FA Cup - In or Out?

[dj161]

not arguing that we werent minnows trying to have our own cup final, just that by trying to stifle man city is like when Andorra try to stifle England, you might last a little bit but in the end you now the better team is going to make the break through, just feel we should of gone into it with an approach that resembled a one off cup game and gone for it

 

[morty]

not arguing that we werent minnows trying to have our own cup final, just that by trying to stifle man city is like when Andorra try to stifle England, you might last a little bit but in the end you now the better team is going to make the break through, just feel we should of gone into it with an approach that resembled a one off cup game and gone for it

I think everyone knows we are prioritising the league. It was a bit of a shock to me as to how strong a side Man City put out, I was genuinely expecting their reserves. 

I don't think "going for it" would have made for a much different outcome.

 

[GJP]

It'll be interesting to see if we try that 3 CBs thing the next time we play them.

It's all well and good if you're really tight at the back and you've got a good chance of keeping them out, but we just aren't that great. And when you're 2 goals down in the first half you wonder if another striker/attacker might have caused them more problems than shoe-horning your "centrebacks" into the team.

 

[morty]

It'll be interesting to see if we try that 3 CBs thing the next time we play them.

It's all well and good if you're really tight at the back and you've got a good chance of keeping them out, but we just aren't that great. And when you're 2 goals down in the first half you wonder if another striker/attacker might have caused them more problems than shoe-horning your "centrebacks" into the team.

The centre backs weren't the problem, it was Mulumbu and Dorrans. Neither looked comfortable in the system, or playing with each other. 

Thats where it all went wrong for me.

 

[GJP]

I agree that they were poor. I mean Mulumbu was a passenger, he was so far off the pace. And is now starting to look a bit of a worry, actually.

But if you've got 3 centrebacks you've still got to be a bit harder to beat. 

 

[morty]

I agree that they were poor. I mean Mulumbu was a passenger, he was so far off the pace. And is now starting to look a bit of a worry, actually.

But if you've got 3 centrebacks you've still got to be a bit harder to beat. 

In theory yes. But not if the two midfielders in front of you have no clue what they are meant to be doing. And once the pacy Man City players have danced through them, they are heading towards the CB's at a fair rate of knots.

We needed to be working a lot harder in the centre of the park, and the attacking full backs needed a bit more energy in their game too.

 

[GJP]

Even so, that doesn't account for the positional play on the 2nd goal. I mean the defence (particularly Bennett) left the most dangerous forward in the country unmarked in acres of space. 

It was a tricky ask for the fullbacks because they've got provide width going forward but then know they leave loads of space behind them. I thought Olsson gave it a good go, to be fair. But Wisdom just doesn't offer enough once he crosses the halfway line.

But I can't say I felt particularly encouraged when I saw Dorrans and Mulumbu lining up together in the middle like that. No pace from Dorrans and no fitness from Mulumbu.