*** City v Everton match thread ***

[Nick]

Dzeko played for the team today, thought he did ok but he'll get slated as usual - Yaya was in a deeper role again so isn't off form if you were expecting him to barnstorm into their penalty area - thought our midfield did ok in general, even Nasri - there was team work and effort but the passing through out the team was below par and we didn't threaten them anywhere near enough in the second half.

Mate despite Yaya's deeper role, he gave the ball away, was slow, not arsed and got bullied by Fellaini.

[Superbia]

I think that's what's got to be said, fair play to Everton. I enjoyed the first 20 of the 2nd half but then it seemed the ref would stop play for any reason whatsoever. That break where Zab's got hit by Fellaini really pissed me off. We probed and tried to push them but they stood firm in defence, a typical lower league type of team that we're coming up against so often now, trying to take something on the break.

The bonus, we didn't get beat by our Bogey team. The negative, I had to listen to Setanta who may as well have had Toffee flags flying above their commentary box.

And, twice you've tried it for some attention. Well done. Your username does not suit you.

Attention?? we have been below par every game this season we have played and its his fault shit tactics, shit changes has got all wrong

[Sideshow Bob]

Dzeko played for the team today, thought he did ok but he'll get slated as usual - Yaya was in a deeper role again so isn't off form if you were expecting him to barnstorm into their penalty area - thought our midfield did ok in general, even Nasri - there was team work and effort but the passing through out the team was below par and we didn't threaten them anywhere near enough in the second half.

you're havin a laff...dzonkey was the reason we dropped 2 pts. period. made the wrong decision EVERY FUCKING TIME today.

[paulmclaren]

We are top of the league what more is therte to give?
I agree perfomances have been poor by some but were top so can't complin.

[Dameerto]

Dzeko played for the team today, thought he did ok but he'll get slated as usual - Yaya was in a deeper role again so isn't off form if you were expecting him to barnstorm into their penalty area - thought our midfield did ok in general, even Nasri - there was team work and effort but the passing through out the team was below par and we didn't threaten them anywhere near enough in the second half.

you're havin a laff...dzonkey was the reason we dropped 2 pts. period. made the wrong decision EVERY FUCKING TIME today.

Played a dangerous one two with Silva in their box, including an accurate and visionary first time ball to Silva - but of course he has the first touch of a rapist so we'll forget about that one - tracked back and intercepted a ball that looked like it would set up a dangerous attack against us, but he sulks and throws his toys out of the pram a lot (apparently) so we'll forget about that one. He provided a large target for Everton to have to cope with, and chipped in with useful contributions defending setpieces. He was by no means shite today and by no means did he make the wrong decision every time.

[stevefromdonny]

we need to have the starting 11 for everygame apart from injuries, this changing players every game is shit. ffs if we win a game, then apart from said injuries KEEP THE SAME PLAYERS ON. IT AINT HARD FFS, oh and if we play as shit as this next sunday

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Dzeko played for the team today, thought he did ok but he'll get slated as usual - Yaya was in a deeper role again so isn't off form if you were expecting him to barnstorm into their penalty area - thought our midfield did ok in general, even Nasri - there was team work and effort but the passing through out the team was below par and we didn't threaten them anywhere near enough in the second half.

you're havin a laff...dzonkey was the reason we dropped 2 pts. period. made the wrong decision EVERY FUCKING TIME today.

Played a dangerous one two with Silva in their box, including an accurate and visionary first time ball to Silva - but of course he has the first touch of a rapist so we'll forget about that one - tracked back and intercepted a ball that looked like it would set up a dangerous attack against us, but he sulks and throws his toys out of the pram a lot (apparently) so we'll forget about that one. He provided a large target for Everton to have to cope with, and chipped in with useful contributions defending setpieces. He was by no means shite today and by no means did he make the wrong decision every time.

good summing up but he remains the man to blame even though the whole team is still not really performing well.

BUT we are unbeaten after 15 games and still challenging for the top spot.All I can see is a team lacking in full belief going forward.The quick movement and slick interpassing just isn't there for some reason.

[MR IMAINEROAD]

Have to agree with most of the above. Starting with Dzeko doesn't work. We need the two nimble Argentinians to probe and press and work the opposition. Then when they're tired bring him on.

[FA cup winners 2006]

We are top of the league what more is therte to give?
I agree perfomances have been poor by some but were top so can't complin.

thats a shite attitude to have and if i heard Mancini come out with something like that i would be extreemly worried. We have been well below par so far this season and it just so happens that is still enough to beat most of the teams in the PL. we have been shown up in europe.

We seem to rely on a bit of individual magic or set pieces to get goals. Listening to Doug's training reports Mancini seems to stop and start training the whole time to work on shape and there seems to be very little fluid movements (i am open to correction on this Doug) and that lack of fast paced training day in day out is making us look like a team that has never played with each other before. we seem so predictable, no runners of the ball, no neat inter passing to unlock a defence.

On the quality of the players, we have top class players who can play, pass and move yet still Mancini slowly grinds away at them until they look shite.

