Lyon CL QF Post-Match Thread

[ctid1894]

i think one of the main reason so many of us are pissed of because of the game before we bossed RM over two games 2-1 each leg. We were up and at them giving them on respect no time to play. Than we give loads of respect to Lyon we dont press them we change our style play to stop them, why ?

I am not a Pep out person but last night i just couldnt make sense of what i was seeing, a team that was so confidant, full of running, exciting turned into a slow, scared lacking confidant team. What happen ?

Yes VAR fucked us over but we werent good yesterday

I don't understand how people still can't grasp what Pep was trying to do last night. People look at the change of formation as a defensive strategy and it wasn't, it was a change of shape to allow us to play out from the back because they use two strikers and not one like Madrid. The implementation was abysmally executed and the player selection (too many slow players in combination) caused us huge problems but conceptually it made sense.

 

[domalino]

Sorry for linking to my own tweet, but easiest way to share the image. I really can't get this lineup out of my head if we *had* to play the way Pep set us up. Looks vastly more suited surely...

Or these 2 lineups we already used -

Sheffield United - Manchester City, 21.01.2020 - Premier League - Match sheet

This is the match sheet of the Premier League game between Sheffield United and Manchester City on 21.01.2020.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Manchester City - Everton FC, 01.01.2020 - Premier League - Match sheet

This is the match sheet of the Premier League game between Manchester City and Everton FC on 01.01.2020.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

 

[ctid1894]

Sorry for linking to my own tweet, but easiest way to share the image. I really can't get this lineup out of my head if we *had* to play the way Pep set us up. Looks vastly more suited surely...

This is exactly how last night's team should have lined up. The three CB's was a necessity due to Lyon's two strikers, as it gives us a stable platform to build our attacks. However the pace and intensity would have been dramatically improved by the player selection and that's my only criticism of Pep last night. I understand exactly what he was trying to do but it didn't work and it's clear to see why with the benefit of hindsight, although most saw what was coming with the line up.

 

[Scottyboi]

Agree with all of this and thought your video this morning was bang on. The Rodri/Gundo experiment has to stop, it's been the route of so many of our issues this season.

If peps here next season and I see rodri and gundo in the same line up I'll go watch paint dry instead.

 

[Gumzy97]

(I posted this in the transfer forum I'll post it here to) I don't think pep sees foden as a midfielder so we need a replacement for David Silva, difference between us and bayern is they have power, technique and goals in their midfield, Muller (goals) Goretzka (power and strength ball winning ability) thiago (technical creator) our midfield when playing 4 3 3, kdb (creator technical and goal scorer) David Silva (Technical/creator) Rodri (technical, good passer, and creator) we are missing a Goretzka someone with power and strength who can bully the ball of players and let our creators create chances, we had that with fernandinho but he can't play there anymore so our midfield is missing that edge and aggression.

 

[momo88]

Have we reached a time when a new style of play is taking over from the wonderful Barcelona days. Pep brought that to us and it was wonder to watch. However, we now see teams like B. Munich and Liverpool playing a more energetic, high tempo, athletic game with very skilful players. Okay, Liverpool have three defensive players in midfield who's sole job is to not let the opposition get out of their half and attack their defence. However, those three midfield players are strong and imposing. We only have one of those in, Kevin. Both Munich and Liverpool have fast defenders in every position. We need, strength, energy and speed injected into our play. When he was younger, Ferno gave us some of that. Just wondering are we now behind the new successful trend?

Those 3 Liverpool MD, 2 years ago if you asked any city fan, do you want to take them they will laugh.

Its not even about the trend or style of play. Its about a disturbing feeling, in this kind of games you feel since the start that City is bad end off. When you are an attacking team you should create chances and be imposing once teams get confidence and start playing city quiet crumble

 

[twosips]

Or these 2 lineups we already used -

Sheffield United - Manchester City, 21.01.2020 - Premier League - Match sheet

This is the match sheet of the Premier League game between Sheffield United and Manchester City on 21.01.2020.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Manchester City - Everton FC, 01.01.2020 - Premier League - Match sheet

This is the match sheet of the Premier League game between Manchester City and Everton FC on 01.01.2020.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Fucking hell that's frustrating. The Everton one is ideal!

 

[Stoned Rose]

That’s always been the problem with Jesus i.e. not that he doesn’t score goals or put the effort in, but his conversion rate Is way down on where it should be for a player of his standing.

He isn't quite good enough for the very top level.

Can you imagine Aguero, Kane or Lewandowski missing that chance he had last night?

 

[manimanc]

You are I have just checked and only players that go to clubs that have been in a competition for more than 10 years can win it. It's actually in the rules. If you have a manager that has won it with a different club it doesn't matter.

