Buzz Lightyear
Alert Team
There were some contrasts in East Manchester as City took on the Baggies of West Brom in the Barclays Premier League.
As the Pedmachine marched up Joe Mercer Way, the sun in the south shone resplendent, illuminating the Premier League`s finest football stadium. As you walk from the North Car Park the sight is quite breathtaking as the match day buzz kicks in. Five minutes ahead of kick-off, the Etihad Campus was awash with lashing rain as thunder and lightning took hold, just in time for the players to emerge from the tunnel.
Pellegrini rang in a few changes from the heroics in the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, no doubt with an eye on his side completing the job come Tuesday. Hart continued between the sticks, but it was all change on the flanks as Zabaleta and Kolarov took over from Sagna and Clichy.
The terrible twins continued to provide the comedy at centre back and in midfield, Nasri was introduced giving Fernandinho, who must be pretty much exhausted by now, a chance to put his feet up. Delph got the chance of a full run-out in place of De Bruyne and for some reason secretly known only to the said Pellegrini, Bony was selected giving Silva an afternoon off. Aguero was the main striker as usual. He doesn`t like to shirk matches.
The match kicked off in semi-monsoon conditions with West Brom, playing that ghastly brand of football synonymous with Tony Pulis, setting out to stop City at all costs whether the ball was involved or not, and trying to use the pace of Berahino and the guile of Sessegnon to undo City`s backline. And so they did.
Within six minutes, the usual harem scarem bit of defending saw the ball find Sessegnon in the inside right position and his early shot caught Hart totally by surprise, Joe initially setting off east and the ball heading west. Contrast number two from the magnificent goalkeeping England`s number one paraded in Paris. Sessegnon has often been a thorn in City`s side especially in his early days with Sunderland where he displayed promise. Needless to say under this kind of football regime, whatever skills he has will have been coached out of him and are unlikely ever to blossom. Well taken goal though, just like his other, outwitting Hart completely.
This gave the Albion their perennial opportunity to commence running down the clock while ensuring that City`s progress was limited due to at times almost brutal defending with the "leave a foot in" technique very much in abundance.
Indeed it was the type of unnecessary close attention that saw a combination of Aguero, Nasri and Kolarov carve open space down the Baggies right, resulting in Sandro, who had begun the match forgetting about the ball, taking a chance on tackling Kolarov as he surged into the box, leaving Mike Jones with an easy decision to make.
In the build up, I think it was the inaptly named McClean scythed down Aguero who had the last laugh as he stood and slammed the penalty beyond Stretford reject Foster and into the back of the net to level things up. Another goal for Sergio as he chalked up his 200th appearance for City.
This effectively set City on the front foot and with Nasri, not a player frequently heralded in the Ped Pages, finding the type of space that Silva used to, the link-up play with Kolarov and Delph was starting to hurt the Baggies. Their way of hurting City back was an almost relentless barrage of snidy fouls and clips that against any other team would have seen Mr Jones arm going in and out of his pocket faster than a one-armed bandit.
But give City their due. They toiled and persevered, at times unproductively, but wore down the resilience of West Brom, whose spine is a collection of disaffected Stretfords somehow believing they could match the shadow masters. I suppose they did for a while, but the outcome to this match didn`t look in doubt once the Blues got on the scoresheet.
Rondon took exit after 20 minutes with what looked like a recurrence of a previous injury, but this only permitted the unleashing of Gardner, who with his head bandaged before his appearance looked like he`d walked into World War Three on his own. He went onto play as though his tactical nous included only the butchery associated with World Wars One and Two as he systematically took no prisoners. On the plus side he does provide a threat from dead ball situations and was close on a couple of occasions.
City did however keep the ball better, Nasri finding pockets of space, but were often wasteful when it mattered. Aguero couldn`t get open, Navas was …well Navas, all pace and no product and Delph was full of endeavour if lacking the class.
