Allardyce panicked!
He never expected Manchester City's attack to be this fierce all of a sudden. It completely caught him off guard.
Was that bastard Gao Shen playing the fool to prey on the unsuspecting?
They had been so underwhelming in the warm-up matches, yet in the official game, they suddenly turned it up a notch and played with such intensity?
But after thinking it through, Allardyce realized something, Manchester City hadn't fielded their full starting lineup in those warm-up matches. Especially in midfield and attack, their formations had constantly shifted.
This proved that Gao Shen really hadn't cared about those matches. He had used them purely for tactical experimentation.
But when it came to a competitive fixture where results mattered, he deployed what he believed to be his strongest lineup.
More importantly, Manchester City must have extensively practiced their offensive strategies and tactics in training.
What was even funnier was how so many media outlets and fans had been completely fooled by him!
Especially Suarez—one goal, one assist—he was playing out of his skin!
Allardyce quickly rushed to the touchline, signaling for his Blackburn players to fall back and adopt a defensive stance.
Only then did they manage to stabilize the situation.
But having conceded two goals in quick succession, Blackburn had lost their fighting spirit. They were now in an extremely unfavorable position.
At that moment, Allardyce suddenly recalled what Mainz's head coach, Tuchel, had said during the warm-up match. He had mentioned that Gao Shen was trying to improve the weaknesses he had at Napoli while at Manchester City. Now, it seemed that wasn't just a flattering remark, it was spot on.
The attacking combination of Suarez, Robinho, Robben, David Silva, and Rakitic was no weaker than Napoli's offensive lineup last season.
If David Silva replaced Biglia in midfield, he would play higher up the pitch, and his passing would be even deadlier.
So far in the match, he had already delivered several dangerous passes.
More importantly, Robinho and Robben weren't even fully integrated into the system yet. Compared to Napoli's former wing duo of Sanchez and Di Maria, they were still far from their best.
But everyone knew how good those two were. If they fully adapted and reached top form, wouldn't Manchester City's attack reach an entirely new level?
Thinking about this, Allardyce really wanted to grab all those pundits—especially Alan Hansen—and force them to watch this game.
Was this what they called "too basic"?
If this wasn't enough, then every single head coach in Europe—no, in the entire world—should just resign in shame.
…
As the match progressed, Allardyce's unease grew.
Even with Blackburn sitting deep, they still looked incredibly vulnerable.
Manchester City controlled the ball, controlled the tempo, and dictated the flow of the game. Their players were constantly moving, interchanging passes, pulling apart Blackburn's defensive shape, probing for weaknesses.
The moment a gap appeared, Manchester City's pass would arrive right on cue.
And the key issue? These players were ridiculously talented!
Suarez was the biggest surprise of the game so far.
Robinho and Robben were both world-class wingers with established reputations. Even David Silva, who had already been impressive at Valencia was playing in a completely different manner.
Back at the Mestalla, he never had this much possession or control.
Now, he was Manchester City's midfield maestro.
He dominated the ball, and Blackburn's players couldn't dispossess him. What shocked Allardyce the most was Silva's strength in physical duels. Before the game, he had assumed Silva would be easily knocked off balance due to his smaller frame.
But instead, the Spaniard held his ground and protected the ball superbly.
His ability to escape pressure was terrifying!
Several times, Blackburn had sent two or three players to press him, yet Silva still found a way out.
At this point, the veteran English manager wanted to cry.
Damn it, just what kind of monster was Gao Shen?
How had he assembled such a team?
It would have been bad enough if they only relied on individual quality, ball control, and passing. But they also pressed relentlessly and ran their socks off, how was anyone supposed to cope with that?
At first glance, this Manchester City team resembled Guardiola's Barcelona.
But on closer inspection, they weren't the same.
Manchester City used more direct passing, played more long balls, and had a greater variety of attacking patterns. Their players also had more freedom to express themselves.
Take this moment in the 19th minute, for example.
Blackburn had just won possession in their own half, preparing to launch an attack.
However, David Silva immediately pressed, not directly going for the ball, but cutting off Andrews' passing lane to the flank.
As soon as the ball was forced wide, Manchester City triggered an aggressive press.
A fierce battle for possession ensued down the wing. The duel was intense, and in the end, Felipe managed to poke the ball away before quickly playing it into the middle, finding Javi Martinez in space.
The Spanish midfielder controlled the ball calmly before passing it to David Luiz.
Then—
The Brazilian center-back launched a pinpoint long pass into the penalty area.
Suarez timed his run perfectly, darting in behind the defense.
With his chest, he brought the ball down before attempting a lob from a tight angle on the left side of the six-yard box.
It was a breathtaking move, but unfortunately, his chipped shot just missed the target.
The angle was simply too tight!
Even so, the attack sent a wave of panic through the Blackburn squad. In the stands, their fans collectively held their breath.
