Young Boys (H) | CL | Post Match Thread

Dribble said:
That's the issue. We've a relatively small squad with exceptional players, hence why there's such a drop off in quality & effectiveness when "good players" like these two & Philips step in.

Scenario: We've an important match to play, & a midfield of Philips, Kovacic & Nunes.

The confidence is draining out of me at the mere thought, because I can't see a goal, a killer pass or intelligent defensive play from any of them.
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Yeah if we have to rely on a midfield like that in an important game then we’re fucked. We need to be in a position with Rodri, Kev, Bernardo being supplemented by Kovacic, Nunes, Rico and Stones in less critical games. Kovacic and Nunes have to better if they want to be considered regulars.
 
PolarBearCub said:
I know what you mean but he could get injured in an important game just the same. He is injury prone I'm afraid. He is a risk every time he plays. We can't not never play him.
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That’s true. It must be incredibly frustrating for him. Especially given how brilliant his form was towards the end of last season.

I do still think, given we play Chelsea/Liverpool/Spurs/Villa over the next month that it was an unnecessary risk to play him yesterday. But that’s obvious with hindsight.
 
Well I was pretty bored for most of that game. Two nice goals worth seeing but the rest of it was like a training exercise. 8-0 wouldn't have flattered us. Not sure any of the fringe players did themselves many favours.
 
From BBC Sport page:

Ederson completed all 32 of his passes, the 32nd time he’s ended a game with 100% passing accuracy for City. Only three goalkeepers since 2003-04 have attempted more passes in a Champions League game while completing all of them (one of those was Ederson against Feyenoord in September 2017 – 33/33).
 
willipp said:
Yeah if we have to rely on a midfield like that in an important game then we’re fucked. We need to be in a position with Rodri, Kev, Bernardo being supplemented by Kovacic, Nunes, Rico and Stones in less critical games. Kovacic and Nunes have to better if they want to be considered regulars.
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I thought Philips for the limited time he was on looked better than previously
 
willipp said:
Yeah if we have to rely on a midfield like that in an important game then we’re fucked. We need to be in a position with Rodri, Kev, Bernardo being supplemented by Kovacic, Nunes, Rico and Stones in less critical games. Kovacic and Nunes have to better if they want to be considered regulars.
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Stones was MOTM in the champions league final in his hybrid midfield role. I reckon he's fine for big games. Don't agree we're fucked, but agree optimal is having Rod, Kev & Bern on the pitch.
 
madloaf said:
Stones was MOTM in the champions league final in his hybrid midfield role. I reckon he's fine for big games. Don't agree we're fucked, but agree optimal is having Rod, Kev & Bern on the pitch.
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Stones starts every big game for me in that role now because it's pivotal to our new system and nobody else can do it.It was noticable this season how much we improved out fluidity as soon as he was back.
 
Didsbury Dave said:
Well I was pretty bored for most of that game. Two nice goals worth seeing but the rest of it was like a training exercise. 8-0 wouldn't have flattered us. Not sure any of the fringe players did themselves many favours.
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Think we could have easily racked up quite a few more if we'd really needed to but was content giving game time to those who needed it and protecting as many as we could for bigger games. Think Haaland was played to grab a goal to get over his dry spell against Bournemouth, thought Kovacic , Nunes and Lewis all did ok just lacking some calmness/quality with the final ball. Difficult to gauge exactly where we are in terms of hitting top form as a team given the last 3 sides we have played have been poor but top of league , safely through to last 16 CL and think we are some way off being at our best yet.
 
ninjamonkey said:
Not much to take from that. They were just a really poor side that can't compete with a team as good as ours. Hard to judge anybody when we're so superior to the opposition. Complete walk in the park, just about getting it done which we did with ease and getting out injury free which unfortunately we couldn't manage.

losing stones once again Is a huge blow, even moreso when you see the fixtures ahead and what he is likely to miss. him and walker and the two defenders we need available as they're unique, the others are somewhat interchangeable. Akanji pulling out of the lineup too is far from ideal that, could now leave us with just 4 fit defenders with our crazy decision to go intonthe season with just 6 defenders.

Special shout out to gmp's finest who once again stood motionless at the front and watched on as another set of away fans come to the etihad and are allowed to launch absolutely anything they want into the home ends. They do that in leipzig or belgrade or any other country and they get leathered by the local police.

City and the police must be liable for a failure to provide adequate protection, it's every fucking champions league game.

And whoever threw the blue flare on the pitch from our end is a grade A wanker, hope you're found and banned
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Dias is our best defender. He is excellent in one on one situations
 
Fantastic performance for me.
Hats off the their fans, didn't shut up all game although that melt with the microphone was annoying.
That little sequence from Doku when he sent 2 of their players to the shops was unreal!
 
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