So, on the hour it was time for a change and on came Yaya and De Bruyne, off went Delph and Bony who today had taken on the persona of a roly-poly policeman in a budgies cage. He looks totally unfit and probably a stone overweight as he waddled his way towards the bench and almost certainly the Guardiola Door, when it opens in June.
The dynamics of the match now changed. Toure went some way to dictating the midfield play, linking well with Nasri, and De Bruyne set in motion the directness in play which almost every time he enters the field results in goals. Why should today be an exception?
Within six minutes of coming on he powered down the right, bringing Navas into play. He found Aguero amongst the customary kicking giants, who undeterred tried twice to prise an opening. The ball shifted out to Nasri, who crowned an excellent comeback by placing the ball between the legs of a West Brom defender to illuminate the stadium. Contrast three was complete.
In City terms, 25 minutes is a long time to see out against a team that did have threats which were offensive in contrasting senses, none more when at the death and with Foster also in City`s box, somehow Gardner slid the ball inches wide with the City defence static.
The Blues got away with it and banked a crucial three points.
Earlier in the day West Ham and The Ashburton Grove Bottling Factory played out a 3-3 draw at the Boleyn Ground in the final London Derby to be played there. This meant that the Hammers lost ground in the race for fourth place and the Gooners lost ground in terms of stretching their lead over City in third. Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead to go 2-3 behind then got lucky later when Koscielny did what his strikers couldn`t do and grabbed an equaliser. So City`s win was very necessary today.
This morning`s papers seem to be full of this week`s gospel according to St Dmitri, as this objectionable agent who controls Yaya Toure for some reason finds himself in control of nearly three pages in one tabloid trying to disrespect the City regime in their dealing with Yaya.
It is true that City have enjoyed the best years of Yaya Toure. He set us on the way to the FA Cup Final in 2011, paved the way for the title in 2012 and was truly exceptional in the 2013/14 season as City once again became Champions. But where was he last season? Where has he been this season? Too busy pushing home the wheelbarrow containing his pay packet.
That Toure will move on this summer is pretty much a given. Guardiola didn`t really want him when he was a young, fit athletic footballer. He is not going to want him at age 32 when the cogs are grinding to a halt. One cannot begin to imagine him becoming a Xavi, an elder statesman who seemed able to go on for ever. I have to share the views of Martin Samuel that the likes of Bergiristan only have another six weeks to tolerate the Toure tantrums and hopefully they will rid themselves of Dmitri Seluk for good.
That said, with more history on the horizon and a useful CV addition in the waiting, no doubt Yaya wanted to impress to try to get the nod for Tuesday night and although he only played for 30 minutes, this is the type of match where he often goes AWOL. So I suppose in its own way this was another contrast. At least he knows that with De Bruyne and Nasri now back in the fold, his position in the team is at risk. De Bruyne offers so much more in terms of pace and the eye for the killer pass, which Aguero has found missing for nearly three months. Nasri`s performance might have been the one swallow that doesn`t make the spring, but with the type of coaching he could receive from Guardiola, he might start to see a different kind of future for himself and his haircut when the musical chairs cease in the summer.
We all know that City`s progress in the Champions League will be clogged next Friday. If we are successful in eliminating Mr Ibrahimovic and his boys, Zlatan telling the world he`ll beat City single-handed, the warm ball bearing the name "Barcelona" is in the waiting. One rich Club out and the next one on its way out. Who knows? Well Sue, seems to. She has been predicting the Europa League draw for a couple of rounds now, correctly anticipating Liverpool v Stretford and then Dortmund. Her boys line up today against Stoke hoping for the type of win that will set them up for the second leg against the lively Germans on Thursday.
Which brings us to today. Leicester at Sunderland looks a routine 1-0 win for the Champions Elect which would leave Spuds with a mountain to climb to try to upset the nation`s neutrals. Then of course, comme d`habitude, Spurs will roll over for the Strefords as they have done since time immemorial to help them stay in the race for fourth place. Watch out for some dodgy refereeing decisions today, dear readers.
