How do you play against this current City side?

[Gazautd18]

The high press is the way, especially if they play Stones/Otarmendi.
Also take KDB out the game, not by foul means but don't give him time and space on the ball.
Same with Fernandinho.
You also need an out ball preferably to a pacy forward.
The other way would be set plays. But then you have to get the ball into those dangerous positions first!

 

[POF]

How do you beat them? Don't let Lukaku defend set pieces.

 

[Josep Dowling]

I think City are showing just how bad some of the midtable Premier League players are. Are sort on pressing on these players they just crumble and give possession straight back.

Any team that plays City have to stop panicking on the ball. And to be honest it was the same when we played them at Old Trafford.

 

[noodlehair]

You have to get at their centre backs and defebders who are still actually very poor.

High press doesn't work for everyone though as city do the same thing so you're basically banking on your players being better at it than theirs. Works when they have an off day like an Anfield, on another day like with spurs, you get spanked 4-0.

I think you can remain compact defensively against them, and if you do It with enough organisation they do struggle to create chances. Then though you have to be composed enough to pick passes quickly but with precision, and play in the break when you win the ball.

We tried to do this and we did the first bit Ok, but then when we got the ball the composure wasn't there at all and we were just punting it in the general direction of Lukaku.

 

[gibers]

Dominate thier midfield. Liverpool didn't win soley because of high pressing. They won because they outnumbered Citys mf because Firminho dropped in and made it a 4 vs 3 whilst Aguero was bumming around like a headless chicken. Dinho and Gundogan where isolated with no outlet and their wholse system suffered.

There is reason they won every big game with GJ playing.

 

[Kag]

Play with speed, energy and be direct. Stones and Otamendi are not all of a sudden fabulous defenders. Their defence has holes in it and teams this season have shown that this can be exploited - just like any other season.

Basically, the exact opposite of how we chose to play the other month.

 

[gibers]

Play with speed, energy and be direct. Stones and Otamendi are not all of a sudden fabulous defenders. Their defence has holes in it and teams this season have shown that this can be exploited - just like any other season.

Basically, the exact opposite of how we chose to play the other month.

Yet they concede the fewest shots on goal, concede the fewest clear cut chances and xg in chances and allow the opposition less passes than any side in the league.

Saying playing with energy and speed are just buzzwords. Only Liverpool have beatan them and it was because of the mf dominance.

 

[Kag]

Yet they concede the fewest shots on goal, concede the fewest clear cut chances and xg in chances and allow the opposition less passes than any side in the league.

Saying playing with energy and speed are just buzzwords. Only Liverpool have beatan them and it was because of the mf dominance.

Cause and effect. City are top of those lists entirely due to the way they choose to play. You rightly point out that they allow the opposition the least amount of touches/passes. Their possession is predominantly used in the other half, not their own - of course they top all those numbers.

Point still stands. If you get into the City back third (this is the challenge to begin with) with pace and a sense of purpose then you can score goals against them. It's been the case for a long time.

 

[sunama]

Long balls to fellaini. They can't deal with that.

I actually do agree that Fellaini has to be a starter against MCFC.
He is exactly the sort of player they cannot handle.
IMO, we need to go physical. If a team attempts to out-football them, they'll lose.
Make MCFC play what they are not good at, ie. a physical/bruising battle.

 

[friendlytramp]

Just attack them. We attacked for ten minutes at Old Trafford, they couldn’t handle it and we scored. Then went back to defending and shitting our pants and they dominated and won the game.

 

[adexkola]

Dominate thier midfield. Liverpool didn't win soley because of high pressing. They won because they outnumbered Citys mf because Firminho dropped in and made it a 4 vs 3 whilst Aguero was bumming around like a headless chicken. Dinho and Gundogan where isolated with no outlet and their wholse system suffered.

There is reason they won every big game with GJ playing.

Very good point.

 

[Tapori]

You beat them using 1 of 2 ways:
High pres toe-to-toe like Liverpool.
Or
Compact the space in your half with one or 2 men free up top to break.

