Donetsk task done!

So I grab a bit of wifi whilst out at sea and use a locals phone to get a stream that was just about watchable for the first half but died a death in the second half as the buffering escalated to a point where it was unwatchable! So I reverted to text's between Jim at the ground and Forza for the second half. So below is a new approach for my match report!

The end!

Still floating around on a boat in the Aegean!

It's been too long

So I sit here on a boat in Turkey, somewhere that as I get older I am spending more and more time! The only downside being missing more and more of my beloved City! This time Jim has got my ticket to do as he pleases for the Palace and Donetsk game. Myself I have just received word through a nice old Turkish guy texting his mate that we have won the Palace game 5-0, for I don't even have a signal at the moment floating out here in the middle of nowhere (in this Aegean paradise!) never mind wifi! However I am promised wifi in another less remote bay, but we'll see.


So far this season I have made both games against the Scousers and managed to watch the Feyenord and Watford game on my dodgy box! The rest I have been in Turkey for unable to get a link due to the boat, or family engagements. I can't complain I am a lucky fucker having this Turkish link through my Mrs', but like I said the main thing I miss when I'm away is City, and obviously my dogs and my friends!
At present it means my posts are somewhat infrequent and to a degree more conjecture than a pass by pass account! However I guess to an extent that has always been the case!
So the summer brings with it exciting transfer news as we start to address the fact that with Kompany out we have always looked very vulnerable! So it hasn't been addressed firstly with the signing of someone like Godin as I would prefer, but rather with the introduction of new wing backs and a tactic change, something I am in favour of as well. At this point I would also like to draw attention to the additional 'silva' brought into our attacking treasury, he's a great player and now allows (with the help of Yaya still being there, Gundogan back from injury, as well as a new formation) for injuries to Silva and DeBruyne and a proper squad rotation through a busy calendar. I know our squad has been talked about for years but I genuinely believe this is the first year it truly delivers what has been alleged for some time now, with any one injury or suspension not able to tank our season.

Finally I am now so in favour of three at the back, with the right personnel, as it is a crime to rob all football and football supporters of two top strikers! Especially when you have Jesus and Sergio! It is genuinely great to see and has also seen Stones and Otamendi play much better together in a three, than the disaster of their traditional centre back paring last year. Indeed Stones looks to have grown into himself and Otamendi is not the player the press would have you believe he is. I like him and what he is about and believe he can become a real crowd favourite in time and as for the mainstream press balls to them, they will have it in for us no matter what!

So to the games, and some in little depth, because why write about something you don't know!!! We start slow and steady with the first game, and seemingly the season in general, initially against the south coast new boys! This approach I prefer to last seasons of: off like a bang then fizzling out somewhat! For all the reasons hopefully ironed out above! 

Next is Everton and for this I am sat in my seat watching! The football is looking good then Sane, who was in a right funk at the end of last season, ever since the semi final at Wembley, continued as he left off giving the ball away cheaply with it eventually culminating in 'him' of all people scoring! 

We to this point had missed some early chances, and it was beginning to worryingly feel a bit like last season. Then the ref had an even bigger say in the game, with a bullshit sending off that they seem somewhat desperate to give at the Etihad these days! Yet nonetheless we regrouped and should have just won it in the end, with the scousers looking like the team with ten men. But a draw isn't the end of the world and we still showed everyone on TV that we are going to play some good football this year. I think if there had be no sending off it would have at least been 3-1 to us. As for Everton aspirations of top 4?! They looked pretty toothless and shite to me! Hanging on against 10 men! 

Other things of note being Bernardo looking class when he came on, and secondly the devastating effect to my fantasy team with both Walker sent off and Jesus subbed at half time to accommodate it, gutted! Walker was in the wind after that in favour of Mendy!

Next was Bournemouth and I find myself in Turkey on the boat unable to watch it as we seemingly do what champions do and find a way to win it last minute, walking away with the three points.

Soon we had the other set of scousers at ours and they were exactly what you would expect from them over recent years with pace and danger up top backed up by a shit defence! Why he didn't sort that out in the summer is beyond me, have a plan B if you can't get what you want! Surely there is only so long you can get by on passion and being likeable, even in Liverpool!

So we get the lead amongst again a number of missed chances, yet unlike their blue cousins they are not impotent up front and to be fair they have a few as well, which is to be expected with players like Mane and the Egyptian lad who's name escapes me! However it was not an even game at this point, as those bitter reds would like to have you believe (and not those reds, rather the other local ones littered about all my what's app groups). Indeed it was a red card as well and anyone who argues it wasn't is simply wrong. Yes I feel sorry for Mane as I would have instinctively done the same, yes he was in my fantasy league team (but on the bench for this game and now transferred out for Alli), but it's a red end of! From then on it's was a no contest as Liverpool couldn't rally, had no plan B resulting in a bit of a free for all! Robbing us of the first chance to see exactly where we are. However if I was to guess I would say it would have been 3-1 without the red and give or take that is where we are. If you were being really generous 3-2, but gun to my head I would go with the former not the latter!

Then Feyenord and they look dreadful to be fair as they tinker with their formation and find themselves at sixes and sevens. Indeed it was difficult to tell how much was our talent making them look shit and how much was that they are actually shit! Probably a bit of both to be honest, and highlights how much further these minor leagues are falling behind than before, but definitely take that. Even though I watched it we were pretty much going through the motions! Very well, but the motions all the same!

Watford away was our next test which I watched from my couch and we looked at times irresistible! Yes it's Watford, but they have started pretty well this season and we simply tore them apart something we wouldn't have quite achieved last season. Yes we still haven't had a real yard stick but the overall yard stick has to say we have the potential of something special this year. In terms of the six goals it was great to see Sergio get a hat-trick and show just one of the many reasons why we couldn't let him go. Yes in the end I opted for Jesus in my fantasy team but the deciding factor between the two was just that I thought he would play more. The other news that was great to see was Ederson in goal once more showing steel, not subjecting us to the confidence sapping Bravo and man can this new kid kick a ball, I've never seen anything quite like it. Pin point from one end of the pitch to the other! The distance, the accuracy, It's a real potential weapon this season I believe.

Finally as the post mentioned at the start I am now away again! However I guess if I was to miss two games one of them champions league, I would chose these two. Palace goes as I expected! Hodgson? What were they thinking? That club has pushed the self destructed button this season. From the text I saw today it looked like squad rotation with Jesus which isn't good for my fantasy even though it is still good for my reality!

Till the next time from a boat bobbing around in the Aegean! 

What might have been

So it's the final game of a season that we have once again to a degree left the title on the pitch! But it is a new manager, one I wanted to come and definitely want to stay! Has he got everything right? No! It is however his first season and even a great such as Pep has to find his feet! For me the decisions that lost it this year in order of importance are:

1. Backing Sterling too much, as already stated that guy has left 10 goals on the pitch next to the trophy and subsequently at least as many points!

2. Although I was one who was ready for Hart to leave, his choice of Bravo was a mistake! For that guy just hasn't got it!

3. Earlier on in the season whilst Vinnie was injured not putting more emphasis upon Zaba as our captain giving us a backbone which was very much missing in some mid-season games.

