9 Comments
User's avatar
Nigel Wilkinson's avatar

Whilst it is true there is something lacking at times all over the pitch, especially composure in front if goal - headless chicken Savinho the worst culprit, but not alone ! - I truly believe there is the PL/PGMOL anti City conspiracy. There is simply no other way to explain the Foden non-penalty (surely also a Red Card as late, reckless, high & last man !!?), the farcical re-drawing of Dias actual position to justify the second goal, plus the handball penalty claim also denied - now that is NOT a “natural position” !!! It happened with the penalty at Brighton, the Bournemouth ‘goal’, and tbh countless other occasions, this season and others to be otherwise.

Expand full comment
Dan Burke's avatar

I’d forgotten about the handball actually! Good point

Expand full comment
Nigel Wilkinson's avatar

Yes, look at that one and the one we had given against us at Brighton !!? 😂😂

Expand full comment
V four vendetta's avatar

That Savinho comment is superb ! It’s very difficult to see what he actually brings to the team , he has had one or two decent games but not much more imho , and I personally hardly ever blame individual players ! The foden “ penalty” is one of the most nailed on spot kicks I have ever seen not given . Inept officials to blame obviously but of course there is actually no guarantee that it would have been converted! To lose 4 games before the end of November and realistically not be out of the title race is quite ridiculous and if Chelsea beat Arsenal at home next Sunday it’s game on again , assuming city defeat those loveable West Yorkshire “ peacocks “ the day before .

Expand full comment
Matt Toole's avatar

One thing I thought was their passing and off ball movement was slow at times, compared to pre International break. Not something as sexy to mention as ref corruption though.

Expand full comment
Migsy's avatar

Brilliant piece Dan, I love your descriptions of situations and players. We were not able to watch the game just keep up with the scores, so rely on fans and others to describe the game. From what I have read City were denied decisions that hopefully they could have built on, but no point in thinking it would have made a difference now. Even Rooney I believe thought Foden should have had the nailed on pen. But you are totally right, the players need to focus on winning and get some fire back in their bellies. Wasteful seems to be the word for a lot of failings this season so far. Let’s hope the juggernaut arrives at its usual time in the New Year.

Expand full comment
Hank traitor-face's avatar

I didn’t see the match either in person or live on tv as I was on my way to see “ heaven 17 “ at Manchester ritz - who were excellent!! The two main members on stage who have been in the band since 1981 are both avid Sheffield Wednesday fans ( Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory ) and I did see their derby match live on itv yesterday and they were utterly abysmal ,and almost certainly on their way back down to league 1 with hopefully new owners . What has this got to do with city ?? Not a lot !!! But it just shows how football fortunes can differ - city get foreign owners who pump several hundred million quid in whilst Wednesday( a club probably very similar in stature support wise to city ? ) get foreign owners who bleed them dry !

Expand full comment
Sam Patterson's avatar

Neutrals were happy! Wide Open entertaining match.

Our opponents’s tactics will include constant fouling, high pressure coupled with an official unwilling to flash his cards. I expect more of this in the future matches.

I suspect American owners prefer league parity not single club dominance. I choose to believe in conspiracy.

Expand full comment
Graham Ward's avatar

Donnarumma certainly earned his corn during this one as a whole, but he was also VERY close to causing the worst possible start in the opening seconds. Lucky there.

As far as the Foden 'penalty' is concerned, it was pointed out on a City forum I'm a member of that late in the second half on a City counter that Gonzalez was fouled after passing the ball foward - the referee blew for it then. This is an example of the in game inconsistency that drives us all to exasperation.

Like Villa, another frustrating loss, but there's plenty of time left, but Arsenal did brush Spurs aside easily yesterday. The latter were pretty poor in my view.

Expand full comment