Re: The Football Chat Thread : Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:26 pm
The Everton of old tonight. So many heroes for the Blues tonight.Denis Stracquilursi. Sign him Moysey. Ran his blood to water and played with such calmness, loads of deft touches and runs forward that relieved pressure. Donovan and Drenthe as well, willing to just run and run and run and run and run, relieving pressure so intelligently time after time.
Tony Hibbert and Johnny Mad Dog Heitinga? Utterly sensational. Hibbert looked like he was 2 foot tall tonight against Dzeko, but he was a brick wall. Heitinga was a colossus, impenetrable and unwilling to move. City could have played for four days and not scored. They could have thrown half the Barcelona squad in as well and wouldn't have scored. Compare Heitinga to Barry tonight. As ever Barry turns his back and makes a ballerina pose as Gibson lashes it into the net, in the same position Heitinga would have ran full speed with his eyes wide and a mad grin on his face and blocked it.
City were awful. They'll need more than class to win at Goodison and as the league gets to the business end they'll need more than it to win most away games. Their midfield was utterly pathetic tonight, nigh on 70% possession and they couldn't create a thing. Hibbert and Heitinga at centre back and a 2 foot advantage to Dzeko and they couldn't even get into a position to cross. Outfought, out enthused and completely lacking in spirit. Is it because it's cold perhaps? Or they just don't fancy the atmosphere and the fight? Mancini has taken the wrap for it in his post match interview, but there are a few hundred thousands dropping into bank accounts this week that haven't really been earned.