Skoorb
Alert Team
City return to the comforts of the Etihad after a disappointing visit to the capital which returned a paltry single point after promising much more. They badly need to win on Saturday as they struggle to keep their collective heads above the rising tide of challengers for the fourth Champions League spot. As JB succinctly summed it up in his Johnny On The Spot report from the Chelsea match - it when the Guardiola era was announced to the City faithful with #IT BEGINS we can be pretty sure that this wasn’t quite the “IT” we all had in mind.
Indeed IT has been a dismal recent period for City and their faithful supporters as they see the benefits of an excellent February squandered in the space of month. Since 5th March, City’s record reads W2 D2 L2 and has seen a period when Pep’s charges have dropped out of the Champions League despite scoring six goals and failing to secure victories against some of their top rivals in the league despite some promising positions and tons of possession. A period which has seen them plummet in the form table to 10th……a place below Hull City.
If we narrow the form table to the last four games the records are even starker……Hull W3 D0 L1 whereas City’s return is W0 D3 L1.
But never fear, just look at these stats……..
Hull City have won only one of nine previous Premier League matches against Manchester City, a 2-1 triumph in February 2010 (L5 D3).
Since winning their first away match of the season 2-0 at Swansea City, Hull City have won two points from 14 fixtures on the road (W0 D2 L12) and have failed to score in 9 of the last 11 of those away fixtures. They have in fact have lost 12 of their last 13 away matches in the league…….
Normally these would have fans rubbing their hands expecting a side with the quality present in City’s ranks to take them to the cleaners. I mean in their previous six outings City have scored 16 goals to Hull’s 4 with the Blues recording 5 victories and a single draw. Piece of cake. Walk in the park. No problem in securing the three points……….… We only have to turn up right?
Not on your nelly.
Any City fan would recognise these stats as massive warning signs. After all we are the side where the guy who hasn’t scored for sixteen games in a grossly underperforming side rocks up and helps himself to a hat trick……
Since Marco Silva was appointed head coach in January only Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have won more points than his side. Their 4-2 victory over fellow strugglers Middlesbrough was their second on the bounce and will fill them with confidence as they step out onto the pitch on what promises to be a sunny Saturday afternoon. After all this, for them, is one of those ‘no one expects us to win so let’s go for it’ opportunities to relax a bit and maybe come away with something unexpected.
This match has DANGER written all over it for Pep Guardiola and whilst I am absolutely sure he will be preparing as intensely as ever, he needs to ensure that his players apply themselves to the utmost when they take to the pitch. Several Blues have felt that the team just seem to be lacking an X Factor, an almost indefinable essential ingredient and a collective belief that is needed to deliver knockout blows. How many times have City gained positions of strength, taken a lead or equalised only to find themselves slipping up and conceding goals and results across this stuttering season? Apart from some more abysmal officiating on Wednesday what we witnessed was a masterclass in game management from Antonio Conte. Having been handed a lifeline with a poorly conceded and then initially saved penalty he immediately took steps to shut down the game and prevent his opponent from making progress or gaining any momentum. The complicity of Mike Dean in failing to properly deal with Kante’s cynical foul on Silva right out of the gate at the start of the second half was compounded when he obliged Diego Costa with not even a caution for deliberately stabbing his studs into Vincent Kompany’s thigh right in front of him. His leniency extended to the PGMOL’s Official ‘Favourite Player’, David Luiz, who seemed to be able to shove any opponent in the back with impunity. But let’s not go over that old ground shall we for that way lies madness :029:
Jon Moss is the man in the middle on Saturday by the way. Let’s hope he has a good game eh? No controversial calls to make, like say awarding a penalty to the home side for a blatant foul, or booking an opposition player for persistent foul play before it doesn’t really matter. Or booking any opposing player before someone in a sky-bluish shirt for that matter.
In team news Hull City have major doubts over Hernandez, Elabdellaoui and Mbokani. Harry Maguire may be available. Ryan Mason is recovering from his fractured skull (best wishes to him from all Blues fans), and Keane and Odubajo are long terms absentees.
For City, Sagna remains sidelined together with long term absentees Jesus and Gundogan. Whether he would be selected at right back even were he fit is a debate which could go on for some time given Pep’s recent proclivity to play Navas or Fernandinho in that slot. On the subject of Navas my question is…….can anyone think of a more predictable player in the Premier League? He may be showing some versatility for Pep but I swear to the Lord that even Mrs Skoorb could tell you exactly what he going to do pretty much every time he receives the ball. It certainly isn’t getting his head down and scooting past the full back on the outside to deliver a first time cross behind the opposing defence. He surely is amongst the group of players whose days at City are numbered. We could be seeing some big changes over the summer and I suspect Jesus Navas may feature in the transfer dealings. I hope the maintenance guys at the CFA have the revolving door well and truly oiled and tested.
