Spurs (A) | PL | Post-Match Thread

[PPT]

Just get the feeling that Pep insists in trying to prove he’s the smartest person in the room. In reality he’s the most stubborn person in the room. Today was on Pep - again.

 

[wolviedinho]

They do everything to please Pep, which also includes giving him the type of players he wants to play a certain way, regardless of name.

We are making stupid mistakes in the market, trying to replace legends.

£100m on Jack, £42m on Ake, £42m on Phillips, £16m on Akanji.

£200m on players who we either didn't need or wouldn't exactly miss if we had kept the money in the bank.

The problem is the first cycle under Pep still included Silva, Fern, Vinny, Sergio.

This next evolution is looking to players who are far removed from that talent and mindset.

And the ones who might have it in De Bruyne and Gundo are past their peaks.

I am more fearful that we can't evolve again with Pep at the helm, simply because he is wedded to a philosophy which may have also come to the end of its cycle.

Pep should have got himself a strong assistant in the summer, rather than a bunch of yes men.

The philosophy is simple. The players are not executing his plan. Recruitment does look like it’s been hit & miss. I like Jack but the laughing when we are not winning is not the right mentality. The players lost have not been replaced and standards have dropped. The club need to up their game and start getting ruthless winners through the door. I don’t agree it’s pep fault. Maybe he is feeling it after so many years at one club. It’s all gone abit meh.

Our evolution will hinge on recruitment. Get the right players and clear out the decks. Same players followed him last year and we did well.

Players not performing is our only problem.

 

[Ashleymcduff]

Runs and tackles a lot but there is rarely any end product.

Sterling got much more grief over it and his numbers were much better.

Yet until recently Bernardo was branded a legend for running a lot lol or was it not clapping the scousers

 

[Bluesince1979]

I haven't been bored watching City for years, probably the Pearce days. These past few months though, so slow and predictable. So easy to play against. Sideways back, sideways back.
I recognise tactically we've changed but being void of any pace or penetration is killing us.
That falls on Peps stubborn shoulders.

And the cheeky bastard calls us out for lack of atmosphere

 

[dctid]

I get all that mister, city faces this kind of teams most of the time, it just happens that city's on shit streak while facing the most expensive shite, negative players, instructed by an italian in a fucking hospital...

And yes, football is cyclic and that's on the management to plan and do better.

is City on a shit streak or have other teams caught us - time will tell I guess

we have been spoilt and can’t win everything but if pep does not change then like Wenger (whom was and is equally as stubborn as Pep ) he will be overtaken

 

[come-on-barney]

I can sense a huge transfer spend in the summer. Clear out of at least 4 players. I’d predict a 250m net spend.
If we keep looking into the bargain bins for players, then the team will regress further next season. It feels to me City are scared of the repercussions if we spend big. Chelsea don’t care and neither should City.
We certainly need 2 ultra quick and direct wingers. Grealish could move more central like he played for Villa. Foden more central too. Mahrez is a great player, but I would offload him in the summer and cash in on him whilst we can.
Mahrez, Bernado, Ederson, Phillips,Gundoghan and Gomez to be unloaded.
Incoming 2 wingers, at least 1 creative midfielder 2 left wing backs and a World Class GK. Throw everything we have financially over a 5 year contract so we can amortise 50m a season.
Pep is the big conundrum. I’d be one for keeping him but I’d understand any of you who thinks he has served his time and run out of ideas.

I think if Pep is willing to stay for another few years then give him the budget. If not, then think we need to be planning ahead.

 

[Blue Maverick]

It’s still not completely out of the question that Pep calls it a day in the summer. It kind of depends on what the players show him between now and then. It has the potential to go really, really bad. The bunch of players that Pep seems to be refusing to play is too large to conclude anything other than there are serious issues in the squad.

Do you think they are unhappy at having to play the tippy tappy football when overlapping fullbacks and faster paced would be better? If that’s the case that they don’t want to play that system anymore as it’s not working with Haaland then something has got to give. Pep has nearly always played false 9 and it’s worked he can’t seem to get Haaland in the game playing that sort of possession football, but us he too stubborn to change because if he is then it’s either sell Haaland or bring in someone to utilise him.

