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The Roar

Michael Fowler

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Joined November 2016

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Melbourne-based Student Journalist, willing servant to the round ball game, Liverpool diehard, keen writer.

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Some pretty scary stats… Unfortunately the problem is it doesn’t seem like there are a ton of alternatives knocking on the door at the moment.

Five talking points from Japan vs Socceroos World Cup Qualifier

Waz, I’m not sure if I’d agree that the back 3 do invariably play well, but you are right that their roles are somewhat clearer and more easily executable than other players in that formation. At the end of the day, such a system needs hours on the training park rehearsing organisation and rotations so that every player knows his role. It also requires a high level of skill in keeping the ball in tight situations. Without wanting to sound overly pessimistic, I’m not sure if the Socceroos have either of those at the moment – especially not the first. I completely understand what Ange is trying to do, he wants to introduce a new type of football to our country and show that we can step out from the usual… but especially in international football, results have to come!

Five talking points from Japan vs Socceroos World Cup Qualifier

Amazing to read that it’s now looking likely Wenger will stay on. The more the saga continues, the more you get the feeling that he really is a demagogue who surrounds himself with yes-men, reluctant to step away from the only thing he’s known for the last 20 years. Arsenal could certainly decline in the next couple of years after Wenger, but someone in the club has to be bold. One step backwards for two steps forward, maybe. Embarrassing Champions League knockout defeats and 4th every year is just accepting mediocrity.

Arsenal's mess is now a crisis

I’ve had a great time providing some live commentary of the Manchester City vs Chelsea game tonight, let’s hope the breathlessness of that clash was transmitted with justice.

The headline game of tomorrow night is Bournemouth vs Liverpool at 1.15pm UK time, 12.15am AEDT. If it’s anything like tonight’s match, it’ll be worth tuning in on The Roar from midnight.

I look forward to getting in touch with you all again soon!

Much love and keep safe,
Michael

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

It’s time to wrap this little baby up.

That De Bruyne miss ultimately proved crucial for this game. While City were wasteful from 5 yards out, Chelsea finished every opportunity presented to them.

On another day, Aguero may have ended the game with a hat-trick, yet he finished with an early shower and impending suspension.

The Midas touch that many anticipated Guardiola to have has evaporated and been passed on to Antonio Conte, whose side were under pressure yet somehow never seemed truly in doubt tonight.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

From a Chelsea point of view, the winning run goes on.

It was a textbook away performance for Conte’s men. City dominated the game and had more clear chances, but Chelsea produced in the big moments and reaped the rewards. They were clinical attack and resolute in defence, sticking away the 3 major chances they had.

Make no mistake, Chelsea have made a serious title statement here tonight.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

What a game! Utterly breathless, from start to finish.

If you’re Pep Guardiola, those 2 last red cards are inexcusable. He is now without 2 key players for at least their next league game, their petulant reactions unnecessary in a match that was already lost.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

FULL TIME.

League leaders Chelsea come from behind to win 3-1 at Manchester City, who have Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho sent off in the last moments of the game.

The City players are visibly frustrated, they surround the officials while Conte embarks on his traditional celebration with his Chelsea team.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

96′

A last moment of madness!

Aguero is running down the left flank, Luiz comes to clear the ball out and Aguero launches into a frankly disgusting tackle onto the Brazilian’s knee.

A melee ensues, Guardiola races down the sideline to join, while Fernandinho pushes Fabregas over the advertising boards.

Aguero receives a red card for the horrible tackle, while Fernandinho receives the same punishment for his attack on Fabregas. Ill discipline from Guardiola’s side, not for the first time this season.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

94′

6 minutes of added time, City now look resigned.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

92′

It’s hard to blame Manchester City there, all marks to Guardiola and his men for seeking an equalising goal.

Hazard – as has been the case for his side this entire game – was utterly clinical. The West Londoners really haven’t had many – if any – clear-cut chances beyond those they’ve converted tonight. City’s frustration is now evident and understandable, De Bruyne perhaps the most responsible.

City fans filter out of the ground. Empty seats now dominate.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

90′

GOAL FOR CHELSEA!

This game is over!

City’s desperation is exposed as Alonso releases Hazard on the left flank. A superb first tough on his thigh takes him past the recovering Kolarov, once one-on-one with Bravo the Belgian slams the ball into the back of the net.

Resounding finish, resounding result! Chelsea are finishing this day on top of the Premier League, 4 points ahead of Man City.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

89′

Guardiola ironically celebrates a free kick awarded to City near the halfway line, which they take quickly.

A resulting shot from Iheanacho is skewed wide.

A slight sense of desperation is beginning to descend on this game for City.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

88′

Ciry have a corner, crossed in by Silva but cleared away.

In the last 10 minutes the short corner strategy seems to have been replaced by a more route-one design.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

86′

Clichy crosses low into the box, Iheanacho manages to take a touch with his back to goal but it’s quickly thwarted out by the Chelsea defence.

They’ve been utterly watertight on the most part today.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

84′

Guardiola is attempting to rev the home crowd up in Klopp-esque style. It worked for Liverpool last week, after all.

Meanwhile Diego Costa is down. He’s indicating for a substitution and his manager duly obliges.

Costa – on the periphery at times but a pure menace at others – is replaced by young midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah,

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

82′

A second kick conceded by City on Chelsea’s left hand side, floated in by Fabregas and bumbled by Bravo. The Chilean has hardly inspired unerring confidence today, as has been the case on too many occasions this season.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

81′

Fernandinho catches Kante on halfway, and Chelsea are certainly willing to take their time with every set piece here.

The last time that Chelsea won 8 straight games was under Carlo Ancelotti – and they’ve won a Premier League title since then. A city goal would be huge now.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

79′

Iheanacho on for Stones, that’s not like for like! Striker on for centre back, it’s worth a plunge.

Momentum – despite Chelsea’s lead – is with City, as it has been for the majority of this game. Impatience brewing ever so gradually in the City of Manchester stadium.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

78′

Small penalty shout for City as Luiz first blocks the ball with his body while sliding across the turf, before Navas then hits the deck after some seemingly light contact from Alonso. Neither was a penalty, and Anthony Taylor agrees.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

76′

Substituion for City.

Yayo Touré enters the fray for his first start at home this season, coming on for Ilkay Gündogan. A like for like switch again, Toure has been on hot form since his return to the starting lineup. He’s a man for the big occasion too.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

72′

I can’t recall many more entertaining Premier League games so far this season.

David Silva dinks the ball around Gary Cahill as City attack directly off the kick off, and once again his cross is cleared. That final ball just isn’t finding the target.

A change upfront coming soon?

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

70′

GOAL FOR CHELSEA!

INCREDIBLE! Gündogan first breaks into the Chelsea box, his ball his cleared by David Luiz and all of a sudden Chelsea are on the attack.

Otamendi misjudges the long ball again, Willian charges onto possession on the right side and onto goal. Just inside the penalty box, he buries his shot in the bottom left corner.

What a counter attack, what a clinical finish! Bravo could certainly have cut down the angle more there, but it was a superb finish.

Willian, along with Brazilian amigo Luiz, dedicates his goal to the victims of the Colombian plane crash. Pure class.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

69′

SUBSTITUTION FOR CITY.

Clichy comes on for Sane. A like for like replacement, the German international looking fatigued on just his third start for City this season.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

68′

Silva is having more and more of an impact on this game. He wriggles into some space on the right side of the box, but his low cross is intercepted by Fabregas.

The crafty Spaniard has a big role to play in the last 20ish minutes.

Manchester City vs Chelsea: English Premier League live scores, blog

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