Is there anything these twits don't cheat at?
Man City: Are they dirty?
- Thread starter Reddy Rederson
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Mourinho used to be good at it as well. Hope Ole can use it well. Although the key is motivating our own squad.
They play to win, aggressive. Not specially dirty.
This
They are best at many things although Liverpool do beats them in terms of being dirty I think. Close battle between them though.
We got Herrera and Matic though who both can be dirty too.
Although with City and Liverpool it is clear that they train these things and do it from instructions.
We got Herrera and Matic though who both can be dirty too.
Although with City and Liverpool it is clear that they train these things and do it from instructions.
When we played them under Mourinho, it was really clear that Otamendi's role was to go straight for Rashford as soon as he got the ball on the counter.
I'd call his tackles on Rashford dirty.
I'd call his tackles on Rashford dirty.
One word. Fernandinho.
Depends of your definition of dirty, but when looking at City, dirty isn't the first word that springs to mind really.
Cnuts, more like.
Cnuts, more like.
Pretty much this.
After being filmed for City’s documentary telling his team to do just that!
I would expect that to be true, any links?
Any team that commits that many forward will always look to negate any opposition attack as soon as possible. First with the counterpress and then with a professional foul. Anything to stop a team from breaking at them since really only 1 CM and 2 CBs stay in their defensive block.
Vary dirty.
They also have a good squad.
They also have a good squad.
I'd like to see some actual examples (but not one or two), where people think City haven't been punished for their tactical fouling accordingly. And of course that'd need to be compared with every other team in the league. For obvious reasons, no one will watch every game of every team, so there you go. I guess you'd probably find about 3 or 4 missed yellow cards, and it would be very similar to any other team (whether it's tactical, or systematical or just simply brutal fouling). Or maybe other teams are nice, I don't know. Anyway, added context would be nice.
But at least Woodward has showed some sort of consistency in his managerial appointments, given that both Solksjaer and Mourinho tackle this issue so seriously (at least while City is concerned).
But at least Woodward has showed some sort of consistency in his managerial appointments, given that both Solksjaer and Mourinho tackle this issue so seriously (at least while City is concerned).
Dirty? - No
But they're coached to foul as soon as opposition have the ball. For some reason they never get punished just like pool.
But they're coached to foul as soon as opposition have the ball. For some reason they never get punished just like pool.
I wouldn't say dirty, as in I don't think they'd ever be sent out to hurt opposing players etc. But they're absolutely taking advantage of being able to get away with breaking up counter-attacks simply because they stop them before they have a chance to really get going. It's clear as day that they do this.
The BBC article on this started throwing statistics around and seemed to be suggesting that United are actually worse as we commit more fouls in the opponents half and have been cautioned over twice as many times. But this is missing the point as:
1) Guardiola himself pointed out that City regularly have 65-70% possession (we don't) so the fact their total is only around 10-20 less than ours suggests that they commit fouls at a disproportionately high rate
2) If Fernandinho was punished as consistently as Herrera they'd probably double their number of cautions with him alone
One of the reasons they're able to be so dominant in games is that they control possession with players committed very far forward and press very high as soon as they lose the ball. If you manage to get around that press then chances are you'll have an opportunity to counter but it turns out you don't get that opportunity very often as they usually either win the ball back fairly or foul you immediately.
I think they get away with it because they foul you facing your own goal or on the turn, which is less obviously punishable than a shirt pull etc. Then there's Fernandinho where it doesn't matter, he can just foul you however and wherever he likes and get away with it. Ultimately it's fundamental to the way they play and allows everything else (dominate the ball, score lovely passing moves etc.) to happen. Pep trying to deny it is just a kick in the balls and shows what a sanctimonious prick he is.
The BBC article on this started throwing statistics around and seemed to be suggesting that United are actually worse as we commit more fouls in the opponents half and have been cautioned over twice as many times. But this is missing the point as:
1) Guardiola himself pointed out that City regularly have 65-70% possession (we don't) so the fact their total is only around 10-20 less than ours suggests that they commit fouls at a disproportionately high rate
2) If Fernandinho was punished as consistently as Herrera they'd probably double their number of cautions with him alone
One of the reasons they're able to be so dominant in games is that they control possession with players committed very far forward and press very high as soon as they lose the ball. If you manage to get around that press then chances are you'll have an opportunity to counter but it turns out you don't get that opportunity very often as they usually either win the ball back fairly or foul you immediately.
I think they get away with it because they foul you facing your own goal or on the turn, which is less obviously punishable than a shirt pull etc. Then there's Fernandinho where it doesn't matter, he can just foul you however and wherever he likes and get away with it. Ultimately it's fundamental to the way they play and allows everything else (dominate the ball, score lovely passing moves etc.) to happen. Pep trying to deny it is just a kick in the balls and shows what a sanctimonious prick he is.
Mourinho said exactly this last year or the year before, went completely un noticed.
SAF did this all the time, why is it second fiddle now?I hate when we talk like this - we sound so second fiddle
A little comment like that, might give us a few more freekicks, and them yellows.
It's a nice little dig, that'll also make the ref more aware of it.
It's more "second fiddle" to feel sorry for ourselves.
They're ruthless, albeit mainly through Fernandinho.
They're not a dirty team though, I wouldn't say. Their main focus seems to be on playing good football...
I'm sure Ole has said this as a way of drawing attention to it before the game though.
They're not a dirty team though, I wouldn't say. Their main focus seems to be on playing good football...
I'm sure Ole has said this as a way of drawing attention to it before the game though.
Their doctors probably are.
Pep will never admit his team does tactical fouling.
The rule is very simple: win ball back in 5 seconds or foul.
The rule is very simple: win ball back in 5 seconds or foul.