I will be catching up with an old friend I haven't seen for over thirty years on Saturday afternoon so will be suitably distracted.
What an odd time for a football match to take place though. 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. Those guys at the Premier League eh? Always coming up with new fangled ideas. Maybe it will catch on.
Come on City!!!
Indeed IT has been a dismal recent period for City and their faithful supporters as they see the benefits of an excellent February squandered in the space of month. Since 5th March, City’s record reads W2 D2 L2 and has seen a period when Pep’s charges have dropped out of the Champions League despite scoring six goals and failing to secure victories against some of their top rivals in the league despite some promising positions and tons of possession. A period which has seen them plummet in the form table to 10th……a place below Hull City.
If we narrow the form table to the last four games the records are even starker……Hull W3 D0 L1 whereas City’s return is W0 D3 L1.
But never fear, just look at these stats……..
Hull City have won only one of nine previous Premier League matches against Manchester City, a 2-1 triumph in February 2010 (L5 D3).
Since winning their first away match of the season 2-0 at Swansea City, Hull City have won two points from 14 fixtures on the road (W0 D2 L12) and have failed to score in 9 of the last 11 of those away fixtures. They have in fact have lost 12 of their last 13 away matches in the league…….
Normally these would have fans rubbing their hands expecting a side with the quality present in City’s ranks to take them to the cleaners. I mean in their previous six outings City have scored 16 goals to Hull’s 4 with the Blues recording 5 victories and a single draw. Piece of cake. Walk in the park. No problem in securing the three points……….… We only have to turn up right?
Not on your nelly.
Any City fan would recognise these stats as massive warning signs. After all we are the side where the guy who hasn’t scored for sixteen games in a grossly underperforming side rocks up and helps himself to a hat trick……
Since Marco Silva was appointed head coach in January only Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton have won more points than his side. Their 4-2 victory over fellow strugglers Middlesbrough was their second on the bounce and will fill them with confidence as they step out onto the pitch on what promises to be a sunny Saturday afternoon. After all this, for them, is one of those ‘no one expects us to win so let’s go for it’ opportunities to relax a bit and maybe come away with something unexpected.
This match has DANGER written all over it for Pep Guardiola and whilst I am absolutely sure he will be preparing as intensely as ever, he needs to ensure that his players apply themselves to the utmost when they take to the pitch. Several Blues have felt that the team just seem to be lacking an X Factor, an almost indefinable essential ingredient and a collective belief that is needed to deliver knockout blows. How many times have City gained positions of strength, taken a lead or equalised only to find themselves slipping up and conceding goals and results across this stuttering season? Apart from some more abysmal officiating on Wednesday what we witnessed was a masterclass in game management from Antonio Conte. Having been handed a lifeline with a poorly conceded and then initially saved penalty he immediately took steps to shut down the game and prevent his opponent from making progress or gaining any momentum. The complicity of Mike Dean in failing to properly deal with Kante’s cynical foul on Silva right out of the gate at the start of the second half was compounded when he obliged Diego Costa with not even a caution for deliberately stabbing his studs into Vincent Kompany’s thigh right in front of him. His leniency extended to the PGMOL’s Official ‘Favourite Player’, David Luiz, who seemed to be able to shove any opponent in the back with impunity. But let’s not go over that old ground shall we for that way lies madness :029:
Jon Moss is the man in the middle on Saturday by the way. Let’s hope he has a good game eh? No controversial calls to make, like say awarding a penalty to the home side for a blatant foul, or booking an opposition player for persistent foul play before it doesn’t really matter. Or booking any opposing player before someone in a sky-bluish shirt for that matter.
In team news Hull City have major doubts over Hernandez, Elabdellaoui and Mbokani. Harry Maguire may be available. Ryan Mason is recovering from his fractured skull (best wishes to him from all Blues fans), and Keane and Odubajo are long terms absentees.
For City, Sagna remains sidelined together with long term absentees Jesus and Gundogan. Whether he would be selected at right back even were he fit is a debate which could go on for some time given Pep’s recent proclivity to play Navas or Fernandinho in that slot. On the subject of Navas my question is…….can anyone think of a more predictable player in the Premier League? He may be showing some versatility for Pep but I swear to the Lord that even Mrs Skoorb could tell you exactly what he going to do pretty much every time he receives the ball. It certainly isn’t getting his head down and scooting past the full back on the outside to deliver a first time cross behind the opposing defence. He surely is amongst the group of players whose days at City are numbered. We could be seeing some big changes over the summer and I suspect Jesus Navas may feature in the transfer dealings. I hope the maintenance guys at the CFA have the revolving door well and truly oiled and tested.
I will be catching up with an old friend I haven't seen for over thirty years on Saturday afternoon so will be suitably distracted.
What an odd time for a football match to take place though. 3pm on a Saturday afternoon. Those guys at the Premier League eh? Always coming up with new fangled ideas. Maybe it will catch on.
Come on City!!!
