Something’s changed

Saddleworth2 said:
Bump. Something has changed. Just a dozen games ago many on here (me included) were bumping our gums re ‘not liking’ this iteration of us as much as others. Now look at us.
So what has changed to transform our performance?
Is it Dias return to his best form?
Is it Cancelo getting the bums rush?
Grealish and Ake? A combination of these factors? Are we playing faster?
What do folk think?
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All of the above but, if I had to push one it'd be Cancelo leaving.

You can never underestimate a happy dressing room.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Bump. Something has changed. Just a dozen games ago many on here (me included) were bumping our gums re ‘not liking’ this iteration of us as much as others. Now look at us.
So what has changed to transform our performance?
Is it Dias return to his best form?
Is it Cancelo getting the bums rush?
Grealish and Ake? A combination of these factors? Are we playing faster?
What do folk think?
Click to expand...
There are many factors, you could list a dozen quite easily, but the main one is quite simply Pep, the guy is a genius. He has orchestrated and implemented a transitional phase mid season without the use of the transfer market (except to offload Cancelo) that’s included several changes in style & formation. People say he is stubborn, but he isn’t afraid to rip it up and start again if he’s not happy with it. Now compare that to Klopp who can’t answer or give any valid reason as to why his team isn’t performing, has run out of ideas & resorted to imitation. I love that he never writes a season off, this season could be our best, could be dry as a nuns chuff, either way there’s been no lack of fight from him, and for that he is the single most important reason for our recent resurgence
 
blue b4 the moon said:
All of the above but, if I had to push one it'd be Cancelo leaving.

You can never underestimate a happy dressing room.
Click to expand...
I watch a lot of the training ground videos. As a general observation on this season, the players certainly seemed a lot happier after he left. Whether that is coincidence or not I guess we'll never know.
 
Blue and true said:
Bump. Something has changed. Just a dozen games ago many on here (me included) were bumping our gums re ‘not liking’ this iteration of us as much as others. Now look at us.
Click to expand...
Saddleworth2 said:
So what has changed to transform our performance?
Is it Dias return to his best form?
Is it Cancelo getting the bums rush?
Grealish and Ake? A combination of these factors? Are we playing faster?
What do folk think?
Click to expand...
All good shouts.
Undoubtedly Dias being back to form has helped - not only from a playing perspective but a leadership one too - Vinny Mk2
Grealish is ripping it up and oozing confidence
Ake performing marvellously at our traditional weak spot
But for me playing faster is the key - when we do it we rip through teams (while admittedly leaving ourselves a little exposed but that’s where a settled and confident back four come in)
 
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At the start of the Covid season we had Gundogan and Rodri playing as defensive mids and we were struggling for results. Chelsea away Pep moved Gundogan higher up the pitch and we won 3-1. It was a turning point in that season.
This season I reckon the tactical shift is moving Johnny Stones up from centre half to defensive mid. Watching the Dipper and Munich games back it was obvious how well Stones has adapted to this role. This for me is the decisive decision by Pep that has changed this season. Pep is a genius.
 
Maybe Dias being back in the team, Cancelo gone gives the team more confidence to move through the gears quickly less worried that a mistake will lead to a goal. Dias for me make a massive difference. Only Kompany could command the centre of a 3 like Dias does. You can see it with Ederson he is more comfortable when Dias is playing especially like he is now. Cancelo going has allowed Jack to play better. Ake doesn't as often go into Jacks space only when he needs to. Gundo as well as really stepped up his game in recent months less passing sideways and more taking a chance with a forward pass. Some of this is Pep as everyone knows their job and what to do in a game. Pep orchestrates it but Pep can only do that when the right players are on the pitch. Akanji though almost player of the season how he has just settled right in. Plays centre half, right side of a 3 and right back. Sometimes in the same game!
One other factor that Haaland and the rest of the team understand one another more.
 
