Jack and Loz Not at the Cottage - Blog 172

Date: 13th March 2021

Opposition: Manchester City

Score: 0-3

MOTM: Not Applicable

Dinner: Loz - Napoletana pizza and Riesling; Jack - feta wrap and Sauvignon Blanc

Manchester City are the best team in Europe, and probably the world. Playing them so soon after our outstanding victory against Liverpool meant we had nothing to lose except our goal difference.

Scott Parker, always cautious anyway, fielded his most defensive line-up ever. No Mitro, no Maja, all 3 CDMs and Cav apparently playing left back. Lookman was charged with the role of (small) centre forward and he acquitted himself well. Frankly, Scott was playing for the draw. Against such superlative opposition this was the right thing to do. And it almost worked.

The first half felt like, if not exactly a top of the table clash, two well-matched teams respectfully testing each other out. Fulham started the game fast and furious - we caused problems for the City defence without ever threatening the goal. Our own defence were, as expected, unfazed and resolute - they started the match where they had left off against Liverpool, dealing with everything which came their way with well-drilled aplomb.

There were danger signs though - City, dark clad and menacing, edged ever nearer to the six yard box, waiting to pounce. Their pressing was the closest and most relentless we have ever seen. Areola became busy and the defensive line wavered. But we got to half time unscathed and nothing which happened after that takes away from that brave and resilient performance.

Of course, it all went wrong in 15 minutes of pain. There is no point (literally) in dwelling on what happened. This was Man City and we were naive - give ‘em an inch and they’ll take a goal. We were a little unlucky to have the free kick awarded against us but we should have defended it better. While the other two mistakes felt (and we had hoped never to have to mention this term again) Triangle of Doomish, the fact of the matter is City forced those mistakes. No one else can do that to us.

We responded well but this is where the tactics fell down - having gone behind, especially so far behind so quickly, there was never going to be a way back with a dearth of goal scorers on the pitch. Scott got the subs right, and all of Mitro, Onomah and Antonee were excellent. Mitro won a free kick with his first touch (although God knows what Cav was thinking when he took it) and Josh was so strong and effective that we rued even more than usual the stupid deal with C****a which has meant we’ve had to watch RLC all this time instead of Josh.

At this point we must spare a thought for Man City bloggers. It must be like writing about a machine. The players are components not humans. They don’t make mistakes. They don’t have to improvise. They follow a script and every week the story ends the same way. Expectations are high and they meet them easily and predictably. They don’t even have interesting hair. Yes, they’re very good but how do you feel affection for something so clinical?

As for Fulham, we must move on and put the defeat behind us. It is telling that this was our biggest league defeat since September and that, as fans, we are disappointed at losing to the Champions elect. Scott’s team of wonder loans has been so good that we’ve forgotten that we used to lose every week.

This week however, we won one and lost one. And considering the quality of the opposition, to misquote Meatloaf, Three Out Of Two Ain’t Bad.

Random musings:-

* Scott had obviously taken our advice and reduced the layers under his grey padded jacket - although it’s no longer his lucky one

* we appreciate that City’s kit was navy and that was probably more obvious in real life but on TV it looked like everyone was wearing black shorts including the ref

* accessories were coming off all over the place - a Man City boot and Kenny’s necklace

* Scott's had a short, back and sides - just a shame his team weren't so tidy

*....while Frank is growing his locks.

The goal difference took more of a battering than we would have liked but it is still better than Newcastle’s and we have come through a nightmarish run of games still very much in contention.

Our season won’t be defined by this match but it will be defined how the players and Scott react to it. And we have no doubt that on Friday night, Leeds will suffer the consequences.