4. Once Jesus arrived upsetting Sergio rather than Sterling.

Things out of his control:

1. Kompany's injury problems.
2. Sergio's spat against Chelsea at home.
3. Fernandinho's disciplinary problems early season.
4. Jesus' injury once he arrived.
5. The establishments witch hunt for us as a club.

Anyway lessons to learn for everyone and just a shame we aren't dominating more through a golden era! With some games like united away at Barca at home being an utter delight to watch, as on sheer entertainment factor alone it has rocketed since 'Mr Fizzy water' who regular will readers will know I didn't love!!!

The game itself was a walk in the park really for something that could have had an edge for 3rd is just that much better than 4th allowing you to relax somewhat through the summer! They put out a load of kids because there manager didn't really care as he was already sacked, which obviously suited us! We then used this to our advantage playing some, at times, beautiful football against a pretty piss poor opposition. All the right faces scored in this much more balanced line up and what might have been if this shape had been able to play together more this season.

Well enough said really and another season is put gently to bed! Man of the season for me being Silva as we say goodbye to the man of the decade in Zaba! Here's to next season and a bright future, Goodnight!The Couch!

Gutted to see you go Zab!

So I turn up to the ground on the Tuesday night with no knowledge of what the last home game would actually become, just wondering why on my way in there were so many fans entering the ground singing Zaba songs?! Then when I got to my seat and Jim informed me that it was official he was off and this was his send off, I got quite emotional for me! Those who are regular readers of the blog will know some of the posts over the years have resembled almost love letters to the City legend, in every aspect, that is Zaba.

From previous posts you know my opinion on how he should have been treated so I won't get into that now, rather focus on what he did achieve and gave to this club. That being everything and every City fan appreciated that week in week out! What better to be remembered for hey when all is said and done! Not a money grabbing, mercenary, misfit sucking all the energy they can out of whatever club they next land at, rather a guy who could return as anything! A coach, a manager, an ambassador, me I'd give him a stand named after him! Anyway to the game in hand which we needed 3 points out of and that's a given! The team sheet arrives and I am disappointed to see Zaba on the bench with Fernandinho and Kolarov as full backs, but that debate/ship has definitely sailed!

However up front I am buoyed somewhat by finally what I have been saying since he arrived, in play the new Jesus on the wing, drop Sterling and keep Augero up front! Why the hell we were risking losing Sergio over Sterling I don't know! It was always a common sense move for me. So the game starts and the new Messiah doesn't let me down as he does exactly what we have needed all season (that Sterling hasn't rarely been able to deliver!) in an early goal. The nerves of European football were starting to feel somewhat settled, then soon they were further so, as Kev, who on recent for has not been a King, or a prince more a knight if anything, as he bagged the second!

We were by now coasting and with half time coming and going it wasn't long before Yaya bagged the third. Soon after it was the overdue entrance of the star of the show who was subsequently cheered for every touch of the ball and rightfully so! The game was all but done apart from a late goal for them which occurred post the Kompany substitution and you just knew it wouldn't have happened with him on the pitch, highlighting once more Stones and Otamendi is not a partnership!

Yet Otamendi under Kompany's wing looks a player reborn! Maybe stones can be adapted to a wing back and cover for when Otamendi is out. Whilst praying to the football God's for an injury free season for Vinnie, as that is literally critical for us.

 After the final whistle it was all about Zaba, goodbye you will be very much missed and somewhat irreplaceable! Good luck with the rest of your life, all the best!

Not so fantastic Mr Fox!

So Leicester arrive for the first time having shit all over the football fairytale with their title winning manager gone and since then climbing from near relegation to 8th! Last year I dared to dream the world wasn't fucked, but this? well this just reminds us all we are all fucked!!!! Go player power!!! Actually fuck player power and Vardy you are no fairytale just a scroat!

Anyway the game commences again in a ground littered with empty seats, I repeat we must address this and with soulful solutions! Let's focus more on this issue than tunnel clubs where it is between £7,500 - £15,000 a ticket for corporate elitists to try and kiss the asses of the players! Enough to make you puke in every respect! Indeed next Wednesday night I take to the very same pitch in a football aid game where I was bought 90 minutes at centre mid for my 40th birthday present by my Mrs! Putting her money where my mouth is! Now football aid is a game where anyone can bid or buy now to play, like eBay, and the money goes to charity. They arrange games at nearly all the football league clubs so fans can have the opportunity to live their dream and play in the stadium whilst giving to charity. You get a shirt with your name on, change in the dressing rooms, two teams with each team lead by an X player, the full shebang. However last week I was told after booking it 6 months previous that due to that bloody tunnel club it was off this year?! Luckily they eventually saw better of how this actually looks with elitism trumping charity and reinstated it, much to my delight!

Anyway enough I must talk about this game! It was a flat atmosphere which these 12:30 Saturday's can be, but we started ok making a few chances and then at the point when we needed to score Silva who after however many years seems to have found his shooting boots to finish the article did just that! This is great to see and makes me very happy (if I could play at 10% of his capability on Wednesday night I will be over the moon!). We are then cruising in this relatively non eventful game and soon we have a penalty that Jesus takes over Yaya and finishes with at least the same composure. At this point as a fan you should start to relax a bit, but we are city fans and we know it never quite goes like that and low and behold they pop up with a reasonable goal from nowhere just before half time!

The second half starts and we are a bit cagey as all around on the pitch and in the crowd know how tight the league positions of 3 to 6 are! We have a few half chances but everyone looks a bit out of sorts especially Kev who has definitely misplaced his crown at the moment!

Next the inevitable happens as they gain a penalty from where they were gaining the most penetration with the windy runs of Mahrez on the right wing. You can just feel it's happening again as the ball hits the back of the net! But no Mahrez twisted and turned one too many times! As he slipped on point of impact hitting the ball from one leg to another and it was disallowed! The football gods were very much shinning on us! However we still had to see it out where at times you questioned whether the gods would stick with us! But in the end they just about did!

There's not much else to comment on the this cagey, vanilla game that represents 3 points and average entertainment, apart from another shit ref, and that for me the team-sheet was again wrong! In that I would have played Zaba again, Fernandhinio in the middle, dropped Kev, played Jesus on the wing, told Sterling the game had been cancelled due to bad weather! and played Aguero. On this going back to Zaba again I heard his post this week was words to the effect of 'I love city but no contract offer as yet, so need to look around for the sake of my family'. This is wrong even if he had nothing left to give this clubman deserves a contract but he still has stuff to give and he has earned it! Him coming on was the biggest clap of the game! Clubs need Zaba's! So Pep I urge you to see this and give him a new contract! Pay him with the money you will save by shipping Sterling on! I repeat my reasons here could be sentimental but they are not I still believe he has more than enough to give to this club and for god sake be soulful when all around are not and reward loyalty, decency, tenacity and skill!

Colin Bell Stand, Third Tier. 

Crystal Clear!

So Palace turn up, but don't really! As, definitely Fat Sam, not Big Sam, gets them onto the pitch to be slaughtered! A pitch surrounded by too many empty seats, yet the day tripper in front of me said he tried to get 4 tickets and he could only get 2! Go figure?? We need to get all over better promotion of chucking your tickets back in. Personally I think the best way is through guilt! In creating an efficient successful scheme that allows a good percentage of the tickets to underprivileged kids and low income families who dream of going to the game, to get in for next to nothing. For you are telling me there aren't shit loads of unlucky kids who would be desperate to go, of course there are and they with some installed aspiration are the season ticket holders of the future. We need to get a grip for everyone's sake!

