sunday morning reflections...

[s1ty m]

I am guessing a few might have been drunk as lords last night?

Anyway, here's my opinion if anyone wants to discuss.

Ever seen a better performance by a city player than De Jong? And I mean ever? I can't recall one. He was off-the-scale amazing. Whoever spotted this fella and got us in the market for him needs a medal.

Terrible ref. How was that a corner? I remain unsure about our equaliser, but it would not have been a penalty if that was a defender, so why not a goal? I saw webb coming out of the tunnel and my heart sank a little. and this tosser wants to go to south africa. by all means, go on holiday mate. as a ref, he's a dick.

i have been on the hughes to go bus. not a lot to add other than fair play to him for this week. city have upped it and are playing great. that's all we ask. he's clearly here for the season, no doubt, and why not. on the basis of this week and 1 loss (albeit to a ref) in 18 is a bit like the record in 1977 when we challenged for the title. holding on to fulham, burnley and hull (i know, i know) would place us very well. wow, so close.

pat on the back for the fans too. we always turn up, but again last night it was a great atmosphere. we are getting a team together and we can all smell it.

finally, genuine honesty here, at 1-1 i was seriously thinking that we can take this league in a years time. you would have to be blind not to see that this side is coming like a tidal wave. chelsea were well beaten and hated it. we've taken on all the 'big 4' and looked as good or better on the day than all of them.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Well we've taken on the Big 4 and got dicked by an iffy ref at The Swamp only. Seven points and that is with feeling like we tossed two away at Anfield. Throw in dumping Arsenal out of the cup and we have done better than many of us could have hoped.
I've seen us win the odd game here and there against these teams before, but this season we have competed as equals against all of them. We dominated Chelsea for long periods as we did Arsenal. We did enough to beat Liverpool too, but hey ho.
Arsenal in midweek and Chelsea had to resort to desperate dirty measures, I'm not quite sure how they both ended the game with eleven players.
Surely we are the right lines now, we need fear nobody.

[Goaters 103]

Probably been posted elsewhere on here but loved the "signed for a big club, you should have signed for a big club" song to John Terry.

We are clearly up for it and have the talent to mix it with the Sky 4; now we need to properly apply ourselves against the dross in this division. A good win at Bolton next week will be a start.

[Good Times]

Perry Groves, the former Gooner, was saying last night that we won't be judged on our results against the B4 but on our results against teams like Hull, Burnley, Fulham and the like.

[ant london]

I am seeing more and more positives each game that passes.

I was annoyed and disappointed as anyone that we couldn't close out some of the games we drew but even in most of those games we actually did play some great football.

What continues to amaze me (as I have NEVER seen or even felt that it was possible to see in a City side) is our durability when things go against us. Every single time we go behind this season I am actually confident that we will get back into the game. And the thing is, it's not just that we can draw level, the team genuinely seems to flood with confidence once they equalise and you can sense that they smell another goal. It's something you have felt when watching united for years.....and, on the basis that they have won the odd pot, it can't be a bad habit!

As everyone has said, Nigel was immense yesterday. Shaun looked great again. Micah was fantastic (continue that form and he may have an outside chance of making the plane to SA IMO).

What I love though is the team spirit you can see in them. Both from the perspective of how hard they work for one another. Adebayor frequently back in his own box, Micah often in the opposition box....Tevez and De Jong everywhere. Robinho was good yesterday too IMO, I can agree with criticisms of his workrate frequently but he was industrious and clever in his play yesterday. Little in the way of genius but I still love watching him on the ball....circus act my arse. Lescott great again and last mention has to go to Seamus.....some fantastic pieces of goalkeeping yesterday. Great for him to have had a top week after his world cup disappointments.

I am very happy

oh and loved the celebrations of both goals yesterday, brilliant going mental from team and crowd alike. I just watched the highlights again and the atmosphere was bloody electric!

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

A little thought about Shauny too. He was getting criticism and calls for him to be dropped just over a week ago. I thought he played really well v Hull. Superb against Arsenal and kept that level of play up yesterday against Cole, who may well be a horrible twat, but is a very decent full back. Much as I like Weiss, and I do think he's gonna be a big star, he isn't at Sweep's level just yet. I'm so glad that Hughes persevered. It's been a good decision.

[ant london]

A little thought about Shauny too. He was getting criticism and calls for him to be dropped just over a week ago. I thought he played really well v Hull. Superb against Arsenal and kept that level of play up yesterday against Cole, who may well be a horrible twat, but is a very decent full back. Much as I like Weiss, and I do think he's gonna be a big star, he isn't at Sweep's level just yet. I'm so glad that Hughes persevered. It's been a good decision.

I know there are differing views on Shaun's form pre Hull. I actually thought he'd been pretty poor overall but he did continue to offer something to the team in terms of his threat and all round contribution. That said, he looks like he has very much come through that patch of indifferent form and has looked brilliant for the last three games. He gets booted all over the place all match and bounces back up and runs at his man time and again.

Credit to Hughes for having kept faith, ditto credit must be given for handling Micah pretty effectively (dropping him and playing him and training him). The Micah I saw yesterday was the one who burst into the England side. It was great to see

[Vhero]

A little thought about Shauny too. He was getting criticism and calls for him to be dropped just over a week ago. I thought he played really well v Hull. Superb against Arsenal and kept that level of play up yesterday against Cole, who may well be a horrible twat, but is a very decent full back. Much as I like Weiss, and I do think he's gonna be a big star, he isn't at Sweep's level just yet. I'm so glad that Hughes persevered. It's been a good decision.

