Champions League: Shakhtar Reaction

It has been quite a while since I last sat down at the computer to write something about Manchester City. An increased work load combined with other issues led to the absence which, despite this piece, may continue. I did feel that I needed to write about Manchester City's victory over Shakhtar last night in the Champions League.

Firstly, after the initial defeat against Lyon on match day one, City have cruised to the top of Group F and look good to progress with a victory in France at the end of the month securing top spot. Analysis of the demolition of the Ukranian side by our boys in blue was somewhat brushed under the carpet in favor of a critique of Raheem Sterling.

City Dominate Brighton: Players Rated

Manchester City will go into next weekends six pointer ahead of their opposition after this past victory against Brighton. The three points gained at the Etihad now put them level on all stats with Liverpool who have a poorer goal difference.

It was a comprehensive win for the Blues, as you might expect. However it did take a piece of solo running from Sergio Aguero to make the result safe in the 65th minute. So, how did I rate the players?

Manchester City Predicted Welsh Lineup

The good thing about playing football is that you don't have to wait too long for another game. When you have a poor performance, like Manchester City did on Wednesday, you don't have to wait to long to rectify the situation.

I was pretty harsh on the players after the defeat by Lyon at the Etihad, and rightly so. Now it's a whole different competition and a chance to keep pace with the front runners, Liverpool and a chance to leap frog Chelsea. So how should Pep lineup for the trip to the Cardiff City Stadium?

Pep Hopes For Welsh Reset

It wasn't the greatest of European nights for the Blues. A 2-1 defeat at home to Lyon was not what was expected, although with the performance on the night, it was all we deserved. Saturday sees the Blues back to domestic competition, and the continuation of the defense of their title.

Pep Guardiola will be back on the sidelines with Sergio Aguero likely being recalled to the starting lineup. Unfortunately Kevin De Bruyne, Benjamin Mendy and Claudio Bravo remain side lined for this game.

Talking Points From Fulham Win

Pep Guardiola’s side moved up to third, and remained undefeated after hosting Fulham at the Etihad on Saturday. One of only three sides in the Premier League to remain undefeated, with Liverpool and Chelsea the other two, with five wins from five. Previously I had posted the player ratings, with Bernardo Silva being my man of the match. Now though I want to talk about some of the interesting points from the game.

It certainly was a positive performance and a good result to get before we head into Champions League football against Lyon on Wednesday, but what did that performance tell us about Pep Guardiola and his side?

City v Newcastle: Player Ratings

Manchester City returned to winning ways in the late game on Saturday, although Newcastle made it tough for the Blues. Initially, after a bright start and a Raheem strike, it looked as if it would be an easy day for Pep Guardiola’s men.

Just before half time though, Newcastle pulled level with what was their only shot of the whole first 45. Manchester City came out in the second half determined to get the three points, which they eventually did. Now they can go into the International break in the top four. But how did the players do?

Is Racism The Reason For Raheem Repulsion

The first weekend of the new Premier League season is in the books. Manchester City were dominant in London for the second Sunday in a row to unsettle a lot of our rivals. Some, I don't doubt, were hoping Arsenal could dent our title defense before it began.

Of course they didn't as Manchester City ran out 2-0 winners against Unai Emrey's side. Raheem Sterling, criticized during the summer for 'poor' England performances, got on the score sheet. It is this player I wish to talk about today.

Manchester City Shoot Down Gunners: Players Rated

I must admit, I was a little nervous heading into this opening game. With a new manager at the helm of the Gunners you never really know what you'll actually get. Add to that the lack of preparation for Manchester City and many of their 'first' team players and a trip to the Emirates was not ideal.

Turns out though, there was nothing to worry about. Arsenal are a side in transition though, and it showed during parts in the game. Some City players shone in the Nations capital while others displayed a little bit of rust coming in for their first competitive game. So how did the City players rate?