Anyway those who were there were treated to some brilliant football at times, as one goal after another went in! Even that waste of Oxygen managed to score one and he would struggle to score with a 10 inch cock on a train full of female nymphomaniacs! All the other 4 goal-scorers I was really happy to see as we strolled away with it in the end.

Man of the match was obviously Silva, the team sheet thing I again didn't agree with was play Zaba, push Fernandhinio  into the middle and play Kev on the wing rather than Sterling, but apart from that enough said and thoroughly enjoyable watching, even though Fat Lad wasn't much of a test!

Colin bell stand, Third Tier, with the Mrs and her hilarious in play ill informed commentary, that mainly involved come on little fella pass it forward to other little fella!

Drab Derby.

So, it's Derby night and God know's what was going to happen in this unusual season! The team sheet had another couple of mistakes for me (here however I do state that I obviously can't judge based on little niggles) but based on form and ability I would have played Clichy for as I have already stated for me Kolarov can now only play centre back when needed for I don't think he has ever been able to play fullback, especially in this case against the pace of Rashford (indeed it was lucky united had no intention of attacking pretty much all game and when they did they looked really rusty). On the other side however it was great to see Zaba back, as you may be aware I've missed him!! and the ever dependable put in a solid performance on the return to the team. Finally the other mistake for me in the team sheet was playing Sterling, especially after Wembley! For me I would always play Navas over him and unfortunately for us it was another case of I told you so by the time he got subbed, which was too late on for my liking! With the player replacing him filling me full of hope and excitement as Jesus rises again! For me I would of played Navas till 60 minutes then brought Jesus on for him.

Anyway the game itself was so predictable it was painful, in that we had all the possession as boring Jose parked the bus in the worst United performance I have seen in years! Yet with all the possession we again couldn't convert it into a victory. This occurred partly due to Sergio having a shit game, missing what should have been the winner in the first half that my Mrs would have tucked away, the rest of the game missing the target at will, with half chance after half chance. Sterlings bumbling was like tying one attacking arm behind your back, indeed and one point in the game I stated it is unnatural the level of dislike I hold for him as a player and as for Sane, well what the hell has happened to him?!!! From looking truly gorgeous a few weeks previous he was utterly horrendous at Wembley and he carried his petulance, lack of interest and unwillingness to run into this game also?!

The only things of real positive note in the game being firstly Vinney, God he is so good, as to be fare was Otamendi and I think as a pairing they could be great together next season (Maybe trying stones at wing back next season?). However that was about it as our season limps to a decidedly average end and I just pray we can find enough form to keep us in the top 4.

Colin Bell Stand, Third Tier.

Wembley blues!

So, we travel down the day before as London captures some more of our hard earned Northern money for a semi final?! Me, I had the Mrs in tow, as did Jim but his goes to the game, mine I was packing on the midday train at Euston the next day on my way to Wembley!

The capital which in my mind is good to visit but now horrendous to live in (unless you are either in the majority of 'elitist money hungry pricks', with the lucky soulful minority dwindling by the day!). An opinion drawn by 6 months living down there for work 4 years previous! Anyway with the enemy by my side the 4 of us spent the Saturday at the theatre keeping her sweet! As we watched a play with Damien Lewis in, who at present is my favourite actor, what with Billions. The play was called 'The goat or who is Sylvia', a bemusing title for a bemusing play which I actually really enjoyed! The premise of it being about a successful American architect, played by Lewis, ruining his alleged perfect life and marriage by falling in love with a goat called Sylvia and yes if you were wondering fucking her!!! Much to the surprise of Jim (Not your regular theatre goer!) and a load of middle England old dears (a few even got up and left!). It didn't stop there though as Lewis' gay son confessed his undying love for his farther jumping on him and snogging him, with Lewis then admitting he once got a boner bouncing him on his knee as a child! Proper random hey! The rest of the day was spent at an over hyped Spanish tapas place, that the next day Jim said made him ill, and one of those apartment hotels just off Hyde park, which the Mrs got for a steel on one of those Internet deals.

The next day I get rid off the extra baggage as I pack the enemy back of to the promised land and head to Wembley under London like a mole! Once in the vicinity of the ground we found a nearby restaurant to soak it up in relative comfort! That was until a blocked pie underneath the restaurant floor burst and sewage started seeping out into the restaurant! Lovely hey! We obviously chose this moment to leave and make are way to the ground as I yearned for the civility and cleanliness of the North! On the way to the ground, sober may I add (something I have been for 10 months as the fried nerves in my head from the shingles, that nearly took the site in my left eye permanently, still 10 months on makes me feel almost permanently hungover anyway!) I notice, from my sober observant state how many fans have been on it all weekend as the Capital saps millions of those hard fought for Northern ponds! (What happened to Villa park and a quick up and down?!!).

Once in the ground the atmosphere from us was solid, on this beautiful spring day. I looked around to see these alleged thousands of empty seats our United biased media had decided to announce about us?!! Seeing a few but barely in the hundreds if that, then you look over to the opposition! An opposition may I add that is from around the corner and there was way more empty seats on their side that were conveniently disguised by their colour being red, yet there was no sign of that in our horrific bunch of cunts, (orchestrated witch hunt) media! You can all go get bent!

So the game starts with the team sheet mistakes that Jim and I could pick out this time being: Well obviously as always the inclusion of Bravo, and also not playing Zaba in such a game. The rest made sense though. Anyway they come out of the blocks with the clear intention of targeting our key players at any cost! Something that worried myself and Jim before the game, with both of us agreeing we would rather lose this game and have everyone fit if it meant we beat united in the more important game on Thursday night, with the one player we singled out as the most important to get through it being Silva, swiftly followed by Kompany. So then, as is fated to happen, some gunner prick goes right through Silva leaving him lame to be soon after subbed, and guess what not even a yellow card! This is when you know it is one of those games where the full might of the establishment is against us. As we already take the first wave of the inevitable media onslaught followed now swiftly by once again the officials on the day! As that prick of a referee joined forces with the media for the umpteenth time this season! I repeat it is an establishment witch hunt on every front!

To say this ref was appalling was an understatement, the game was far to big for this bent inept fool to take charge of, for he never got hold of it (not even for a minute) as Arsenal got away with clattering after clattering with no punishment rather a green light to continue. So as alluded to earlier Silva was soon to limp off and here I think the next tactical mistake was made as I would have now bought Zaba on and pushed Navas forward something I mentioned at the time yet Sterling entered the fray, much to my disappointment!

So the usual for this season occurred as we held most of the possession played some reasonable football but just didn't take our chances and when we finally did the awful referring took it of us (I am truly getting sick of this!).

