Wycombe (H) - EFL Cup R3 | Post-Match Thread

[Phil1]

yea its my humble opinion.
the team is much better without grealish as evident from last night.

This football lark isn't for everyone.

 

[stonerblue]

Really enjoyed the game. Great to see Foden back in action and he showed some beautiful touches. Looked very assured and hungry in the middle.

The young lads all did themselves proud and hard to pick one out as the stand-out prospect. Lavia looked solid and determined and i'd say he has the best chance of becoming first team regular given his position. Mbete was very assured, as was Esbrand.

 

[stonerblue]

Quite interesting how few aerial challenges our defensive trio (Burns, Mbete, Lavia) 'lost' last night. Indeed, Akinfenwa was able to win many without even getting off the ground. That's not a criticism of their play, more an observation that they're smart enough to apply enough pressure, without really contesting, and then move to areas where the second ball might drop and use their speed to contest those. That's a smart way of playing and will help them as they develop physically.

Would like to see them get another crack in the next round, though it's more than likely we'll face someone from the top flight.

Noticed this myself. The back two rarely came forward to contest the high ball and tended to wait for the ball to 'drop' before making a move. This goes against the 'don't let it bounce' mantra that's been part of defensive coaching for decades and was initially quite worrying to see. It worked well last night but i'm not sure i'd like to see that 'tactic' employed against a top class front line.

 

[mosssideblue]

City are better team without grealish.
the tempo, the intensity, the passes
We have to play our strength (Foden and mahrez as wingers, KDB and gundagon in the midfield, jesus as the steriker)

Playing to our strengths is playing Grealish

 

[Eccles Blue]

Akinfenwa Sports Groupies

Made me laugh. :-)


The only footballers I might become a groupie for are Richard Dunne, VK and Zaba. :-)
In fact in the case of Dunnie it isn't a might it is a guarantee!!! *rofl*

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

It's a long time since I was so excited about a group of players coming through.

I see potential greatness in Lavia, I was shocked at his levels playing in such an experienced position - he's ready now - he's easily on a par with Rodri - the kid has it all.

Would not surprise me if him, Palmer and McAtee go all the way.

 

[Bonzo Nododo]

Were there any 'notable' attendances in other matches last night?
My difficulty in finding a list suggests Citys crowd was quite good and not what the press wanted.

 

[Manchester33]

It's a long time since I was so excited about a group of players coming through.

I see potential greatness in Lavia, I was shocked at his levels playing in such an experienced position - he's ready now - he's easily on a par with Rodri - the kid has it all.

Would not surprise me if him, Palmer and McAtee go all the way.

I'm not sure I agree. He looked good last night (against league 1 opposition). He doesn't have the experience Rodri has. I think he's got a higher ceiling than Rodri, but not convinced he's anywhere near as good right now.

 

[Gabriel]

Noticed this myself. The back two rarely came forward to contest the high ball and tended to wait for the ball to 'drop' before making a move. This goes against the 'don't let it bounce' mantra that's been part of defensive coaching for decades and was initially quite worrying to see. It worked well last night but i'm not sure i'd like to see that 'tactic' employed against a top class front line.

In terms of their development, it would be a good test next to play a Championship side or even someone like Burnley in the next round. Not sure they’d be able to ‘avoid‘ the physical contest as easily against such opponents, but if we draw someone better, I suspect Guardiola will play a different hand.

 

[Bentheblue]

It's a long time since I was so excited about a group of players coming through.

I see potential greatness in Lavia, I was shocked at his levels playing in such an experienced position - he's ready now - he's easily on a par with Rodri - the kid has it all.

Would not surprise me if him, Palmer and McAtee go all the way.

Got to agree about Palmer and McAtee both have fantastic potential as does Lavia, hard to believe he’s only 17.

 

[lionheart]

City are better team without grealish.
the tempo, the intensity, the passes
We have to play our strength (Foden and mahrez as wingers, KDB and gundagon in the midfield, jesus as the steriker)

No idea where you come from but I have never read such a stupid and ill-informed post from a so-called City fan. Jack Grealish has been our best and most creative player in almost every game he starts. If Pep had decided to risk him against mighty Wycombe, we would have most likely scored ten at least. Foden is definitely not a winger.

 

[scarty10]

Think Mbete would be Frank Spencer's MOTM

When clicking 'like' simply doesn't do a post justice....I doff my cap to you Sir :)

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I'm not sure I agree. He looked good last night (against league 1 opposition). He doesn't have the experience Rodri has. I think he's got a higher ceiling than Rodri, but not convinced he's anywhere near as good right now.

