If you look at the stats, they absolutely mullered us. I think they had 12 x the number of shots on goal. But that 1st half was surprisingly competitive, we gave a really good account of ourselves and tested them a few times - and of course, scored a worldie.
It's a feature of the way they play that they dominate the ball and the opposition gets sapped of energy being pulled around the pitch. As the 2nd half progresses you really notice it, and then you have to make a bunch of changes and that disrupts you even more and they just keep at it relentlessly until you leave a gap or switch off or your legs can't make that press anymore. Last night was a classic example of that in action. We didn't have the quality to overcome them head on and get the ball back and we just ran out of steam recreating the Alamo.
I'm hoping on Saturday, we'll feel emboldened to have a go at Charlton. It's like being really apprehensive about trying to bench XX weights, and then someone makes you try XXXXXXX and you surprise yourself with how well you did and it gives you the confidence to go back to XX and smash it. F*ck knows where that sh*t analogy came from, but I think you get the idea - if we can be bold and confident to come out strong against Man City, we should be pumped up to tear Charlton a new one and not go back into our shell.
you absolute tit. 