Half time came and everybody in the ground new we should have been ahead and it already felt like one of those days as I waited in a massive cue for the most ridiculous toilet set up?! For it was the first time in 7 trips here that I had been on the bottom tier and this time treated to the delight of a male bog with no urinals?! What a fucking joke as we stood 15 deep to each one and that's with most people doubling up each time! Just don't cross the streams!!! However one guy I went in with could barely hit the bog he was that pissed as I stood further back concentrating on his aim more than my own! Indeed by the end we left it looking like a toilet on a sinking ship for the two guys waiting behind!! You then had to fight through the dense cigarette smoke past the guys who couldn't wait who were pissing up against the bog walls and onto the toilet floor that now resembled more of a paddling pool!! Don't you just love the sophistication of the Capital!! What I would have given for my beautiful Etihad urinals!! You could almost eat your dinner off them!

Anyway I eventually return to my seat for the second half where we begin to rally a bit and finally we get the breakthrough with Sergio, which was the very least we deserved. However within 10 minutes they were back level with Monreal with a well worked counter attacking goal in the end after Sane gave the ball away to cheaply (I will get to him in a minute!).

To be fair to Arsenal they dug and showed some backbone in there panic defending which is unlike them these days. Then now and again looked slightly dangerous on the counter attack. However the game was ours and in the remaining minutes of the 90 we just couldn't quite stand up and grasp it as Yaya hit the post, Fernadhiniho the bar and Prince Kev who has looked a little out of sorts passed when if he had shown just a split seconds more patience he should have just simply passed it into the net as it opened up for him. Indeed there was no master stroke from Wenger as the radio fools after the game would have you believe, we just once again left goal after goal on the pitch and ultimately the win.

Extra time arrived and you could just feel the writing was on the wall and it was of little surprise when against the run of things Sanchez scored. Then you could again just sense we couldn't quite lift ourselves and the substitutions for me did little to help as he took Sergio off for Delph? Next I think was a like for like due to injury and then eventually the useless sub Sterling was subbed himself which says everything for me you could have almost have brought Silva off and not replaced him with anyone the fat lot of good Sterling was. For me my first sub after it wasn't made in the first half would have been Zaba for Sterling and push Navas up, then for god sake get Sane off the pitch for Delph or Ihenacho not Sergio! Now my Sane rant! What the hell was that Lazy temperamental sod playing at, unless he was playing on an injury he has no excuse, as he was so disappointing! The player only a few weeks ago I thought was as valuable as Jesus seemed not to give a shit as he refused to run and hid all game with a permanent sulk plastered to his face and body! Yet he was not removed?! Does he know one of Pep's intimate secrets so pep has to keep him sweet?! As for the life of me I don't understand how, on this day, that complete waste of space stayed on the pitch. It was as if him and Sterling were in competition as to who could do the least! Just what we needed when so many of us had made the effort. It reminded me that all a fan really wants no matter what the score is is for his players to go out and try really fucking hard! That's why we all really love Zaba and I think that is why we are hopefully going to love the new Jesus!

Anyway it ended inevitably in the wrong score line as we yet again failed to convert opportunity, that should be the title of this season. So we head back up North and before I turned it off had to listen to the lies and bullshit from the Media. Spouting of about Wenger's alleged master stroke and how he has still got it in him, which was utter rubbish for we simply, like a waiter and the Frenchman's favourite restaurant, handed it to him on a plate he had to do barely anything but hang in there and whether the storm, nay persistent mild breeze!  Then giving little or no mention of our first half goal that should have been, but that's simply par for the course in this witch hunt!

Finally players of note on our side and who actually tried were Yaya, Kompany and Otamendi, who is looking so much more assured under Kompany's wing.

The End

Wembley, first tier behind the goal.

We shone in the south coast sunshine.

So, I settle in for Southampton away sat on the couch and as I see the line up I am pretty happy for a change, as apart from Navas for Zaba and always the question of Bravo I am completely happy with the line up that accommodates all our top level players with Fernandhinio holding, by relegating Sterling to the bench, as maybe an impact player, putting Kev on the right. Finally it is great to see Vinney back.

So the game starts and I am excited to see some good quality football from us and although not looking devastating we look good and I just wish this spine had played together much more and got used to playing more with this set up changing only for injuries and tiredness.

As the first half played out although showing promise and some great interplay at times we just didn't have the final ball to unlock them. With players of note being Otamendi who showed great composure as well as great levels of skill at times. Indeed just the mere presence of Vinne seems to have relaxed him into a better player. For some personalities work better as the support man rather than the main man, and some personalities which were just built to be the main man! The other thing of note in this half being another decision we didn't get, in the penalty, which I think just about was one and we once again don't get the break!

The second half starts and we start lively playing good football which is very easy on the eye as everyone looks so comfortable on the ball, but again we just don't seem able to quite convert it. However we for once this season looked assured and that was thanks to the leadership of Vinney, something only him and Zaba can do to our team. Then from all the nice little boys and touches from Silva and alike it is Vinney from a corner who delivers with a great headed goal which I cheered louder than I have done in a while! Great to see! Indeed his presence on corners makes such a difference and is an area of our game where we have seemed impotent this season. For that's what Captains and talisman do for your team and what I have been banging on about all season for it is as much in the mind as the body.

So we then settle even further into our groove and, with only the odd scare, soon move to two with a great decisive breaking goal by Sane. A goal that also highlighted that Kev on the wing and Sterling on the bench simply adds that greater certainty to the outcome!

Then the third comes soon after with some delightful play from Kev again as he stands it up beautifully for Sergio to finish, something Sterling simply wouldn't do!

Well I have been calling for this set up and these subtle changes for months and finally have it, and am delighted to say on this 3-0 away performance, that may I add was very easy on the eye, I told you so! Yes I started off saying Kev in the middle and Silva on the wing and I still think this is interchangeable dependant upon the game and form, as Silva is looking like his Maestro best in the middle at the moment! I just wish he could finish as he again missed two good chances! I so wished we had figured this out earlier and the season could have been a lot different! I just really hope Kompany can get fit and be the player we all know he is week in week out, injury free. For MOM was definitely him on his individual performance, his timely goal, his effect on the whole team and his effect on his centre back partner who for me was the next in line for MOM, well done Captain!

Finally I am going to end with the fact we couldn't help the fact Kompany was injured but we could have helped the fact that the only other player with this ability is Zaba and should have played him more for the Captain like effect. Combined with the midfield change that saw our best talent playing together and sured up by a true holding centre mid. Just look what a holding centre mid has done for Chelsea! Ending with the stat that Kev on the wing today now has 30 assists the most in the premiership for his final ball/decision is so much better than Sterlings for Sterlings lack of composure has left at least 10 goals on the pitch this year, probably the same amount of assists maybe more and at least that many premiership points as a result!

Anyway great result, happy days, and all the above is why!

The Couch.

Who the Hull are you?!!

As any good Englishman should I'm going to start with the weather, which was bloody gorgeous seeing Me and the Mrs walking there and back basking in the sunshine!

Once there we were shown a much changed side, but any worries of that were somewhat dampened by the fact that it was Hull at home! We started bright enough, not devastatingly good, but not bad at all. However we just couldn't quite finish of our pressure, so in the end a Hull defender did it for us! To be fair though the build up pretty much deserved a tap in from someone! Navas (picked again at right back) used his pace to great effect with a perfectly timed overlap that was measured with a perfectly timed pass from Silva (I think?) that simply cut them in two and from that Navas delivered an 'un-Navas' like cross right into the danger area! Then as they always say just get it into the danger zone and anything can happen and it did! 1-0 and the least we deserved for our pressure.