City can be beaten but everyone has to be on their game. The way city play, they could make-up for 1 player having a bad game; for the opposition, every player has to be mentally switched on.

Have your defence and midfield compact but not too deep; the mistake many teams make is they simply camp in their own box.
You need to camp just outside your box and your goalkeeper has to snuff out those through balls too.

Your 2 attackers to play up to have to hold up the ball well. Burnley did very well and could have even won it. Pressure the centre-backs with long balls

 

[Tapori]

Make them go long. Man mark their playmakers in the middle while pressing from the front 4 will take away their ability to play from the back. Jose did that almost every time we played them. Before you say we’ve failed every time... It’s really down to player execution. If players don’t turn up and stay disciplined, you can’t control their flow. On the offensive end, go long. Bypass their midfield and their pressing. If you look at how we played them the last few times, you can see poor execution.

Aye.

 

[SuperiorXI]

I think 'play' would be the wrong word. Start with 'stop' and work from there.

 

[SCP]

Let me rephrase: he doesn’t believe in defending full stop. Giorgio Chiellini tried to point it out in an interview a couple of days ago.

When it works it looks amazing but he does need the best players to pull it off. It was the case at Barca/Bayern and now at City it’s no different. No PL team even comes close.

I just feel when they eventually come up against Europe’s elite in the CL, who can match them quality wise, that defense will get picked apart.

Nonsense full stop.

 

[gibers]

Let me rephrase: he doesn’t believe in defending full stop. Giorgio Chiellini tried to point it out in an interview a couple of days ago.

When it works it looks amazing but he does need the best players to pull it off. It was the case at Barca/Bayern and now at City it’s no different. No PL team even comes close.

I just feel when they eventually come up against Europe’s elite in the CL, who can match them quality wise, that defense will get picked apart.

he doesn't believe in defending yet his team concedes the fewst shots on goals, lets the fewest opposition passes in theor own half, have the lowest Xgs against and 2nd least goals conceded.

You literally couldnt make this stuff up.

So now Sterling is the best player when he was called shite last year
Stones is suddenly Baresi when the Caf laughed at him for the last 2 seasons calling him a fraud
KDB and Silva were never used as Cms and the media said they couldnt play together now they work allm of sudden he had a world class central pairing.

Fabien Delph is a mf that becamse argubaly the best lb in the league


Otamendi couldn pass his way out of his garden and is now citys best defender at bringing out the ball



You coulnd't make this stuff up...

 

[el magico]

Cause and effect. City are top of those lists entirely due to the way they choose to play. You rightly point out that they allow the opposition the least amount of touches/passes. Their possession is predominantly used in the other half, not their own - of course they top all those numbers.

Point still stands. If you get into the City back third (this is the challenge to begin with) with pace and a sense of purpose then you can score goals against them. It's been the case for a long time.

I think you are right, to an extent. However, its probably also pertinent that City are a fabulous counter-attacking side. So, by all means, get City on the back-foot in their own third but don't lose the ball or let Ederson get hold of it..

As a City fan, I actually enjoy it when the opposition attack and press in our third, the consequences can be interesting.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

I guess that's how. Well done Wigan.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

High press as their players aren't fecking Pique, Alves, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi etc. Too often they get treated with so much respect and then they are undoubtedly the best side in the league when you let them completely boss possession in the opposition half.

 

[Web of Bissaka]

First Liverpool, then Wigan.

So.. just have a go at them then, with no fear and zero respect.

Football is football.

 

[Cal?]

Inter lost that game 1-0. That strategy (that was done to perfection by Jose) was only possible because of the 3-1 advantage from the first leg. Now in that first game, Inter were much better at moving the ball fast enough to bypass Barcelona's press and get Milito and co through on goal.

In a one off game, sitting that deep and not committing more than one player to the counter... Yeah at best you'll take the game to penalties. And that's a slim chance. Most likely you'll get battered still.

That has a lot to do with Busquets trying to win the oscar.

