Source: FOOTYMAD
A Fan's View: Man City 3 Albion 0
DonnyValdo gives his verdict on Albion's loss The theme and content of this report is obviously going to be very different following the news this morning from the club that Roberto Di Matteo has been relieved of his duties. From my point of view he should’ve been given more time. Let’s not forget that he was given little backing in the January transfer window. I understand that a number of names were put forward by Dan Ashworth and Roberto Di Matteo to the board and only Vela was bought in. Di Matteo wanted more but Peace either failed to sanction the deals or was unable to complete the signings. However, ultimately, yesterday’s loss to Manchester City showed the flaws in RDM’s tactics and leadership. Team news Marc-Antonie Fortune made his first start in nine games as one of four chances in the starting line up to that which faced Wigan. James Morrison was recalled in favour of Simon Cox with Steven Reid replacing Gonzalo Jara at right-back and Nicky Shorey in for the injured Cech. The decision to play Fortune, a natural striker, out wide may have surprised some but I think it worked. He offered an aerial threat out wide – something we haven’t had since Brunt moved in field – and supported Peter Odemwingie – another thing we’ve lacked in recent weeks – when possible. First half The first forty-five minutes were difficult to watch as an Albion fan. City simply picked our flaws to pieces and exploited the gaps in midfield and the openness of our back four – in particular the two centre backs. Earlier in the season we excelled with two defensive midfielders sitting in front of the back-four. For some reason, since the injury to Jonas Olsson, RDM preferred to play with two attacking midfielders supporting Odemwingie with Mulumbu – who should be more disciplined in this role – left to protect the back four. This system was again shown to be ineffective again yesterday as Carlos Tevez dropped deep on numerous occasions and was able to bring City midfielders pushing forward into the game. We simply couldn’t combat this happening. The host’s ability to play quick, clever, triangular passes around the static Brunt, Morrison and Mulumbu early on showed it was going to be a long afternoon – even behind a computer screen! City’s first chance came inside the first four minutes when Silva skipped past Brunt to find Kolarov on the left. The defender’s excellent cross found an unmarked Tevez who side-footed his effort past Myhill but against the upright. Albion showed a glimmer of hope though when a long ball over the top saw Odemwingie tumbling in the area. City defender Kompany clearly tripped the on-rushing striker but a free kick was given and the Belgium international escaped without a booking – another questionable decision. Chris Brunt’s low free kick brought an excellent save low from England goalkeeper Joe Hart. From the resulting corner, Olsson’s looping header was easily tipped over. That was as good as it got though for Albion. Minutes later Olsson gave away a needless free kick when the ball was going out of play. City’s quick thinking caught out Albion with Reid a yard behind Kolarov and the defender going down under Reid’s pull for a penalty. The two challenges from Olsson and Reid were needless and pointless. It summed up Albion’s defending in recent weeks. Tevez side-footed the penalty into the corner of the net to give City the lead after 17 minutes. It got worse minutes later. Kompany was allowed the freedom of the City of Manchester Stadium as he strolled through our midfield and found Tevez unmarked. The striker played a clever one-two with Silva, danced around Olsson’s diving lunge and passed the ball past Myhill. Game over after 25 minutes. The ease in which Kompany was allowed to bring the ball out from defence was embarrassing. Brunt, Morrison and Mulumbu all went missing. The ease in which Tevez was given space to drop deep and find Silva was equally embarrassing. Olsson’s challenge was embarrassing when he should’ve stayed on his feet. Albion’s defending was embarrassing. With City given time on the ball in midfield, Kolarov was next to try his luck from 25 yards. Myhill again showed why he deserves his chance between the sticks as the Welsh international superbly tipped the dipping effort on to the crossbar. If it could get any worse for Albion it did when Jerome Thomas – who I was shocked was defending in the area – gave away another needless penalty. The winger in trying to control the ball used his arm and another spot kick was given. Tevez again strolled up to smash the ball home to record a hat-trick on his 27th birthday. Morrison tested Hart with a long range volley five minutes before half time, but Albion were well beaten by the time the half time whistle was blown. After the break Carlos Vela came on for Jerome Thomas as Roberto Di Matteo made one change. The Mexican showed his class – and why he really should’ve started – with some nice touches early on. Albion looked more in control after the break, but in truth this has more to do with City easing off. Odemwingie found himself again out wide – another flaw RDM has failed to correct when he’s the lone striker – and cut in-field to unleash an excellent curling effort. However his shot was a yard wide. Fortune then wasted Albion’s best chance of the game when Mulumbu found him on the right with a cutting through ball. With Vela calling for the cut back with Hart out of the position, he decided to go for goal but missed the near post. He looked to the skies as we all did. Brunt next tested Hart’s goal but his 25-yard skimmer missed the goal by a yard again. Tevez then missed the opportunity to score his and City’s fourth when he skied Gareth Barry’s pull-back with Myhill out of position. A fourth would not have been cruel on Albion. We were well and truly beaten. After the break we came more into the game, but City had the game won by then. They were coasting. On reflection Knowing what I do now, it’s difficult to criticise RDM. In my opinion he worked to the best of his abilities during his time at the club. He was given no backing during the transfer window even though it was obvious to everybody we needed defensive reinforcements. The timing of his sacking is equally as shocking as the decision itself. With West Ham and Wolves now next up, six points is essential. Whether or not Michael Appleton will be able to lift spirits within the team and the club remains to be seen. I hope he can.