City Lift Community Shield: Sarri Not Sarri

Manchester City welcomed back some more World Cup stars for the English traditional curtain raiser at Wembley. In a previous article I had written that it would be no big deal, in the grand scheme of things, if City were to lose this game. Certainly it would not be something we would, as fans, reflect on negatively if we would go on to win the League again, or Champions League.

England Out With A Whimper.

Don't get me wrong, all in all it was a good World Cup for England. No one expected England to do as well as they did, and we should be happy. However, the last two games of the tournament left a bitter taste in the mouth. Yes England took on Belgium with 24 hours less preparation time than their opponents, but did that really make a difference?

Proud England Out Of World Cup - Reflection On The Tournament

There was a different feeling with this World Cup as England bowed out. I must admit, once it was known we'd be playing in white, I thought we'd struggle. Seriously though, this England side had restored hope to a Nation even before a ball was kicked against Croatia.

Youth was the key for this England side, with only two players from yesterdays starting eleven born before the 1990 World Cup. Significant because that was the last time England made the Semi Finals of the World Cup. Jordan Henderson becomes a third player as he was born a day after England held the Netherlands to a 0-0 draw in the second Group game of Italia '90.

Southgate Proud As England Bow Out Of Russia

Of course, there is still the third place game to come. A meeting between group stage rivals, Belgium to see if this England side can still be the most successful England side on foreign soil. In 1990 England reached the World Cup Semi Final before being defeated by West Germany. The following game was also a loss, with England finishing fourth behind the hosts in Italia '90.

Analysis of the tournament as a whole for England will follow tomorrow. For now though I want to focus on last nights defeat to Croatia. Despite the defeat I finished watching the game with positive thoughts. Not so much that we had blown a golden chance but more that we had given some young players potentially valuable experience.

Three Lions Roar Into The Semi Finals

I must admit that I was working at the time of the game. Following via score updates never gives quite the same emotion as watching the ebb and flow of a match. Their attempts on our goal, and our efforts missed are not lived through with the rather boring display of 'ten minutes gone, 0-0'.

Belgium Top Group As England Settle For Second

Before I begin I just want to say that I am not one of these people who will get on the back of Gareth Southgate because he made wholesale changes. In the end his job is to give the side the best opportunity in this tournament to progress, and I think he did that.

Resting the likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and others was always going to be a gamble. Yes we may lose the game, but the journey is still very much on. What I would have criticized the English manager for, however, would have been to then bring on Harry Kane and others to try to salvage the points. If your goal was to rest key players, and therefore reduce their risk of injury, then I am not sure why you would then bring them on in the final twenty minutes to chase a game.

Raheem Sterling: The Unfair Razzing Of Raz

It was the second game for England, and a 6-1 defeat of Panama. The England press and fans back home were excited by the victory, and rightly so. The only negative story I saw from the aftermath and analysis of the game again targeted Raheem Sterling.

World Cup: Week Two

With week two of the 2018 World Cup now in the books, the tables are now starting to look a bit more as expected. With a game to go, every side you'd expect to qualify easily can still make it, although some have made a difficult job of it.

England On Fire In The Heat Of Nizhny Novgorod

Okay, so it wasn't ever going to be anything else than an England win, right? Panama, the Central American country with a population of 4 million, at their first World Cup against the founders of the game? If this World Cup has taught us anything so far, and England's own recent history, it's to expect the unexpected.

City Do It The Hard Way As Hero Sterling Sees Red.

Manchester City traveled back to the south coast as they tried to get their Premiership campaign back on a winning track. Despite an early scare, when the hosts went ahead, City came through.....eventually.

Pep surprised a few people with his line up, when he went for a back four. Benjamin Mendy made his City debut while Bernardo Silva made his first start for the Blues. Starting up front, on his own, was Gabriel Jesus as Aguero found himself benched. In my preview to this game I had suggested that Pep might try this formation, considering the percentage of possession City usually enjoy combined with Bournemouth's possession stats so far this season.

What Did We Learn From The Visit Of Everton?

Like many Manchester City fans, I finished watching Monday nights game with mixed emotions.

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.