the old utd,Chelsea,city model is broken .once over they didn't mind paying 100 mill for grealish because at worst he wasn't lining up against them,now there's a 100 grealishes out there if not better, city just splashed 200 mill + on 4 players Maj of football fans had never heard of let alone see play.plus Nunez etc last summer the messi,Ronny,s,haaland,kane's  etc  are few and far between and not much between the next 100+ players depending on which coach gets the best out of them as proven by slott at l,pool

A

City much better without Nunes. Now get rid of Lewis.

im not totally convinced the tie is over, if they are written off then they might be value in the return leg

they are quite capable of a 2 goal lead but whether they keep it is another thing

Totally agree with 1stTP

They haven't got the quality to keep the ball like they used to and they have to chase the game, they have no legs and the longer the game goes the more they are vulnerable with holes everywhere, from everything we have seen this season on numerous occasions against sides nowhere near the pinnacle of European football this tie is over but despite that the market was still frightened of them last night against a side that themselves are flawed but were still blessed with some of the best players in the world and more importantly legs all over the pitch.

Perhaps the market will once again think the real City will suddenly stand up, after all we still see the market giving United too much credit and they've been sh1t for 12 years.

they should try Stones at right back. Played there for Everton.

Yeah, Liverpool had that shocker a couple of seasons ago when Henderson and Fabinho were both suddenly finished as top class players at the same time. Wouldn't have predicted it a couple of months before but sometimes it can happen, and probably in sharper focus in the midfield where the game can pass you by if you lose the legs.

I don't think you should sit behind the ball against them but you still see it, Arsenal did it for an hour, what you should do is attack then high from minute 1, don't be scared of their passing game, they can no longer pass it through sides at will, yes they will get chances, but so will you but they haven't got the tank to survive games that are end to end so eventually fall apart.

If you let them have the ball you are doing the exact thing that sides did when City were good, by doing the same thing now you are allowing them to play at their pace and give them a chance to conserve their legs, plus you run he risk of them nicking a winner at some point as they will be in better shape to combat counters.

To use horse racing parlance, they are non stayers so you've got to turn every game into a real stamina sapping test IMO.

We often had the feeling citeh were eatable if you could
stay in game for 75 minutes because they put so much in to
win ball back, but of course they tired you out too, and they
had a strong bench to keep it up.

Not many athletes can maintain that level of performance, I remember
Steve cram talking about getting fit for major event and maybe
having 6 weeks afterwards to chase records.

These guys are up for it 50-60 times a season then maybe 5 or
more internationals.

Burn out is inevitable, especially as prem league is so competitive
these days.

Fergie, as ever, was way ahead of his time, playing reserves in easier
games,

Think you had it right first time, a perfect freudian slip

Opta

Kai Havertz is the latest Arsenal player to suffer a serious hamstring injury. With Saka, Martinelli and Jesus also sidelined, it leaves their attack stretched to its limits.

So we ask: does Arteta need to rotate more?


https://theanalyst.com/2025/02/kai-havertz-arsenal-injury-crisis

..

Same goes for all clubs really, Newcastle picking up a few...

Hope you had plenty on !