To make matters worse as soon as you put on a shirt from such a club and step onto grass an invisible aura surrounds you that prevents you from playing to a standard you do in the league(this is because we have been in a league for many many years)

Yes sir a team of players cannot win it because the club weren't in it a decade ago. This is perfectly logical and is absolutely correct.

I knew you'd come round to my way of thinking.
It was inevitable.

 

[domalino]

Our results vs. teams playing 5 at the back show why Pep felt the need to do something.

Wolves 0-2
Atalanta 5-1
Atalanta 1-1
Wolves 3-2
Sheffield United 2-0
Sheffield United 0-1 - We played 5 at the back here.
Manchester United 0-1
Manchester United 2-0
Arsenal 2-0

 

[give it to gordon]

I don't understand how people still can't grasp what Pep was trying to do last night. People look at the change of formation as a defensive strategy and it wasn't, it was a change of shape to allow us to play out from the back because they use two strikers and not one like Madrid. The implementation was abysmally executed and the player selection (too many slow players in combination) caused us huge problems but conceptually it made sense.

OK i get that BUT why were MCFC more scared of Lyon than Lyon were scared of MCFC, and i dont mean that in a big headed way. City should of had more confident of their ability and try to force our style of play on them. By City changing style it gave Lyon the confidence oh look City are worried about us !

 

[cjn]

Sorry for linking to my own tweet, but easiest way to share the image. I really can't get this lineup out of my head if we *had* to play the way Pep set us up. Looks vastly more suited surely...

Vastly better. I don’t understand why we possibly have Mendy in the squad if its NOT to play on the left side of that formation. Seriously, what is he for if the manager is starting Cancelo over him there? Could ask the same thing about Cancelo on the right tbh.

 

[jonmcity]

Well he got it well and truly wrong.

 

[cjn]

He isn't quite good enough for the very top level.

Can you imagine Aguero, Kane or Lewandowski missing that chance he had last night?

Sorry you mean the guy that dragged us through Real Madrid? Just need to clarify.

 

[domalino]

He isn't quite good enough for the very top level.

Can you imagine Aguero, Kane or Lewandowski missing that chance he had last night?

Aguero missed a pretty identical chance in the 2-0 loss to Spurs this season. He also missed a tap in not that much harder than Sterling's in the 2-1 loss to Leicester last season that almost cost us the league.

That's Jesus' only problem - people have shit memories. Aguero's missed penalty is the reason we went out last year as well, so don't tell me he's never cost us at the "very top level".

 

[ctid1894]

He isn't quite good enough for the very top level.

Can you imagine Aguero, Kane or Lewandowski missing that chance he had last night?

We've all seen Aguero miss easier chances, the standout being against Chelsea (I think) from 2 yards with a completely open goal after a Bernardo cross in front of the South Stand. Thankfully he rectified it a few minutes later from 25 yards but to suggest the misses don't happen is just bollocks.

 

[give it to gordon]

(I posted this in the transfer forum I'll post it here to) I don't think pep sees foden as a midfielder so we need a replacement for David Silva, difference between us and bayern is they have power, technique and goals in their midfield, Muller (goals) Goretzka (power and strength ball winning ability) thiago (technical creator) our midfield when playing 4 3 3, kdb (creator technical and goal scorer) David Silva (Technical/creator) Rodri (technical, good passer, and creator) we are missing a Goretzka someone with power and strength who can bully the ball of players and let our creators create chances, we had that with fernandinho but he can't play there anymore so our midfield is missing that edge and aggression.

yet City were the 1st team to have 5 players score double figures in one season... premier league history !

 

[Stoned Rose]

Sorry you mean the guy that dragged us through Real Madrid? Just need to clarify.

Yep.

Not an elite player by any metric.

 

[momo88]

Still mulling over the hugely disappointing defeat and performance last night.

So the three at the back that was far from a success was implemented due to Pep’s worry about the pace of Lyon’s front and their ability to get in down the sides of the centre backs, so he preferred three defenders to deal with them than two, which I guess makes sense. Still present with those three defenders though was a high line and a lack of pace, so it didn’t resolve things. Surely moving Walker into the right side of the three would have had a more positive outcome ?

Thing is that would just have exacerbated the fact we were going away from what we do well and overly focusing on Lyon’s strengths. Yes we needed to be aware and cautious of their threat and counter-attacks but surely we should have played more to our strengths!

So after all the money spent on this backline Pep worry about the pace of Lyon? None of those player cost more than 20M€

So why buying 50m players if we cant outscore Lyon with 2CB Denayer a city reject and Marcal a 33 or 34 yeard old from Besiktas

 

[momo88]

I don't understand how people still can't grasp what Pep was trying to do last night. People look at the change of formation as a defensive strategy and it wasn't, it was a change of shape to allow us to play out from the back because they use two strikers and not one like Madrid. The implementation was abysmally executed and the player selection (too many slow players in combination) caused us huge problems but conceptually it made sense.

Every time Mancini tried 352 it was a disaster