Club Brugge (H) - CL - Post-Match Thread

[Beanhead]

Bravo Pep

Fucking love the fact he addressed it after a 4-1 win. Proper shot at both the CL and the prem in one interview. Clever bastard.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

Other than a few scares in the 1st half, I honestly thought there was only one team who looked like winning the game. I think 4-1 was a fair reflection of the game.

I had Bernardo for MOTM - he was all over as usual, but I also could've picked Cancelo or Rodri and I thought Sterling caused problems when he came on.

Let's be honest, the game was really just a case of "how many" rather than being any real test. It was a job well done overall. In this group, we knew months ago which 2 teams would qualify so the decider with be against PSG to see who finishes 1st.

The real game this week is at the weekend.

 

[marco]

Just noticed Dortmund could still go out…
Sign Haaland in January.
Can he play in Champions league for us?

yes as not played out of group stages

 

[Kippax77]

Everybody knows it but they're either too scared or biased to say it.

We need more people higher than the fans speaking out on this.
Its the only way to draw attention to it

 

[LongsightM13]

Big mention for Palmer, whom yet again demonstrated that he is not far off the first team. Played his part in one of the goals and almost scored one himself. Fair play to the lad.

He is definitely a first team player now. Plays like he belongs in that company

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Their equaliser knocked the wind out of us , half time team talk sorted it and only their keeper saved them from a proper mauling , bring on the Rags.

 

[domalino]

Zinchenko was our starting LB the whole way in what would have been the best CL campaign of all time if we don't lose to Chelsea btw. We conceded 4 goals the entire way to the final vs the 6 we already have -and he was absolutely a big part of that success we had. How quickly people forget what he's done for this club despite earning less than almost everyone.

Zinchenko doesn't score, or get many assists, and he's not whipping crosses in, but on all the statistical models that rate how involved players are in the build up, he's always right at the top.

He is a number 10 at LB, and he makes a lot of very smart passes that come 1 or 2 passes before a goal.

His left footedness is also so valuable against anyone who presses us, because he when it's on, he always plays it down the line, which beats the press immediately and puts the LW and left number 8 in behind the press and running into space.

 

[PragueBlue]

Sterling was commiting platers and going past them and making runs in behind...none of that happening first half or second . Gabby....more energy, work rate and better movement off the ball..defensively better as well.

As I said, much easier to do when the space is already there against tiring players. I have seen enough of Sterling in the last 18 months against packed defences, to come to the reasonable conclusion that he wouldn't have fared any better than our other wide players in the first half.

 

[mccity]

He's more of a Gareth Barry. Not the biggest or the most physical and definitely not the quickest but just brings so much all-round game to the midfield. Especially given we have so many half pint midfielders.

Something really useful about Fernandinho was always his aerial ability on top of his aggression. Obviously Fernandinho has advantages over Rodri (which have been discussed ad infinitum on here) but Rodri literally being a giant is a major plus. He wins almost all the headers, and he knocks players off the ball with ease.

As you say, with Bernardo, Gundogan, and sometimes Foden for company it helps having a giant hurtling around.

 

[paulchapo]

We need more people higher than the fans speaking out on this.
Its the only way to draw attention to it

Yes and it's better said after we win as it doesn't come across as sour grapes. Every single pundit and PIGMOL know it, utter gutless wankers the lot of the them.

 

[domalino]

Zinchenko is out, period, due to balance of having Laporte start. He’s a cracking little find which pep has evolved, turning an unconventional player into a high performer when needed... this is the genius of the guy we have at the helm and (spits) what pisscan was lauded for, turning average into good, and good into exceptional...

Zin is no long term solution but a stalwart and someone we rely on!

You've got this backwards.

Laporte has been in because Zinchenko has been injured for 6 weeks and we need a left footer in the backline.

 

[Eccles Blue]

Walker should have blocked the cross

Oi do you want to be tangled up in reality? ;-)

I said the first person/people to blame either John Boy or Kyle would feel the wrath of Eccles Blue…. You do know it’s still close to Halloween and I can be a witch don’t you? And I DO mean witch not the other word ok?

;-) :-)

 

[Bluemoonie92]

I think Bernardo on the wing would have shaw on toast on the wing and see Foden take on bisaka on the other side who Sterling has never bettered

Good shout but I prefer him in the middle. His energy could be vital. I think sterling could have Shaw.

 

[vincent]

What’s the score with away fans taking a full block in the Colin Bell stand. Over 200 sat together. Very odd when their end was not full.

 

[mat]

The big question is....


Did Pep leave a big jobby in Lahoz's kit bag?

 

[Rammy Blue]

Grealish looks like he hasn’t got a fucking clue what he’s supposed to be doing. He isn’t a left winger and playing him there is making him look bang average. Needs to be in the CM or ACM roles.

I was just catching up on the thread, and then intended posting exactly this. Can’t believe how many are having a pop at him, and tbh I don’t understand why Pep is hanging him out to dry by playing him out there. It was ok for a couple of games but now it’s just crazy.

 

[Kippax77]

Yes and it's better said after we win as it doesn't come across as sour grapes. Every single pundit and PIGMOL know it, utter gutless wankers the lot of the them.

I feel our years of silence as seen them step it up against us this season, probably taking it for granted we are pussies.
But any verbal fightback by the club (which as now started coming from Pep) gives me effin goosepimples and i love it

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

You've got this backwards.

Laporte has been in because Zinchenko has been injured for 6 weeks and we need a left footer in the backline.

Maybe right but I’d hazard a guess he will go with cancello more often than not

 

[Rammy Blue]

You've got this backwards.

Laporte has been in because Zinchenko has been injured for 6 weeks and we need a left footer in the backline.

That said, we won’t have a left footer in the back line on Saturday unless Kyle is now injured.

 

[domalino]

Maybe right but I’d hazard a guess he will go with cancello more often than not

I don't think anything has changed from last season. Laporte's not better, Cancelo's not a better left back. IMO the best back 4, the one we built the title win on last season is Zinchenko-Dias-Stones-Walker. We haven't had all 4 fit at one point until about a week ago, but I would be genuinely surprised if they didn't take over after the international break.

And we did play that line probably 30+ times last season so we know Pep likes it.