Once again we were immediately warned of the yin and the yan though, as some pretty piss poor defending from said right back let them in at the other end! With any better side being on the pitch it would have represented the equaliser immediately! But luckily it was only Hull!

Half time came and we were relatively satisfied and pretty well entertained. The second half arrived and it wasn't too long before we were off our seats again as some great work from Sterling saw Aguero finally put away our second. Indeed I have been quite harsh on Sterling this year, and mainly due to his awful finishing, but you know if you can keep him out wide and as a provider not a finisher then maybe he will prove me wrong and come good. However I simply don't think he has the temperament at this level to be on the end of chances regularly.

Once this goal had gone in we were cruising, some would even say show boating, and Delph's goal simply added to that with it's blockbuster finish! I also liked his post goal urge to the crowd to keep singing, which did what he hoped. Now if he could stay fit I think he could offer himself as competition to Fernandhinio and I think I'd like to see that. However what he highlights is that although everyone in the media is calling for a big clear out there is almost an argument for every player as to why they might stay and suggests we have underperformed this year somewhat, which I guess in a transition period is to be expected. Here I must also state it was only Hull but let's see what some of the other games tell us, for a year ago I would have definitely got rid of Kolarov and still would as a full back yet today he was solid as a centre back, and can he still help as a squad player? Zaba I'd still keep for a multitude of reasons, but I'm worried he won't! Can he teach Navas to defend? Clichy is now back in favour which I am glad of. Yaya has turned it all around somewhat! Finally Vinney like Zaba we owe him whatever he wants to do. Indeed the only three I would definitely say need to go are Bravo, Sagna and Nolito.

So at three you start to think are we actually going to get a clean sheet, then they get one chance and that question is answered! Maybe it was needed though so we don't start to paper over the cracks at the end of the season of our defence and goalkeeping this year! Soon after we hear the final whistle and overall have been well entertained in the sunshine, but essentially we have learnt absolutely bugger all, because Hull were shit!!!!!

Third Tier, Colin Bell Stand.

Another one slips through the net!!!!

So, I watch the match in a pub just outside Euston station mainly full of gooners and one other city Fan. Mrs by my side playing on her phone completely disinterested, as we spent the last night in the capital taking advantage of some 10 quid train tickets and a booking.com hotel deal for a night to do the things she likes which was the theatre and a museum and if I do this I get no grief about the football! So it's a no brainer and I secretly don't mind it either!!!

Anyway the game! We start well against a soft arse Arsenal team who were there for the taking with the goal from Sane. However something just isn't quite right with us at the moment mentally. Before the game when I saw the line up I turned to my wife, who could have just as easily been a brick wall such is her enthusiasm and stated we have 4 potential captains on the bench in Kompany, Zaba, Yaya and Kolarov, but not one on the pitch! Then asking the question what is this Navas move. Me I repeat from my last post play Zaba, then play fernadhinhio and Yaya in the middle and between Kev and Silva work out who is going on the wing or interchange and finally drop Sterling to the bench with Navas not even figuring. If we had done this we would have crushed these bunch of fannies!!

But instead we keep letting them back into it and only seem to raise are game once they score?! So another two points wasted in a season of missed opportunities which are ability deserves but our tactics and mentality do not.

Strange season this but still enjoyed it a lot more than the depressing Pellegrini era and still fully behind pep, he just needs to figure out a couple of things about us and our subtleties as a team and a club!

A pub bench next to the Mrs down south!

Another one slips through the net!

So, I am back in my seat to watch a premiership game for the first time in what seems like forever and I am expecting the scousers to do what they have done the last few times they have played us and come out all guns blazing giving us no time on the ball, slightly unnerving us. However this time that didn't happen as they looked a bit burnt out! Yet we just couldn't score! Some of this I put down to the horrendous refereeing from that young upstart idiot Oliver who again makes me ask the question why is the whole establishment so against us?! Add to that no luck, no bounce of the ball, no pen and it was the same old story of this season as we don't convert early pressure going into half time at 0-0. Everyone looks a bit out of sorts and none more so than king Kev who had definitely miss placed his crown! A guy who when he first burst on to the scene made every cross and pass count was now failing to complete them for fun!!

No surprise that Oliver gives them a penalty (the rage I felt for him this day was intense, and I'm sure physically unhealthy!), and who pops up boring 'bitter' James Milner, a guy I used to admire who now I hate and am glad we now boo him! He scores for his oh so amazing new club that are so much better than us in every way hey James?!! Do us a favour 'Bitter' James Milner piss off back up the M62 to that much better place!!! However no doubt he probably still just lives around the corner though! He could probably get a 15 quid cab ride home! Like I have said before he burnt bridges he didn't need to, loads of city fans loved him as a player including me and felt for him. Indeed I always said he should have redefined himself with us and it eventually took a strong manager to put him in his actual place! Of which he has two (holding centre mid and full back), now in these positions he could have strived to be the best! Not box to box, the pocket or the wing, not in a billion years!

Anyway, he scores and does a half arsed attempt at not celebrating then eventually celebrates, and with that we are once again behind against the run of play! Par for the course this year. Then this forces a change as Yaya comes off and with the addition of Sagna, who played awful may I add, he releases Fernandhinio to hold and we immediately look more balanced and Kev seems to settle down a bit eventually unlocking Aguero in the 69th and it's all back on! But like a firework that looks like it's going to have an almighty bang but in the end just lets of a weak fart of a noise and just fizzles out, we once again fail to fully deliver on our promise! We simply don't deserve any better this year. So all done, with 2 points dropped and title definitely gone, talking of what might of been as well as what one would like to do with Oliver if you somehow stumble across him!!!

Third tier, Colin bell stand

Monaco to Monaco and not beyond!

So life gets in the way of blogging again rather than blogging getting in the way of life, which I would prefer! Hence one of my well know catch up posts!

I sit here and it is half time in the away leg of the Monaco game and we have been completely outplayed, barely even able to string a pass or two together as we are hustled off the ball! However I will get to that in a bit, let's start at the start!

Let's go back to the first leg of the Monaco game and I go into town to grab a meal in the Northern quarter before the game and I am one of the two thirds who are there for kick off! Obviously you begin to worry that for some reason we haven't turned up, but my mind said no not for something as important as this! Then I looked to the entrances and people were still streaming in and we were about to kick off! They need to sort out the efficiency of security and subsequent cues on week nights with everyone rushing from work as it meant both the crowd and the team started flat.

Anyway the game commenced and you soon realised that all the media hype of it being two attacking heavyweights that are suspect at the back going head to head was actually a correct analogy for a change. With Monaco starting the fresher as we start playing flat in the somewhat flat atmosphere! Nonetheless we got the lead as Sterling once again missed chances and finished the easy one covering up his shortcomings once more, but Monaco were devastating on the attack with immense pace from the wing. With one of these youthful dashes soon finished by the experience of Falcao. A man looking reborn, and nothing like the guy reluctantly brought to the dark side! Who'd blame him though I wouldn't want to play for them either!

