Manchester City 2023 - 2024

[CHATTBRIT]

City were not all that impressive against Bournmouth with its 1-0 win however it is still 3 points and just 1 pt behind Liverpool.

Right now the team are not playing as smoothly as normal and March has a bunch of tough fixtures starting with the Rags(H) next weekend followed by Liverpool(A), Brighton(A), Arsenal(H) and Aston Villa(H). Good to see Grealish on the bench on Saturday so he should be good to go against Luton on Tuesday in the FA Cup (ESPN+ at 2:30 ET). He knows how to keep the ball and frustrate the other team. He also majorly upsets the opponents as he smiles at them throughout! which po's them. City have been sloppy as of late and need to get back to keeping the ball and frustrating the other team. CTID

 

[HighlandOak]

City were not all that impressive against Bournmouth with its 1-0 win however it is still 3 points and just 1 pt behind Liverpool.

Right now the team are not playing as smoothly as normal and March has a bunch of tough fixtures starting with the Rags(H) next weekend followed by Liverpool(A), Brighton(A), Arsenal(H) and Aston Villa(H). Good to see Grealish on the bench on Saturday so he should be good to go against Luton on Tuesday in the FA Cup (ESPN+ at 2:30 ET). He knows how to keep the ball and frustrate the other team. He also majorly upsets the opponents as he smiles at them throughout! which po's them. City have been sloppy as of late and need to get back to keeping the ball and frustrating the other team. CTID

To only be one point back of Liverpool with DeBruyne and Haaland both back, and Grealish coming along, sets City up pretty good for the last couple of months of the season. I'm just not sure they can catch Liverpool with the "Klopp farewell tour" in full swing. Especially with Kelleher playing as well as he has been and the youngsters playing well when they're coming on late in games.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Great win against the Rags aka United last weekend. A much changed team took care of Copenhagen quite easily to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Wednesday. The draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals will be March 15th at 6 am ET. Sunday at 10:45 am ET on USA is the BIG one. Man City will play Liverpool at Anfield. City have a less than stellar record at Anfield with Pep's only win during the Covid year meaning there was no crowd. Make no mistake the Anfield crowd can be fierce and mean the difference between a win and a loss. Hopefully, KDB and Haaland/Foden can get together early and often to take the crowd out of the equation. CTID

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Quite simply City were bum-rushed by Liverpool in the second half and made to hurry which is not their normal way they like to play. This led to many passes played to Liverpool players and put City's defense under immense pressure. However, on the bright side, it took a penalty for them to score which was an improvement . Ederson will be out for 3-4 weeks but we'll be fine with Stefan Ortega.

Of course, you can be sure that Arsenal and Aston Villa will employ the same harrassing tactics when they come to the Etihad in the coming weeks. In fact, Aston Villa were the team who started it when we visited their place which caused the 1-0 loss down there.

 

[HighlandOak]

Quite simply City were bum-rushed by Liverpool in the second half and made to hurry which is not their normal way they like to play. This led to many passes played to Liverpool players and put City's defense under immense pressure. However, on the bright side, it took a penalty for them to score which was an improvement . Ederson will be out for 3-4 weeks but we'll be fine with Stefan Ortega.

Of course, you can be sure that Arsenal and Aston Villa will employ the same harrassing tactics when they come to the Etihad in the coming weeks. In fact, Aston Villa were the team who started it when we visited their place which caused the 1-0 loss down there.

I feel City will be fine with Ortega in goal. If City still had to depend on Steffen, as in the past, their season would've been over.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Totally agree with regard to Steffen, He just never improved which was unusual for a player coming to City.

City are in advanced talks to obtain the services of US Youth Inernational Cavan Sullivan. "The plan would be for Sullivan, who is 14, to be loaned to City Football Group club Lommel SK when he turns 16 although nothing is yet determined. He couldn’t play for City until he turns 18." (The Athletic). Cavan's older brother, Quinn, plays for Philadelphia Union who were desperate to keep Cavan in the US until he is 18. However, it looks like Cavan's future is with Man City.

 

[BhamToTexas]

That kid (Cavan) is legit. Congrats to him.

He is 14 playing U17 mls next.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Everything I've read about him indicates he is a top talent Bham to Texas. I'm not sure why he can't join Man City's academy now like any other lad. It would certainly be beneficial to him to be among other top talents and learn from the best coaches. Moving to Lommel SK will certainly be a huge step up in talent for him meaning that he can only improve at a faster pace with similar level of footballers and coaches around him.

 

[HighlandOak]

Everything I've read about him indicates he is a top talent Bham to Texas. I'm not sure why he can't join Man City's academy now like any other lad. It would certainly be beneficial to him to be among other top talents and learn from the best coaches. Moving to Lommel SK will certainly be a huge step up in talent for him meaning that he can only improve at a faster pace with similar level of footballers and coaches around him.

I believe there is an age requirement for a work visa. I'm not sure but I have read of other international kids having to be 16 to join academies. That being said, if the family moved to Manchester, it might work.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Just what we did not need is Kyle Walker being injured. It sounds like a tightening of his hamstring and I don't know how much can be done in a week to massage it looser. City really need him against Saka who mysteriously had an injury and did not report to England. Of course, he plays for Arsenal and being a member of the red cartel they seem to get a free pass.

 

[HighlandOak]

Just what we did not need is Kyle Walker being injured. It sounds like a tightening of his hamstring and I don't know how much can be done in a week to massage it looser. City really need him against Saka who mysteriously had an injury and did not report to England. Of course, he plays for Arsenal and being a member of the red cartel they seem to get a free pass.

