I don't think our players 'showed too much respect' or didn't try hard enough or whatever. City have a squad that cost 500 times what ours did and were simply too good. They didn't have to play past 2nd-3rd gear but they never stopped working and putting us under pressure. They certainly respected us and didn't give us a moment's peace. I thought we kept going, our confidence remained as we created a few chances and tried to pass the ball around well second half. We shouldn't be judging our players against Man City, the reigning Premier League champions. To do so and be so scathing is absurd.
You can only press players of that quality in the right areas or they'll just ridicule you. You have to press within a system and shape. They retained possession deep, drew us out, and exploited with full backs pushing on. They were just too good and clinical for us, and punished every mistake unfortunately. No shame in that against the Premier League champions
We didn't play well true..but the lads grafted against a team capable of putting multiple goals past premier league sides, a team that boasts a full compliment of internationals all capable of being selected for the World Cup for their respective countries,players,many sought after by the biggest clubs in the world...I think it's an over reaction
We could have give them more of a game. If anyone, City looked embarrassed with how easy it was. We just paniced and scattered as soon as they came near us. I hope Flicker gets the video from our view behind the goal, there is a lot to be learned watching the respective defending. City held a firm line and gave us absolutely nowhere to go, we couldn't make runs and stay onside, it was impossible. The defensive strategy was pure Italian, maybe Mancini is not as big a prat as he makes out.
You see I read 'there is a lot to be learnt from the 50 million pound City back four and the manager who has won league titles in 2 different countries', and you're right
You watched a different game. They worked very hard, but were just chasing shadows. Without wheeling out the stats about Man City, they are the current champions of arguably the most competitive league in the world. To paraphrase most of my school reports; tried hard, but just not good enough.
