Report: Rangers 3 City 2

Wednesday 5 August, 7.45pm
Goals: Novo 20, Miller 53, Weir 90 for Rangers. Ireland 27, Petrov 52 for City.

City scored two excellent goals but they weren’t enough to prevent a last minute defeat that was a damning indictment on a shoddy defence.

Hughes named a strong starting line-up with Adebayor as a lone striker flanked by Robinho and Etuhu. Ireland was positioned in front of Barry and De Jong. Richard Dunne and Micah Richards both played their first 90 minutes of pre season while Toure, Bridge and Given made up the rest of the defence.

After a quiet opening, Robinho sprung into life with a backheel to Bridge who crossed for the Brazilian to flick a shot that was blocked by Bougherra.

At the other end Rangers were starting to create chances and scored the first goal with the City defence all at sea. Toure was out of position at full back and couldn’t prevent a cross to the far post where an umarked Rangers player had a shot which ricocheted around City’s box before falling to Novo who slammed it home.

City replied with Robinho narrowly offside as he produced a delightful finish to lob the keeper. The Brazilian was causing plenty of problems down the left hand side and linking up well with Adebayor. Another Robinho run saw him play the ball in to Etuhu, who with one touch moved it on to Adebayor, who played in Ireland for a cool finish, passing the ball into the net.

Robinho cut inside for another shot after 30 minutes as City took control for the remainder of the first half. City’s record signing then put Adebayor clean through, but the Togoese had the ball taken off his toe by a last ditch tackle.

We continued to press high up the pitch to get the ball back. It looks impressive until the opposition get beyond this, and then there is way to much space at the back with defenders frequently being left one on one. This was a trademark Hughes tactic last season and proved to be Dunne’s downfall. The question remains of whether Lescott or anyone else will fare any better in such a system.

Unfortunately half-time saw what proved to be a pair of kamikaze substitutions. Both Barry and De Jong departed to allow Petrov to come onto the left flank, while Robinho moved inside as a second sriker and Ireland dropped back into a midfield two with Zabaleta.

The defence was no longer being given any protection from the midfield and Bridge endured a nightmare start to the second half with balls continually being played into space behind him. He’s clearly encouraged to get forward, but someone needs to drop in and cover when he does. Nobody appeared to want to play left sided centre back. We know from last season that Dunne can’t play there and Toure also prefers the right hand side.

Suddenly a great ball over the top to Petrov sent him scampering away. The Bulgarian cut in and rifled it home for City’s second. Great goal.

Immediately Rangers went straight down the middle with a long ranger effort from Davis that produced a fingertip save from Given. City failed to heed the warning and shocking defending followed as Miller ran from deep without being tracked by midfielders, went through a cavernous gap between Toure and Richards, and lobbed the completely exposed Given.

Ben Haim came on for Ireland and at least he looked willing to play on the left of central defence. The downside to this was Toure, signed as a central defender, moving to central midfield alongside Zabaleta, signed as a right back. The lack of positional discipline was clear for all to see.

In the final substitution Weiss came on for Robinho and immediately produced a fabulous run, gliding past a pair of defenders and teeing up Etuhu who saw the ball taken off his toe.  The youngster then played a beautiful pass through for Petrov to race onto.  Frustratingly, he overhit his pass to the unmarked Bellamy and the chance for a City winner was gone.

Sadly the chance for a Rangers winner was still to come. A corner which Ben Haim headed partially clear landed at the feet of unmarked forty year old, David Weir, who fired home with the aid of a slight deflection. There was still time for Etuhu to hit the post before the referee blew for full time.

Amongst the post match platitudes, Hughes did speak of working on the defending:

“It is more about working with the back four and midfielders as a unit, [than signing a new player].

“That opportunity has really only come up now because Richard Dunne missed a week’s training. We have got to bed down the pairings, it is a week on Saturday that we think about, not this evening.”

With the complete lack of organisation in defence, it looked essential that we play two of Barry, De Jong and Kompany in front of them if we’re to have any hope of solidity. When bearing in mind that every one of our defenders on show have looked decent players under different managers, this asks a lot of questions of the current coaching and tactics.

If City continue to defend like this, they’ll struggle to be in the top half never mind challenge for the top four and Hughes ought to be mindful of Guus Hiddink’s potential availability in the Autumn.

