After speaking to him for our ‘Opposition Opinion‘ feature ahead of Saturday’s game at the Etihad, Man City fan Tom Ritchie (@tomritchiemcfc) has had his say on our performance.
He picks out Rondon for special praise, but feels that we didn’t attempt to make a game of it at any stage – feeling as though we missed a big chance to put the pressure on in the final 10 minutes.
Here’s what he’s had to say to us about the game, our approach and our stand out players:
“When I saw your team line-up it looked very bold. I’d said that 5-2-3 would be your best option. And that’s his it looked how you’d play. But in fact you still pretty much played one up front and nine in defence.
“Was it close? In terms of score, no doubt. But at no stage did I ever think you were trying to make a game of it.
“With 10 minutes to go you could have put real pressure on us, as the team and fans were getting nervous. But you didn’t. We simply played out the game keeping the ball. I was very surprised you didn’t go for broke near the end.
“We were disappointing, no doubt, but you probably had one attack in our box the whole game and managed to score. We might still have scored 4 or 5 even though we looked complacent and sloppy.
“I was very impressed with Rondon. As I’d said yesterday, if you get the ball to him he’s a real handful. And he worked his socks off today! Both of your centre backs also did well.
“Overall you played as I feared you would. You tried to shut up shop and hope to pinch a point. But as I also said yesterday, we always find a way against teams that play that way. And we did again.
“I’m sure some Newcastle fans will be happy it was only 2-1 but I think that’s underselling your club. I stated that I thought you’d finish about 16th and on today’s showing I’m not really convinced it will be much better than that.
“Sorry to sound so negative but your team reminded me too much of Huddersfield and I think you should have higher ambitions than” that.
“Best of luck for the rest of the season.”
Do you agree with him, or do you feel his comments do us a disservice?
Im a city fan and was at the game and what a strange game and atmosphere it was,when i saw your team i also thought you were going to have a real go,and with the under performance of most of the city players i think benitez will probably regret not doing so.Not rubbing it in but until Ashley is f@@ked off and benitez is backed with at least 4 or 5 quality players then finishing 17th will be a good season,on the plus side none of your players hid and gave it everything,on the negative most of them players would be more adapted to the championship which is sad for a club with such stature.
mick(Quote)
As a toon fan I do have to agree with the comments, when I saw the formation I thought “here we go again, another Chelsea like game, we are going to play for a draw” which against a top 6 club with the quality and depth of squad we have is sound but it makes for a boring game to get up in the middle of the night to watch (I live in Australia) I am actually happy that it was a narrow loss 2-1 and I thought we actually had a go when we fell behind in the first half, I was however sad that we came out after the break and let city have the ball too much. Until Ashley goes or makes money available this will be the football we will have to endure, it’s time to step up now lads, you’ve shown you can defend, the question now is can you attack?
Robert(Quote)
Mick
If it was not for the Arabs City would be back in the third division
So get off your high horse and remember where City used to be
Your lucky Ashley did not buy you or you would be like the Toon FCUKD
Toon Army(Quote)
Well, ‘the Arabs’ did purchase City and Ashley did purchase Toon, so feel free to wallow in your pet alternative universe while your clown of an owner finishes dismantling and destroying what once was a great club. Sir Bobby must be turning over in his grave, may that great man R.I.P. A **** shame, if you ask me, and I still hope that you lot get the right owner and rebuild your club to compete for domestic silverware and Euro competition.
Phil Ster(Quote)
can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear.
Ashout
kimtoon(Quote)