Pep's new approach

[domalino]

3 games without a parked bus to get through though. After Birmingham the double deckers turn up again. I’m curious to see how we use our newfound confidence in those games, will it make a difference or will we struggle to break them down. Only time will tell. Fingers crossed

Parked buses haven't really been our problem this season.

We've dropped points in 7 games this season. Leicester didn't park the bus, Leeds didn't, United didn't any more than us, Liverpool didn't, Spurs didn't until we gifted them the lead.


90% of the games we have played vs. parked buses, we've won.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

As soon as we start taking our chances properly we’ll be fucking unstoppable

I know we still have Agüero to come back, but looking at Mahrez and Sterling and it has to be said that we need better players than these two. They are just not good enough. Both of their general play is completely out of sync for what we want or need, both lose the ball far too much, whenever both are running into the box with the ball far too often nothing comes of it, and neither are clinical enough in front of goal.

Even now. With everyone for, we wouldn’t have to play them. It could be a front from:
Agüero
Jesus
Torres
Foden
Bernardo

But we could get some money if we sold Mahrez and Sterling and bring in one more decent player.

 

[meltonblue]

I’m not sure it is a new approach as such, more that we’ve got a much more solid foundation at the back that has allowed us to go back to having multiple options elsewhere.

 

[TheThirdDeano]

I know we still have Agüero to come back, but looking at Mahrez and Sterling and it has to be said that we need better players than these two. They are just not good enough. Both of their general play is completely out of sync for what we want or need, both lose the ball far too much, whenever both are running into the box with the ball far too often nothing comes of it, and neither are clinical enough in front of goal.

Even now. With everyone for, we wouldn’t have to play them. It could be a front from:
Agüero
Jesus
Torres
Foden
Bernardo

But we could get some money if we sold Mahrez and Sterling and bring in one more decent player.

Agreed!

I'd be interested to see more of Torress, I liked what i saw but he's not a striker yet?
We seriously can't be going into next season with just Jesus can we? Wonder what we'll do

 

[Marvin]

Dare I say that it looks a far more suitable approach for him to finally win what our owners ultimately want?

We look like a cultured European giant. Play like this deep into the competition and we would be a a nightmare against any side over two legs.

I honestly believe the hunger for CL glory has instigated this change in approach.. but it might just see us good in the PL too.

I’m excited about this season now. It seems fresh.

Well we might keep it but I don't think this was anything other than a pragmatic response to injury/absence/suspension.

What can you do when Aguero and Jesus is out? Sterling and Torres worked to an extent but wasn't great.

 

[Marvin]

I liked the set-up at Chelsea. Pep has a decision to make.

I don't think we've solved the goal-scoring problem yet.

 

[domalino]

The West Brom game has changed everything. The tempo, the movement, the fluidity, the desire. It's an incredible turnaround from the last 18 months and long may it continue. As well as getting goals and wins again we aren't half more fun to watch.

Have to disagree there, I think the Spurs game was the changing point.

West Brom was annoying, but it's not like we started playing great football the next day.


After the international break following Spurs, Dias and Stones became the CBs, the defence became the focus of the side. Since then we've conceded 3 goals and kept 9 clean sheets in 12 games. 6 of those were before West Brom.

Then gradually we added back some attacking flair. West Brom was agonising because we missed so many chances but that was a massive improvement over the United game or Southampton game where we didn't create chances to miss.

 

[jay_mcfc]

Have to disagree there, I think the Spurs game was the changing point.

West Brom was annoying, but it's not like we started playing great football the next day.


After the international break following Spurs, Dias and Stones became the CBs, the defence became the focus of the side. Since then we've conceded 3 goals and kept 9 clean sheets in 12 games. 6 of those were before West Brom.

Then gradually we added back some attacking flair. West Brom was agonising because we missed so many chances but that was a massive improvement over the United game or Southampton game where we didn't create chances to miss.

Not like you to be a contrarian and talk out of your arse.