What then follows is slug after slug of goals as first they take the lead. Then Willy stands up between the sticks to prevent another from the spot and you can feel the flow of the game change and we soon peg one bag with Sergio, yet not without them going ahead again as Falcao made up for the penalty miss with a  delightful chip. At this point one would have been forgiven for thinking it was over, but it was anything but as we scored three more crowning a great, crazy, exciting, entertaining, unusual night of champions league football.

Other things of note being:

1) I continue to bang the drum of start Zaba, especially with no kompany, as you need your talisman, I repeat you need your talisman, plus people underestimate his attacking overlaps.

2) If I was a central defender and I had lost a true defensive centre mid protection in front of me then I think it would make it a lot harder to defend and I would just hope we scored more than them!

Next was the FA Cup replay that I'm going to dance over as they put out a weak side and got a lead but inevitably our class told and we steadily strolled away with it. In fact sod it I am going to dance over the next 3 games, partly because I couldn't watch them, and partly because I just want to get back to this Monaco game and see if we can get back into this game, so I will pause now to watch it and return, hopefully upbeat with a sneaky away goal!....

I'm back and oh dear what a shame! Nearly hey! We actually played really well second half as I struggle to think a more seesaw of a game?! Monaco amazing first half and crap 2nd and us Woeful first half and very good 2nd half. The reason why I hold back from saying we were amazing apart from the obvious fact that we lost, and the fact that we weren't, is that we again are not converting our pressure and taking our chances. Now how many times have I said that this season. I repeat Sterling still wastes too many chances, Sane also messed up a few opportunities and for this we were punished.

Other things of note:

1) No fucking Zaba again?????????????!!!!! I am getting sick of saying this one!

2) Moving Kev deeper and more defensive made a real difference as it seemed like first half there was only 1 player playing centre mid in the first half and we were getting over run with the other two stranded further up the pitch.

3) I would have again dropped Sterling, played Silva on the wing and played Yaya, Kev and Fernadhinihio in the middle, keeping Sane.

Anyway I am going to bed now gutted, as we should have gone through if we had bothered to turn up and shown a bit more backbone with a few more players for the big occasion i.e. Play Zaba and not Sterling!

Till the next time, the couch!

The resistible force against the moveable object!

Huddersfield it is then in the FA Cup where anything can happen, especially if you give them a pretty poor side to face. A Huddersfield side that I ended up watching by chance in a sports bar in Bulgaria the other week as it was on in the background behind the bar, and I watched them play some delightful football against an in form Brighton team, eventually winning convincingly.

So, we set up with in my mind an over rotated squad team, that lacks any real creativity in the middle and has Kolarov in a position he should never play again at left back. Then not surprisingly what happens is you carry none of that new found confidence into the game!

Myself, I would have played Kolarov and Otamendi in the middle, given Clichey a game. Then in the midfield rested Fernandhinhio playing Fernando and Delph holding and given a young creative player like Garcia a run out or otherwise play an old head like Yaya, rather than the uncreative brick of a midfield we started with.

So, no surprise it's flat - we played decidedly average giving them hope and eventually we have to bring on a couple of big guns in king Kev and Sane, but even they can't change the flow of this boring stagnant game that ended as it started at 0-0, having zero impact upon my life apart from a modicum of frustration. For me there's a way of winning those that rests enough players, avoids major injuries and most importantly keeps motivation, confidence and momentum in the camp. As who needs a replay! However, alas, replay it is!

The couch.

Silva served up a delicious 'Sane' that put us back on a roll!

These are the games that define seasons, the games that you can do easily lose, the games that recently we have been ballsing up. So with Chelsea failing to secure all 3 points we headed to tiny fortress Bournemouth, that was due a win, on a cold February Monday night with a chance to make it a realistic title challenge once more.

So, we start the game in the 4,3,3 formation once more with Sergio on the wing and I start to ask myself is he going at the end of the season or what? As I repeat I would drop Sterling and play Jesus in a wider role for now. I also repeat that I am a little sceptical of Yaya in 4,3,3 against any decent opposition. The only other things of note being: Willy in goal which you can feel just brings an air of calm, (which says a lot for the confidence sapping Bravo, for if confidence is built from the bottom up that guy was a stumbling block before you got out of the blocks!), Secondly, Fernandhinio at right back with Sagne switched to the left (where is Zaba is he injured? Anyway Fernandhinio I thought looked good as a full back and like Millner at Liverpool can definitely do what's required as I believe most holding midfielders can do at full back, in this I include myself!), Finally no Otamendi in favour of a Kolarov/Stones partnership (so a fair bit of tinkering in the defence!)

The game starts and within no time I know who my main men are to watch as they dominate that left side, in Silva and Sane. Sane especially has definitely found his feet in the last few weeks and for me is becoming as much of a revelation as Jesus almost. However I am still not buying into Sterling being put into this category as Niall Quinn so wanted to do (a commentator I rarely ever agree with) and once again this was cemented with his man of the match choice! How did he not chose Sane or Silva? What game was he watching?? What it did remind me however was that football is decided on such fine margins! In that moments before Sterling's easy tap in when he missed again from close range I texted Jim this 'Sterling can't score for shit!' Followed moments later by 'They are the only ones he can score! Tap ins!' To be fair to him he is improving but on the wing not in front of goal, but Man of the Match Quinn you are dreaming, and I simply wouldn't sacrifice Sergio for him, unless behind closed restaurant doors Sergio has said he is going no matter what! Who knows hey?! One thing I do know is Sterling should spend the whole summer facing one on one's with the keeper, crosses in front of goal and should go on a troubleshooting course to train his mind to make quicker more instinctive, decisive decisions! As he could have had at least 10 more this season and with that we could have had at least the same number in extra points this season as a result.

Anyway, back to the game and yes we get the breakthrough eventually that Sterling gratefully taps in. With early pressure again rewarded, as we seemingly turn a corner and finally start to get what we deserve.

Other things of note for the half being we are dealt a blow as we see the arrival of Sergio for all the wrong reasons as Jesus limps off! Something at the time you hoped was precautionary, but seemingly not! What a big blow hey!

Half time comes and goes and Howe manages to rally his troops who come out fighting and for the first 10/15 minutes asking a few questions without to many actual clear cut chances, but then Sane again work's his magic and eventually Sergio is unlucky not to be able to claim a goal (I actually think it was goal bound). From there we moved to the more familiar 5 in midfield with a few substitutions and again like the last game I thought we looked more complete and polished in this set up with some once again delightful interplay at times. Eventually seeing it out for a very competent 2-0 victory that puts the 'willies' up Chelsea! With my MOM Silva, swiftly followed by Sane.

The Couch.

Bulgarian Blunder!

So, as mentioned in the last post - I was on a long weekend snowboarding with the lads which was good. However, what wasn't good was my lack of thought to technological advancement as I checked the kick-off time on my Forza app and chose to add 2 hours to it for the time difference when Forza (and the wonders of modern technology!) had very kindly already done it for me! So, I had my almost perfect day of snowboarding, the city game, a 2 hour massage and out for the evening somewhat torpedoed as I arrived at the rendezvous cafe on the ski road home at 4:30. Casually strolling up to the table where Tony sat I thought I had an hour to spare to finish the last leg of the slopes get rid of my gear at get to 'Amigos' for the game, only to be told by Tony that it was half time already! So, hearing the devastating news I quickly strapped my board back in and thundered down the mountain to try and catch as much of the 2nd half as possible! The only comfort being the fact that Tony informed me as I was abruptly leaving that the new Messiah had scored after 11 minutes on his full home debut to leave us 1-0 up at half time! Finally we have someone who can capitalise on early pressure! With this knowledge also leading me to ponder whether Sergio was on the bench or not?

