- Jun 13, 2008
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This wont be popular at all and trust me im ecstatic about us winning but that first half in particular was awful in an attacking sense. Defensively we have improved although we still give away chances but this is Man City but going forward we had no idea particularly first half.
People keep saying this, but I'm not sure what you and others are expecting?
When you employ tactics like that - and lets be clear it wasn't drop off a little, invite the opposition forward, and then when they cough up the ball spring counter attacks on them like Southampton last weekend. Today and vs. Liverpool was, until the red card, pure park the bus defensive stuff - you simply aren't going to get any decent football. How can you when your two banks of four are stuck in their own penalty area and the vast majority of the time scrambling away an awkward bouncing ball under pressure, just having to clear their lines. Often the players are weary from minutes of tracking runners, trying to stay alert, and doing their defensive duties and are just glad of the brief respite and a chance to take a breather and reorganise. No one is passing out and playing out from there.
It is an approach with no real interest in attacking or using the ball. You soak up pressure and see what you can steal. You will get half a dozen counter opportunities in the game, the opposition might make a mistake and gift you something (this was pretty much what changed the game today, the error from the corner allowing Winks to go steaming off up field and the subsequent red card) which led to a totally different last quarter of the match), or make the most of set pieces. Playing football takes a back seat.