The kid is phenomenal. He's pushing into spaces he needs to be, he's anticipating, he's playing forward balls into the penalty area.

The position he plays is supposed to be all about experience but he's breaking up the play like a veteran.

I'm convinced he will be ahead of Rodri very soon in the pecking order, certainly as he continues to fill out.

 

[blueparsman]

Was a nice refreshin game last night. At time Phil reminded me of David Silva with his little pirouettes. Mbete in defence reminded me of a young VK. As for the long named left back ;O) I thought he was excellent. Very cool under pressure. Hopefully these guys will get more chances in this cup

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I remember Lakey coming through. I was there for his FA Youth Cup win, his first-team debut and his last game too at Ayresome Park.

I can pay Palmer no bigger compliment than to say he reminds me so much of him, the way he runs with the ball, his balance, his physique.

 

[JGL07]

Stockdale was a promising young keeper not so long ago, looked well out of his depth tonight.

I thought that David Stockdale was the ‘village idiot’ in Heartbeat?

 

[domalino]

It's a long time since I was so excited about a group of players coming through.

I see potential greatness in Lavia, I was shocked at his levels playing in such an experienced position - he's ready now - he's easily on a par with Rodri - the kid has it all.

Would not surprise me if him, Palmer and McAtee go all the way.

The club has the potential to mimic the Barcelona golden generation if they want to. Which I think was the aim in 2012 when the CFA was unveiled. There was talk of winning things with a team made up mostly of academy products from Khaldoon IIRC.

Lavia, McAtee, Palmer, Wilson-Esbrand, Delap & Mbete are probably all good enough. So is Callum Doyle. I still think Tommy Doyle might be if he can find his midfield position over in Germany.

It's not just going to happen by accident, or passively though. Someone actually has to make the decisions. Someone has to say "OK we're not buying a fernandinho replacement, it'll be Lavia and Rodri", or "Ok we're not renewing Mahrez's contract because Palmer or McAtee will take that spot in 2023/24".

They can't just keep buying £80-100m players to replace the 30+ year olds leaving and then say "oh well, guess it wasn't meant to be" when the youth players leave and find success elsewhere.

 

[rowarta]

just watched the Pep post match on the city site, that's the most passionate/animated I've seen him this season. good watch

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

The club has the potential to mimic the Barcelona golden generation if they want to.

Lavia, McAtee, Palmer, Wilson-Esbrand, Delap & Mbete are probably all good enough. So is Callum Doyle.

But it's not just going to happen by accident, or passively. Someone actually has to make the decisions. Someone has to say "OK we're not buying a fernandinho replacement, it'll be Lavia and Rodri", or "Ok we're not renewing Mahrez's contract because Palmer or McAtee will take that spot in 2023/24".

They can't just keep buying £80-100m players and then say "oh well, guess it wasn't meant to be" when the youth players leave and find success elsewhere.

Agreed. It was the same decision Ferguson made at some point in 1992. Bastard.

Don't know much about Callum Doyle, but I am also of the belief that Tommy can make it with us and will impress at Hamburg.

If a couple like Couto, Metinho and Kayky can also make the step up, then I can't see how Pep won't want to see it all mature?

It would be his crowning glory.

 

[domalino]

Agreed. It was the same decision Ferguson made at some point in 1992. Bastard.

Don't know much about Callum Doyle, but I am still of the belief that Tommy can make it with us and will impress at Hamburg.

If a couple like Couto, Metinho and Kayky can also make the step up, then I can't see how Pep won't want to see it all mature?

It would be his crowning glory.

I agree with you on Tommy Doyle, I think he could be at the very least a squad player, he just needs to find his role in midfield and get some experience.

Chelsea made the conscious decision after Conte to make their golden generation the priority, and it only took 18 months of Lampard championing them for Hudson-Odoi, Mount, Reece James, Christensen & Abraham to pick up the experience and confidence that Tuchel saw them as proper first team players, not academy kids.


I don't think anyone wants City to appoint a Lampard, but the amazing thing is I don't think we'd need to. Pep has said so many time he prefers working with kids, he wants to be a youth coach in his retirement. If we could win the CL this season and tick that off, I think he would absolutely relish the idea of being told his priority for the next season(s) was bringing through 3 or 4 kids and setting up a generation of homegrown players for the club to be his legacy after he's gone.

I think there's a lot of opportunities coming up as well over the next 2 years. Fernandinho is going, Mahrez will be 32 when his contract expires in 2023, Left back is wide open. I personally think Laporte will try to move to Spain again, and Aké may look for a club he starts at every week after 2 or 3 years as a back up.