I was watching on television (unavoidably) and feared the worst
4-4-2 against Man C? will we ever get the ball? how will we protect the back 4?
then i saw City line up with a back 3 with one centre back and a left back Kolarov who i knew lacked pace and on his last visit to our patch played most of the match as a left wing, meaning it was basically two at the back. Zabaleta appeared to be playing some undefined position almost like an old fashioned half-back, and before i had a chance to be more optimistic we were two up
i was staggered at Man C's approach.
Team after team this season has defended deep against us and cramped the space in behind for Vardy to run onto.
Team after team has double marked Mahrez thinking that our other players could not beat them (correctly)
and the visitors yesterday seemed to turn up with none of this, indeed without any tactics when they were without the ball whatsoever and we made hay
this doesn't necessarily represent a turning point, because sure enough there will be no space in behind come Bournemouth on tuesday but it was nice to see us able to play the style that was so successful last season, for once
thought this was a fun stat
| Click to see full-size image. |
and this from the press conference, about the fact his side hadn't made a tackle in the first 30 mins:
Guardiola "I am not a coach for tackles."
well i tell you what, for a game in the pouring rain against an opponent with their backs to the wall, it might be time to start Pep
for us, Schmeichel and Drinkwater back Tuesday. lets see if this is a flash in the pan.
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