Jack Grealish

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Not through a lack of options that's for sure

Pep just tried something different and a bit silly

It was lack of options.

 

[pudge]

It was lack of options.

Not at all, sure he brought Phil and Gundogan on but persisted with them taking the roles of Torres and Sergio in that somewhat mini diamond up front

Mendy off for Mahrez/Bernie

Ake to left back

Gundogan dropping beside Rodri

Phil/Bernie in front of them

Sterling, Jesus, Phil/Mahrez as a front three

Anyone who watched that and didn't see the obvious disconnect between the defence and Rodri to the forward options are kidding themselves. It was shades of the start of the season and the end of last; Madrid's goal at the Bernabau and Porto's against us prime examples.

The only difference being we had two distinct holding players and four attackers 20 yards away.

The personnel and substitutes were more than capable yesterday if Pep didn't tinker with playing two different five aside-esque teams in each half of the pitch.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Not at all, sure he brought Phil and Gundogan on but persisted with them taking the roles of Torres and Sergio in that somewhat mini diamond up front

Mendy off for Mahrez/Bernie

Ake to left back

Gundogan dropping beside Rodri

Phil/Bernie in front of them

Sterling, Jesus, Phil/Mahrez as a front three

Anyone who watched that and didn't see the obvious disconnect between the defence and Rodri to the forward options are kidding themselves. It was shades of the start of the season and the end of last; Madrid's goal at the Bernabau and Porto's against us prime examples.

The only difference being we had two distinct holding players and four attackers 20 yards away.

The personnel and substitutes were more than capable yesterday if Pep didn't tinker with playing two different five aside-esque teams in each half of the pitch.

We are arguing the same point, perhaps, the disconnect was indeed there.

Where we differ is maybe that you believe Pep didn't ask those players yesterday to make up the midfield better than they did?

They failed, that was down to the quality of the personnel/replacements.

I've expected most of City's defeats so far this season, most of the time when the midfield empties for lesser talents being asked to do the jobs of Gundo, Foden, Bernie and Kev.

Pep wanted to overload the top of the pitch but the wide attacking players failed constantly to join up with Rodri, or get back in.

The double pivot has thankfully gone, but whether it be Rodri or Fernandinho as the DM, it always requires the technique and hunger of our attacking midfielders to ensure it never actually looks like a one-man midfield.

 

[Rammy Blue]

We are arguing the same point, perhaps, the disconnect was indeed there.

Where we differ is maybe that you believe Pep didn't ask those players yesterday to make up the midfield better than they did?

They failed, that was down to the quality of the personnel/replacements.

I've expected most of City's defeats so far this season, most of the time when the midfield empties for lesser talents being asked to do the jobs of Gundo, Foden, Bernie and Kev.

Pep wanted to overload the top of the pitch but the wide attacking players failed constantly to join up with Rodri, or get back in.

The double pivot has thankfully gone, but whether it be Rodri or Fernandinho as the DM, it always requires the technique and hunger of our attacking midfielders to ensure it never actually looks like a one-man midfield.

Doesn’t help when Cancelo has seen his arse, he should have been the one getting alongside Rodders but did fuck all.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I am bald but my post last doesn't make much sense. What I meant was the talk is that Grealish is already a City player going off this thread.

Nobody has said he's yet a City player, that's the point, Ray.

Info is simply being shared and relayed by multiple sources and people on here, the interest is real.

You just seem put out Pep would even consider him to be a top player?

I'm defending him as a player of real talent, irrespective of where he ends up.

Some people appear offended by the mere prospect City would like to sign him.

 

[BlueDejong]

Nobody has said he's yet a City player, that's the point, Ray.

Info is simply being shared and relayed by multiple sources and people on here, the interest is real.

You just seem put out Pep would even consider him to be a top player?

I'm defending him as a player of real talent, irrespective of where he ends up.

Some people appear offended by the mere prospect City would like to sign him.

What do you think about Rice & Bissouma links? it's real?

 

[RayCTID]

Nobody has said he's yet a City player, that's the point, Ray.

Info is simply being shared and relayed by multiple sources and people on here, the interest is real.

You just seem put out Pep would even consider him to be a top player?

I'm defending him as a player of real talent, irrespective of where he ends up.

Some people appear offended by the mere prospect City would like to sign him.

Pep does talk about opposition players in a positive light in general. He even talks up the clubs, including Utd in such glowing terms. I may not totally agree with him but still respect that.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Doesn’t help when Cancelo has seen his arse, he should have been the one getting alongside Rodders but did fuck all.

Exactly my point!

Players were asked to do jobs and they let Rodri and Pep down.

There are some self-entitled, slapped arses at present and Pep has given them all an opportunity to prove him wrong in recent weeks.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Exactly my point!

Players were asked to do jobs and they let Rodri and Pep down.

There are some self-entitled, slapped arses at present and Pep has given them all an opportunity to prove him wrong in recent weeks.

It was only a few weeks ago that everyone was pulling in the same direction and Pep was right on top of it all, it’s just that as soon as we’ve got to the big big games that the ones missing out have started to let their standards slip - Cancelo, Raz, Jesus etc - not one of them has staked a claim.

 

[Gumzy97]

Exactly my point!

Players were asked to do jobs and they let Rodri and Pep down.

There are some self-entitled, slapped arses at present and Pep has given them all an opportunity to prove him wrong in recent weeks.

Rodri is a bludy good player, i felt sorry for him yesterday constantly out numbered, had to play the whole midfield by himself.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

The personnel lost us the match, they weren't good enough to meet Pep's game plan.

If anyone thinks Pep sent out a team with a one man midfield they are kidding themselves.

Sterling has since confirmed that we actually went with a five to try and match Chelsea up.

