Imagine how much worse it would have been without

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

Gronkey The Donkey's excellent hold up play and space creation.

[Peter]

Gronkey The Donkey's excellent hold up play and space creation.

Tough to blame your centre forward when you cant win the ball or move it out ouf your own third.

From fhe start of the second half until the second goal went in, we looked like a lower league side. It was painful to watch.

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

We played like a team that knew the opponent was superior. They made us look like Burnley.

[redgunamo]

We played like a team that knew the opponent was superior. They made us look like Burnley.

Well, quite. They are superior and we both know it.

It's like playing against your little brother. He thinks he's doing well because he's better than you. But the truth is, and you know, you're letting him win because Dad slipped you a cheeky fiver to make sure the sore loser little brat doesn't blub all night and upset Mum.

We can only beat them if they let us

[Peter]

Well, quite. They are superior and we both know it.

It's like playing against your little brother. He thinks he's doing well because he's better than you. But the truth is, and you know, you're letting him win because Dad slipped you a cheeky fiver to make sure the sore loser little brat doesn't blub all night and upset Mum.

We can only beat them if they let us

That was true for a few years, and it was fair enough.

It isnt true now. We can only beat them if we think we can, and play like it. We clearly dont believe it, abd I think we're wrong.

[Rich]

That was true for a few years, and it was fair enough.

It isnt true now. We can only beat them if we think we can, and play like it. We clearly dont believe it, abd I think we're wrong.

We can't beat them in a one on one fight if we both play at our best - they are obviously far superior to us in all areas bar defence. We've just been more consistent over a season (so far).

[PSRB]

That was true for a few years, and it was fair enough.

It isnt true now. We can only beat them if we think we can, and play like it. We clearly dont believe it, abd I think we're wrong.

Not entirely sure about that. For the opening 20 minutes we were the better side but Pep made a few tweaks and we were never in it after that.
My only grumble is how (yet again) did Silva not get an early yellow card?!?

[Peter]

We can't beat them in a one on one fight if we both play at our best - they are obviously far superior to us in all areas bar defence. We've just been more consistent over a season (so far).

Then the game at the Etihad is a done deal and we may as well not show up. And our chances of winning the league are pretty slim.

They've been a heavily flawed side for nearly two seasons. Yet we still seem to view them as 70s Brazil.

Hardly surprising. We approach every game as though we are terrified of the opposition.

City were good yesterday. But we were awful. As bad as anything we've produced over the last two seasons.

[PSRB]

Then the game at the Etihad is a done deal and we may as well not show up. And our chances of winning the league are pretty slim.

They've been a heavily flawed side for nearly two seasons. Yet we still seem to view them as 70s Brazil.

Hardly surprising. We approach every game as though we are terrified of the opposition.

City were good yesterday. But we were awful. As bad as anything we've produced over the last two seasons.

The odd thing is, we seem to be saying this regularly for a team for that's 9 (probably 6) points clear.

[redgunamo]

We can't beat them in a one on one fight if we both play at our best - they are obviously far superior to us in all areas bar defence. We've just been more consistent over a season (so far).

Right. And we can win the league if they drop off and because we don't have to play them every week.

[Peter]

The odd thing is, we seem to be saying this regularly for a team for that's 9 (probably 6) points clear.

It has been the story of the season. We are capable of winning when playing badly, the other teams aren't.

Which is very sneaky of us, because what they dont know is we are playing badly on purpose. It is a cunning trick. It just doesn't work against the better sides. Which is why we wont win the champions league.

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

The odd thing is, we seem to be saying this regularly for a team for that's 9 (probably 6) points clear.

It's astonishing. How did such a motley collection of big wet fanny flaps get to that position? There must have been a mistake somewhere such that the people responsible for publishing the league table think we've won far more games than we have

[Rich]

It's astonishing. How did such a motley collection of big wet fanny flaps get to that position? There must have been a mistake somewhere such that the people responsible for publishing the league table think we've won far more games than we have

Gyokeres seems to struggle against most teams to some extent. But against the top sides he really is woefully ineffective - he is just completely outclassed.

Sadly yesterday we couldn't play Havertz up front because neither Eze or the skipper were available.

I wonder if Merino has a chance of being fit for the last few games. Would be a big boost.

[PSRB]

Gyokeres seems to struggle against most teams to some extent. But against the top sides he really is woefully ineffective - he is just completely outclassed.

Sadly yesterday we couldn't play Havertz up front because neither Eze or the skipper were available.

I wonder if Merino has a chance of being fit for the last few games. Would be a big boost.

He still had a crutch yesterday, so I would say it's unlikely.

[Peter]

Gyokeres seems to struggle against most teams to some extent. But against the top sides he really is woefully ineffective - he is just completely outclassed.

Sadly yesterday we couldn't play Havertz up front because neither Eze or the skipper were available.

I wonder if Merino has a chance of being fit for the last few games. Would be a big boost.

You really think Merino is going to make a huge difference?

Gyokeres was ineffective yesterday because we couldn't move the ball out of our own third. There isnt much he can do when the ball is 60 yards away from him.