we've taken something from this game."

I couldn't believe I was reading these comments, does he think we're going to fall for this shit again? How about taking the blame for once and be a man about it, rather than hiding behind bullshit.

Sorry Mark, but...
YOU GOT TACTICS WRONG YET AGAIN
JUST LIKE LAST SEASON, THE TEAM IS GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES, RATHER THAN BETTER.
IT WAS YOU THAT WASTED £18 MILLION ON CROQUE SANTA POO
WHY SHOULD A TEAM THAT WORTH THAT HAS HAD OVER £200 MILLION INVESTED IN IT, HAVE 'MORE DAYS LIKE THS' THAT IS NOT A FUCKING WINNING MENTALITY!
ONCE AGAIN HIDING BEHIND THE SAME OLD EXCUSES AS LAST SEASON. THINGS HAD BETTER IMPROVED, OR WE'LL SEE ANOTHER YEAR WASTED.

[Chinners]

Have read a few other threads, I know I've heard stuff like this before, I've just posted on this one cos it's at the top, no offence Bluemoon. Pub time for me and a reminder to avoid this place like the plague when we don't win.

[CityGer]

Today was as bad as we've been. I expected sometrhing other than the usual 'work in progress' quotes. Tactics resulting in there being no link between our midfield and attack, the inclusion of SWP despite his form and the exclusion of Ireland and Petrov are issues that I would have liked him to explain.

[Wonderwall]

another thread about negativity, city fans, best in the world eh!

[trueblue64]

I really don't know what everyones broblem is, yes we were poor but we came away with a point. We are 4th in the league with a game in hand we have Toure, Ade and Robbie out FFS everyone chill out. We can play better we know we can but 1 defeat and we were robbed with that one so I for one am happy about our league position at the moment.

[Gloryhunter123]

Not much new there he has been saying that from day one .
We are going to hear this shit till the day that Mark gets the sack :) .

[david yearsley]

I agree to a certain extent about the distance between def and attack but that would mean us doing a Fulham and playing two banks of four and playing on the break which personally I don´t think is a bad idea , the problem is that everyone expects us to go full out for the win against the likes of Brum ,which with our squad is understandable - between a rock and a hard place?

[Spurge]

Today was as bad as we've been. I expected sometrhing other than the usual 'work in progress' quotes. Tactics resulting in there being no link between our midfield and attack, the inclusion of SWP despite his form and the exclusion of Ireland and Petrov are issues that I would have liked him to explain.

Hughes will protect his team in public to the press, but he would have made his feelings plain in the dressing room I'm sure - a sign of a good manager. It seems to me people are looking for any reason to have a dig at Hughes - I'm referring particularly to the post from the thread origiantor who is intitled to his opinion of course - glass totally fucking empty.

[fangsanalsatan]

Have read a few other threads, I know I've heard stuff like this before, I've just posted on this one cos it's at the top, no offence Bluemoon. Pub time for me and a reminder to avoid this place like the plague when we don't win.

Wise words.

[Gloryhunter123]

Today was as bad as we've been. I expected sometrhing other than the usual 'work in progress' quotes. Tactics resulting in there being no link between our midfield and attack, the inclusion of SWP despite his form and the exclusion of Ireland and Petrov are issues that I would have liked him to explain.

Hughes will protect his team in public to the press, but he would have made his feelings plain in the dressing room I'm sure - a sign of a good manager. It seems to me people are looking for any reason to have a dig at Hughes - I'm referring particularly to the post from the thread origiantor who is intitled to his opinion of course - glass totally fucking empty.

Its quite fun you should try it ;)

[ronk]

I actually agree with Hughes in the underlined part.

They had moments where they were dangerous but we held out. There were some times where we scrambled well and contained breaks. This was a game that we could have lost, we should have won it but we could have lost.

There are a fair few negatives that can be taken from the whole thing but overall I thought we were decent. We have a long way to go but we're getting closer. We lost our way for a while and got frustrated. We tried to change our shape with Ireland on for de Jong but I thought de Jong had been better at retaining possession.

I just don't see the point in over-reacting because of one poor day at the office (where we still came away with something).

[Original Dub]

I actually agree with Hughes in the underlined part.

They had moments where they were dangerous but we held out. There were some times where we scrambled well and contained breaks. This was a game that we could have lost, we should have won it but we could have lost.

There are a fair few negatives that can be taken from the whole thing but overall I thought we were decent. We have a long way to go but we're getting closer. We lost our way for a while and got frustrated. We tried to change our shape with Ireland on for de Jong but I thought de Jong had been better at retaining possession.

I just don't see the point in over-reacting because of one poor day at the office (where we still came away with something).