Allardyce rushed to the sideline, urgently reminding his defenders, especially Samba and Givet to pay close attention to Suarez's movement.
The cunning Uruguayan was unpredictable, constantly drifting around, making him a nightmare to mark.
By this point in the match, Allardyce had fully realized the gravity of the situation.
And deep inside, he was cursing the FA officials who had scheduled this fixture.
Why did Blackburn have to be the first team to face this Manchester City side?
Wasn't this just using them as guinea pigs to warn the rest of the Premier League?
Realizing the severity of the situation, Allardyce abandoned all other concerns. He marched to the touchline and urgently signaled his players to reinforce the defense. At the same time, he instructed Pedersen and Diouf, the two wide midfielders, to drop back and support defensively, while the two strikers were also asked to retreat.
His priority now was to hold the defense steady for the remainder of the first half.
At halftime, he would make changes!
And as for Gao Shen—damn it, I hate you!
…
While Allardyce was drowning in anxiety, Gao Shen remained calm.
However, he wasn't entirely satisfied with the performances of Robinho and Robben on the flanks.
Suarez, David Silva, and the others had executed their roles as planned, but the two wingers weren't as active as he wanted.
So, after the 25th minute, Gao Shen gestured to Felipe and Zabaleta, urging them to push forward and get more involved in the attack to support Robinho and Robben.
Since Manchester City had complete control of the game, their full-backs could afford to be more adventurous.
Following Gao Shen's adjustment, both full-backs became more aggressive, taking turns pushing up to join the attack.
In the 37th minute, Felipe surged forward, receiving a pass from David Silva on the left side of Blackburn's defensive third. Without hesitation, he played a sharp through ball to Robinho, who had his back to goal.
As soon as he released the pass, David Silva sprinted into the left side of the penalty area. Robinho, instead of controlling the ball, cleverly flicked it back into Silva's path, allowing the Spaniard to glide into the box in one seamless motion.
Andrews was caught off guard and desperately lunged into a sliding tackle just outside the area. But he was too late—David Silva was already through.
As Silva dribbled into the box, he was immediately double-teamed by Samba and Jacobsen. But just as they closed in, he lightly flicked the ball behind him with his heel while using his body to shield it.
Right on cue, Robinho arrived. Without breaking stride, he met Silva's pass with a first-time shot, drilling the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.
Blackburn's goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, was completely stunned. He didn't even have time to react as the ball rippled the back of the net.
"Goooooooaaalllllll!!!!!!"
"Three-nil!!!"
"Manchester City have struck three times in the first half!"
"Unbelievable! What a brilliant piece of play! David Silva's backheel was pure genius, and Robinho's timing was impeccable! The intricate link-up between these two technical wizards completely dismantled Blackburn's defense!"
"Three-nil! At this rate, Allardyce might actually cry!"
…
The moment Robinho's shot hit the net, Gao Shen leaped into the air in excitement.
Allardyce's feelings didn't matter to him. What mattered was Manchester City's performance!
"Wuhu!!"
As soon as he landed, Sarri and Carlo rushed over, wrapping him in a celebratory hug.
The Manchester City coaching staff were all on their feet, cheering for the team's dazzling display.
That was a spectacular goal!
"Allardyce is too rigid," Carlo chuckled. "He should've gone with a more defensive 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-5-1 with three holding midfielders."
Who could have predicted this in the season opener?
Last season, even when Blackburn hosted the Premier League's 'Big Four,' they had still stuck with a 4-4-2. They had won some and lost some, but they had never been as overwhelmed as they were now.
More importantly, Allardyce had been managing in the Premier League for years. When had he ever encountered a team like this?
Arsenal?
Sure, the Gunners excelled in passing and movement, but their players didn't have Manchester City's level of individual brilliance. And they certainly didn't combine such relentless pressing with this much off-the-ball movement.
Here was the terrifying reality, Manchester City had outstanding individual talent, a well-structured tactical setup, and exceptional team chemistry.
And in their very first league game of the new season, they were putting on a masterclass at Ewood Park.
Even Gao Shen himself was a little surprised.
He had expected to win, but to be three goals up before halftime? That was beyond his expectations.
"If I'm not mistaken, Allardyce will definitely make a substitution at halftime," Sarri said. "So—"
Before he could even finish his sentence, they all noticed movement on the Blackburn bench.
Allardyce couldn't wait any longer, he was making a substitution immediately.
Defensive midfielder Steven N'Zonzi was replacing striker Jason Roberts.
Just over thirty minutes into the first half, Allardyce had been forced into a desperate tactical adjustment, sacrificing an attacker for defensive reinforcement.
Sarri, Carlo, and the others exchanged glances before turning to Gao Shen.
Their expressions were complicated.
Allardyce really might be on the verge of tears.
After all, it wasn't every day you got forced into an emergency substitution before halftime…
(To be continued.)
***
Bonus for 600 PS, next bonus at 800