I know there are differing views on Shaun's form pre Hull. I actually thought he'd been pretty poor overall but he did continue to offer something to the team in terms of his threat and all round contribution. That said, he looks like he has very much come through that patch of indifferent form and has looked brilliant for the last three games. He gets booted all over the place all match and bounces back up and runs at his man time and again.

Credit to Hughes for having kept faith, ditto credit must be given for handling Micah pretty effectively (dropping him and playing him and training him). The Micah I saw yesterday was the one who burst into the England side. It was great to see

I agree and credit where credits due. Hughes did well keeping faith in SWP one of the positive things about Hughes this season. I can start to see why a lot of people used to rate him before he came to us. He does have the makings of a great manager. Still can't see him staying with us for years to come as hes still too young in his managerial career however he's done well for the last few of games with squad picks and faith with players.

[CityFanFromRome]

Perry Groves, the former Gooner, was saying last night that we won't be judged on our results against the B4 but on our results against teams like Hull, Burnley, Fulham and the like.

And that's right, because those are the most of the games we have to play. After all, we only have eight games in the league that are against the Big Four but the remaining 30 games are against small teams like Hull, Burnley, etc. or good/average ones like Everton, Villa, Spurs, which are good but we can surely beat if we play as we know. These are the teams that truly decide the title battle, a loss or draw against one of them can decide a season's outcome when you're fighting for winning the league.

[bluexile]

Been a Blue for over 60 years and this team excites me more than any i've seen...........De Jong is maybe the best def mid field in the prem......still not convinced by Lescott but can;t fault his effort...........taking the game to such a good Chelsea side was 'delicious' to watch and showed the desire and belief in the squad.............hope Hughesy stays forever

[Lev Bronstein]

It seems to me that one of the reasons for the improvement in the last two games is that the players are finally beggining to do the jobs the Hughes wants them to do. It's almost as if, after the Hull game, he's turned to the players and said "Right, you done things your way and the results have been poor. Now we're going to do things my way". If so, then credit to Hughes.

But, just as I've urged caution when the "Hughes Out" voices have been at their loudest, so I would now urge people not to go over the top now. It was a fantastic performance yesterday, but, let's be honest, the margin of victory was thin, and despite the performance, there might be a different atmosphere on here if Given hadn't saved Lampard's pen and the ref gave a handball against Micah.

Our main rivals this year aren't the Sky 4, but Villa and Spurs. Finish above them, and we'll show that we are the main contenders to break into the CL places.

To do this we'll have to be as effective against all the teams in the Prem as we have been against Chelsea and Arsenal.

If the team play as Hughes wants them to do, the players do the jobs that they're supposed to, and we play as a team, then we're going to be there or thereabouts. But, injuries, suspensions, fatigue, loss of form and egos spiralling out of control can play havoc with any hopes.

[Vhero]

It seems to me that one of the reasons for the improvement in the last two games is that the players are finally beggining to do the jobs the Hughes wants them to do. It's almost as if, after the Hull game, he's turned to the players and said "Right, you done things your way and the results have been poor. Now we're going to do things my way". If so, then credit to Hughes.

Honestly if he let them do it THEIR way for that many games he would have needed fucking shooting mate lol but you points are sound. They should always follow the managers plan at the end of the day obviously not to the letter but you get the drift.

[s1ty m]

At 1 each, i really cast my mind ahead and thought about what this side could do with 2 more transfer windows and time to really gel as a team. the signs are that city could win the league in 2011. seriously, we could.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

>>>Our main rivals this year aren't the Sky 4, but Villa and Spurs. Finish above them, and we'll show that we are the main contenders to break into the CL places.>>>


Lev, I've got pick you up on that, because Liverpool quite definitely ARE one of our main rivals. They seem to be the lame one hanging around the back of the Big 4 pack that can be picked off. Villa and Spuds fancy it too, and so I agree they are big rivals, but Scouse ARE a target for us.

[Nick]

The difference between us and the scum is that they are consistent and beat the shit teams.

Theyve lost to chelsea, liverpool (and burnley) and there still second. We need to step up every week. I think its a confidence thing rather than a ''not turning up'' thing.

[Lev Bronstein]

Vhero: It's not just a question of Hughes "letting them", teams often "persuade" managers to change things to their way of thinking - England in Italia 90 springs to mind. It's a collective, a team and I guess players need to feel that they have to have an input. Certainly senior players will expect to be listened to. It's just that you don;t hear about it too often.

It is rumoured that George Weah was told to "fucking shut up" by Joe Royle during one half time when he tried to make a point. That was the last we saw of him. George Weah expected his views to be treated with respect, and was obviously used to voicing his opinion as to how the team should play.

We want intelligent players in the squad and they normally don't take kindly to being treated like idiot robots.


Piccs: Don't write off Liverpool just yet. If we finish above them in the top 4, then great - and it is a possibility. This year we've joined the chasing pack, it's important that we head that pack. I want the Sky 4 to be nervous about us above the rest.