Keep Calm and Carry On: Manchester City
So this actually was a tough choice, mainly because although Bristol City lost both legs they took it to Manchester City, and didn't ever look like they were truly out of the tie in either leg until De Bruyne's winner in the second leg, and lets be honest who doesn't like an underdog? Then there was Arsenal, but to be honest they only really bossed the second leg, looking toothless in the first game against Chelsea (who we'll get onto later). But ultimately it had to be the blue half of Manchester, didn't it? Pep's City racked up yet another win domestically, taking their gaffer to his first final with
the team (although fun fact not his first Wembley final), and with in one game of his first piece of silverware as City manager after a barren season last time round.
Really
they've just been on a completely different level to every other team
domestically this season, and over the two legs of the semi's they showed why.
Despite falling behind in the first game to Bristol City, they pulled it back
to win the opening leg, then in the second leg, despite conceding a two goal
lead to Bristol City Pep's side pulled a third out of nowhere to put the tie
beyond doubt. Like the changing of the seasons, the setting of the sun and the
break of day Manchester City scoring seems inevitable. They defend high, in
fact saying they defend is probably not accurate, as they actually just
seem to retain the ball. They press teams with a determination that is hard to
process. Hell, watching them play you even get a sense of the oppressive
feeling they must give teams either with or without the ball. What's even more
worrying is the fact that the loss to Liverpool doesn't appear to have taken
the wind out of their sails. Quite the opposite in fact. Last season city were
dominant right up until their first loss and then they didn't quite seem to be
the same. This season it's like the lose has galvanized them. Rather than a
potentially fatal wound to their domestic campaign it's more like an annoying
scratch. A bloodied nose that pushes a prize fighter on to deliver the killer
blow. Honestly I think the League Cup is City's to lose. In fact I honestly
think they could do a domestic treble. No one genuinely seem on their
level this year in the League or Cups.
The Wooden Spoons: Chelsea
Ok,
this is going to hurt. As a Chelsea fan this is not what I want to do. But we
need to talk. It's not going to be pleasant, and it almost certainly is going
to be blunt. Now on the surface of it Chelsea overall are having a decent
season. Third in the league, only three points of second placed Manchester
United, a semi-final appearance in the League Cup, in the last sixteen of
the Champions League, and through to the next round of the FA Cup. It all looks
rather peachy, doesn't it? Alas, the reality isn't quite so rosy, and the tie
against Arsenal showed that. Last season Chelsea looked like a juggernaut.
Unstoppable, tight defensively, free flowing in attack. This season
though...... not so much. The 3-5-2 seems to be Conte's preferred formation
this season, but for all the defensive solidity it grants it seems to have made
The Blues a bit goal shy. It's almost like Conte is less tactically flexible
this season. Last year after a poor run of form he started using the 3-4-3
which had worked so well for him with Juventus and Italy, allowing him to
utilise the speed and precision of Hazard and Willian on the wings and unleash
the beast that is Diego Costa through the center. Hell even Batshuayi was able
to bang in goals in that set up. This season Conte has been overly reliant on a
3-5-2, playing Hazard off of Morata, and has struggled to be able to bring
anything else to the table when Chelsea have struggled. Just look at the second
half against Arsenal tonight. Ok Willian had to come off through injury, and
that isn't his fault, but his lack of flexibility after this killed Chelsea, essentially handing a deserving Arsenal the game.
Secondly there's the issue of transfer activity. Why both Nathaniel Chaloba and Nemanja Matic were sold I will never understand, least of all (in Matic's case) to a direct rival. Matic's absence has been noticed, especially as Bakayoko has failed to deliver this season. That's not even the worst thing about Bakayoko. The fact he forces a natural box to box midfielder like Kante to sit deeper to compensate for his inability to protect the defence has caused a distinct lack of link up play in the midfield. Then there's the striker situation. Morata has shown glimpses of brilliance this season, but seems to be adjusting to leading the line for a club he is the permanent first choice at. Batshuayi is an impact player who works best off the bench in the last 20 minutes where his power and pace can tear worn out defenders apart. Why wasn't another striker bought over the summer? Why has it taken until January for this issue to be noticed? Ultimately Chelsea looked toothless in the first leg, and overly reliant on Hazard's brilliance in the second. At neither point did they look like thye could outright win the tie. There's trouble a brewing at Chelsea, and Conte need sto work out how to get this squad performing like the league winners they were last season, rather than a team devoid of inspiration.
And that's been The Cup Run! Do you agree with my choices? Who would you pick? Thank you for reading! If you've like what you've read please check us out on Facebook
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I've been Jake, and I will see you again very soon for an FA Cup edition of The Cup run!
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