The Tanner Report: Manchester City 2 Fulham 0
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have continued to moan about subs being limited to three.
Were it increased to five the biggest boys like Liverpool and Manchester City would have a distinct advantage.
You only have to compare the City bench to the Fulham one to appreciate this.
On the City bench were three young players already of the highest quality – Foden, Garcia and Torres – and experienced and expensively acquired stars like Benardro Silva, Laporte and Fernandinho.
International like Kyle Walker and Aguerro were not available.
By contrast Fulham had a bench mainly consisting of those who achieved promotion but struggled in the Premier.
It’s not a level playing field.
There is one potential benefit of a big club with a big squad, namely the smaller club buying a young player on the cheap.
One of the best purchases has been Brighton’s right back Tariq Lampty from Chelsea for £3m.
Our defence has improved by buying young Tosin Adarabaiyo from City for even less.
Footballers like to play and in the case of Adarabaiyo his pathway was blocked once City acquired Ruben Dias as they already had Stones, Laporte and Garcia as central defenders.
As for the match itself City were easy winners.
Fulham did not lay a glove on them and in 93 minutes could not muster a shot on goal. But for four fine saves by Areola the margin of victory would have been more.
I considered pre-match anything less than 3 goals conceded a sort of victory.
Significantly Burnley conceded 5 the previous Saturday. Fulham play Liverpool at home next Sunday with some fans admitted. The 3 points surprisingly achieved at Leicester again make me hope for little more than no damage in the goal difference column.
