sort the defence out!

[King Kev]

There's no point keep throwing money at the problem.

We have spent a ridiculous amount of money on a pair of centre-backs with proven Premiership pedigree, to try and replace them would be stupid.

We need to get the best out of them as individuals and get them working as a partnership.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

There's no point keep throwing money at the problem.

We have spent a ridiculous amount of money on a pair of centre-backs with proven Premiership pedigree, to try and replace them would be stupid.

We need to get the best out of them as individuals and get them working as a partnership.

Agreed

[mcfc1632]

Toure and Lescott are far from perfect but the impression I got from recent games is that they were starting to work it out and play quite well. Two wins against Chelsea and Arse with only one goal conceded suggests they are not the worst.

So what happened today? I know from past games that the forum goes pretty wild when we don't win and dare to let a goal in and often the same people get the blame even if it's not their fault. Equally some wouldn't get blamed even if it is their fault!

One thing they were working hard on in training was stopping crosses coming in. Did it work and if not why not? I haven't seen the game yet but the commentary I listened to was scathing about Toure and Lescott especially Toure who just didn't seem to be attacking the ball in the air.

WELL I SUGGEST YOU WATCH THE MATCH THEN..AND THEN GIVE YOUR OPINION.

LESCOT WAS ABYSMAL........NOT AS BAD AS THE REFEREE BUT ABYSMAL NONETHELESS.

JUST LESCOTT WAS IT?

WATCH THE GAME.

??? well I was there and chatted to a host of other CITY fans who were there and therefore I assume we all watched that same game - and abysmal as an adjective towards Lescott can only really come from someone who saw a different game.

He was not great - and he was not as good as Slvinio (who really impressed me) but he was better than some others

[carl_feedthegoat]

Toure and Lescott are far from perfect but the impression I got from recent games is that they were starting to work it out and play quite well. Two wins against Chelsea and Arse with only one goal conceded suggests they are not the worst.

So what happened today? I know from past games that the forum goes pretty wild when we don't win and dare to let a goal in and often the same people get the blame even if it's not their fault. Equally some wouldn't get blamed even if it is their fault!

One thing they were working hard on in training was stopping crosses coming in. Did it work and if not why not? I haven't seen the game yet but the commentary I listened to was scathing about Toure and Lescott especially Toure who just didn't seem to be attacking the ball in the air.

WELL I SUGGEST YOU WATCH THE MATCH THEN..AND THEN GIVE YOUR OPINION.

LESCOT WAS ABYSMAL........NOT AS BAD AS THE REFEREE BUT ABYSMAL NONETHELESS.

JUST LESCOTT WAS IT?

WATCH THE GAME.

??? well I was there and chatted to a host of other CITY fans who were there and therefore I assume we all watched that same game - and abysmal as an adjective towards Lescott can only really come from someone who saw a different game.

He was not great - and he was not as good as Slvinio (who really impressed me) but he was better than some others

BETTER THAN ONE OTHER MATE......... KOMPANY WHO HAD HIS WORSE GAME EVER.........THATS AS FAR AS ILL GO.

AS I SAID IN THE MACTH THREAD..HE WAS CRAP IN DEFENSE AND CRAP UP FRONT.
APART FROM THAT HE DID VERY WELL.

[DoomMerchant]

Toure and Lescott are far from perfect but the impression I got from recent games is that they were starting to work it out and play quite well. Two wins against Chelsea and Arse with only one goal conceded suggests they are not the worst.

So what happened today? I know from past games that the forum goes pretty wild when we don't win and dare to let a goal in and often the same people get the blame even if it's not their fault. Equally some wouldn't get blamed even if it is their fault!

One thing they were working hard on in training was stopping crosses coming in. Did it work and if not why not? I haven't seen the game yet but the commentary I listened to was scathing about Toure and Lescott especially Toure who just didn't seem to be attacking the ball in the air.

WELL I SUGGEST YOU WATCH THE MATCH THEN..AND THEN GIVE YOUR OPINION.

LESCOT WAS ABYSMAL........NOT AS BAD AS THE REFEREE BUT ABYSMAL NONETHELESS.

And interestingly Ade wasn't the defensive presence he usually is on corners and free kicks. i dunno why, but he just didn't seem to factor. He's been a very strong defensive player on set pieces, which is sometimes overlooked.

cheers

[Dameerto]

And interestingly Ade wasn't the defensive presence he usually is on corners and free kicks. i dunno why, but he just didn't seem to factor. He's been a very strong defensive player on set pieces, which is sometimes overlooked.

cheers

I hope he's not still worrying about that own goal.

[The Original Special One]

I think, like last season, the biggest problem isn't the players but the tactics.
Neither Mark Hughes nor his coaching staff have fully sorted out how to best ally his midfield with his defence, to ensure his commitment to a freeflowing attack-minded team doesn't allow our defence to get totally exposed.
In theory his centre-back signings, and the pairing, was a good one, but there was always the likelihood that they'd be left exposed by his tactics.
Micah Richards has been showing improvements on last season's wretched form, but we need to find out has he permanently lost the pace/stamina of two years back, and, if so, we may need to buy in a replacement, as Zabaleta, though willing, isn't a solid, disciplined defender.
Perhaps his defending capabilities should be made clearer to Wayne Bridge, or his covering midfielder.

We clearly badly missed Nigel De Jong today, although Kompany was obviously rusty, to be fair.
But Gareth Barry's fitness needs to be sorted out