 

[RedFish]

Play for territory. Play long and in their final third. Don't give away silly penalties.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Strongly disagree with high press tactic. They are scoring most of goals when they have space so when oppo team lose balance. And the best way to lose balance is high pressing. Best way is tight marking, hard tackling( i mean really hard, roy keane/ materazzi style ) and play possession game.
Of course you need to have ball playing defenders for that and ref who will allow tough game and will not fall on their diving after every contact.
So old school english style would be good aproach.

 

[adexkola]

That has a lot to do with Busquets trying to win the oscar.

I agree.

The main point of that post was to indicate that the best way of beating a Pep side, is not by sitting back and ceding all initiative in the midfield.

 

[Cal?]

I agree.

The main point of that post was to indicate that the best way of beating a Pep side, is not by sitting back and ceding all initiative in the midfield.

The A380 strategy has worked on many occasions against Pep sides, is it the best way? probably not, but it's as good as any out there.

 

[The Outsider]

Wigan did it by counter-attacking and defending as a unit, albeit with a little fortune.

Liverpool did it with the high press and outscoring them.

Suggest you need a good plan and everyone focussed.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Don’t make defensive errors on set-pieces would be a start.

 

[Perseus]

Teams (unless super fit) cannot press a passing side, just get burned out chasing shadows. Pressing can be defeated by any side that is half competent at keeping possession and controlling the ball (that rules out Palace). Man City accurate passing is what causes the problem for the bottom 14 clubs and makes Man City a more difficult proposition to keep in the game than against the other five.

So the alternative is to sit deep, bung a long ball into the gap when Kyle Walker (not in a million years a patch on Ashley Young as a full back) ventures too far forward. Walker is quick but there are a few wingers that are just as quick in a straight sprint and one or three that are quicker at acceleration or have after burners that will leave him standing. That is if Walker sees the danger which (unlike Ashley Young) he doesn't.

Another way to counter Man City is to play non-football, look for fee kicks and corners and then lump it onto a big man up front.

 

[Cal?]

Don’t make defensive errors on set-pieces would be a start.

IE don't let Lukaku defend set plays, leave him up front.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I guess that's how. Well done Wigan.

By letting ten men kick your arse and rely on a terrible defensive error to nick a goal, completely against the run of play?

I’m not convinced.

 

[adexkola]

The A380 strategy has worked on many occasions against Pep sides, is it the best way? probably not, but it's as good as any out there.

No it hasn't. Majority of Pep's defeats have come at the hands of sides brave enough to utilize the midfield well enough to create high quality chances against his team. Atletico and Barcelona while he was at Bayern. Real Madrid in 2012 and Inter in 2010 (at San Siro), while he was at Barcelona. Liverpool this season. You can't hoof the ball out and pray.

 

[Cal?]

No it hasn't. Majority of Pep's defeats have come at the hands of sides brave enough to utilize the midfield well enough to create high quality chances against his team. Atletico and Barcelona while he was at Bayern. Real Madrid in 2012 and Inter in 2010 (at San Siro), while he was at Barcelona. Liverpool this season. You can't hoof the ball out and pray.

It certainly has, you only think it has't worked that often because it's been tried by many more teams.

 

[lammybam]

4-5-1 to try to crowd them out and when you get the ball, break very quickly and see how their defence copes - but the 5 and particularly the left and right side and going to have to do a lot of sprinting up and down. Get Park back.

 

[Adisa]

Wigan didn't do anything other teams haven't tried. City were just very poor on the day even with 11 men.
Many people forget that a lot of City's goals come on the counter. For all the talk of possession, their transition play is very good and all their players make good decisions on the counter.
I really don't think there's a blueprint to beating them. Just try and not make mistakes
City three loses this season has come to teams using completely different styles.
City would run up the scoreboard if West Bromwich try to play them the way Liverpool did.

 

[tomaldinho1]

If you are a generally weaker team - clog the midfield and do as Wigan did. They'll create some chances but if your keeper does well and you restrict them to long shots/half chances you'll stay in the game.

