There’ll be no pre-match blog pointing ahead of our European match on Wednesday night at Juventus.
Quick comment on Yesterday’s draw at Palace
Bad points?
·Poor, poor start by us yesterday; not taking any momentum from last Wednesday night’s win.
·Still some poor decision-making being made as well as some poor, sometimes suicidal passes. Even the likes of Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne aren’t immune at the moment.
·We still have players who just CANNOT find any form – Kyle Walker, Rico Lewis and, in some ways I’m sorry to add, Savinho. He’s no shrinking violet for sure and, for that, hopefully the assists and goals will come for the attacking winger over time. However, things just aren’t happening for our summer signing at the mo.
·We’re still far too easy to get through and then, once past our midfield, far too easy to breach. At least once yesterday, Palace were attacking and all-three of our central midfielders were in the oppositions third of the pitch. There was literally nothing between the attacking Palace players and our fragile defence.
·So many of us City fans have been saying this for SEASONS, especially about the left but now-also the right; we’re so, so desperate for a new left-wing back and a new right-wing back.
·Pep looked utterly exhausted, fed up and irritable in both the post-match interview and post-match press conference. ☹
·At a time where we have a fair number of injuries once again and don’t ever seem far away from more injuries around the next corner; Rico Lewis’ red card and a 1-league match bad does not help our cause. In some ways the second yellow was a little harsh when you look at it slowed down…but in other ways it was definitely silly / naive.
·Two MORE goals conceded.
Positives.
·Ilkay Gundogan still has plenty of room for further improvement but I think he’s showing signs of getting closer to what we’ve seen of him in the past before his move to Spain.
·Likewise Kevin – he’s getting there and I just hope we can keep him fit / use him wisely.
·Matheus Nunes gets another assist to his name.
·Two goals scored and a goal for Erling.
·Ruben Dias’ display was fantastic yesterday – easily his best performance of the season and for some time otherwise. Long may that continue because…wow do we need him and performances like that.
·The way we came back after a poor start to the game and from behind twice shows that, although their confidence might be still fragile, the determination to fight on still exists. Pep never has a doubt about his player’s mentality when he talks to the press about them and I don’t think any City fan has cause to doubt ‘em either.
·The fans were fantastic yesterday, I thought.
Next up? Juventus away.
They’re unbeaten in the league but have NINE draws in their opening fifteen matches! Sadly, or perhaps not depending on how you view it, I think a draw is all we can expect at best on Wednesday. I just pray we don’t come back from Italy with any more injuries ahead of a derby; where we will face a manger who got the better of Pep when they faced each other just a few weeks ago.
Next up for me, blog wise, will be that derby game…