Anyway, I legged it to the bar and met up with one of the other guys, Jay, who after a lot of drinking the night before had had enough and packed it in at lunch time! I looked up at the screen and the clock to see 68 minutes staring back at me! Dumb ass me! Interrogating jay, a Liverpool fan, on how it had gone he said we hadn't played that well from what he saw and Swansea were actually having the better of the 2nd half to this point.

I then checked my 'oh so intelligent' Forza app! For the formation and saw that we had set up in what they believed to be a 4,3,3 formation with Fernandhinio at right back and no sign of Sergio! Obviously I wasn't able to analyse exactly what zones players actually picked up in reality so I am not going to comment on that, but what I would say is I would worry about Yaya becoming too exposed in a true 4,3,3. As for Sergio well you know my opinion on that from other posts, in that I would drop Sterling to accommodate the Messiah.

So, I start watching the 25 minutes of my addiction and we don't look dynamic at all, with everything looking a bit static. The only player standing out at all being Sane who seems to have really lifted his game and is starting to look very exciting as he begins to start living up to his hype with his electric feet and bi-line wizardry.

Then they score and you could just feel it coming in the minutes leading up to the goal. Leading to that inevitable sinking feeling, with this time ones gut saying drop these two points and we can kiss goodbye to any outside chance of the league as 12 points is too much and besides we will have lost that much needed momentum yet again!

Then low and behold we make two substitutions with Zaba and Sergio coming on and from what I could see we looked more direct and balanced with the ever dependable Zaba offering his usual overlaps down the right flank and Sergio linking up well in our play to create the much needed penetration that lead to that beautiful equaliser which had me screaming and jumping up and down in the bar as the only city fan in there and at the time the only one making any noise! The rest were mainly Welsh watching the six nations game on other screens, with one eye on their country men in the football as there was quite a few cheers when Swansea scored even though they were first and foremost rugby men.

So happy days, momentum firmly flowing! The league still an outside possibility and most importantly our new signing simply world class! However I hope we heed my advice and keep long standing servants! So on that note I end with Play Sergio, drop Sterling.

Amigos, Bansko!

Just Beautiful.

Dancing over the Palace game, as I couldn't find any stream of it no matter how hard I tried, we won easily, and it was the early stages of the cup. Pausing only to comment on my constant study of Big or Fat Sam, I think there is no doubt that he is firmly Fat Sam at the moment with his stupidity at England and then impacting like a wet fart with his introduction at Palace! Indeed he is going to have to work his fat ass off to become Big Sam again!! However a final day of the season survival act might do it for some idiots in the media who like to comment! Me I see it as Fat Sam's philosophical statement of how the world is these days, as it doesn't matter how you look or how you act as long as you are rich!!! 'Fat Cat Sam' for me!

The other reason to swiftly move on is to impatiently get to last nights game as quick as I can! Jesus we were good! As I sat back to watch the game on the couch it just felt like a must win game with those jammy sods from Salford creeping up behind like a desperate mugger in a dark park!

It commences with an exciting attacking team sheet, which attacking wise I would have picked except for Jesus on the wing instead of Sterling and Sergio up top. The defence I was a little less sure of on recent form, but as it was it was rarely tested, and finally yes I was glad to see Willy in goal as I think Willy's presence created an air that immediately left us all feeling that bit more assured, highlighting how bad Bravo is at present! His poor performances not only costing goals but reducing overall club confidence and highlighting for me that success is first and foremost built with a strong foundation! For you can tippy tippy and ponce around all you want but if you are doing it on unstable foundations the house no matter how glorious will always eventually topple! Indeed strong foundations (in a keeper desperate to be back in Spain, but forced against his will to stay!!!) can make an ugly old build which has seen better days still manage to get buy!  

Straight away we look good like most other games this season, but soon we start to look great as king Kev seems so excited to be playing with the new Messiah! Highlighted completely in the final ball to him for the first goal! Beautiful, bloody beautiful. Now this difference meant we scored early and had something to show for the early pressure, something we have been so desperate for all season! Then everyone started stepping up Sane looked electric and showed another level, Silva was everywhere, Yaya was spraying it around and Sterling was wisely kept wide to the wings, not on the end of the chances, and as such was more effective and less frustrating.

Sane was great for Silva's goal and then perfectly on cue Jesus get his debut goal and what a great first half that was, it was delightful! Yes the Hammers were dog shit but they were made to look dog shit by some world class football on a big pitch that gave us the room to play. It was that good you just couldn't wait for the second half for more of the same! This was again forthcoming and although not reflected in the same number of goals was highly pleasurable as well, with us eventually strolling to the victory whilst giving our top players a rest and a few coming back to the fold a chance to shine.

So, all in all a great night of football and I don't see any reason why we can't keep the centre mid trio for the Swansea game at the weekend for more of the same, just a shame I won't be there to watch as I am off to Bulgaria skiing today and have had to give my ticket to Jim!

The couch

The good, the bad and the nearly boys!

So, it's been a while and the New Years resolution of regular posts is broken already, as overworking and some unfortunate circumstances mean I have little time to post. Anyway, the West Ham game I couldn't get in front of to watch and by all accounts I missed the sort of football I have been hoping we would play all season, in that: more of the same, whilst being a bit more direct and this time taking our chances!

Next, Everton and oh dear what happened there hey! From the comfort of my couch I watched us get off to a solid start dominating the possession yet again. However once more we didn't take our chances, with too many falling to Sterling. Yes he has got better than the 50p player of last year, but he is my no means a £50 million player yet! For a £50 million player has composure in front of goal and converts a team's pressure! Yes it was a penalty and yes we continue to get no decisions as united are awarded a load of crucial goals in games that shouldn't have been goals, and that seems destined not to change anytime soon, but Sterling should have dinked it over the keeper or even gone to his right away from the defender, but the simple fact is he was looking for the penalty because he is scared! Scared of finishing! Yet at the moment he is on the end of all our moves?! Again I beat the drum of a missed opportunity is like half a goal to them and drains your confidence, especially when it is happening week in week out and in a world where momentum is key you get the opposite effect. So no surprise it happened again! You then combine that with at present a dreadful keeper who couldn't stop a sloth with a hangover from getting past him and what proved to be the wrong decision of playing Stones at his former club, which actually started to ask the question is Kolarov now a more reliable choice at centre back? All this combined together lead to that disastrous score line!