Writer: Pedmachine
Date: Sunday April 10 2016
Time: 12:33PM
Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=564836#ixzz45SEkDxUq
As the Pedmachine marched up Joe Mercer Way, the sun in the south shone resplendent, illuminating the Premier League`s finest football stadium. As you walk from the North Car Park the sight is quite breathtaking as the match day buzz kicks in. Five minutes ahead of kick-off, the Etihad Campus was awash with lashing rain as thunder and lightning took hold, just in time for the players to emerge from the tunnel.
Pellegrini rang in a few changes from the heroics in the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, no doubt with an eye on his side completing the job come Tuesday. Hart continued between the sticks, but it was all change on the flanks as Zabaleta and Kolarov took over from Sagna and Clichy.
The terrible twins continued to provide the comedy at centre back and in midfield, Nasri was introduced giving Fernandinho, who must be pretty much exhausted by now, a chance to put his feet up. Delph got the chance of a full run-out in place of De Bruyne and for some reason secretly known only to the said Pellegrini, Bony was selected giving Silva an afternoon off. Aguero was the main striker as usual. He doesn`t like to shirk matches.
The match kicked off in semi-monsoon conditions with West Brom, playing that ghastly brand of football synonymous with Tony Pulis, setting out to stop City at all costs whether the ball was involved or not, and trying to use the pace of Berahino and the guile of Sessegnon to undo City`s backline. And so they did.
Within six minutes, the usual harem scarem bit of defending saw the ball find Sessegnon in the inside right position and his early shot caught Hart totally by surprise, Joe initially setting off east and the ball heading west. Contrast number two from the magnificent goalkeeping England`s number one paraded in Paris. Sessegnon has often been a thorn in City`s side especially in his early days with Sunderland where he displayed promise. Needless to say under this kind of football regime, whatever skills he has will have been coached out of him and are unlikely ever to blossom. Well taken goal though, just like his other, outwitting Hart completely.
This gave the Albion their perennial opportunity to commence running down the clock while ensuring that City`s progress was limited due to at times almost brutal defending with the "leave a foot in" technique very much in abundance.
Indeed it was the type of unnecessary close attention that saw a combination of Aguero, Nasri and Kolarov carve open space down the Baggies right, resulting in Sandro, who had begun the match forgetting about the ball, taking a chance on tackling Kolarov as he surged into the box, leaving Mike Jones with an easy decision to make.
In the build up, I think it was the inaptly named McClean scythed down Aguero who had the last laugh as he stood and slammed the penalty beyond Stretford reject Foster and into the back of the net to level things up. Another goal for Sergio as he chalked up his 200th appearance for City.
This effectively set City on the front foot and with Nasri, not a player frequently heralded in the Ped Pages, finding the type of space that Silva used to, the link-up play with Kolarov and Delph was starting to hurt the Baggies. Their way of hurting City back was an almost relentless barrage of snidy fouls and clips that against any other team would have seen Mr Jones arm going in and out of his pocket faster than a one-armed bandit.
But give City their due. They toiled and persevered, at times unproductively, but wore down the resilience of West Brom, whose spine is a collection of disaffected Stretfords somehow believing they could match the shadow masters. I suppose they did for a while, but the outcome to this match didn`t look in doubt once the Blues got on the scoresheet.
Rondon took exit after 20 minutes with what looked like a recurrence of a previous injury, but this only permitted the unleashing of Gardner, who with his head bandaged before his appearance looked like he`d walked into World War Three on his own. He went onto play as though his tactical nous included only the butchery associated with World Wars One and Two as he systematically took no prisoners. On the plus side he does provide a threat from dead ball situations and was close on a couple of occasions.
City did however keep the ball better, Nasri finding pockets of space, but were often wasteful when it mattered. Aguero couldn`t get open, Navas was …well Navas, all pace and no product and Delph was full of endeavour if lacking the class.
So, on the hour it was time for a change and on came Yaya and De Bruyne, off went Delph and Bony who today had taken on the persona of a roly-poly policeman in a budgies cage. He looks totally unfit and probably a stone overweight as he waddled his way towards the bench and almost certainly the Guardiola Door, when it opens in June.
