Lucky To Get Nil: Chelsea v City Pre-Match Post-Match Review

In the news today: “Andre Villas-Boas has launched a scathing attack on Gary Neville over the pundit's "ridiculous" criticisms of his Chelsea players. The Portuguese manager also suggested that other former professionals working in the media spoke from a "biased position in their opinion-making".  

No Shit, Sherlock. Read more: Lucky To Get Nil: Chelsea v City Pre-Match Post-Match Review

Lucky To Get Nil: Things We Have Learned From The CL Experience

So.

I was late getting to the Bayern game, and they'd run out of my favourite pies in ASDA. Then my girlfriend informed me that she had packed her City soft toy penguin in a box ready for our impending house move; rather than Vincent (as he is known because he's 'Kompany' for her) being proudly on display on the bedside table. I knew at that point we were going to have a bad night, and my misery at the end of the game was only compounded by being hit by some twat in a lorry on the M60 on the way home.

And yet, listening to the radio after the game, it was full of City fans who were at the very worst philosophical about our removal from the CL. Many were actually quite cheerful, saying we were ahead of schedule etc and that despite press speculation to the contrary, Bobby had done a good job so far.

This morning The Guardian ran the latest in it's Five Things We Learned series http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/dec/07/manchester-city-bayern-munich-jamie-jackson and the positivity continued. I want to pick up on three of the points made in this article, and add a few of my own. Maybe also you can join in with your own comments... 

1) We Won't Make The Same Mistakes Next Year
This is true. I remarked to the guy in the seat next to me towards the end of the game that I felt we had finally learned how to play in the CL - just a shame it was too late. I think we've got savvier and are thinking about our game more. Ok, we are still asleep at corners, but overall we are improving. What Bayern did brilliantly last night was show that you can have a defensive-minded approach without putting 10 men behind the ball. They pressed the man high up the pitch and squeezed the spaces. This forced us to play much quicker than we normally do - our ponderous Premiership buildups with interminable sideways passes were not possible against a team which was going to challenge us constantly for possession. This is good for us - we should implement this increased speed in the PL and we would tear teams apart. I think we are capable of playing a high-intensity game with power and control much better after the CL experience.

2) Barry MVP
I've been aaying to anyone who would listen for a while now that Barry is our most underrated player and a strong candidate for Player Of The Year to date. His all-round game has improved - he doesn't give the ball away nearly as much as he used to (Yaya's taken that one over) and he has added a dimension to what he does. His abilty to turn quickly and outmanoevre opponents is excellent as is his close control. He's also got much steelier in the tackle and is attempting Nige-style interceptions. I also think his aerial game has improved. I think he and Milner are definitely up there in any poll of our MVP so far this season.

3) One Robbie Savage
FINALLY Savic is looking a player. He had way his best game last night for us. He was strong in the tackle, rarely caught out of position and showed a neat turn of foot on more than one occasion. I can see now why Bobby bought him. Give him some more game time, also binning off the ridiculous and clearly past-it Toure, and we might well have a decent defender on our hands. Good on you Robbie! 

4) Play The Wardrobe More Withdrawn 
The more times I see The Wardrobe pick it up from deep and run with it, the more I think his best position might be withdrawn on the left. He has an excellent turn of pace and close control, and is much more dangerous running at defenders than as a target man. AJ might not like it, but The Wardrobe has shown he's actually a half-decent left winger!

5) 6th Officials - What Are They For?
As far as I could see last night, the officlals behind the goal serve no purpose at all, other than to further ponce up already-poncey refereeing decisions. Nasri's free-kick goal was a goal and the little twat in green's only contribution to the game that I could see was to influence an already-precious Ref to disallow it. And what the HELL was he holding? Some kind of magic wand? Bring back Jack Taylor is what I say.

So that's my go - what lessons do YOU think we learned from last night???

Lucky To Get Nil: City v Bayern Pre-Match Post-Match Review

“ZO…F.C HOLLYWOOD. LET US SEE VOT YOU ARE MADE OF….”

The scene: deep in the bowels of Etihad Road, an hour before the game: Oberleutnant Silva, resplendent in jackboots, whip and Allgemeine SS Visor Cap (look it up) paced the jockstrap-strewn floor of an ill-at-ease dressing room.

“ZEY SINK ZEY ARE GOING TO PUT US OUT OF ZE CHAMPIONLEAGUE. I SAY NEIN!!!”

In a scene reminiscent of Dr Strangelove, the diminutive Spaniard appeared to have become so obsessed by the threat posed by The Fatherland, he had turned into a power-crazed Nazi Officer, in order to drum up the maximum effort from the cowering jellies - purporting to be footballers - before him. Read more: Lucky To Get Nil: City v Bayern Pre-Match Post-Match Review

Everything you need to know: MCFC v NCFC

More stuff than you can shake a pointy stick at ...  Read more: Everything you need to know: MCFC v NCFC