Bad game in terms of tempo and unforced errors from both sides on the pitch. I believe that LvG's selections at both FB positions were correct. We needed pacey and physical FBs with ability to defend well in 1v1 situations. Valencia over Darmian was a good call from LvG since the former usually doesn't have problems defending against wingers who rely on their pace and their ability to attack the open spaces in the wide areas. Had Silva played, we would probably have a different discussion though.
Speaking of Silva, without him orchestrating their attacks, City really missed his runs with the ball and how well he can link up with his teammates in tight spaces. But we also did a good job at making the pitch smaller for City when we were defending off the ball. We have become really good at this under LvG.
But in the first half we were pretty awful on the ball, our passing game was bad, Mata-Herrera-Rooney had much trouble to keep possession of the ball and didn't offer any type of hold up play and Schweinsteiger really struggled to find spaces to operate and make himself useful. Martial was good, he was actually the only player who offered some moments of pure class and Schneiderlin (MotM for me) was literally everywhere in our half, setting double teams with the FBs, protecting the CBs and closing down the first attacker.
Still, it never felt like we were in control of the game. In fact it was City who had the better opportunities in that half. We couldn't really control the tempo of the game and i think it's a bit worrying that Carrick doesn't really fit in this set up, mainly because he covers the same spaces with Schneiderlin but, with the formation and tactics we use, i feel that Morgan should always be in the starting lineup.
In the second half things looked better, we had at least four clear cut chances to score (Hart produced two great saves) and we should have taken the three points. Many people claim that City sat back and were satisfied with the draw but i think it had to do more with Yaya never really showing up in the second half for City. I hardly remember him touching the ball until he was brought off by Pellegrini.
In the same time Herrera improved his game a lot, Mata was subbed off and without the threat of Toure we completely dominated the second half. I'm one of Rooney's biggest fans but i would be blind not to admit that, right now, he's a part of the problem more than a part of the solution to our attacking woes. On the other hand, i can't really blame LvG for not playing Martial up front. There's no question that he would do a better job than Rooney there but that's not the issue here. Martial is the only player we have who can offer some hold up play and who can beat defenders. It's sound to move him to the side where he can find spaces to operate and make himself useful instead of playing him up front in between the CBs and the opposition DM with the little service out team provides for the forwards. Today he was involved in almost everything we created in the final third, would that be the case if he was trying to find spaces behind Fernando-Fernandinho and with either Kompany or Otamendi breathing down his neck?
Maybe when Memphis is ready to offer what LvG asks of his wingers, we'll see Rooney dropped and Martial played as a #9.
