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It was a poor comparison to make last year but this year we are essentially City lite. The goals we concede are either mostly our doing or a counter attack. We’ve seen the type of goals Wolves scored against them a few weeks ago happen to us this season, it’s just part and parcel of wanting to completely suffocate and control games.
Way more boring and frustrating but I’d imagine come the run-in we’ll be looking back and the juice would be worth the squeeze.
Someone in the media said it but we are in general more mature this year. It’s a bit ironic given the brain farts we’ve had but that’s exactly what they are. Individual brain farts. We control games much better, generally more dominant in midfield and defensively solid. Which is exactly what City are most of the time. They are very boring to watch in most games, but you don’t question their dominance.
Our biggest issue is the hole that Xhaka has left. The link between the defensive third and the front line has been nerfed. Our front 4 is lacking service which is why our attack has looked off.
But City have a cheat code in KDB though(when fit).Someone who can create a chance out of nothing with one of his trademark crosses or through balls.As good as Ode is,he isn’t quite that level.We obviously have players who can create but not the same level as City imo.They can afford to play that kind of controlling game with 4 CBs and Rodri providing cover when you can rely on Daddy Debruyne or one of his minions to just put one on the plate for Haaland to tap home.
Also their strikers- Haaland and Alvarez are far more clinical than Eddie/Jesus which means City don’t have to create too much to score.
Another advantage City have is that they are ruthless on the counter,while for some reason we seem to slow down attacks.
All things considered,I don’t think we can afford to play like City.We may need to take few more risks and find some sort of balance, because the way we are getting points doesn’t seem sustainable.
I definitely think we’re still working it out but this is what we’re trying to build to and what we have been building to for the last 2/3 seasons. I think the way we play now and our progression from now on in this way is more conducive to winning football than last season, although competing with City over 38 games is just basically - bar a fluke or an off season - impossible.
Our metrics are all pretty good, and our squad usage is much, much better than it’s ever been - I think it will just take some getting used to that we aren’t gonna play like we did last season, as funnily enough I don’t think - and it clearly wasn’t - sustainable either