Mistake, After Mistake, After mistake! Why Can't We See Games Out?

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Suppose it was either him or Nunes and he isn’t either.

The new lad would have been a gamble I think. I would have preferred we signed one ready made experienced defender than two with potential but hopefully they will come good. We desperately need a right back next season and at least 2 more midfielders with pace.

We should have moved John back in defence and then brought Kovacic on

Either way we were fucked

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

A £33M gamble?

Yeah I think it is.

 

[Marvin.]

How? By capitulating… yet again? We’ve beat two half decent teams in 4 months in Chelsea and Forrest and continue to throw games and concede multiples of goals at will…. Am I watching something different to you?

If you look at our results, we have obviously recovered somewhat but going from a top 6 side to an elite side is going to take Rodri or 3-4 months playing Marmoush into form. We need 1-2 players imo. Stones, Gvardiol, Haaland, Foden are elite players but they are too thin on the ground.

 

[Roachy]

Mental and Physical fatigue chasing that elusive 4 in a row title. We are slowly regaining our mojo.

Not with large parts of that 4 in a row team remaining we're not. A few are finished and others are not up to scratch potentially. By and large a new team's required.

 

[eyalluvitt]

Suppose it was either him or Nunes and he isn’t either.

The new lad would have been a gamble I think. I would have preferred we signed one ready made experienced defender than two with potential but hopefully they will come good. We desperately need a right back next season and at least 2 more midfielders with pace.

Crazy we had a month and 200M to buy a right back and two midfielders with legs.

 

[clarion]

Isn’t that the case most seasons?

This year was the latest. The team gathered a week before Com.Shiel.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

For me it‘s fitness level as big part of poor run.
Pep gave the players extra time in the summer. They arrived late and didn’t have proper pre-season. You can see how hard their legs are after 40mins. Especially in the second half.

Its because our panel isn't big enough.
I am excluding the likes of McAtee and OReilly from the panel size as Pep will not play them.
An ageing, injury prone and small panel cannot compete at the top level, especially over so many competitions.

 

[ali benarbia's studs]

Goalies and full backs have let us down this season. Can't get away with 1 defensive midfielder either

 

[calumdown]

We’re in need of developing our dark arts skills.

As soon as we scored the pen we should’ve been time wasting and rolling around on the deck clutching our faces from any contact

no thanks.
not for me, that way of playing.

 

[Gabriel]

We have bought the new players and we have 1-2 young players from the academy. Now we have to play them and develop them. Pep has been trying to eke out KDB and Gundogan but we need to pack that in.

John Stones is a massive plus for us because he is a Rodri substitute imo. He might work where Gundogan failed.

I think Stones has to start with Nico this weekend, for as long as Stones can last, but then someone has to work with Nico to see out the final chapter; my preference would be Bernardo.

 

[Gabriel]

Goalies and full backs have let us down this season. Can't get away with 1 defensive midfielder either

They've all been below par. Haaland and Gvardiol have been comparatively solid, but even then I doubt either would admit to having been happy with every performance.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

We have bought the new players and we have 1-2 young players from the academy. Now we have to play them and develop them. Pep has been trying to eke out KDB and Gundogan but we need to pack that in.

John Stones is a massive plus for us because he is a Rodri substitute imo. He might work where Gundogan failed.

A lot will depend upon him being able to stay fit though.

 

[kippaxchris]

It's easy to answer.

Ederson plays regular.
Gundogan is still being forced in.
Nunes plays right back.
Lewis plays.

 

[oldius]

Any defeat seems to cause a complete collapse in the mentality of many on the forum. Sure, you are emotionally invested in the team, but we are half-way through a two-legged match, and just one goal adrift. This after in-game injuries to Jack Grealish and to Manuel Akanji, and the unfortunate situation with Gonzalez who could be seen wincing in training. Every time we drop points or lose a game, questions are thrown at the board, and players scapegoated. I find it entitled and embarrassing.

It is very obvious where we are, and if we have a couple of seasons off after a decade of unbroken success, it's more than the vast majority of football fans in the country could ever hope for. We, meanwhile, have already begun to invest in the next generation, so hope springs for the end of this season and on to the next. If Pep doesn't make perfect decisions, and if he no longer seems like the greatest manager in the history of the game, right at this moment, were you not entertained?

As for why we keep making mistakes, it's because we are under pressure. We are the greatest team in English history (arguably) and our perch is wobbling. It is a precarious position and the world is watching. We have been without our leaders, in Dias and Rodders, and others who have been injured or ill for much of the year, and that has created vulnerability, both in our minds and in the opportunity that it gives to lesser foes to have a right good go where they may have capitulated in days of yore.

I'm confident we will get back there and I am going to try to enjoy the journey even through the turbulence.

 

[Nevizade]

Mistake after mistake after mistake is a consequence of giving up control of football matches, imo, which is the bigger problem.

For years we've had a side which didn't always win but, particularly at home, penned opposition sides in for 95 minutes. Created chances, tested their goalkeeper, corner after corner etc.

This season has seen that element of control completely disappear and with it comes more pressure on our defence than we've watched for the last decade. Mistakes are following in turn.

Completely agree on the control point. The stats for the number of shots we concede are frightening compared to previous seasons.

 

[super_city_si]

Tired legs and minds.

We'll be back next season.

Depends who he takes to the stupid club world cup.

 

[blueparrot]

Of course the big question is, do all the early leavers wonder what all the fuss is about and do they think we are top of the league ?:)

 

[blueparrot]

Depends who he takes to the stupid club world cup.

Not too worried about that really it will replace the pre season games and hopefully we'll use it as that to integrate the new players.

 

[super_city_si]

Not too worried about that really it will replace the pre season games and hopefully we'll use it as that to integrate the new players.

It wont though, its in June. Just like another Euros or World cup. Completely fucks up rest and prep for the new season. Whilst all the other teams bar Chelsea get to recover, we`re playing through.

Its ideal for Rodri and the new players which is how I hope we approach it. Give Dias, Ake, KDB, Foden, Bernardo, Haaland, Gvardiol, Stones the total summer off.

 

[Nevizade]

It wont though, its in June. Just like another Euros or World cup. Completely fucks up rest and prep for the new season. Whilst all the other teams bar Chelsea get to recover, we`re playing through.

Its ideal for Rodri and the new players which is how I hope we approach it. Give Dias, Ake, KDB, Foden, Bernardo, Haaland, Gvardiol, Stones the total summer off.

Don't think we will unfortunately. The prize money at stake means that the club will want us to go deep in the competition, especially now we're probably going out of the Champions League.