Jesus H Gabz said:
There are many factors, you could list a dozen quite easily, but the main one is quite simply Pep, the guy is a genius. He has orchestrated and implemented a transitional phase mid season without the use of the transfer market (except to offload Cancelo) that’s included several changes in style & formation. People say he is stubborn, but he isn’t afraid to rip it up and start again if he’s not happy with it. Now compare that to Klopp who can’t answer or give any valid reason as to why his team isn’t performing, has run out of ideas & resorted to imitation. I love that he never writes a season off, this season could be our best, could be dry as a nuns chuff, either way there’s been no lack of fight from him, and for that he is the single most important reason for our recent resurgence
Click to expand...
But if in one game it doesn’t work out the same moaners will be going on about it for fucking years. I agree with you, Pep is an absolute genius, who keeps reinventing football as we know it
 
turning point for me appears to be offloading Cancelo. Return of Pep's swagger, team bonding, Ake and Grealish working together, upturn in Foden's form all seems to flow from his departure.

From start of the season I'd been saying to myself that winning the league 3 years on the trot was maybe beyond the team. Especially with our slow start and Arsenal form.

After Sunday & Tuesday results, I'm starting to thing we may win at couple of trophies. Good times.
 
The greatest manager of his generation showing he is one of the best ever man managers, the way he has got these players into peak form and fitness at the business' end of the season is simply incredible, even more so with a World Cup in the middle of the season.

I personally think what we are witnessing from Pep won't be seen again at this club in most of our lifetimes, we are witnessing something very, very special.
 
This is generally the time of the season when our guys flip the switch, the look on Zinny's face when they conceded the equaliser last week - he knows. The reason Liverpool hated us so much is we are (except a couple seasons) inevitable in how relentless we are, if you want to win this league you can't afford any mistakes.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Bump. Something has changed. Just a dozen games ago many on here (me included) were bumping our gums re ‘not liking’ this iteration of us as much as others. Now look at us.
So what has changed to transform our performance?
Is it Dias return to his best form?
Is it Cancelo getting the bums rush?
Grealish and Ake? A combination of these factors? Are we playing faster?
What do folk think?
Click to expand...
All of those things but even more importantly Pep has cajoled KDB back to his best. I suspect he's man managed him very carefully, maybe with a rocket up his arse or some clever reverse psycology. The extra body in the midfield with John Stones also frees him up to roam.

Let's not forget that right at the beginning of this run of form Pep bollocked all of us. Now look.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Bump. Something has changed. Just a dozen games ago many on here (me included) were bumping our gums re ‘not liking’ this iteration of us as much as others. Now look at us.
So what has changed to transform our performance?
Is it Dias return to his best form?
Is it Cancelo getting the bums rush?
Grealish and Ake? A combination of these factors? Are we playing faster?
What do folk think?
Click to expand...
Akanji as a false right back and stones as a false DM.
 
Fuck me, the lyrics were written for Pep's time... amazing!
Not joking, a Stranglers epiphany!!
Pep should play it at high volume as he enters every presser, before any of those fuckin twats open their mouths!

 
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tolmie's hairdoo said:
Stones and Dias, high tides that raise all ships.

Grealish being able to express himself more in the new formation.

I also think the Premier League trying to fuck us over has brought the team and the fans closer together.
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Have we lost since the PL charged us?
 
tolmie's hairdoo said:
Stones and Dias, high tides that raise all ships.

Grealish being able to express himself more in the new formation.

I also think the Premier League trying to fuck us over has brought the team and the fans closer together.
Click to expand...
Strong defence inculcates confidence in attacking players.
 
I honestly think that the World Cup had a big bearing on the first part of our season, the pressure on a lot of our players (as with most of the top PL teams players) was huge. Then we had the Cancello stories and the Premier League charges. It is like something has solidified us as a team!

I do also think that drawing Bayern in the CL (the hardest possible draw) has made us up things.

Then you look at what Pep has done by putting Stones in midfield. He done the exact same thing with Phillip Lahm. A player who won everything including the world cup as a Left Back, then got reinvented in midfield under Pep!
 
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