Man City’s second-half sloppiness punishes Spurs – Premier League hits and misses | Soccer News

Man City finally punished for sloppy second half

The first half was easy for Manchester City. At Spurs, I didn’t have to go out of first gear. The problem was they stayed there for the rest of the match.

There is a common theme for Josep Guardiola’s side, and that is a slow second half after leading 2-0.

Against Wolves, Joao Gomez and Jorgen Strand Larsen should have scored for the team bottom of the league, but missed their chances. Victor Osimhen should have scored a goal or two for Galatasaray in midweek. This drop at Spurs was too much – felt similar to the two goals conceded in the second half in the Manchester derby.

Guardiola said City’s team had suffered mentally following the injustice of Dominic Solanke’s opening goal following a collision with Marc Gehi. He said duels were missed, especially wideouts with fullbacks, Nico O’Reilly and Nico Gonzalez mixed up, and it was seen on the tying goal as well.

And then Guardiola’s excuses begin. The condemnation of Guehi and Solanke’s incident follows similar complaints about the team’s failure to take a penalty against Wolves and Diogo Dalot’s remaining on the pitch during the Manchester derby. The truth is that City are struggling in the most important parts of the game.

Is it a physical problem caused by an injury? Have we had too many new players in the last 12 months? All of this reminds us that this is not the Manchester City of old. How many times in the past has Guardiola’s team destroyed the game early on to protect their lead and perhaps push it further?

Liverpool are next up in the Premier League, so they need to fix this late issue as soon as possible. The gap with Arsenal cannot widen any further.
Sam Blitz

Casemiro steps out in style with Manchester United

Casemiro is one goal away from returning from his highest scoring season in the league.

After announcing he would leave the club at the end of the season, he is in the middle of a farewell tour, rewinding the years under manager Michael Carrick.

His opening goal set the tone, and his no-look assist to set up Matheus Cunha reflected the confidence he was playing with. Carrick mentioned his “presence” since taking over as interim coach and how important his experience is.

The five-time Champions League winner’s reputation has taken a turn for the worse since he arrived. However, the Brazil international continues to remain in the good graces of his coaches.

As he approaches his 34th birthday, the idea that he should have been part of Man United’s plans beyond this season is misplaced. But on the other hand, he remains a key cog in Carrick’s machine alongside Koby Mainu.

Casemiro is often looked upon as a midfield anchor, as he was a famous water bearer for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric during their time at Real Madrid.

But for Manchester United, he has proven to be a more complete player, showing a willingness to break lines with passes forward, scoring seven goals into the final third against Fulham.

Beyond his goal contributions, suddenly Casemiro seems to be a player United can rely on again. It’s a recall for a player who signed a contract worth £70m from Real in 2022.

There has been a lot of talk about United’s midfield overhaul over the summer, but the hole Casemiro leaves is growing bigger and bigger with each passing day and needs to be filled.
William Bitibili

Simmons is starting to show his quality in the Premier League.

In his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Manchester City, manager Thomas Frank said Xavi Simons needs to translate his Champions League performances domestically. He certainly did.

The Dutchman was the biggest beneficiary of the 3-4-3 system, which had to be changed due to injuries plaguing the team. With the wide wing-backs pushed up, Simmons was given plenty of space inside to play in dangerous areas.

Often, he was the Spurs’ go-to guy when transitioning from defense to offense. His clean footwork was a delight at times, and the lightness of his passes was often exemplary.

That being said, what impressed me most was his tenacity. He never gave up the fight to keep the ball. He showed the grit required for a tough, physical Premier League game and lived to tell the tale.

In some ways, this was a performance for Simmons to come. His quality was never in question, but it was a case of determining whether it was a good fit for English football.

In perhaps one of the most difficult games of the season in terms of the pressure and opponent the Spurs are under, an unsung hero stepped up and epitomized the Spurs’ comeback.
Callum Bishop

Anderson is the perfect midfielder

Morgan Gibbs-White was named man of the match as Nottingham Forest 10-a-side held Crystal Palace to a draw, but Elliott Anderson was an equally deserving candidate.

The 23-year-old put in a flawless performance in all aspects of the game, reiterating his status as one of the Premier League’s top central midfielders.

His best work came in the first half of possession, where he demonstrated his technical ability and passing range, repeatedly pushing Forest forward in attack.

He continued to show his on-ball value even after Neco Williams was sent off. Throughout the entire 90 minutes, no Forest player made more touches or passes. Anderson completed all five of his dribble attempts.

However, he was just as influential defensively after the break. Anderson was quick to rise to the challenge and played a key role in frustrating Palace, working tirelessly, soothing and coaching his team-mates.

In total, he won the ball 10 times, the most ever for a player on either team. He was successful in 12 of his 14 duels. An outstanding all-round performance from a player who is constantly improving.
nick wright

Palace’s struggles in front of goal became clear

The draw with Nottingham Forest extends Crystal Palace’s winless run to nine games in the Premier League and 12 games in all competitions. Shelbourne were the last team to win on December 11th.

But as tragic as that is, perhaps more worrying is their struggle in front of goal.

In their last 12 games, they have scored nine goals, three of which came from the penalty spot. This equates to a goal from open play every other game.

Despite the absence of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was left out of the squad due to speculation over his future, Palace probably should have given away more than a penalty for Ismaila Sarr, with Mats Sells and half-time substitution past Angus Gunn. Neco Williams’ mindless handball reduced the hosts to 10 men.

However, they were unable to do so despite having 74 percent possession after the break. In fact, in the second half, he only recorded 0.22xG and didn’t even take a single shot on target.

Afterward, Eagles manager Oliver Glasner said in an interview with Sky Sports that in the second half, “We realized how fragile our nerves were.” It was a fair evaluation. This team is hungry for victory.

For now, Mateta’s future is still up in the air ahead of Deadline Day, but Palace made a total bid of £48 million for Jorgen Strand Larsen, which Wolves accepted. If this deal goes through, the team would need to release him from the off-season.
Dan Long

Brentford defeat highlights Villa’s lack of depth

Aston Villa welcomed Douglas Lewis and Tammy Abraham to the club this week, with both starting against Brentford.

Both looked brilliant in the flash, but this was no nod to their talent. It was evidence of the stress Unai Emery’s side are currently under.

Captain John McGinn and top scorer Ollie Watkins watched from the stands due to injury, with Boubakar Kamara and Youri Tielemans joining them on the sidelines.

Amadou Onana, who boasts the club’s record singing ability, was also not good enough to play, despite being on the bench.

The injury crisis continues to plague the club, and Brentford’s lack of depth with their 10-man squad has been highlighted.

Arsenal know better than anyone what an injury can do to a team at the top of the table.

Despite this loss, Villa still have a seven-point difference with sixth-placed Liverpool, but Villa may need to pay more attention to the teams behind them than to Arsenal, who are in the lead.
Patrick Lowe