Porto (h) post-match thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter worsleyweb
  • Start date Start date
cleavers said:
There is a thing called communication, if he could see it all develop then he could try and get someone to do something, anyone, nobody did a thing.

From a team perspective it was a dreadful goal to concede, but at that point there didn't appear to be a "team" ethic, just a bunch of footballers doing their own bad things, it was Sunday league standard much of that first half, from the "team".

My mate texted me at HT and said it was our worst performance in a few years, it was hard to argue, and given we've already lost 2-5 at home this season, that's quite a statement, we were very lucky it was still 1-1 thanks to KW.
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The point of Peps system and probably the same with most top teams, is players are supposed to know and understand it, so if a player drops out another should be able to step in and know exactly what his job is. Like you said they were like a team of individuals who didn't have a clue and poor in a lot of their decision making. Dias is new, Cancelo shoehorned in and Garcia is, well Garcia. Rodri and Gundogan don't give enough protection to the back four and worse, as we like to play on the front foot, are too slow to recover when we lose the ball. If we get and keep Laporte and Dias fit we may improve but the Rodri and Gundogan conundrum won't go away.
 
What if Pep played all 3 of Foden, Bernie and Kevin in a flat midfield 3?

Do we need a pure DM style player like Rodri, Gundogan, Dinho?

Couldn't the ball control, stamina and pressing of all 3 of these players make up for any defensive positive ability the other 3 bring in?

Couldn't the defensive fullbacks Ake and Walker balance them, so we are still fine defensively. I think our midfield is super strong because of the control Bernie brings, and creativity Foden and Kevin bring.

I keep thinking about this, I think all 3 of these players should be on the pitch as often as possible, and I think they can play in a midfield 3 together because they can work hard to do it.

Even Cancelo is probably more useful being played as a RCM (like in the last game) or backup winger as he is further useful forward than back.
 
paulchapo said:
The point of Peps system and probably the same with most top teams, is players are supposed to know and understand it, so if a player drops out another should be able to step in and know exactly what his job is. Like you said they were like a team of individuals who didn't have a clue and poor in a lot of their decision making. Dias is new, Cancelo shoehorned in and Garcia is, well Garcia. Rodri and Gundogan don't give enough protection to the back four and worse, as we like to play on the front foot, are too slow to recover when we lose the ball. If we get and keep Laporte and Dias fit we may improve but the Rodri and Gundogan conundrum won't go away.
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We have won stuff with Gundogan, so we can manage it with the right team. If we also pick a shit defence, no chance.

I just want to see someone in that position who is truly brilliant at something. Anything.

I'm starting to think back 3 & play Kev there.
 
WallyA said:
What if Pep played all 3 of Foden, Bernie and Kevin in a flat midfield 3?

Do we need a pure DM style player like Rodri, Gundogan, Dinho?

Couldn't the ball control, stamina and pressing of all 3 of these players make up for any defensive positive ability the other 3 bring in?

Couldn't the defensive fullbacks Ake and Walker balance them, so we are still fine defensively. I think our midfield is super strong because of the control Bernie brings, and creativity Foden and Kevin bring.

I keep thinking about this, I think all 3 of these players should be on the pitch as often as possible, and I think they can play in a midfield 3 together because they can work hard to do it.

Even Cancelo is probably more useful being played as a RCM (like in the last game) or backup winger as he is further useful forward than back.
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And we have academy players who could come on & give them time off, in games we have sewn up.
 
Neville Kneville said:
And we have academy players who could come on & give them time off, in games we have sewn up.
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The academy is almost comical in terms of the attacking midfield it produces. They just need to build up the stamina to press over 90 minutes and we are set.

I'm honestly starting to think as long as we have the stamina to press, pace and creativity, then defensive ability in midfield is overrated. Just consider Thiago Alcantara, his ball control and energy to run all over the field is what makes him amazing, but Bernie can do that, Kevin can do that, Foden has energy for days, just play all 3 and have them absolutely dominate the midfield, none of this single or double pivot with Rodri or Gundogan is necessary.
 
Neville Kneville said:
We have won stuff with Gundogan, so we can manage it with the right team. If we also pick a shit defence, no chance.

I just want to see someone in that position who is truly brilliant at something. Anything.

I'm starting to think back 3 & play Kev there.
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Laporte, Ake, Walker and Dias will hopefully tighten things right up. The problem is getting them all into the pitch at the same time and keeping them fit. The replacements when one drops our are a big downgrade. Defensive midfield I'm not sure what the answer is. Bernardo was great in his stand out season with his energy and tenacity but that was one season out of three. He was decent against Arsenal but a bit lacklustre again tonight. We miss D Silva's ability to keep the ball and pick the killer pass. KDB provides the killer passes but also has a tendancy to play loose balls putting us under the cosh.

In summery players we signed to be the next generation and keep our momentum at the top table going, well a few have fallen well short unfortunately.
 
Neville Kneville said:
What a load of cock.

You mean other players stepped in for him.
You watched his performance & he read the game ?

What did he read when he was facing the fucking lino with his hand up & the City backline, behind him, playing the player on, like he's done in a whole bunch of games costing us ?

What was he reading when the player ran across our defence to score & he hid behind Rodri doing fuck all ?

What about the cross that came in & he let the cf who was in front of him, run behind him without even noticing ?

He's like a fucking tutorial on how not to defend & Pep bigs him up.

It's like fucking Wille McKay & Kevin Keegan with Pep & Puyol
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And you`re like a fucking broken record.
 
ami said:
I wouldn’t know who that muppet is but you clearly suffer hearing some truth.
I guess I’m banned any minute now for liking a player (who is still OUR player btw) but could end up playing for another club within a year, which would make me a traitor.

I assume you guys are grown men but I don’t understand why some here can’t have an argument without getting offended like a 16 year old girl.

I rate Eric over John. End of. It doesn’t make me a Barcelona fan. I’m a City fan and I hope he stays because that would be good news for our team. I’m clearly better than you at identifying talent.
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Poor at identifying talent but better than me when talking about yourself . I agree with that assessment .
 
stonerblue said:
Strange game tonight. Not much happening up front, even less in the middle and a defence that was solid one side and shaky on the other. We gave the ball away far too much with suicidal crossfield balls that a sharper attack would've pounced on.
Once Guardiola decided to up the tempo with Foden on for Gundoghan we were a different team.
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We were also 2-1 up and Porto had to open up to get back in the game.
 
The first half was Dier I thought we were lead-footed with one attempt on goal.
I was cursing Pep for his team selection once again.
Massive difference when the two lads came on.
In the end a great result but not a great spectacle to watch.
Sterling seem to be nonexistent and when he got the ball run into a blind alley.
Walker was superb.
Pepe should have been sent off Shirley.
 
Getting harder and harder to watch our games, Leicester a few weeks back were Tom Daley FC and Porto tonight went full Monica Lewinsky.
 
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