If you are a bigger team and can compete, get at them. City look great if you sit off them and try to contain them (like we did at OT) but when you press them and if you have players of a similar ability you can hurt them if you overload the CMs. Especially now given they seem fatigued - will be interesting to see if they can keep up this superhuman level of fitness until the end of the season

 

[Adisa]

If you are a generally weaker team - clog the midfield and do as Wigan did. They'll create some chances but if your keeper does well and you restrict them to long shots/half chances you'll stay in the game.

If you are a bigger team and can compete, get at them. City look great if you sit off them and try to contain them (like we did at OT) but when you press them and if you have players of a similar ability you can hurt them if you overload the CMs. Especially now given they seem fatigued - will be interesting to see if they can keep up this superhuman level of fitness until the end of the season

This.
Better teams can press City cause they have better players in one on one situations both offensively and defensively. It's suicide for a small team to adopt that tactic.
That's why People loved playing Paco.
Smaller teams should just flood the middle of the pitch.

 

[Rossa]

Teams (unless super fit) cannot press a passing side, just get burned out chasing shadows. Pressing can be defeated by any side that is half competent at keeping possession and controlling the ball (that rules out Palace). Man City accurate passing is what causes the problem for the bottom 14 clubs and makes Man City a more difficult proposition to keep in the game than against the other five.

So the alternative is to sit deep, bung a long ball into the gap when Kyle Walker (not in a million years a patch on Ashley Young as a full back) ventures too far forward. Walker is quick but there are a few wingers that are just as quick in a straight sprint and one or three that are quicker at acceleration or have after burners that will leave him standing. That is if Walker sees the danger which (unlike Ashley Young) he doesn't.

Another way to counter Man City is to play non-football, look for fee kicks and corners and then lump it onto a big man up front.

Sitting deep makes you depend on luck, but it can work when your counters are fast and direct enough. Then you need to be brave enough to have at least two players ready to counter.

Concerning Walker, he made a terrible mistake just before the one that led to the goal as well, being caught high up the pitch giving the ball away. I cannot believe people want him ahead of a fit Valencia.

His pace, on the other hand, is ridiculous. There isn't a winger who can run away from him. Agile and quick players can get a yard or two from him on the first five yards, but not in terms of top speed. What he did yesterday was foolish, and had nothing to do with his speed. What the striker did, however, was brilliant. Just when Walker was about to close him down, he shifted his direction, causing Walker to stop and shift. Usually, on the defensive counter, Walker is a great fit for City because their centrebacks are actually quite slow. A ball in behind them with their high line can punish them, but you have to have quality passing and quick attackers.

 

[Perseus]

Addenda: Fernandino is the single defensive midfielder. He cannot control the whole of the width of the pitch. That means if the opposition ever gets the ball and accurate long ball side will by-pass him especially if Walker is too far forward. Sole forward could also harass/press Fernandino, although he usually is able to lay the ball off comfortably. Selective pressing.

 

[crossy1686]

Dominate thier midfield. Liverpool didn't win soley because of high pressing. They won because they outnumbered Citys mf because Firminho dropped in and made it a 4 vs 3 whilst Aguero was bumming around like a headless chicken. Dinho and Gundogan where isolated with no outlet and their wholse system suffered.

There is reason they won every big game with GJ playing.

This. City’s midfield are incredibly hard to get the ball off of. When they do lose it, they press you into turning over possession because the vast majority of PL sides (including us currently) can’t hold the ball in midfield long enough to do any damage.

They are a team based solely on the quality they have in midfield, to the point where their defenders and auxiliary midfielders when necessary, which negates their need to defend at all. You don’t have to defend anything if you keep the ball do you?

When Mourinho says he wants to sign a midfielder, this is what he’s talking about. You can only really say we have Pogba who’s difficult to dispossess, apart from of course a pre-injury Zlatan. This is the missing link for us. Once we get a midfield that can hold possession better, you’ll see a very different style of football being played and we’ll go toe to toe with City when we play them.

 

[adexkola]

It certainly has, you only think it has't worked that often because it's been tried by many more teams.

You lost me.