07 Feb 2021 00:07:50
For as disappointing as tonight's result was, I thought it worth pointing out that we have only dropped 7 points from winning positions in the league this season and 3 of those came in a match where we got battered 6-1. I was actually surprised by that stat as it feels like we throw games away quite often, but yeah. Apparently nowhere near as often as I thought.
That said, our defending tonight was absolutely shocking and how we failed to see that one out when we had a free kick with about 20 seconds left on the clock I'll never know. For as amazing as he's been over the years, I think it's now time for De Gea to go (annoying that we treated Romero so badly as we could have done with keeping him as backup for Hendo) and we desperately need a new CB; if not two.
It sickens me a little that we spent £80m on HM and I fear that we'll be stuck with him now for quite some time, or, at the very least, until Ole gets sacked. He is one of the worst center backs I've seen playing regularly for our club in my lifetime and that he cost so much is just salt in the wound.
There are still plenty of positives (both our fullbacks assisted again today and Bruno and Cavani were excellent once again) and we'll improve further if Rashford, Martial and Greenwood can rediscover their form from the second half of last season, but I can see this season once again ending with 3rd place and three semi final defeats and fans left asking what if. The league is there for the taking, but I fear we lack the defensive stability to take it.
07 Feb 2021 01:53:39
I agree with most part mate but the league is not there for the taking. Its there for City if they won't loose tomorrow. I also don't agree entirely on De Gea, i think he is not so big problem and at the first goal hadnt many options. In any case i think he lacka confidence and makes second thoughts because of the defence.
07 Feb 2021 06:13:17
Totally agree and when u have a dodgy defender like maguire any top keeper will have second thoughts.
07 Feb 2021 06:51:31
How often has DDG made these mistakes. The 3rd goal he could have come out to try and stop CL. He just stood rooted to the spot.
07 Feb 2021 07:57:40
Herrera: He’s been making these mistakes for several years now and we’ve reached a point where he’s costing us more points than he saves. I’ve no doubts it’s a confidence issue as on his day he just might be the best keeper in the world, but how long does he need to get his confidence back? Ole has stuck by him a lot longer than most managers would have and he’s still underperforming.
As for the league, City will drop points between now and the end of the season; most likely in the next few games. They also still have to play us again before the seasons over and will have games coming thick and fast with European football starting up again soon (not to mention their two rearranged games) . Perhaps ‘was’ would have been more fitting than ‘is’ as I think recent results have forced us out of the running even though there’s still a slim chance. Had the Glazers brought in a new CB at the start of January when we were still right in it though (or better still, last summer), I would have fancied us to clinch top spot.
07 Feb 2021 13:05:53
De Gea is the victim of his own success. We were used for a number of years (5+) for him to make world class saves almost every match and little wrong. Mates that watch Bundesliga will say that Noier has made a hell a lot of mistakes and in the same time (2012-2018) our own De Gea made far far less. He was magnificent.
We used it and that guide in overaction. I keep hearing for two years that "De Gea make mistakes for several years". In fact De Gea was magnificent in 2018 conceded 17 less goals than the expected goals against suggested. Then the summer made some mistakes with his national team who plays the ball from the back. And then all our team played badly because of toxicity of Zose.
Then Ole came, played from the back and De Gea made mistakes (coincidence? ) and making things worst they bought for me the worst defender in our history. Jones was never too bad because he knew his limitations and didn't drive the ball in blind positions, Smalling was a far better defender and ofcourse a lot quicker too etc.
You can look at Allison's mistakes having in front of him Fabinho etc who play more like midfielders rather than defenders. And Allison is the best keeper the last two years, still he makes mistakes because of second thoughts.
Was redseven. We always knew that we are not the big boys and we depend in others slip ups. The time City found their form its themes.