10 Sep 2017 10:32:18
Well that was an interesting day. Spurs and Chelsea showed they have what it takes to challenge for the title. The City Vs Liverpool game was an interesting one, I feel up until Mane got sent off Liverpool were the better side even though they were already a goal down. They missed a couple of decent chances which hinted at a lack of belief, that was then highlighted by the way they capitulated once down to 10 men. But City were no where near as superior as the score line suggests. Defensively they were a mess, Mendy and Walker didn't look like they ever intended to try and defend, against a team that will take their chances and try and get at City's defence they will drop points.

Moving on to us and Stoke. A little balance needs to be added into the argument. Yes it was disappointing, and yes we need to beat teams like Stoke to win the title. But Stoke will take points off of several of our rivals for the title at home. It is not an easy stadium to win at. Also we didn't lose and are still top of the league. I think the team was always likely to struggle in this game, it was just after an international break where the baulk of our first team were away with their national sides. So that isn't the best preparation for a game. Also with our return to the UCL three days later I wouldn't be surprised if our players had half an eye on that game, again this is probably exasperated by being away with thier national team. It makes it very hard for our manager to keep our players focused on Stoke instead of Basel if he isn't with them.
That being said I wasn't happy with our shape, I understand why Mourinho might have wanted an extra body in midfield against such a physical team. And I can see why he went for Darmian instead of Blind, for the added defensive strength both aerially and on the floor. But in dropping Blind and Mata we have lost two of our best passers and players who can really help in creating chances. We had no one deep who could see and play a quick ball over the top to have a quick transition. With Mkhitaryan pushed out wide and no number 10 Lukaku became isolated, and less effective. I do feel if we stuck with the same team as in the first three games we might have got and extra couple of points out of the game. But likewise we could have conceded more and lost the game. Ultimately we have to accept that Mourinho is a pragmatist and will on occasion be too pragmatic and that will cost us points from time to time. But on the whole he will win us more points than he loses.

Onwards and upwards though, barring Huddersfield spanking West Ham on Monday night we will start our UCL campaign on Tuesday night top of the league. Personally I can't wait to hear the music and feel the buzz of a UCL game again. I have a really positive feeling about this season. Let's enjoy it.

1.) 10 Sep 2017
10 Sep 2017 10:57:40
Shaps.
We look flat every time we play 3 in the middle.
Far better team when we play with a 10 supporting the striker and pulling the strings .

Teams will take advantage of walker and Mendy if city continue to play like that.

2.) 10 Sep 2017
10 Sep 2017 11:15:42
I agree jred. The way the team has started the 11 mostly pick themselves and should have gone again at Stoke but Jose will live and learn from it.

Miki at 10 is incredible and his pass for Lukaku's goal was sublime.

3.) 10 Sep 2017
10 Sep 2017 11:48:33
Jred, I agree we don't seem as fluid when we play a midfield three. Everyone has their own opinion on it but for me the issue is we don't have a natural midfield playmaker. So when we drop the No.10 we have no one dictating our play. Pogba is more of a box to box midfielder as is Herrera. Matic is a great shield, but is he able to control games with his passing like Carrick or Kroos would do?
The reason I think a lot of people want a midfield three is due to us having three very good midfielders in Matic, Pogba and Herrera. Herrera was most people's player of the year last year, and they don't want to see him dropped this year. But playing him reduces our offensive output unless we were to drop one of Matic or Pogba for him.

For me it's a good thing, when you have several great options for one area of the pitch it pushes players to play at their peak. Would Keane and Scholes had played as well as they did every week if they didn't have Nicky Butt breathing down their necks? Maybe, maybe not. But either way that competition and quality in depth helped us win many titles.

4.) 10 Sep 2017
10 Sep 2017 12:27:06
Great post shappy. I agree with you it's a conundrum for the manager as Herrera is a fantastic player who was key last year in increasing our tempo of our play. But having a midfield three does hinder our offensive creativity and shifts miki out to the right where is half the player he is behind the ten. I think if we want to play a midfield three, we would have to look at a back three in the big games but again that could be a risk. It is great to have these options but I would like us to go with two wingers away from home in the tougher games so that we can punish teams on the counter. With rash and martial either side of lukaku with a midfield three of Herrera pogba matic would allow to break quicker and would pose more of a threat to opposition fullbacks than putting miki on the right. Miki is our most creative player and a very good no 10 but often struggles out wide and loses the ball too much.