For sure the talking points since that game have revolved around whether Kyle Walker and Morgan Schneiderlin should have seen red. Second talking point concerned whether Kun Aguero and Domenic Calvert-Lewin should have faced retrospective action for simulation.
Let me get those incidents out of the way first before moving on to the aspects of the game I do wish to talk about. Taking Walker first, I do not have a problem with the first yellow card. I personally do not think that it should have been given, but I understand why it was. With the second yellow I am confused as to why, when arms were not raised or swung, that the referee thought a second yellow was appropriate.
With Schneiderlin I think the second yellow was a little harsh but it is the Everton mans fault completely to even give the referee that chance. Firstly, your side are a man up and level on the score-sheet when you decide to go in, from behind and with force. It wasn't as if it was in a dangerous part of the field either. City were in their own half at that point.
As for the retrospective action for Kun and Calvert-Lewin, we now know they will not face punishment from the FA, and I think that is correct. That may not surprise you with Kun as I have already commented on the tackle which floored him as being stupid and reckless. The Everton man though I think should also avoid punishment because there was contact, just not with the face from Walkers elbow. Fact is the referee should be removed from duties this weekend and he should be the only one facing punishment after the game.
So, with that out of the way, what did we learn?
LEROY SANE:
I cannot believe that the Germany International got caught with a foul throw not once, but twice in the game. Surely at this point in your career, at this level it should be something second nature to you. That said, he isn't the only Premiership player I have seen do that.
Left wing back? With the injury to Mendy and considering the change we saw when he came on for Danilo previously, I am not totally against him playing back there. He certainly offers us pace and lets be honest, other than the mistake which led to the goal, was he really caught out that badly?
Professional, natural defenders have been guilty of making similar mistakes all throughout their careers and so I think Sane will grow and learn from it. Will he be starting in that position again away to Bournemouth? I wouldn't be unhappy with that decision.
KUN AGUERO:
Yes he may be the joint top Non EU goalscorer in Premiership history, but recently he has also been one of the most wasteful in front of goal. Monday night was more of the same, looking for that picture perfect finish when probably lacing it first time would have been better.
That would be my only argument for not playing two up front. Really we only have Jesus and Aguero in contention so who are they competing with for their starting spot?
RAHEEM STERLING:
Again, a similar complaint as I have for Aguero. Skied a shot from inside the six yard box while putting away a slightly more difficult one, although more central, when hitting it first time.
That said, his running excited me and I think he is growing in confidence to take his man on.
STYLE OF PLAY:
Pep sets us up to play with pace and precision passing. However we start off as if we are running in molases. Our build up initially was too slow and too predictable in the early running.
The last fifteen or twenty minutes we did play with pace and we did create good movement in and behind their back-line. That is the key for us, and the reason why an early goal is vital for us when playing this way.
Sides will hunker down and we have to draw them out in order to make spaces behind. A good way to do that is to have them chasing a deficit.
FLARES:
Not a good idea to set off fireworks on a Manchester evening right before kick off. The smoke took an eternity to lift and didn't make it clear to see to much of the pitch. Another time we set off fireworks before a Monday night game was 25 years ago. That was the Premier Leagues first Monday night game when City host QPR at Maine Road. That goal ended up in a 1-1 draw also, and was not the spectacle it was built up to be.
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