We still played wank, boring, controlled football after the Spurs game. And the WBA wasn't agonising because we missed chances, it was agonising because it was an awful, dire performance that has rightly had the line drawn in the sand moment. We went to Southampton and even though it wasn't a great overall performance the difference in mentality and fluidity was tangible. That has been stepped up week on week culminating in more goals and beating Arsenal, Chelsea and United away in a couple of weeks, something we couldn't have dreamed of a few weeks ago.

 

[domalino]

Not like you to be a contrarian and talk out of your arse.

We still played wank, boring, controlled football after the Spurs game. And the WBA wasn't agonising because we missed chances, it was agonising because it was an awful, dire performance that has rightly had the line drawn in the sand moment. We went to Southampton and even though it wasn't a great overall performance the difference in mentality and fluidity was tangible. That has been stepped up week on week culminating in more goals and beating Arsenal, Chelsea and United away in a couple of weeks, something we couldn't have dreamed of a few weeks ago.

God forbid someone have a different opinion to you.

To me, the turning point of the season is pretty fucking clearly Stones coming into the side and going from conceding 13 goals in 12 games (1.08 per game) before, to 3 goals in 13 games after (0.23 per game), but I managed to disagree with you respectfully without insulting you, perhaps you'd try to do the same.

I can dig out the post match comments following United, Southampton, Newcastle games if you'd like, they sure as shit weren't praising the " tempo, the movement, the fluidity, the desire" of the performances or whatever other bullshit you came up with to describe all performances post West Brom.

By the way It is pretty funny to see you singing our praises and singling out the tempo of our passing considering this was your verdict on the side 3 weeks ago.

I’ve got really bad news for some people. This is not bad form that will be solved by playing a bit quicker or getting Aguero back. This is who we are. It’s what Pep has moulded us into and how he thinks we’ll be successful going forward. The fact he didn’t make any significant changes in these last two games tells you everything you need to know about how happy he is with the way the games are going. He’s happy because we’re in control of the game because that’s all he cares about. If any player goes against that they will find themselves out of the team.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I think we are a top striker away from it clicking, which isn't to say we won't win some things this year, but I think if players stay fit and we bring in one or two more players next year, then we could have a couple more years of vintage seasons with a slightly different style of play.

 

[jay_mcfc]

God forbid someone have a different opinion to you.

To me, the turning point of the season is pretty fucking clearly Stones coming into the side and going from conceding 13 goals in 12 games (1.08 per game) before, to 3 goals in 13 games after (0.23 per game), but I managed to disagree with you respectfully without insulting you, perhaps you'd try to do the same.

I can dig out the post match comments following United, Southampton, Newcastle games if you'd like, they sure as shit weren't praising the " tempo, the movement, the fluidity, the desire" of the performances or whatever other bullshit you came up with to describe all performances post West Brom.

By the way It is pretty funny to see you singing our praises and singling out the tempo of our passing considering this was your verdict on the side 3 weeks ago.

You've just proven my point you dimwit. 3 weeks ago we were going nowhere, playing the same controlled rubbish we had been for quite some time. Since West Brom we've been far more attacking, far more fluid and have played with more zest and desire. Btw United was before West Brom. Since the WBA game we've gone to Southampton, Arsenal, Chelsea, United and beat Newcastle at home and played all of them off the park and scoring 12 goals in the process.

We obviously have a much better defence now than at any point in the last 18 months, it doesn't take a genius to work that out. I have said all along we'll win the league this season and we'll do it because of our defence. But that wasn't the point of my post in this thread. I was more concerned about the attack and to see us play the way we have since the WBA game is delightful.

 

[domalino]

You've just proven my point you dimwit. 3 weeks ago we were going nowhere, playing the same controlled rubbish we had been for quite some time. Since West Brom we've been far more attacking, far more fluid and have played with more zest and desire. Btw United was before West Brom. Since the WBA game we've gone to Southampton, Arsenal, Chelsea, United and beat Newcastle at home and played all of them off the park and scoring 12 goals in the process.

