1. MIDFIELD THREE MISSING
Manchester City coasted to the title last season because they had the best midfield. Between them, Kevin de Bruyne, Fernandinho and David Silva either scored or assisted in 52 of City's 106 league goals. Silva missed 10 games because of his son's premature birth, so that total would have been higher.
This season, they have not started one league game together because of injury problems for de Bruyne and Silva, and most recently Fernandinho (above) as well.
What City have missed is a perfectly balanced midfield. They have one attacking left-footer (Silva), one attacking right-footer (de Bruyne) and, in Fernandinho, they have a destroyer who sits deep and protects.
City also miss David Silva because of his understanding with Leroy Sane down the left.
Bernardo Silva, with five goals, has performed well in de Bruyne's position but he is starting to feel the strain. He said: "It's the toughest time since I came here."
2. CANNOT DEFEND HIGH BALLS
City's inability to defend high balls in their box is a problem that manager Pep Guardiola has known about since his maiden season in England.
"It's difficult to defend against long balls. In Spain and Germany, it doesn't happen. I have to learn," said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
Two years on, City's aerial struggles remain.
City have one of the shortest squads in the league. They have only five outfield players who are 1.85m or taller (Aymeric Laporte, Danilo, Sane, John Stones and Vincent Kompany). Given that Danilo and Kompany barely play, that leaves just three tall players in the team at any one time.
Some of City's costliest goals have come from high crosses into the box, such as Leicester's opener on Wednesday, David Luiz's header (above) in the defeat by Chelsea and Willy Boly's diving header in the 1-1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
3. FULL-BACKS' POOR FORM
The return of Benjamin Mendy (above) from a serious knee injury was supposed to make City's defence complete again but the left-back position remains an area of weakness.
At the start of the season, the 24-year-old recorded five assists in his opening seven games but his form then dipped.
Guardiola has no like-for-like replacement for Mendy. Fabian Delph filled in adequately last season but this term he has not been as good, particularly when it comes to his positional discipline.
City have also struggled because they do not have adequate competition for Kyle Walker, the right-back.
Danilo has not played consistently well since joining from Real Madrid 18 months ago, so when Walker plays poorly - as he did against Crystal Palace - Guardiola can only bring in a far less mobile and effective replacement.
THE TIMES, LONDON
WRAPUP 2-Soccer-Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium; Saints stay up. * First defeat for Spurs in their new stadium Southampton guaranteed their survival with a thrilling 3-3 home
Spurs beaten for first time in new stadium; Saints stay up
City in seventh heaven with Rotherham mauling, Football News
Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen will see a neurologist on Thursday after suffering a horrific head injury during his side's Champions League semi-final defeat against Ajax.
Tottenham's Vertonghen to miss Bournemouth game after head injury
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not scared of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of playing the decisive return at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer: United don't fear Camp Nou test - Daily Nation
Jurgen Klopp Excited By Premier League Title Fight | Football
ROME (AFP) - Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic hailed his team for pulling off a "miracle" to secure their top flight survival with a 3-3 draw at Lazio on Monday (May 20) enough to keep the northerners in Serie A next season.
Bologna earn 'miracle' Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio
Mauricio Pochettino went in search of bovine inspiration as he arrived in Italy and wondered aloud whether Tottenham might be better off for last year's agonising exit at the hands of Juventus.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Mauricio Pochettino must take
Brazilian football fans still behind their team despite rout. 'I'm livid': Airbnb host calls black guest 'monkey' in viral video. Yahoo Lifestyle.
Nigdi: Tempers flare as Metro route gives Nigdi a miss
Emery urges consistency during season's final straight
Pochettino defiant as poor Tottenham form continues - Premier
This rout virtually guaranteed Portugal passage to the second round and a second goalless draw with Brazil confirmed qualification. In the second round, they lost to Spain 1-0 and were knocked out having failed to score in three of their four World Cup matches. Queiroz was sacked by the Portuguese Football Federation on 9 September 2010.
Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online
EUROPE - Neymar was suspended for three Champions League matches by UEFA on Friday for insulting match officials following Paris Saint-Germain's shock exit from this season's tournament to
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/04/26/neymar-banned-for-three-champions-league-matches-over-ref-rant/
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref rant AFP April 26, 2019 AFP No Comments Lausanne (AFP) - Neymar was suspended for three Champions League matches by UEFA on Friday for insulting match officials following Paris Saint-Germain's shock exit from this season's tournament to Manchester United.
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref
With weeks of the season left the Blues had an outside chance of securing European football by finishing seventh but couldn't overtake Wolves. May. After a relatively comfortable home win against Burnley, the Blues rounded out the season with an entertaining 2-2 draw away at Tottenham. So that was the 2018-19 season.
Soccer | epl | Game Preview - washingtonpost.com
stats.washingtonpost.com/epl/preview.asp?g=2018010110028
Perhaps Jose Mourinho should direct his ire where it needs to be at the moment - at his disjointed Manchester United side - as the Red Devils try to start the new year off on a positive note
Baines Confident Of Toffees Turnaround Under 'Big Character
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch live soccer stream android
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
free watch champions league live streaming
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
watch english premier league live streaming online
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch premier league games live stream
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch soccer aid live stream
watch premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch the premier league live stream
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch english premier league live streaming
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch champions league live streaming espn
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch english premier league live streaming hd
soccer tv live net stream
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer game live espn
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch soccer live stream app
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch champions league final live streaming
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch soccer online free streaming live app
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch usa soccer live stream
watch champions league live streaming video
watch champions league live streaming kenya
#liverpoolfans #realmadrid #kickoff #ballondor #lfc #klopp #footballfans #freekicks #fcbarcelona #chocolate #ucl #soccermemes #manunited #comico #chocolatecoffee #cristianoronaldo #thomasmeunier #vandijk #visubal #livestreams #oudmehta #Sunday #sumbertv #lovefootball #manchestercity #bestshishacafedubai #mane #acmilan #Suarez #pagani #boxing #oasisandbeatles #firmino #paulmcartney #henderson #gym #afcnews #england #football #soccerbible #arsenalnews #gooners #oasis #soccer #thebeatles #realmadrid #freekickerz #soccer #satira #Barcelona #sunderlandafc #watchlive #BMW #liverpool #oasisengland #Fcb #premierleague #championsleague #champion #hotcoffee #nikesoccer #valcea #manchestercity #cr7 #coutinho #liverpoolcity #midnight #mancityvsliverpool #kopisusu #adidasslipon #golf #Liamgallagher
No comments:
Post a Comment