Stoke v City

Didn't see a match thread.

Just switched this on, 2-0 to Stoke.

They good value for their lead?

Bret Hart

RoboKlopp wrote: »

Didn't see a match thread.

Just switched this on, 2-0 to Stoke.

They good value for their lead?

Well worth,much the better side so far and Shaqiri is on fire today,great turn and assist for the second Stoke goal.

blueser

When the hell is Vinnie due back? We're absolutely woeful at the back without him.
:mad:

Andersonisgod

blueser wrote: »

When the hell is Vinnie due back? We're absolutely woeful at the back without him.
:mad:

He helps but as a team you're woeful without the ball.

SlickRic

City so far failing to the aul' cold, windy day in Stoke.

irish son

City's defending is terrible, they don't want to know about it.

Bret Hart

Stoke are taking the piss.

irish son

Fernando has been jumping into slide tackles all game and hasn't been near the ball once, terrible.

retalivity

Fernando reminding me of this lad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV3R-CvpDIY

SlickRic

Stoke are doing nothing fancy here. They know Kolarov is vulnerable, and they know City are reliant on getting Silva and/or KDB on the ball 30 yards out.

The minute it gets to City a player in that situation, they press like mad. Then they go towards Kolarov.

Simple, but effective. And City don't seem to have a clue how to deal with it. Same as against Liverpool.

Bret Hart

Sterling has been non existent and Silva is too rusty,but that was to be expected.

KDB is there only attacking player who is doing anything so far.

Kerrydude1981

Glenn Whelan got forward well there,should have been 3 nil

Stoke playing some nice stuff

Agent Coulson

wow should have 3 the damm post.

irish son

2 centre backs about 30 yards apart there.

Andersonisgod

Pellegrini's time is up. Laughable shape off the ball, Stoke's false 9 is a conundrum they are failing to deal with in spectacular fashion. They'll never get to where they want under Pellegrini.

irish son

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Pellegrini's time is up. Laughable shape off the ball, Stoke's false 9 is a conundrum they are failing to deal with in spectacular fashion. They'll never get to where they want under Pellegrini.

Exactly, Bojan is dropping and Arnie is drifting in field and no one is picking him up at times.

Harry Palmr

HT will be just in time to save City from a tonking

SantryRed

City will be back in this in the second half. Wind being against them means that those balls that have been killing them, Stoke won't be able to play.

Essien

City need some big changes at half time or Stoke will end up with 4 or 5 here.

irishguitarlad

SantryRed wrote: »

City will be back in this in the second half. Wind being against them means that those balls that have been killing them, Stoke won't be able to play.

I´d be inclined to think different, as with the wind with them, Stoke will be able to soak up all the pressure and hit a ball from very deep up to one of the forwards to run on to. Anyways Shaqiri is definitely looking like the alpine messi, great to see.

rightyabe

I thought Man city had the wind for 1st half?? Do they play better with wind in their face??

Although it's true the ball holds up better against the wind...

SlickRic

rightyabe wrote: »

I thought Man city had the wind for 1st half?? Do they play better with wind in their face??

Wind is against City in the 2nd half.

Andersonisgod

irish son wrote: »

Exactly, Bojan is dropping and Arnie is drifting in field and no one is picking him up at times.

Exactly, City centre backs aren't sure whether to press up or drop off and it's led to some really odd errors that you don't usually see at this level. They're so static without anybody to mark and occasionally they've been dragged so far apart it's created acres of space for Stoke's wide men to make outside to on runs into.

I will say though that the players in front of City's back four don't help the situation. How often have Stoke players been able to get time, lift their heads and pick out a pass with absolutely no pressure on the ball? They don't press, they don't drop deep as a group, they are so susceptible off the ball it's unreal.

rwbug

rightyabe wrote: »

I thought Man city had the wind for 1st half?? Do they play better with wind in their face??

Couldn't play worse.
Or could they?

SlickRic

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Exactly, City centre backs aren't sure whether to press up or drop off and it's led to some really odd errors that you don't usually see at this level. They're so static without anybody to mark and occasionally they've been dragged so far apart it's created acres of space for Stoke's wide men to make outside to on runs into.