Well this is the whole point. Some of you really have to question yourselves, because thinking that the teams under us will come out of their bad form where as we will definitely get worse is just plain negativity and sensationalism.

The fact is we are one tough bitch of a team to beat and that is a fantastic base on which to build, especially when you know that we will not be shy of goals with the supremely talented attacking players that are getting to know each other.

We are on course, of that I have no doubt. Fourth with a game in hand having already played Villa, United and Arsenal.

Slight blip, pipe down FFS and get REAL.

[ronk]

Well this is the whole point. Some of you really have to question yourselves, because thinking that the teams under us will come out of their bad form where as we will definitely get worse is just plain negativity and sensationalism.

The fact is we are one tough bitch of a team to beat and that is a fantastic base on which to build, especially when you know that we will not be shy of goals with the supremely talented attacking players that are getting to know each other.

We are on course, of that I have no doubt. Fourth with a game in hand having already played Villa, U***d and Arsenal.

Slight blip, pipe down FFS and get REAL.

OTOH, add 2 points on to our total and things look different. We start to look like the last of the first group rather than the first of the chasing pack. Add the 8 points from out recent drawn games and all of sudden we'd be dizzy. It's easy to get carried away doing that but there were some winnable matches there and we might come to regret them later. We've seen good starts turn sour. It's seductive to look at matches where we dropped points and dream about what might have been. I think things would have been a lot different with a fit Adebayor instead of a still unfit Santa Cruz. We're still missing Robinho and Toure has been our best defender. Neither Ireland nor Petrov were fit enough to start. Kompany wouldn't be playing 90 minutes if we actually had other decent options.

The draw against Fulham looks a little better seeing as Liverpool lost against them.

[Original Dub]

Well this is the whole point. Some of you really have to question yourselves, because thinking that the teams under us will come out of their bad form where as we will definitely get worse is just plain negativity and sensationalism.

The fact is we are one tough bitch of a team to beat and that is a fantastic base on which to build, especially when you know that we will not be shy of goals with the supremely talented attacking players that are getting to know each other.

We are on course, of that I have no doubt. Fourth with a game in hand having already played Villa, U***d and Arsenal.

Slight blip, pipe down FFS and get REAL.

OTOH, add 2 points on to our total and things look different. We start to look like the last of the first group rather than the first of the chasing pack. Add the 8 points from out recent drawn games and all of sudden we'd be dizzy. It's easy to get carried away doing that but there were some winnable matches there and we might come to regret them later. We've seen good starts turn sour. It's seductive to look at matches where we dropped points and dream about what might have been. I think things would have been a lot different with a fit Adebayor instead of a still unfit Santa Cruz. We're still missing Robinho and Toure has been our best defender. Neither Ireland nor Petrov were fit enough to start. Kompany wouldn't be playing 90 minutes if we actually had other decent options.

The draw against Fulham looks a little better seeing as Liverpool lost against them.

Great post. Point for point it is perfect and uses crazy shit like facts. We were missing our best defender, our record signing and our star striker and we are fourth in the league with a game in hand. Facts that nobody at all can argue with.

Or can they?

[edge275]

Well this is the whole point. Some of you really have to question yourselves, because thinking that the teams under us will come out of their bad form where as we will definitely get worse is just plain negativity and sensationalism.

The fact is we are one tough bitch of a team to beat and that is a fantastic base on which to build, especially when you know that we will not be shy of goals with the supremely talented attacking players that are getting to know each other.

We are on course, of that I have no doubt. Fourth with a game in hand having already played Villa, U***d and Arsenal.

Slight blip, pipe down FFS and get REAL.

OTOH, add 2 points on to our total and things look different. We start to look like the last of the first group rather than the first of the chasing pack. Add the 8 points from out recent drawn games and all of sudden we'd be dizzy. It's easy to get carried away doing that but there were some winnable matches there and we might come to regret them later. We've seen good starts turn sour. It's seductive to look at matches where we dropped points and dream about what might have been. I think things would have been a lot different with a fit Adebayor instead of a still unfit Santa Cruz. We're still missing Robinho and Toure has been our best defender. Neither Ireland nor Petrov were fit enough to start. Kompany wouldn't be playing 90 minutes if we actually had other decent options.

The draw against Fulham looks a little better seeing as Liverpool lost against them.

Great post. Point for point it is perfect and uses crazy shit like facts. We were missing our best defender, our record signing and our star striker and we are fourth in the league with a game in hand. Facts that nobody at all can argue with.

Or can they?

Consider a toned and fit athlete. They are in great shape. However for the last 2 weeks they've been eating pies everyday. Copious amounts of pies.

There has been a small difference in change to their body but would you not be concerned where the athlete is heading?

[Socrates]

Consider a toned and fit athlete. They are in great shape. However for the last 2 weeks they've been eating pies everyday. Copious amounts of pies.