[FA cup winners 2006]

Dzeko played for the team today, thought he did ok but he'll get slated as usual - Yaya was in a deeper role again so isn't off form if you were expecting him to barnstorm into their penalty area - thought our midfield did ok in general, even Nasri - there was team work and effort but the passing through out the team was below par and we didn't threaten them anywhere near enough in the second half.

you're havin a laff...dzonkey was the reason we dropped 2 pts. period. made the wrong decision EVERY FUCKING TIME today.

Played a dangerous one two with Silva in their box, including an accurate and visionary first time ball to Silva - but of course he has the first touch of a rapist so we'll forget about that one - tracked back and intercepted a ball that looked like it would set up a dangerous attack against us, but he sulks and throws his toys out of the pram a lot (apparently) so we'll forget about that one. He provided a large target for Everton to have to cope with, and chipped in with useful contributions defending setpieces. He was by no means shite today and by no means did he make the wrong decision every time.

good summing up but he remains the man to blame even though the whole team is still not really performing well.

BUT we are unbeaten after 15 games and still challenging for the top spot.All I can see is a team lacking in full belief going forward.The quick movement and slick interpassing just isn't there for some reason.

Doug, i have mentioned it in a post above but do you see this interpassing in training. i dont want to harp back so long but during hughes time we seemed to be so good at the quick interpassing that is required to unlock teams although with much less talented players. Now it seems like we just expect to turn up and slowly pass the ball around then chip a ball down the channels and really seem to have no plan after that.

[Mase]

2) Kolorov is shite (But went off after a couple of minutes anyway)

You need to wash your fuckin mouth out!

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Everton is always a tough game but too many of our players were poor today.

Yaya and Dzeko put in 2 of the worst performances I've seen in years from a City player. Just dreadful.

Dzeko is a sub at best. He's had plenty of chances and he's shit every time he starts. No idea why Tevez was subbed instead of him.

Yaya has to be dropped. He was simply awful today. His passing was all over the place but the thing that annoys me the most about him is the sheer lack of effort at times. When Everton counter-attacked, he just simply walked back or maybe there was a slight jog. Other players sprint back but he just can't be arsed. He's done that ever since he's been here and it really pisses me off.

I really hope Milner is back soon. We need his energy in the middle as that's where Everton won many of the battles today.

It'll be interesting to see if our midfield creativity picks up, to any great degree, in January when Yaya disappears to the African Cup of Nations and we have to play without him.

I fully agree that Milner, as soon as he is fit again, must be given an extended run in the middle. If he gets that, he could prove to be an asset that can't be left out/rotated, as he could be vital for us in the second half of the season.

[kinkylola]

we went and built our midfield around yaya, and he's been turning in some really lethargic performances. It's really a shame.

[Dubaimancityfan]

Was at the Dubai Rugby Sevens finals, so missed the match but it seems that i saved myself 90 minutes of agro ! Taped the match but after reading all the above am in no hurry to see it.
Still on the positive side, we were not beaten (still unbeaten) by our bogey team. Topped the league for an hour !

[Redna]

We've struggled against scouse 2 for many a seasons and today proved nothing new.
Our start to the 2nd half was promising but we faded. I think Yaya slows our game beyond acceptable. Can't say wether he is too slow or if there is enough movement of the ball.
When we play slow we're there for the taking.
CTID!!

[Hazy2]

Positives we stay unbeaten, we see Vinny back to his best, downside if anything we could and should be able to work out a stubborn team determind to keep the pace of the game down.Overall what we all thought would happen did.

[Beefymcfc]

Everton's record in the last 9 games is now:

Won: 1
Drawn: 7
Lost: 1

[Swales4ever]

Not particularly excited at the outcome and as it went by, but I said I had taken a point out of our Bogey Team and I stand by that with a few pain in the arse.
We certainly are not at our flamboyant best upfront, which while may rise some temporary concerns, also make ways to better times to come... unless one wants to believes that our Dave, Samir, Sergioooooo, Carlos and Mario have all turned in a bunch of shite. WHICH IS NOT!
I confirm all my disappointment with Dzeko as I posted at half time.
and Mancini added some freak of his own, taking off the MotM instead of him. Should he had replaced Dzeko with Mario in first place and due time, perhaps.

Anyway, while I fully expect Taggart to come and park the bus, why should I don't come to the Ethiad with a smile, to see the Blues taking on a bunch of rags who leaked THREE bloody goals against an average gung-oh side?

Citeh will be back on top comes Sunday evening!

[s1ty m]

Got back in good time today. Before 7 to Coventry. Not massively disappointed with a point but really concerned by Yaya. He was shit again. Dzeko was appalling. Nasri is, well, overrated by some. Taking Tevez off was piss poor from Mancini and the possibility of a win disappeared from that point. Crazy decision. Oh for NDJ today. Selling him is still sitting there as a massive error, plain as day.

Everton were very good first 30, as good as anyone we've played so far. Fucking horrible though. I'd be buying Fellaini for sure. Quality player.

[Hazy2]

Just a point on the booing the subs, if fans can boo anything MCFC then FUCK IT THE LOONS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ETIHAD.