They make tactical fouls as soon as the opponent get the ball and threaten to counter. Their foul is so early after losing possession that the counter attack hasn't even started. This helps them to escape yellow cards from the refs. It's pretty clever and Pep obviously can't admit to it as it will make the refs stricter.
City are not dirty, they commit clever, sneaky, tactical fouls and get away with it - something Pep brought over from Barca. It's obvious to most watching as evidenced in the number of replies in this thread. I don't blame them if they can get away with it, although surprised that refs have not picked up on it. In fact I give credit to Pep as it's another example of how they ensure superiority over others in a game. If it allows them to get an advantage why not?
What annoys me more is that we seem to be the exact opposite in that most of our fouls are not clever at all. Most are committed in our half and so obvious that it feels nearly all lead to a booking. I think Herrara and McTomminay are quite clever with their persistent tactical fouls but not the rest.
What annoys me more is that we seem to be the exact opposite in that most of our fouls are not clever at all. Most are committed in our half and so obvious that it feels nearly all lead to a booking. I think Herrara and McTomminay are quite clever with their persistent tactical fouls but not the rest.
Thought Pep would have had a bit more creativity in his response to that. Hardly an insult by my reckoning - you need to be capable of both sides of the game to be successful.
Yup. Foulandinho is one of the best in the league at conning the ref with multiple tactical fouls per game.
And to answer the OP, yes. City straight up foul anyone who wins the ball back from them in their attacking third to stop counter attacks. Refs don't deem it as obvious so they do not book the player.
I swear Pep admits to this in their cringe Amazon documentary?
Agree.... they're annoying fouls and really, refs should be smarter and start bookings sooner (on a collective basis) or theyll just carry on. The exception is Fernandinho.... he's missed out on a few possible reds this season.
As far as tactical fouling, dirty is Ward Prouse stopping a Newcastle player from countering, a few days ago. That sort of foul always gets punished. And less egregious attempts like holding onto the ball after a free kick is given, should be punished.
However City don't do that often. As soon as possession is lost, they either obtain the ball, commit a foul while trying to get the ball back (which does inhibit the counter), or harry the opposition well enough that their players can get behind the ball and defend. Their methods get a disproportionate amount of ire because there is this notion that they are incredibly suspect on the counter (they aren't) and that's the only way to hurt them and their possession based style of play.
Fernandinho is an outlier sometimes, and some of his fouls have no reason other than slowing down a counter without contesting for the ball. He times it well for the most part.
However City don't do that often. As soon as possession is lost, they either obtain the ball, commit a foul while trying to get the ball back (which does inhibit the counter), or harry the opposition well enough that their players can get behind the ball and defend. Their methods get a disproportionate amount of ire because there is this notion that they are incredibly suspect on the counter (they aren't) and that's the only way to hurt them and their possession based style of play.
Fernandinho is an outlier sometimes, and some of his fouls have no reason other than slowing down a counter without contesting for the ball. He times it well for the most part.
And I disagree with the notion that a certain sort of fouling/gamemanship should be punished more because they prevent a counter from occurring. The counter isn't any more special than other modes of football.
When Burnley muck the game up against Chelsea, the refrain is "go on".
When Burnley muck the game up against Chelsea, the refrain is "go on".
It's mostly a few individuals like Fernandinho. Wouldn't call the whole team dirty, not the way that the likes of Stoke have been at times.
Were United dirty when Fergie used to tell players to kick Arsenal off the pitch to disrupt their play?
No. It’s tactics, it’s winning at all costs. Something our club has lost in it’s DNA.
This “City are dirty” thing is bitter tripe. I’d love Utd to have a few dirty cnuts in the side again.
No. It’s tactics, it’s winning at all costs. Something our club has lost in it’s DNA.
This “City are dirty” thing is bitter tripe. I’d love Utd to have a few dirty cnuts in the side again.
They also foul a lot less than we do . . an awful lot less than we do . . (we have lots of dirty whatsits in our side) . . Ole should at least do a bit of research because his misguided attempt to influence the referee was so wide of the mark that it just makes him look like petty and naive at best . . at worst it will have drawn refs attention to how dirty we are and he'll punish us for it tonight.
Alternatively, it could be Ole's attempt to make City play a certain way in this match.
Exactly this.
If so then he's far too naive to be in charge of a football team in one of europes top leagues . . . .
such teenage tactics might work in the 23rd league against semi-pro sides, and I now that's all he has under his belt, but it makes him and by association us look stupid.
underrated comment
It is a smart move to counteract their only weakness. Breakaways.
Implement an NBA team foul system. After x amount of fouls = auto yellow cards
Implement an NBA team foul system. After x amount of fouls = auto yellow cards
Anyone that's suggesting they aren't really can't watch them much.
Yes. Every match you'll see them commit a foul once they lose possession, purely to stop counter attacks since they push many men forwards. Barca used to it all the time under Pep too - he's moaning now that they don't do it, but I'm 100% certain it's a tactic of theres. What's worse - a foul or a potential goal scoring counter? Take the foul.
And Pep's being disingenuous by saying how many fouls they commit vs other teams - they dominate possession so it stands to reason they'll be fouling the other team less often. Their modus operandi essentially is 1) Dominate possession 2) Press high and either win the ball back or foul the other team to stop counter-attacks. It works against the majority of teams but it's also why they struggle against teams like Liverpool and Tottenham - they have midfielders and forwards that can evade the press/fouls when possession turns over.
And Pep's being disingenuous by saying how many fouls they commit vs other teams - they dominate possession so it stands to reason they'll be fouling the other team less often. Their modus operandi essentially is 1) Dominate possession 2) Press high and either win the ball back or foul the other team to stop counter-attacks. It works against the majority of teams but it's also why they struggle against teams like Liverpool and Tottenham - they have midfielders and forwards that can evade the press/fouls when possession turns over.