There has been a small difference in change to their body but would you not be concerned where the athlete is heading?

Is the answer "Wigan?"

[Blue2]

Well this is the whole point. Some of you really have to question yourselves, because thinking that the teams under us will come out of their bad form where as we will definitely get worse is just plain negativity and sensationalism.

The fact is we are one tough bitch of a team to beat and that is a fantastic base on which to build, especially when you know that we will not be shy of goals with the supremely talented attacking players that are getting to know each other.

We are on course, of that I have no doubt. Fourth with a game in hand having already played Villa, U***d and Arsenal.

Slight blip, pipe down FFS and get REAL.

OTOH, add 2 points on to our total and things look different. We start to look like the last of the first group rather than the first of the chasing pack. Add the 8 points from out recent drawn games and all of sudden we'd be dizzy. It's easy to get carried away doing that but there were some winnable matches there and we might come to regret them later. We've seen good starts turn sour. It's seductive to look at matches where we dropped points and dream about what might have been. I think things would have been a lot different with a fit Adebayor instead of a still unfit Santa Cruz. We're still missing Robinho and Toure has been our best defender. Neither Ireland nor Petrov were fit enough to start. Kompany wouldn't be playing 90 minutes if we actually had other decent options.

The draw against Fulham looks a little better seeing as Liverpool lost against them.

But the point aginst Wigan looks even worse seeing as that pile of shite Portamouth beat them 4-0

[Original Dub]

Well this is the whole point. Some of you really have to question yourselves, because thinking that the teams under us will come out of their bad form where as we will definitely get worse is just plain negativity and sensationalism.

The fact is we are one tough bitch of a team to beat and that is a fantastic base on which to build, especially when you know that we will not be shy of goals with the supremely talented attacking players that are getting to know each other.

We are on course, of that I have no doubt. Fourth with a game in hand having already played Villa, U***d and Arsenal.

Slight blip, pipe down FFS and get REAL.

OTOH, add 2 points on to our total and things look different. We start to look like the last of the first group rather than the first of the chasing pack. Add the 8 points from out recent drawn games and all of sudden we'd be dizzy. It's easy to get carried away doing that but there were some winnable matches there and we might come to regret them later. We've seen good starts turn sour. It's seductive to look at matches where we dropped points and dream about what might have been. I think things would have been a lot different with a fit Adebayor instead of a still unfit Santa Cruz. We're still missing Robinho and Toure has been our best defender. Neither Ireland nor Petrov were fit enough to start. Kompany wouldn't be playing 90 minutes if we actually had other decent options.

The draw against Fulham looks a little better seeing as Liverpool lost against them.

Great post. Point for point it is perfect and uses crazy shit like facts. We were missing our best defender, our record signing and our star striker and we are fourth in the league with a game in hand. Facts that nobody at all can argue with.

Or can they?

Consider a toned and fit athlete. They are in great shape. However for the last 2 weeks they've been eating pies everyday. Copious amounts of pies.

There has been a small difference in change to their body but would you not be concerned where the athlete is heading?

I don't know mate, the facts above might tell you why the athlete appears to have eaten pies of late.

Fact is the athlete is still in the race even though he hasn't yet peaked.

[Tokyo Blue]

The draw against Fulham looks a little better seeing as Liverpool lost against them.

But the point aginst Wigan looks even worse seeing as that pile of shite Portamouth beat them 4-0

WIgan beat Chelsea and we beat Portsmouth. It means very little either way.

On the other hand last season we lost at home to Fulham and away at Villa, Wigan and Birmingham. This season we drew with all of them, which is progress of a sort. Perhaps.

[DoomMerchant]

honestly, we had a chance to collect reasonably about 4 more points than we have with some of these draws, and if we had we'd be in much better position once we play Chelsea and Liverpool. The fact that we're talking like this now is a huge step for the club. For me that's positivity, and it's a lot of fun. I'm excited by that, and really proud of City.

On a match by match basis over the last 4 matches I'm just not fond of the one-trick pony performances we've seen. there is little to lead me to believe that the team somehow will break through with another style of play or performance vs. the recipe those have proven to *not lose* against City. Look, teams are earning their point against us. We're a big scalp. And we'd damn well better act like it and expect more from these matches as a result.

To me, this is tactics and dressing room stuff as much as it is individual performances. Hughes has the sides to beat these teams. The fact that his side isn't is his problem. End of. You can make all kinds of excuses, and tell me the players aren't up for it. But, ultimately, he has enough competition in this side to put out a formation and some players to go beat the cloggers and disruptors. And to find someone who can retain possession and make a fuclin pass, a cross or take a corner to enable us to do so isn't asking too much.