External reports:
Official site
Manchester Evening News
Daily Mail
The Independent
The Guardian

Blog reports:
The Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll
Norstander

Video:
Goals on YouTube

Blue Days 6 August 2009

pre season / Rangers /

Preview: Rangers v City

Wednesday 5 August, 7.45pm

City take on Rangers tonight in the first half of a double header against the Old Firm clubs.

Given the ongoing injuries to Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz, expect to see more of Bellamy and Adebayor trying to forge an understanding, unless Hughes goes for a lone striker set-up.

Gareth Barry looks likely to get a run out after recovering from a minor knock and Kolo Toure should get another opportunity to familiarise himself with his new teammates.

Bellamy and Shay Given are the Blues with Celtic connections who can expect a “warm” reception. Both the Glaswegian giants are known for showing a competitive edge in friendlies, particularly against English opposition, even if Rangers didn’t cover themselves with to much glory in the Emirates Cup last weekend.

Arsenal put three past them and it will be interesting to see if we’re able to do something similar. For all the talk of pre season being about building up fitness, it would be nice to see Hughes’ team bang in a few goals and look the part of top four challengers.

Hughes on tonights game:

“We are looking to step up our preparation now. People have tried to read significance into our results so far because of the focus on us, but those games were more about fitness in the grand scheme of things.

“The players are at different levels because some were still playing internationals in June. You have to be conscious of that. Some will have the majority of the game and others will play a part.

“Don’t imagine that playing the Scots means any less to a Welshman than an Englishman! That old Celtic rivalry comes into it. You look at their stadium and their fans, it’s a great place to play and perfect preparation.”

A convincing result would give everyone that little bit more confidence as we try and shake off the memories of last season’s away form.

Blue Days 5 August 2009

pre season / preview / Rangers /

Lescott’s transfer request not enough?

According to several reports Joleon Lescott yesterday asked to be allowed to speak to City in a meeting with David Moyes. Whether this is going to be enough to enable City to complete the signing of our first choice target for the left-sided centre-back position remains to be seen.

Moyes, as we’ve come to expect, is still against the idea and Bill Kenwright is unlikely to go against the wishes of his manager or the clubs supporters. It looks like Lescott will now have to go to the next stage submit a written transfer request, and City may well follow this up with a fresh bid.

There is the distinct impression that Moyes and Kenwright’s will turn down Lescott’s transfer request and Everton are continuing to make it known they don’t need the money. Their likely signing of Philippe Senderos is said to be cover for the injured Jagielka.

The whole thing has stalemate written all over it, and I can’t see City wanting the situation to drag on much longer with the knowledge that second choices Bassong and Distin are being chased by Tottenham and Villa respectively. The canny Moyes may well be banking on City soon running out of patience.

The only thing likely to change this would be for Moyes to decide he doesn’t want an unhappy player on his hands, otherwise I can see City making a move for Bassong before the end of the week.

Blue Days 4 August 2009

David Moyes / Joleon Lescott / Sebastien Bassong / Sylvain Distin /

Villa set to pip rivals for Fabian Delph?

The race for Fabian Delph’s signature seems to have stepped up in the last few hours with Aston Villa currently looking set to sign the Leeds youngster according to Leeds’ site:

Leeds United can confirm that a fee has been agreed with Aston Villa for Fabian Delph.

Leeds United wishes to place on record our appreciation for the honourable manner in which Aston Villa have conducted their interest in the player.

The club has resisted approaches from other FA Premier League clubs since agreeing terms with Aston Villa.

Having given Villa our commitment to transfer the player (subject to medical), we had no intention of going back on that.

Several clubs including City, Everton, Villa and Spurs have been monitoring Delph for some time and Leeds were reported to have recently rejected bids from a pair of Premier League clubs. City’s interest was confirmed over the weekend by Hughes stating “He is a young player who has been brought to our attention, I’m not sure where we are up to with that because obviously I have been busy with the game [against Barnsley]”.

The Mail among others had us set to offer £10m, but this only seems to have spurred Villa into action, with The Mail now claiming Villa to have agreed an £8m fee.

With the statement on Leeds web site confirming that Villa are now in an exclusive position to discuss terms with the youngster it looks like Delph could be one to get away.

I can’t help feeling that if we really wanted him we would have made our move earlier, however it is unlike Hughes to comment on a player unless we’re set to make a serious bid for them.

My feeling is that Martin O’Neill could well convince the youngster to sign for Villa with a promise of more first team action than he would be likely to get at Eastlands, even if we could offer higher wages.

Video:
Fabian Delph goals 08/09

Blue Days 3 August 2009

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