It's mental considering Liverpool did the same to them a couple of weeks ago.

It's like they did nothing to try and fix it.

GreNoLi

City well on their way to being massacred by barca in the champs league knockout rounds if this performance is anything to go by.

SantryRed

irishguitarlad wrote: »

I´d be inclined to think different, as with the wind with them, Stoke will be able to soak up all the pressure and hit a ball from very deep up to one of the forwards to run on to. Anyways Shaqiri is definitely looking like the alpine messi, great to see.

Good luck trying to play any type of precise ball wit a vicious wind like that. The ball will just zip away from them.

rightyabe

SlickRic wrote: »

Wind is against City in the 2nd half.

I know that Santry red said the opposite

Andersonisgod

SlickRic wrote: »

It's mental considering Liverpool did the same to them a couple of weeks ago.

It's like they did nothing to try and fix it.

Absolutely, and it's not as if Pellegrini hasn't had time and backing to fix this. This is his 3rd season and they are no better without the ball now than they were in his first season, there's been zero progress.

GreNoLi

When everyone's fit, Sterling should be dropped, has not impressed me during his time at city.

K-9

SlickRic wrote: »

It's mental considering Liverpool did the same to them a couple of weeks ago.

It's like they did nothing to try and fix it.

As Neville said in his analysis it isn't easy to beat it, but a team of City's quality should be able to. Looks bad on Peligrini.

SantryRed

rightyabe wrote: »

I know that Santry red said the opposite

No I didn't. It's not like Sunday League football where the wind being with you = advantage.

It can really disadvantage team. As compounded by City's absolutely atrocious attempt at defending :pac:

GreNoLi

A lot of rubbish on the pitch and some plastic bags too.

Harry Palmr

SantryRed wrote: »

No I didn't. It's not like Sunday League football where the wind being with you = advantage.

It can really disadvantage team. As compounded by City's absolutely atrocious attempt at defending :pac:

Watching the Liverpool v Everton u18s this lunchtime - the side playing against the wind did better in both halves. The ball was held up enough to allow the team playing into the wind to catch up with it and attack en mass.

rightyabe

SantryRed wrote: »

No I didn't. It's not like Sunday League football where the wind being with you = advantage.

It can really disadvantage team. As compounded by City's absolutely atrocious attempt at defending :pac:

I said as much in my post that the ball can lie better when playing against the wind. I'm a stealth ninja so wind never effected me personally.

blueser

Same XI sent back out for the second half. Jesus did indeed weep.

Gbear

That's a red all day long.

Otamendi just booted Shaqiri.

rightyabe

Stoke + Butland + long ball + wind + Jon Walters =.....

Bret Hart

Lucky boy is Otamendi. He should have saw red.

irish son

Gbear wrote: »

That's a red all day long.

Otamendi just booted Shaqiri.

Yeah I was thinking the same, he just kicked him with no attempt for the ball.

Andersonisgod

rightyabe wrote: »

Stoke + Butland + long ball + wind + Jon Walters =.....

To be fair to Stoke it's been a lot more than that.

Harry Palmr

Stoke are the windy Barcelona today

Always knew Bony was a player not for the top level.

Wrongway1985

rightyabe wrote: »

Stoke + Butland + long ball + wind + Jon Walters =.....

You sure you're watching this game? Walters not even on the pitch

Guy:Incognito

rightyabe wrote: »

Stoke + Butland + long ball + wind + Jon Walters =.....

Goal kicks?

Strumms

The one thing going for city is that they are only 2 down. Could well and probably should have been a couple more Stoke have created some very good chances.

Pyjamarama

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Stoke are the windy Barcelona today

Always knew Bony was a player not for the top level.

He would suit a top team built around a different style. He's a very good target man but he's a poor mans Benteke and doesn't have the movement or touch he does. A more direct team like chelsea and i think Bony would do very well.

rightyabe

I never said he was mate...

irish son

Delph always looks like he's trying to hard to impress when he's brought on, shots like that sum it up.

irishguitarlad

Stoke should make some changes about now.

irish son

Shaqiri needs to go with the right foot there, think he was surprised by the pass though.

irishguitarlad

Lads if Stoke lose this I´ll ate my hat