Did anyone see Dave's reaction when either Lucas or Henderson wasn't given a second yellow? Standing up and shouting/appealing from the bench ... Love the guy, shows passion and really seems to care.

Did anyone see Dave's reaction when either Lucas or Henderson wasn't given a second yellow? Standing up and shouting/appealing from the bench ... Love the guy, shows passion and really seems to care.

I've seen it yes I love to see this passion in players

Did anyone see Dave's reaction when either Lucas or Henderson wasn't given a second yellow? Standing up and shouting/appealing from the bench ... Love the guy, shows passion and really seems to care.

I haven't, you got a link at all?

Probably had nightmares about Navas all night. Absolutely torn a new one but thank god he has no final ball.

Probably had nightmares about Navas all night. Absolutely torn a new one but thank god he has no final ball.

We can maybe forgive him in that he has only just come back from injury but its rare for any player to consistently get the better of him.

Navas knows how to use his pace but I know City fans find him an extremely frustrating figure due to his lack of end product, if Willian were confident enough to consistently take on his man in the same manner Navas does he'd surely rack up a lot more assists because his crossing and passing is much better.

I found it strange how he fell for the same trick over and over. I know Navas is faster, but its possible to correct that with better positioning from Azpilicueta. Ivanovic also had a nightmare on the other side and he didn't have to struggle with the pace of Navas, he also seemed alot more unfriendly with the ball then usual. Hopefully for both their recent injurys played some part in their performance yesterday.

Navas vs Azpilicueta wasn't entirely dissimilar to Antonio Valencia vs Ashley Cole

only way ivan wont play is if hes injured/suspended. He's too important as an out ball from goal kicks etc to knock the ball on

Azpi had one of his worst games and Navas had one of his best for city. Nothing to worry about and doubt it will happen again 

I've always thought a pure pacy right winger would give him trouble. Azpi is not the fastest and being on his weaker side doesn't help. Good thing he won't have to come up against Juan Cuadrado in a match any time soon!

I found it strange how he fell for the same trick over and over. I know Navas is faster, but its possible to correct that with better positioning from Azpilicueta. Ivanovic also had a nightmare on the other side and he didn't have to struggle with the pace of Navas, he also seemed alot more unfriendly with the ball then usual. Hopefully for both their recent injurys played some part in their performance yesterday.

Neither Dave or Ivan were fit. Ivan could barely run. They only played because of the injury to Luis.

Cesc is out for 2 more weeks apparently, Willian picked up an injury, Luis is injured and it looked to me like Hazard definitely picked up a knock in the City game but we couldn't afford to take him off, due to the lack of options on the bench.

Costa is out and I think the next two games are going to be testing.

Thank god we've got a week's rest.

Not only are we short on numbers but we look knackered.

Not only are we short on numbers but we look knackered.

 

Very much so, completely agree. This is why I find it a bit odd that (if the reports are true) only Cuadrado is coming in with Schürrle and Salah out.

 

It is good that we have almost a week for the lads to get rest.

As someone mentioned, I felt that Azpi was very reserved and circumspect when he came on in the Liverpool game. It felt like he was too scared to even kick the ball hard or unwittingly extend his legs (literally) too much. Felt a bit like what I would do if I had say a hamstring or groin injury and hadn't recovered fully.

I don't think he was fully fit at all in the City game and don't believe that he will struggle defensively against any opposition otherwise.

As someone mentioned, I felt that Azpi was very reserved and circumspect when he came on in the Liverpool game. It felt like he was too scared to even kick the ball hard or unwittingly extend his legs (literally) too much. Felt a bit like what I would do if I had say a hamstring or groin injury and hadn't recovered fully.

I don't think he was fully fit at all in the City game and don't believe that he will struggle defensively against any opposition otherwise.

Thought the same tbh hopefully a weeks rest will see him right

I've always thought a pure pacy right winger would give him trouble. Azpi is not the fastest and being on his weaker side doesn't help. Good thing he won't have to come up against Juan Cuadrado in a match any time soon!

 

 

I actually think this is wrong, watch the liverpool game last season, every time stirling get's in a foot race with azpi, he looses. I think Dave is deceptivly quick. He just had a bad game 

When a left leg winger play on his side he is usually immense. But when it comes to right winger - athletico springs to mind there with Juanfran, he is having trouble there. But still top notch defender.

I actually think this is wrong, watch the liverpool game last season, every time stirling get's in a foot race with azpi, he looses. I think Dave is deceptivly quick. He just had a bad game 

 

Could be. I'm not saying he's slow by any means but he's certainly not Ash Cole in his prime fast. Its not something I see as a weakness though, agree that it was just a bad game.

I think Dave is quick but Navas is rapid, just lucky he couldn't do anything with the ball when he got past. Our whole team were tired though so he wasn't getting much support from the wingers/midfield by the end of the second half. 

 

Just a one off.

I live in Spain and I saw this on offer at the local market today.

# Click on image to view full #



Couldn't resist.

I actually think this is wrong, watch the liverpool game last season, every time stirling get's in a foot race with azpi, he looses. I think Dave is deceptivly quick. He just had a bad game 

 

It's worth bearing in mind that there are different aspects to pace - being outpaced by someone isn't necessarily a sign of being a slow player overall. A lot of it is to do with a player's standing position (especially if you are on the turn) and their body balance. I doubt there are too many players who can beat Azpilicueta over say 10-15 metres, but it is possible that over 5 metres (and when you are defending deep that is often as much space as you are going to get), a winger like Navas can accelerate past him for long enough to get the ball into the box.

 

It's the difference between Willian, Hazard and Ramires. All three are clearly incredibly fast, but in different manners. Willian is ferociously quick from a standing start, which means that he is very hard to beat over short distances when there is little time to react, which is why he is so effective at closing down defenders and beating them to the ball when a pass is loose in their own half. Hazard's strength is in his acceleration, which is why he is so difficult to defend against when he is dribbling at a full-back - the defender never knows when he is about to turn up the gears, which can happen in a second. The defender can't stick close and close off the space because he will likely be left for dead, but if they back off in order to pre-empt this, they run the risk of him cutting inside and getting past the defender that way. Ramires isn't especially quick from a standing start, but is just about as fast as any player I've ever seen when he gets to top speed over a long distance, for example his heroic run and chip against Barcelona.

He does have the occasional bad moments, he is a fantastic fullback though, wouldn't trade him for anyone right now.

 

Was it him in the PSG game who got absolutely skinned by Pastore? I can't remember but was one of the worst I've seen of him.

pretty much agree, and I think my memory of Azpi, he was already on turned and chasing Sterling down

He does have the occasional bad moments, he is a fantastic fullback though, wouldn't trade him for anyone right now.

 

Was it him in the PSG game who got absolutely skinned by Pastore? I can't remember but was one of the worst I've seen of him.

 

It was Lamps who got skinned, Azpilicueta fell over beforehand though.

It was Lamps who got skinned, Azpilicueta fell over beforehand though.

 

I was furious when that went in, just made the result embarrassing I felt.

 

My stream was awful though so I could barely make out I just assumed it was Azpi then Cahill, Pastore absolutely schooled Cahill big time in a friendly 2 years ago when they were under Ancelotti also. That was when we were playing in America, for a player who is apparently sh*t, he has had two good games against us.

Let's take a moment to appreciate our winning goal scorer