 

[come-on-barney]

And the cheeky bastard calls us out for lack of atmosphere

Think that proves that the stand design makes no difference.

 

[Cityinmyheart]

Barcelona signed Garcia. Next question?

2/10 for that answer for being irrelevant and incomplete.

 

[bluemoon32]

This is not true. Our centre forward is rapid as fuck. What doesn't scare people is knowing he will never ever ever get passed to.

One player has pace then, we have no wide players with pace.
Obviously we need to use feed Haaland more but that isnt our only probalem, we have many other issues

 

[GY.Blue]

its all well and good saying transition etc but if we allow to leave/sell Gundogan, Bernardo, Jesus, Sterling, Zinchenko, Laporte, Cancelo from the 2020/2021 vintage we’ve replaced/will replace them with (respectively)

Phillips, 2023 new signing, Alvarez, Grealish, Gomez, Akanji, 2023 New signing,

and of those we’ve already signed they ain't as good.

Exactly mate, barring Alvarez we seem to be replacing with very average players.

 

[madloaf]

2/10 for that answer for being irrelevant and incomplete.

I edited it if that makes any difference to my score?

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

The players are not delivering the pressing style seen in previous seasons. If the majority were on it, the opposition would be put to the sword. New players is the only way forward now as the ones we have can’t or won’t do what’s required.

I think that's correct. The lack of pace in midfield is killing us. We can't get the ball from our backline to the forwards quickly enough and opposing teams have got plenty of time to get into position. I think if Foden can sort himself out he could be a real boost for us if he dropped back into midfield. But this would just be a starting point. I think Arsenal might over-run us in midfield when we play them. Longer term we need to replace Bernardo, Gundo, and Kev. That is a hell of a tough task because they have all been world-class for us.

 

[The Black Shed]

Positive slant on it - traditionally we would always lose at Spurs, United and scousers. Any points picked up were a welcome surprise, so losing our three away games at these 'normal' bogey grounds doesn't feel too bad for me cos I'm so used to losing them anyway.

 

[bennyboy]

And what I will say is, if Pep really wants Rico in centre midfield then why not just drop one of the many under performers for him why does he have to usher him in via a full back spot? Rico for me can start ahead of Kevin,Bernardo,Gundo in that centre midfield position and I wouldn’t care.

I do not understand why Rico is not getting the same treatment as Phil.
Phil was a top talent but used sparingly to start with.Correctly as well.

 

[kye1991]

View attachment 68159
For those old enough… never forget. Some right dick heads on here. You’ve no idea what supporting a football club is meant to be about. We’re going to go through a massive change in the next 12 months. I hope you Lot have fucked off when we’re brilliant again - with Pep. Spoilt brats

Does that mean people can't have an opinion when we are playing shite?

 

[Tolmie scores]

Put both Ake and Laporte on market and we will surely know who from Barca, Real and Bayern will look to sign.

AKE works hard, great to see BUT limited on the ball. Basically Pep has compensated, played Ake as rest cant be arsed to press track etc. He HAS to play Ake even though technically he is limited

 

[McfcBibby]

We are so far off it it’s scary. We can’t defend, can’t create and we can’t even do the basics at the moment.

 

[Shaffer92]

Utterrly bizarre that we sign the most lethal striker of his generation and then slow play down to snail pace and go from creating 20+ chances a game to none. The problem is the midfield.

If you don’t think Haaland is a part of that problem, you’re mistaken.

 

[chickaroon]

Check my posts for last 10 or so years I’m far from doin and gloom
Something gone from this squad and first time it’s not all harmony behind the scenes
Rebuild now and nobody is a must stay, hope to have another great team together in 2 years but time to except “ ok “ for a while

We’re playing with 9 outfield players trying to get the ball into the 6 yard box for the 10th player

Players facing massive change to how they’ve been told to play for last 5 years and it needs a new squad to teach this new system from scratch

Prefer the false 9 and I’m sure Pep does but if we’re going to play Haaland we need to teach a squad how and this ones to long in the tooth to change

We need two fast, natural sided wingers, if Haaland is to flourish. I know he has scored 25 goals but most have come against teams that play open football against us. He quicker, more accurate service.