Fear is the Key...

So Manchester City failed again in the first leg against Barcelona. Again they played with fear. I actually felt a bit sorry for them. They have a fantastic squad - still the best in the Premiership in my view - and I thought they should have walked the title last season. I actually thought that they'd win it this season too (they may still) but it doesn't look great for them.

They can't play the 'inexperience card' any longer in the Champions League either. The players now have the CL experience and in any case, as individuals, most of them are Internationals and are used to playing at the highest level.

Despite not being a City fan, I like to see English clubs in the latter stages of the Champions League. This was just such a waste. The problem of course is Pellegrini. I am not sure what he was thinking setting up his team with two strikers. I understand that he may have thought that his team were stronger this year and Barcelona weaker - but essentially you are coming up against the best 'possession football' side in the world and with 4-4-2 you surely leave yourself exposed - especially against Messi, Neymar and Suarez. It was just painful to watch.

I actually thought City would win the match before kick-off...until I saw the formation.

Pellegrini tried to justify his tactical decision with City's second half performance. Yes, it 'looked' better but equally Barcelona were in that situation where they were happy with a 2-0 lead and had no need or desire to push on. That, and the usual over-enthusiastic commentary on the TV, almost made you believe that City had a chance of pulling the game back. They never did. Once city got the goal, Barcelona attacked a little more and really should have won it 3-1 with a last gasp penalty.

Still, City seem to be better away than at home - they'll need to be. Pellegrini is no doubt a decent man but he has all the charisma of a breeze block and I can't imagine that he is a great motivator. Maybe it all gets lost in translation of course.


Pellegrini

I just don't think City will ever fulfill their true potential with the Chilean as their manager.

FIFA Team of the Year...

So the FIFA Team of the Year 2014 is out. Of course big tournaments and matches come into play like the World Cup and the Champions League but I would like to see more day in day out league play count for something.

I mean the fact that Messi picked up the Golden Ball in the World Cup was a complete joke and he knew it too! Can we trust anything to do with FIFA?


Lionel Messi overjoyed at winning the Golden Ball

Neuer, for example, is a fine keeper and a current World Cup winner but he had a fantastic team in front of him and he is part of the dominant team in the Bundesliga - I mean there simply is no other threat. Bayern Munich being eleven points clear at this stage of the season says it all.

Di Maria had a couple of great games in the World Cup and also did a bit of work for Real Madrid too. In fact he was so good that they sold him to Man Utd. After a couple of good games in the Premiership he has been fairly mediocre...certainly against proper teams.

David Luiz deserves to be there for his hair alone and of course he is ex-Chelsea.

Arjen 'run in a straight line then cut in-field and shoot with my left foot' Robben - well I guess that works for all but the best defenses. But he's ex-Chelsea so we'll let it go.

Messi and Ronaldo can play a bit so they can stay in.

Iniesta - that's funny!

Lahm - Why?

Kroos - Ok.

Silva - Haven't watched him enough.

Ramos - Could have been him or one of fifty others.

So lets just keep it simple. In future, the team that wins the toughest league in the world is the team of the year. So for 2015 the team of the year will be:



Thank you.

Finally Messi...

You might have noticed the new ad for FIFA 15 that has hit your screens, with Messi and Hazard fighting it out on their consoles in the obligatory Christmas setting.

As a Chelsea fan I had to laugh, because Messi finally gets to score a goal against the Blues - even though he hasn't yet managed it in 'real football' - including missing a penalty.

I wonder if scoring against us was a condition of his advertising contract!

Still, he's a great player, one of a kind, so I probably shouldn't tempt fate as the next round of Champions League games approaches..

Merry Christmas Lionel.

You Tube - FIFA 15