So, next was Tottenham and in general I like the team sheet for firstly something I pondered the other week happened as we played all our talent in the middle, and you know what it worked for me and that's because  the ginger prince works hard, Silva although small is tenacious and Yaya is the fittest I have ever seen him. Secondly the defence was as good as we can put out at the moment. This team didn't disappoint for I though we played really well against a strong resurgent Spurs who we made to look decidedly average for most of the game. However it happened again! With everything falling to Sterling who delivered more of the same with his dreadful, woeful, appalling finishing! I can not underestimate how bad he is in front of goal and is a £15 million player at best, one that should be managed to the wings if he plays at all, not finding himself on the end of our moves. Once more he went looking for penalties as he is literally scared of the opportunity to fail! Once more it wasn't to be, but at least Loris gifted us a couple of goals later on which for our dominance was no less than we deserved and for a moment the atmosphere was back but with our fragile confidence and unshakable bad luck combined with yet more dodgy decisions we just couldn't hold on. However there was one big plus at the end, namely our new Jesus and he showed signs that he could be the Messiah and everything that Sterling is not! God it would have been sweet if that goal wasn't offside! He looks like the real deal and makes you excited to want to watch him.

So Palace away next, lets see if we can make the tweaks and catch the breaks to finally turn the corner.

Absent, the couch and the edge of my Etihad seat!

We gave them one and we were still dominant!

So Burnley arrive, but to be honest they don't really, as an unusual line up, that sees Silva and Aguero rested, sets out to face them. Again as you would expect we had the lions share of possession and we soon create two clear cut chances, but once again failed to score. At the risk of sounding like a broken record this is our major problem this season and you could feel/see the confidence drain out of the team and crowd and into the opposition! Indeed a missed opportunity is like half a goal to them in momentum and confidence, with the fact that we have not been getting traction and momentum this year being the major frustration all around the club.

Then Fernandhinio does that! My view is he was stupid in that he made Mason, who had an awful game, ask the question, and what in many games would be a strong yellow debating it could have been a red but quickly forgotten became a straight red because I am convinced for whatever reason the establishment does not want to see us do well, whether it be the officials or the media.

Anyway, he goes off and it doesn't look any different they are that poor and actually highlights in games like this we could in fact play three ball players in the middle to break through the parked bus. So with half time arriving there was still a lot of belief around the ground.

That was bolstered by the arrival of two of our main men off the bench for the second half. One was rarely aware we had 10 such was our superiority and our pressure eventually told from the unlikely source of Clichy who I was glad to see on the pitch from the start and as I said should have started the Liverpool game as well. However Kolarov was still on the pitch at his new/better position of centre back, where he played well. Creating the debate of him or Stones at that position. With my present stance being you can start him there against lower opposition but at present he hasn't got enough experience for the big games and like I have said before a mistake in him. Stones still has a lot to prove though and here's one for the mix, what about giving him a run as a wing back at times in a role swap with Kolarov?! Using his football skill down the flank more.

Anyway back to the game, the 2nd followed quickly as we finally found a bit of luck with the ball to Sterling and his weird dive thing that eventually came to Sergio and what a finish hey!

We looked like we were cruising with 10 men and then they had a number of corners which eventually resulted in a goal. We need to study how they whip it right into the mixer and clear the man on the front post because they looked dangerous every time from here.
However even with this we held out pretty comfortably and showed we are still a force to be reckoned with no matter what we have to overcome, we just need some luck and traction.

Then Pep shows his frustration with what I think is due to the medias coverage of him and us over the past few weeks. Indeed I am in a football what's app simply for arranging a Sunday game, but it seemed like a United forum with everyone seemingly catching the media bug of constant criticism of Pep. Which in my mind is jealousy and a want to attempt to destabilise us, mainly through fear of what we could be. So this was my response on that platform:

"Didn't realise I was on a United forum! We won, we beat them with 10 men. We also made United look like idiots at their home, we made Barca look like idiots 2nd half at home and for 50 odd minutes made Chelsea look like fools until our best player missed an open goal. We have missed loads of chances this season, had bad luck at times and yes Pep has made the odd mistake at times but he is new and he is still class. Yet the witch hunt for us in the media, and it seems here as well, continues, with teams with way worse problems out there! I think that is what he was getting at in his rant. I can't believe the media has been saying he is under pressure! We were loved when we were shit and now targeted because we are not, what a load of bollocks."

No one challenged this statement because it is true! The other thing that was interesting off this what's app, was my mate who I run it with is an uber driver and look who he had in the back of his cab on Tuesday:

Which was sent with this statement which was a little unsettling!

"He said he may be leaving the club" My mate is a United fan though! However he swears it is true.

So, an eventful Bank holiday game which I guess at least made it pretty exciting!

Colin Bell Stand, Third Tier.

Goodbye 2016 you won't be missed!

So, I settled down to watch the game on the couch having just talked to my mate who looks after my blog for me, he loves his sports bets and asked me if I had any tips. My response being: 'I just don't know it depends on what he puts out, but I imagine it will be close maybe a draw.'

Anyway, I see the team sheet and there are two things I disagreed with! Firstly as I have always said I would play Clichy over Kolarov every time at left back. As although he has improved significantly (especially at centre back) Kolarov always has a mistake in him, like against Spurs away. Then the game starts and they look well up for it pressuring us constantly and then from that pressure what happens what a surprise Kolarov makes not one mistake but two and they are in the lead! Who would have thought that might happen hey! The new revitalised Kolarov is still a utility player at best, not a starter for a big away game if everyone else is fit and even if you were to start him, only start him at centre back!

Secondly, I disagreed with starting Sterling here, as I don't think he has the composure for the hatred! If you look at his character he is nervous and insecure in front of goal and very much a fragile confidence player, he is not someone who can block it all out regardless and for that reason don't play him. Something again I was proven right by as the crowd and his counterpart Milner kept him on a tight leash - A player I use to love and feel sorry for in equal measures that I now hate and wish no good for in equal measures! As for me he had a lot of supporters at City who he should have just acted with a bit of decorum with! I wish we still had him and if you look up my really old post I always said he would make a great holding midfielder or fullback, for how much better is he than Kolarov! More fool us but like I say just a shame he acted like a bit of a little baby when it all played out, I guess he is a Yorkshireman though!!!!!!

Back to the game anyway! Liverpool continue to press us for all the first half and we never looked comfortable on the ball. Apart from the two selection mistakes mentioned above the rest of the team was how I would have had it, but then the next main problem was 'Kev' just didn't turn up for there was nothing royal about his performance. Indeed when he first came to us and hit the ground running I remember someone saying that his only downfall is he is known for going missing in away games and this was definitely the case here! Unable to stamp any authority on the game he was eventually marginalised to the wing in favour of Silva. With the only other question I ask myself here being if Yaya hadn't apologised and we had no other choice would we be better off with both Kev and Silva in the middle supported by Fernandhinio and then have two out and out wingers in Navas and Nolito for this match. My mind says maybe!

However at half time, like the Arsenal game I still had belief as Liverpool would definitely tire for no one can play at that tempo, and tire they did! Indeed I have also heard Klopp's teams do this in games and seasons as he eventually runs them out of energy with his tactics. Unfortunately though we are in a little bit of a funk and we couldn't capitalise on this or our pressure/possession and their tired legs were able to just hang on to their goal.

In conclusion not the best, but not the end of the world as yet and definitely fixable, but then you hear the witch hunt in the media and again I am drawn to the poison that surrounds us as a club from the outside. Hopefully though that just makes the strong get closer, hunker down and work harder together!

Finally, great to see Vinney in the crowd!

The couch, my house.