The bodies were 'supposed' to be there in the middle of the pitch, yet nobody was able to afford us the intelligence or technique to come and collect or put their foot on the ball in transitions.

There was not one player capable of forward momentum in terms of passing, which is why our most dangerous ball came from Laporte or Dias playing balls down the sides.

Of course, that's also on Pep, but we simply didn't have another player on the pitch who was able to commit a man and still provide end product.

In all fairness, I'm not sure you can blame Sterling and Torres for not knowing how to play as 8s. They've never done it before!

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

I would feel a lot better about spending 70m on Grealish if we knew Pep's plans for him. Would we be signing him predominantly as a forward who can fill in deeper when needed? Or as a number 8 first and foremost?

Considering Foden's development this season, I would suggest we don't need another wide forward, but we probably do need to finally get that top class number 8 we lost in Silva.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Nobody has said he's yet a City player, that's the point, Ray.

Info is simply being shared and relayed by multiple sources and people on here, the interest is real.

You just seem put out Pep would even consider him to be a top player?

I'm defending him as a player of real talent, irrespective of where he ends up.

Some people appear offended by the mere prospect City would like to sign him.

Predominantly because he's another threat to Sterling,which is odd because all the evidence suggests he would be an upgrade......and surely,as a club striving to be the very best,that can only be a positive?

 

[domalino]

Exactly my point!

Players were asked to do jobs and they let Rodri and Pep down.

There are some self-entitled, slapped arses at present and Pep has given them all an opportunity to prove him wrong in recent weeks.

I think our success has made people have forgotten that this is a transition season.

This is the season we have replaced Kompany and learned to live without Aguero and Fernandinho - its the beginning of a new side and its not the finished product.

Foden has come through into the starting XI Torres and Ake are adapting, other players are leaving.

Im not thrilled about a few performances like Cancelo's, but I think its more down to players being out of form and in a weird system with no time to practice it than not bothering.

 

[domalino]

In all fairness, I'm not sure you can blame Sterling and Torres for not knowing how to play as 8s. They've never done it before!

And they had maybe Thursday and Friday to learn it before playing Champions Leafue finalists.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Predominantly because he's another threat to Sterling,which is odd because all the evidence suggests he would be an upgrade......and surely,as a club striving to be the very best,that can only be a positive?

All the evidence?

Grealish is 25, Sterling is 26. Grealish has had one good season in a relegation candidate last year and one fantastic half season in a midtable side this year before getting injured.

Before that he was playing in the championship, while Sterling was integral to the best team this country has ever seen.

Grealish has never played in Europe, barely played internationally. Sterling has bags of experience performing at that level.

And let's not forget impact off the pitch. Sterling is one of the elected captains, massively popular in the dressing room. Grealish wouldn't be able to replicate that impact for years.

He's been better than Sterling this season. That is literally it.

The same numbers say Fernandes has been better than De Bruyne this season, would that be an upgrade as well?

So to sum up, yes, all the evidence suggests it would be an upgrade to the team. As long as you ignore the mountains of evidence that completely disprove that.

 

[Garry's Coock]

I personally think Pep didn't want to play the team that played PSG. I think this season things are working without the striker. Look at how many changes, the system and mentality towards yesterday. If it worked then credit to Pep, weren't we all craving the fact to have spare games in the league to do the champs league at full strength? In my eye Pep tried something and it nearly worked, it also saved legs to the actual team, tactics and mentality to be played in the champs league final. It's a one off cup final, keep your cards close, i'm looking forward to it.

 

[Wardley Blue]

All the evidence?

Grealish is 25, Sterling is 26. Grealish has had one good season in a relegation candidate last year and one fantastic half season in a midtable side this year before getting injured.

Before that he was playing in the championship, while Sterling was integral to the best team this country has ever seen.

Grealish has never played in Europe, barely played internationally. Sterling has bags of experience performing at that level.

And let's not forget impact off the pitch. Sterling is one of the elected captains, massively popular in the dressing room. Grealish wouldn't be able to replicate that impact for years.

He's been better than Sterling this season. That is literally it.

The same numbers say Fernandes has been better than De Bruyne this season, would that be an upgrade as well?

So to sum up, yes, all the evidence suggests it would be an upgrade to the team. As long as you ignore the mountains of evidence that completely disprove that.

Grealish always has the ball under control and I am not sure I can say the same about Sterling.

 

[David Silva]

Exactly my point!

Players were asked to do jobs and they let Rodri and Pep down.

There are some self-entitled, slapped arses at present and Pep has given them all an opportunity to prove him wrong in recent weeks.

Sterling & Torres too as much as Cancelo (I don't think the plan was for him to invert yesterday, both him and Mendy looked under orders to stay wide). We set up similarly v Arsenal in October, the difference then being the players in the midfield roles did their job properly (Mahrez, Foden, Cancelo and Bernardo that day..)

Namesake of this thread certainly would have helped yesterday.

 

[FantasyIreland]

All the evidence?

Grealish is 25, Sterling is 26. Grealish has had one good season in a relegation candidate last year and one fantastic half season in a midtable side this year before getting injured.

Before that he was playing in the championship, while Sterling was integral to the best team this country has ever seen.

Grealish has never played in Europe, barely played internationally. Sterling has bags of experience performing at that level.

And let's not forget impact off the pitch. Sterling is one of the elected captains, massively popular in the dressing room. Grealish wouldn't be able to replicate that impact for years.

He's been better than Sterling this season. That is literally it.

The same numbers say Fernandes has been better than De Bruyne this season, would that be an upgrade as well?

So to sum up, yes, all the evidence suggests it would be an upgrade to the team. As long as you ignore the mountains of evidence that completely disprove that.

I've watched them both over the past couple of seasons,i disagree.

Grealish is the better player,and i'm very confident he would have a superior impact in our team.