I've been impressed with our defending today, we didn't really concede a lot of quality chances apart from typical ones City create (crosses from Walker/de Bruyne). We were really good in that department although (a bit of) luck was on our side.
Attacking wise I didn't like our display. Our main tactics was to throw bodies forward, but it looked like one runner on the ball plus 3/4 attackers in flat line. Every attack looked kind of random, although I guess some people will argue it was a tactic to confuse the opponent. I can't remember us creating good chances through counter attack. Off the ball movement is still our biggest issue (especially when we have the possession). It's comical how we want to beat press and players receiving the ball have no passing option because all front 4 are way too far. I guess it's because they are "coached" to wait for direct pass, but I'm not sure.
From positive signs, once we beat the initial City pressing we moved the ball rather well. We didn't try to be too direct, and it was like we almost got through their defensive line a couple of times with some nice passing.
Also, I thought Martial and Rashford were much more involved in defensive part of the game which is nice to see.
Scoring a goal early does wonders to our confidence. Hopefully this will be a spark to ignite the team for the rest of the season.
If I might say, this post seems to suggest it is easy to orchestrate whatever attacking move you can conceive of and rather disregards the effect a quality opponent has on execution, team shape and individual positioning.
I suggest there was often a huge difference between what was intended or coached and what actually happened in the real world.
If I had to guess what the team instructions were I’d say they were simple and mainly concerned closing down in midfield and bombing on when we got the ball off them. Sometimes it happened sometimes it didn’t. Good teams make it hard for you to do what you really want to do, even average teams can make it hard.
One thing that doesn’t help fluid attacking play is having players like McT and Fred in CM, giving the ball away and getting caught in possession (by excellent players pressurising as a team). They fought like lions though, which is worth a lot.
On a day like today, I don’t fuss too much if it wasn’t all pretty. I take the win and, as you say, hope it’s the start of better form going forward.