We obviously have a much better defence now than at any point in the last 18 months, it doesn't take a genius to work that out. I have said all along we'll win the league this season and we'll do it because of our defence. But that wasn't the point of my post in this thread. I was more concerned about the attack and to see us play the way we have since the WBA game is delightful.

You 3 weeks ago "This isn't going to be fixed by increasing the speed of our passing"


You today "Wow its amazing how much the speed of our passing has improved us".


You contradict yourself constantly.

The fact is that like a lot of posters said at the time, we had to fix the defence first and then bring the attacking play back, and all the West Brom, United, Olympiakos games were was the team trying to get that balance right and it was only a matter of needing patience while they found that balance.

Instead you couldn't help yourself from claiming this was a permanent change and Pep was going to kick out any player who played with pace or intensity. Complete bollocks.

 

[baggy]

It 'feels' like we have found a new way of playing that has surprised teams again. We were somewhat predictable last season and Liverpool are now experiencing what it's like to play against teams who sit 10 men behind the ball and in their own box - difference being we have more creativity and have changed our style somewhat.

I was somewhat pessimistic before the Chelsea game but something seems to have clicked (Or players not being available has forced Pep's hand - i'll take it either way!) and we look absolutely brilliant at the back.

Season is back on...

 

[jay_mcfc]

You 3 weeks ago "This isn't going to be fixed by increasing the speed of our passing"


You today "Wow its amazing how much the speed of our passing has improved us".


You contradict yourself constantly.

There are no contradictions, I am openly saying how much has changed since that moment. Don't take my word for it, go back and watch Guardiola's press conferences from 4/5 weeks ago and compare to what he's said recently. Before it was control, control, control. Now it's tempo.

And yes I did say it wouldn't be improved just by speeding up our passes, hence why I gave 4/5 things that have changed in the last few weeks. The most important of which is the fluidity of our attacking players that are now attacking across the pitch rather than holding positions and keeping possession.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Agreed!

I'd be interested to see more of Torress, I liked what i saw but he's not a striker yet?
We seriously can't be going into next season with just Jesus can we? Wonder what we'll do

I’ve just mentioned in the Sterling performances thread that I’d buy a striker and make Jesus a wide forward like he has been for Brazil and for us away at Aston Villa and Real Madrid last season where he was excellent! Jesus can always be a back up at 9 in case we need him but he wouldn’t be sat on the bench as he’d be playing as a wide forward.

His work rate when he’s played wide for us has been phenomenal.

 

[jay_mcfc]

Instead you couldn't help yourself from claiming this was a permanent change and Pep was going to kick out any player who played with pace or intensity. Complete bollocks.

Did you listen to Guardiola's press conference after the West Brom gme when he called out Foden and Mendy for not 'controlling' the left side? What happened to them two during that game and in the following league game?

 

[domalino]

Did you listen to Guardiola's press conference after the West Brom gme when he called out Foden and Mendy for not 'controlling' the left side? What happened to them two during that game and in the following league game?

Oh my gosh you're so right, we haven't seen either of them since!?

By the way, who was that kid on the LW for the past few games?

Foden is comfortably inside our top 10 most played players this season and has been since day 1, which is odd for someone banished for not controlling games, and I dont know if you follow the news at all, but Mendy has had other reasons for being dropped.

 

[Keeper!]

Christ you've changed your tune

My team is back from the brink.

We looked lost and rudderless, Pep looked gone.

We have our mojo back, not sure why, but we have it back, the swagger, the desire, the passion.

We have the opportunity to win the lot.



And this tw@t knows it all to well!

 

[percypawpaw]

Total faith in Pep, the best manager in football today. Its been a difficult season, and Pep has managed the team well, rotating and keeping everyone involved, he was in for the long game and lets hope it pays off, we will know for sure at the end of February, if we are top we will go on and win the Premier League, and then hopefully the Champions League. Due to FFP, we have been held back, the club are playing it safe, they can only buy if the finances allow.

 

[omri]

need play with fresh players.

foden,jesus,sterling,kdb,bernardo.

run run , dont stop run.