Manchester City 1 - Leicester City 3 Johnny On The Spot & Stats Link

Johnny Baguette

Johnny Baguette

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Johnny On The Spot:

#OUTFOUGHT. Irrespective of the fact that up until this seismic result the Premier League title race had been wide open amid media assertions that nobody wants it, all upcoming commitments and important injuries considered, I wager that Manchester City must immediately embark upon a tremendous winning run if they are to be crowned champions. Based upon today's evidence it doesn't look as if Manuel Pellegrini's men have it in them...I will revisit this doom ladened prophecy in a moment, but first I must pay tribute to Claudio Ranieri and his battling Leicester side. Although aided and abetted by more criminal City defending and the usual Anthony Taylor refereeing howlers, they are league leaders on absolute merit and if they can keep the nucleus of their squad fit could yet run away with the title should Tottenham, the other form side in the mix, fail to match them stride for stride. The Foxes may well have been utterly outpassed up until their third goal today (to the tune of 593 to 296 overall) but their committed, patient and direct approach, particularly in midfield, ultimately flattened The Blues...This was a tiring City's 38th fixture of the season whereas it was Leicester's 30th and Ranieri's men have no other distractions. They are serious title contenders and should be afforded that respect...From the first whistle they clearly wanted this win badly, the first three minutes of the contest emphasising that telling fact whilst at the same time underlying how City, leaderless throughout, looked collectively uncertain...And it is this uncertainty that threatens to drag multiple campaigns that we have done well to maintain interests in, right off the rails...To be as indecisive as City were today for long periods can spell curtains at the business end of a season and that is where we are at. The situation is exacerbated by the realisation that having already negotiated some tricky phases of the season shorn of options, the handicaps have persisted. When it ain't going right you need game changers to call upon. For example, Jesus Navas' ability to charge a ball out of danger is all of a sudden no longer an outlet...That said, The Engineer must make some bold choices with what resources he has at his disposal if this chastening reverse is to serve as a warning sign ahead of some massive fixtures. Persisting with Yaya Touré in any capacity right now is beginning to appear foolhardy as is the tactic of refusing to load the opposition penalty area with men for advanced crossers to aim at. We aren't even providing Lampardesque late arrivers. But above all else, we lost this game through failing to compete physically, especially in central midfield where once again we declined to chase the opposition down. We have been making these mistakes for months now and aside of a refreshing change to a more direct style in that cup win at Villa, our erratic league results bear these assertions out. No back to back wins since October is a damning statistic and allied to 6 defeats suggests our aspirations for silverware already lie elsewhere.

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A chastening report if ever there was one.

The table doesn't lie and Leicester are where they are based on good coaching, playing too their strengths and a self belief which is coursing through their veins. Fair play they were good value for their win.

City were outgunned and paid the price for being unfocused from the first whistle. On a day when we need a strong showing in the middle we were outgunned and bossed. JB said this game would be won or lost in the middle and we never got a grip in there - this was a game where Yaya was needed to dominate but the stage was set when early doors he was outmuscled by Kante. Silva was a shadow, unable to get any traction and Delph seemed to pick the wrong pass.

The injuries that we have shipped especially to De Bruyne and Navas of late severely reduce Pellegrini's options but we have got to deal with what we have got.

On the plus side Celina looked confident and was not over awed.

That is about as much of a plus side as I can find I am afraid
 
I hate to go on about Yaya, but it is time to sit him out for a few match and bring him on late in games. We do miss a second world class striker, we can't expect SA10 to do it every time, because goals from other areas have dried up.

Leicester are where they are on credit and deserve to be favourites to win the league, but next season when they have to play every three days, their manager will complain about that and their squad will tire, but enjoy the ride while you can because it is a fabulous one while it lasts.

Pellers says he will play a weakened side against Chelsea but we have more chance of winning the FA Cup than winning the CL.
 
In an alternate universe where our players all remained fit I think we would have more points.

