No I don't think so. If I read that right, Phil is pissed and showing it. Pep wants happy faces, in training and especially when not selected - he has been clear about that from day 1. If thats true its up to Phil to knuckle down, work hard and get over his disappointment.
Not really sure what that has to do with the post you replied to which was about controlling the chances we give up when different combinations of players are used. We weren’t rubbish either, just not quite good enough to overcome Evertons spoiling game, it happens to us most seasons in some games and the same people over react ever season and then go quiet when we win the league usually.
The point isn't that we're on a huge winning run - it's that we weren't rubbish against Everton.
Haaland and KDB possibly as he can play without either if he wants to Rodri not so much.
And KDB plays well when unhappy. I guess Phil is unhappy because a player with less ability is getting starts ahead of him. Who wouldn't be.
Jeeze I can't beleive you thought we were not poor vs Everton. We created so little with that team and formation. But each to his own.
Phil consistently creates more chances than either Mahrez or Grealish. But by your judgement we won't see him start the next two games because Grealish and Mahrez played well against Everton is that what you are saying?
Nobody that wants to succeed in Peps squad.
And :-) :-):-):-)
I agree it didn’t work with Rico but he probably played perfectly to instruction. Play in midfield and keep the ball which he did very well whilst providing no threat whatsoever in a game where we’d always boss the midfield anyway.
We already have and to great effect. When Foden Haaland and Grealish started the games at Sevilla and v Man U we ran roughshod up front. 10 goals, 5 by Erling and 4 by Little Philip. Versus NF we started Alvarez with Haaland and Foden and Haaland bagged another hat trick with Julian adding a brace. Why we have not gone back to these type of set ups up front is maddening. When you have the upper hand you play the fucking upper hand, not with a hand or two tied behind your back. I'll take the 3-3 v Newcastle any day of the week over the shit shows v Everton and Brentford because many more times than not we win those type of games 4-1, 5-2, 4-2 or whatever. Are we now going to play some fucking slow motion chess match against every team we face and wind up fucked anyway like at Anfield? What am I missing?
That's a big part of the problem. There's not that much to figure out. When you have the best roster you press the upper hand. We don't always need Pep to be a genius. Does anyone see Arteta experimenting with all sorts of inverted wingers and fullbacks and such? Pep was committed to his 4-3-3 for the longest time and it worked fabulously. Even without a recognized 9 he stuck with the 4-3-3 using a "false" 9 and it worked. We brought in a top level 9 and now Pep decides to start experimenting with the formation. What for? City don't need gimmicks. We're not a lesser team trying to find ways to make up the gap. It's so unnecessary. Why is playing Rico Lewis at RB and then essentially moving him into midfield in what becomes a 3-4-3 genius? If you're going to play a 3-4-3 just play Bernardo there joining Rodri, KDB, and Gundo. As good as Rico has been does it justify sitting Bernardo? In the end there's a fine line between a genius and a mad scientist.
