City - could they play without a keeper?

[helmclaret]

I think it would be interesting to see them play against a few bottom half teams, without a player who could handle the ball.

They played in 2nd gear yesterday.

I bet they would still beat most of the teams in the bottom half of the table without a keeper.

[RVclaret]

Not sure but their current keeper walks into our central midfield

[helmclaret]

He’s a fantastic footballer

[beddie]

Not sure about being without a keeper but against us and similar definitely 10 men.

[Nonayforever]

Their players not only stopped us getting close to their keeper they also stopped us getting throw ins inside their half.

[Loyal Supporter]

They also ensured Pope had to kick from his hands with a fwe of them finding touch.

[Rowls]

Yes, but they'd lose a lot more often.

[bfcjg]

We try to play without a midfield so why not.

[RVclaret]

Stat from WhoScored I just saw online:

“Manchester City 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧 Ederson completed more passes (34) than any other Burnley player in City's 2-0 win at Turf Moor on Saturday

Clarets centre-back James Tarkowski (21) came closest to matching the Brazilian”

[Silkyskills1]

Any stats on who rolled furthest along the pitch?

[Spijed]

Yesterday's game seemed a carbon copy of the home match last season where we didn't have any attempts on goal.

[Funkydrummer]

They could have played without a back four.

[bobinho]

Any stats on who rolled furthest along the pitch?

The lad who got weghorst booked deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of a snipers victim.

[RVclaret]

The lad who got weghorst booked deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of a snipers victim.

He got a full elbow to the face off a 6 foot 6 giant to be fair.

Most blatant booking you’ll see.

[tiger76]

Yesterday's game seemed a carbon copy of the home match last season where we didn't have any attempts on goal.

We did at least manage a shot on target from Jay this time, but yep it's it was a stroll in the park for City, thankfully for us they took their foot off the gas 2nd half, and settled for a comfy 2-0 win.

Regarding the OP''S question, Ederson essentially plays as an additional outfield player most of the time anyway, and why wouldn't he when he can pass as well as he can.

[IanMcL]

He caught a cross from a corner with great athleticism.


Not sure why folk are trying to compare our team of skilful tryers to a team of world champion quality.

[Steve1956]

Ederson would walk into our team....as a midfielder...quality player.

[dsr]

I think it would be interesting to see them play against a few bottom half teams, without a player who could handle the ball.

They played in 2nd gear yesterday.

I bet they would still beat most of the teams in the bottom half of the table without a keeper.

It depends whether the opposition realised they hadn't a keeper or not. We'd have clearly scored 1 yesterday if they hadn't a keeper, and who knows - in 90 minutes of football, some teams (perhaps all teams) would work out that high shots towards the almost-empty net would yield good dividends.

[MT03ALG]

If it wasn't against the Laws of the Game they might have tried it !

[boatshed bill]

If it wasn't against the Laws of the Game they might have tried it !

There's nothing to stop him playing further up-field as long as he is the named goalkeeper.

[Vegas Claret]

City could play without a keeper, then concede a goal resulting in Pep calling for 12 players to be allowed on the pitch, grass to be cut shorter, games to only be played when he says so and Klopp would be all for it.

Wa%kers

[Hipper]

There's nothing to stop him playing further up-field as long as he is the named goalkeeper.

Ah, a 'Rush' goalkeeper as we called it at school.

[KRBFC]

Their players not only stopped us getting close to their keeper they also stopped us getting throw ins inside their half.

Their work rate put ours to shame, made us look lazy.

[Silkyskills1]

A suggestion we weren't trying hard enough then. Not convinced that is anywhere near correct.

[jojomk1]

Their work rate put ours to shame, made us look lazy.

Watched Rodri and De Bruyne closely on Sat

It seemed not so much their work rate (covering loads more ground), more the fact that they were continuously looking, and finding, pockets of space with confidence to accept the ball in tight situations

Rodri hardly broke into a sweat all game

A couple of years ago our guys may have had the work rate to try and close them down. Unfortunately age has seen that work rate almost disappear

[KRBFC]

A suggestion we weren't trying hard enough then. Not convinced that is anywhere near correct.

watch our midfielders walk back for the 2nd goal. Rodri had all the time in the world on the edge of our area 3 times in 2 minutes including for the first goal, incredibly lazy, midfield just content to sit in our own area doing nothing.

[RVclaret]

A suggestion we weren't trying hard enough then. Not convinced that is anywhere near correct.

Watch Crystal Palace’s performance against them the other week when they got a 0-0 and limited City to few chances. They worked a LOT harder than we did, I think Conor Gallagher alone will have covered more distance than two of our players put together.

[tiger76]

Watch Crystal Palace’s performance against them the other week when they got a 0-0 and limited City to few chances. They worked a LOT harder than we did, I think Conor Gallagher alone will have covered more distance than two of our players put together.

Yep Palace have given City more problems than anyone this season, but crucially they possess 3 things we sadly lack, energy, pace and youth.

[AlargeClaret]

Yep Palace have given City more problems than anyone this season, but crucially they possess 3 things we sadly lack, energy, pace and youth.

Could I be so bold as to add “ a few high class players” which ( it pains me to say ) we really don’t have

[FCBurnley]

Most teams could beat us without a keeper