The dynamics of the match now changed. Toure went some way to dictating the midfield play, linking well with Nasri, and De Bruyne set in motion the directness in play which almost every time he enters the field results in goals. Why should today be an exception?
Within six minutes of coming on he powered down the right, bringing Navas into play. He found Aguero amongst the customary kicking giants, who undeterred tried twice to prise an opening. The ball shifted out to Nasri, who crowned an excellent comeback by placing the ball between the legs of a West Brom defender to illuminate the stadium. Contrast three was complete.
In City terms, 25 minutes is a long time to see out against a team that did have threats which were offensive in contrasting senses, none more when at the death and with Foster also in City`s box, somehow Gardner slid the ball inches wide with the City defence static.
The Blues got away with it and banked a crucial three points.
Earlier in the day West Ham and The Ashburton Grove Bottling Factory played out a 3-3 draw at the Boleyn Ground in the final London Derby to be played there. This meant that the Hammers lost ground in the race for fourth place and the Gooners lost ground in terms of stretching their lead over City in third. Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead to go 2-3 behind then got lucky later when Koscielny did what his strikers couldn`t do and grabbed an equaliser. So City`s win was very necessary today.
This morning`s papers seem to be full of this week`s gospel according to St Dmitri, as this objectionable agent who controls Yaya Toure for some reason finds himself in control of nearly three pages in one tabloid trying to disrespect the City regime in their dealing with Yaya.
It is true that City have enjoyed the best years of Yaya Toure. He set us on the way to the FA Cup Final in 2011, paved the way for the title in 2012 and was truly exceptional in the 2013/14 season as City once again became Champions. But where was he last season? Where has he been this season? Too busy pushing home the wheelbarrow containing his pay packet.
That Toure will move on this summer is pretty much a given. Guardiola didn`t really want him when he was a young, fit athletic footballer. He is not going to want him at age 32 when the cogs are grinding to a halt. One cannot begin to imagine him becoming a Xavi, an elder statesman who seemed able to go on for ever. I have to share the views of Martin Samuel that the likes of Bergiristan only have another six weeks to tolerate the Toure tantrums and hopefully they will rid themselves of Dmitri Seluk for good.
That said, with more history on the horizon and a useful CV addition in the waiting, no doubt Yaya wanted to impress to try to get the nod for Tuesday night and although he only played for 30 minutes, this is the type of match where he often goes AWOL. So I suppose in its own way this was another contrast. At least he knows that with De Bruyne and Nasri now back in the fold, his position in the team is at risk. De Bruyne offers so much more in terms of pace and the eye for the killer pass, which Aguero has found missing for nearly three months. Nasri`s performance might have been the one swallow that doesn`t make the spring, but with the type of coaching he could receive from Guardiola, he might start to see a different kind of future for himself and his haircut when the musical chairs cease in the summer.
We all know that City`s progress in the Champions League will be clogged next Friday. If we are successful in eliminating Mr Ibrahimovic and his boys, Zlatan telling the world he`ll beat City single-handed, the warm ball bearing the name "Barcelona" is in the waiting. One rich Club out and the next one on its way out. Who knows? Well Sue, seems to. She has been predicting the Europa League draw for a couple of rounds now, correctly anticipating Liverpool v Stretford and then Dortmund. Her boys line up today against Stoke hoping for the type of win that will set them up for the second leg against the lively Germans on Thursday.
Which brings us to today. Leicester at Sunderland looks a routine 1-0 win for the Champions Elect which would leave Spuds with a mountain to climb to try to upset the nation`s neutrals. Then of course, comme d`habitude, Spurs will roll over for the Strefords as they have done since time immemorial to help them stay in the race for fourth place. Watch out for some dodgy refereeing decisions today, dear readers.
Writer: Pedmachine
Date: Sunday April 10 2016
Time: 12:33PM
Read more: http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=564836#ixzz45SEkDxUq