With speed being Walker's forte, a hamstring issue is not good. Is it the same one that gave him trouble last year?

 

[HighlandOak]

Nil-Nil draw with Arsenal today leaves City 3 points behind Liverpool in 3rd.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Congratulations to Arsenal for ruining what could have been a great football game but when Arsenal parked the bus with SIX at the back -- they now call it low block -- with the remaining four players in front of them -- there was very little room for City to shoot at. When they did shoot they hit a forest of legs most of the time. Now City will be without Ake for an unspecified amount of weeks as he does have a muscular injury to his calf. Stones may have been named as a substitute but there was no intention of playing him or he would have come on for Ake when he got injured. Hopefully, he will be back for the Aston Villa game on Wednesday on Peacock at 3:15 ET.

Tuesday April 2 on Netflix is Together - City's Treble Winning Season from last year.

 

[HighlandOak]

Congratulations to Arsenal for ruining what could have been a great football game but when Arsenal parked the bus with SIX at the back -- they now call it low block -- with the remaining four players in front of them -- there was very little room for City to shoot at. When they did shoot they hit a forest of legs most of the time. Now City will be without Ake for an unspecified amount of weeks as he does have a muscular injury to his calf. Stones may have been named as a substitute but there was no intention of playing him or he would have come on for Ake when he got injured. Hopefully, he will be back for the Aston Villa game on Wednesday on Peacock at 3:15 ET.

Tuesday April 2 on Netflix is Together - City's Treble Winning Season from last year.

How did Lewis look when he came in for Ake?

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Lewis was good but so hard to overcome the parked bus.

Saturday I was in Nashville for the PL mornings Fan Fest which was a lot of fun. I got to have a good chat with Rebecca Lowe which was fun especially as City played her team, Crystal Palace first up that morning. I did ask her to pass on some information to the great commentator Peter Drury who was wondering in the Villa game why Phil Foden still wore the 47 shirt like he was still in the Academy. I explained to Rebecca Foden wears the number 47 in honor of his grandfather who died at age 47 and will never change it. She was very personable and easy to talk with. Of course, I gave her plenty of space when it was time for her to do her promo.

It was bloody cold in Nashville at 5:30 a.m. (37F) and even by 6:30 when the game started it was no much better. My mood did not improve when Crystal Palace scored first but things got better with KDB, Lewis, Haaland and KDB again. A stupid second Crystal Palace goal in the waning moments was wasteful, but overall the team seemed to come through unscathed for the game against Real Madrid Tuesday afternoon. Right now City will be without Walker and Ake for sure. Pep will have to make a decision as to which goalie will play as Ederson has been out for some weeks. Ortega has been in fine form since he came on in the Liverpool game to replace Ederson.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Big game tonight in Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Real Madrid have been given permission by UEFA to close the roof so as to increase the sound level of the stadium to intimidate the City players. Added to that ISIS has threatened all four quarterfinal locations just to add to the tension. The game kicks off at 3:00 pm ET on Paramount+ today, 4/9/24. C'mon City.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Amazing game ending up Madrid 3 - 3 Man City. To be honest Madrid scored two meh goals after City went ahead on a Bernardo free kick after 3 minutes. Madrid's first was a shot that was going wide until it hit Dias and wrong footed our goalie into the net. Madrid's second was also flukey in that the ball kit both Akanji and goalie Moreno before it slowly rolled into the net. 2 - 1 down at the half. The second half saw a super Phil Foden shotcoming across the the 18 yard box and a strike into the upper corner. This was followed five minutes later by another cracker for Gvardiol's first goal for City into the right corner of the net. 2 - 3 City. Towards the end of the game Vini Jr. hit a superb pass to Camavinga who volleyed it into the net - Moreno had no chance. So back to the Etihad on the 17th for the second leg.

Foden got a knock and was substituted. Stones is carrying an injury but made it through and Rodri needs a break. Hopefully, he will get it against Luton Town this weekend at the Etihad.

 

[HighlandOak]

Amazing game ending up Madrid 3 - 3 Man City. To be honest Madrid scored two meh goals after City went ahead on a Bernardo free kick after 3 minutes. Madrid's first was a shot that was going wide until it hit Dias and wrong footed our goalie into the net. Madrid's second was also flukey in that the ball kit both Akanji and goalie Moreno before it slowly rolled into the net. 2 - 1 down at the half. The second half saw a super Phil Foden shotcoming across the the 18 yard box and a strike into the upper corner. This was followed five minutes later by another cracker for Gvardiol's first goal for City into the right corner of the net. 2 - 3 City. Towards the end of the game Vini Jr. hit a superb pass to Camavinga who volleyed it into the net - Moreno had no chance. So back to the Etihad on the 17th for the second leg.

Foden got a knock and was substituted. Stones is carrying an injury but made it through and Rodri needs a break. Hopefully, he will get it against Luton Town this weekend at the Etihad.

Lewis should be able to spell Rodri and Stones for Luton.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Yes, they have Nunes and Kovacic as well. Luton are no slouches but City should be ashamed of themselves if they don't manage to beat them at the Etihad without Rodri

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Talk about a Man City weekend! City beat Luton Town 5-1. Thank you to Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, two teams City recently took to the woodshed, beat both Liverpool and Arsenal on their home grounds. Couldn't have asked for better results. It's not done and dusted yet as there are still six games to play and City still have Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinal on Saturday with the second quarter final against Real Madrid this coming Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 pm ET.

There is a chance Walker will be back Wednesday to go against Vini Jr. and Rodrigo but Guardiola is so concerned about blowing out his hamstring and losing him for the rest of the season he may only get a few minutes. Our Rodri will be back for sure having had a rest over the weekend.