The pundits on R5L on Friday had no sympathy for City over the issue of the possibility of a young team being fielded in the FA Cup. There response was 'get on with it, City have two players in every position'. Except that we don't when they are injured.

No excuses for yesterday. We deserved to lose. Leicester good value for their win.

Leicester have four fixtures between now and 5th March, City have six including a cup final and an international trip to Kiev and our ability to rotate is virtually non-existent.

They are now favourites for the league. It is their's to lose.
 
The combination of "stop City at all costs" refereeing, fatigue and injuries has well and truly scuppered our season. I fear for our top 4 place if we ship any more injuries, and the other competitions (maybe aside from the COC) are pretty much out the window too.

Any inquest into this season has GOT to look at why we are shipping so many injuries and do something about it. I know it's a what if, but with our senior players fit I reckon we'd be 10 points clear of everyone else now
 
I don't think you are far wrong there fifth.

Mentioning injuries is often regarded as looking for excuses. However for me it is as much about WHO has been injured - important first pick players in key positions.
Centre half and captain - Kompany
Dynamic full back - Zabaleta
One of the most coveted forwards on the league - Aguero (twice)
Back up forward - Bony (multiple times)
Central midfield play makers X 2 (Nasri & in Silva's case twice)
Versatile game changer and contributor of assists - De Bruyne

Everyone refers to the 'size of the City squad' whilst forgetting that every Premier League club has exactly the same size squad - 25. The exception to this I believe is the ability to include u21 players.....

Now as we know that to make a difference in the Premier League as an u21 player you have to be exceptional. We have seen several with promise fall by the wayside and get shipped out. And no, Devante Cole, you weren't one of those. Iheanacho has set the bar high and is the first to be recognised as 'making the grade' and even he isn't the finished article as we saw against Sunderland. You can rarely parachute young players into the PL and get them to deliver to the same standard as seasoned members of the senior squad. If you could we would see it more often.

So it annoys me when the same old mantra gets trotted out about the size of City's squad, having 'two players in every position' without at least some acknowledgement about the facts that no squad can have two players in EVERY position that is are direct replacements for each other OR that impact that long term injuries have on those that are left to fill the gaps (I.e.the inability to rotate)
 
I wouldn't mind Skoorb but we only have 21 senior players and one of them is Richard Wright.
 
Good point BD. Never seems to get mentioned by anyone though. They just trot out the same old comment as if we had 45 players to choose from.

If Leicester had lost Huth, Vardy, Mahrez and Drinkwater for the same periods as we have lost our key players i am not convinced they would be where they are now. The replacements that Ranieri could draw would not have delivered the same results (allowing for the great work ethic and self belief that has driven them forward)
 
Like most clubs who lose their vital players, our biggest loss though is the form of Yaya, which has lasted all season and we have only seen glimpses of the real Yaya we know and love.
 
Could be worse, at least we're not Villa.

Think the League Cup is our only realistic option, and we've got to be as motivated as Liverpool no doubt will be. We might have to take it seriously and play properly from the very first minute/early doors in order to do it. A tall order/big ask.

We've not a cat in hell's chance in Europe - our defence without VK4 is underwritten by calamity - a really top side will rip us apart.

FA Cup - can't see us beating Chelsea. Unless the whole group is in a really, really good moment.

Quite fancy Spuds for the PL - now the Foxes are favourites they will surely implode, leaving us to bemoan how it's alright for them to raise their game when playing us but not when away at Norwich (for example). This will leave Tottingham a clear run at the title with Wrighty, Sav, Fletch, Chappers etc only noticing them once they have actually won it.

I'm already looking forward to next season!



 
Funny how Spurs have come on the rails whilst Leicester take all the plaudits. Been in the pundit's blind spot. They look good and I anticipate another difficult afternoon at the Etihad on Sunday.



 
Unbelievable Jeff.

I am listening to R5L and have found myself agreeing with Steve Claridge as he describes what went wrong for City on Saturday..... :eek:

I am going to have a lie down in a darkened room with a wet towel on my head :68:
 
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