Past it and underperforming definitely. Not good enough is a topic for subjective debate. I've read a fair few comments on different threads with players labelled "not good enough". Personal opinion rules that one I think.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Mistake, After Mistake, After mistake! Why Can't We See Games Out?
- Thread starter jrb
- Start date
SomeMightSay
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 17 Oct 2020
- Messages
- 171
- Team supported
- Manchester City
So because of our glorious past, are we (or is Pep) above implementing tactics that will help our now ‘vulnerable’ players see the games out?
I remember Barry McGuigan saying that it wasn't winning the world title that was his biggest challenge, it was keeping hold of it, and the thought of losing it that worried him. When you are there to be shot at, as we are, every blunder feels like the world falling in. I'm sure we will rise again, but there will be rocky moments. The return of Rodri and Dias is pivotal, IMO, especially as the new and very young players begin to develop.
WestGorton
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 21 Jan 2010
- Messages
- 13,025
At 2 all have what you hold and boot it forward. It's injury time. It's then half time in two legs. Need more pragmatic play if we are leading or in a good position late on.
Madrid had settled for two all. They brought Mbappe off to waste seconds.At 2 all have what you hold and boot it forward. It's injury time. It's then half time in two legs. Need more pragmatic play if we are leading or in a good position late on.
Losing is not fine, and everyone is gutted, but believing you have the divine right to win year after year is folly. Recognising your weaknesses is a strength and we are, whether we like it or not, physically and mentally vulnerable after a decade of strength. It is where we are, but we are still in this tie, and we are already in the rebuilding process, accelerated after the worst injury run for a decade.
You're right it's not fine
No Manchester City fans who have been here since the day dot think about having a divine right to win
But I get the feeling from Pep and the rest of the players that they think the reason is burnout and injuries and we have to all take it this season, Manchester City has never been in this situation when we have dominated football in England for 10 years, maybe this is why the fuck up in the transfer window in the summer happened.
Nobody knows what the future holds, But in City case, The verdict on the 115 holds a lot of keys to the doors
Indeed, and we entered the season not expecting the worst injury list for a decade. When we lost Rodri, Dias, and Stones at the same time, we were damn vulnerable, and we are not over that yet.You're right it's not fine
No Manchester City fans who have been here since the day dot think about having a divine right to win
But I get the feeling from Pep and the rest of the players that they think the reason is burnout and injuries and we have to all take it this season, Manchester City has never been in this situation when we have dominated football in England for 10 years, maybe this is why the fuck up in the transfer window in the summer happened.
Nobody knows what the future holds, But in City case, The verdict on the 115 holds a lot of keys to the doors
You can include a chunk of posters on this forum in that last bit as well.
Football does crazy things to people and Manchester City fans (Banana's), But winning silverware and titles brings a whole new fan base, The divide between new and old city fans is crazy
"defeat is fine"
"Defeat is fine"You're right it's not fine
No Manchester City fans who have been here since the day dot think about having a divine right to win
But I get the feeling from Pep and the rest of the players that they think the reason is burnout and injuries and we have to all take it this season, Manchester City has never been in this situation when we have dominated football in England for 10 years, maybe this is why the fuck up in the transfer window in the summer happened.
Nobody knows what the future holds, But in City case, The verdict on the 115 holds a lot of keys to the doors
Maybe the new players have come in a bit late to salvage the champions league but if we integrate Khusanov, Marmoush and Nico into a team that contains Foden, Haaland,Savinho, Doku, Gvardiol plus possibly Rodri we could win the world club thing.
To do that we need to get Eddie's head sorted and make sure Stones, Dias and Ake remain fit.
To do that we need to get Eddie's head sorted and make sure Stones, Dias and Ake remain fit.
I think this season is just everything rolled into one. A whole lot of badness.
Injury crisis, ageing squad and poor recruitment are the biggest factors. Players are mentally shot.
Probably the one guy you don’t want to get an ACL goes down and tbh we were fucked from that moment. Not saying Rodri would solve everything because our issues are beyond that.
Hangovers from the summer of 2023 and doing nothing last summer to improve the squad in a significant way. We’ve let this squad get old, they’ve won everything together. Now they seem very fragile and low on confidence.
The good news is that the club showed intent this January with the four additions. I think that’s indicative of how much work they know there is to do because I could easily another 4/5 come in this summer too.
It sums up our luck that Nico comes in and gets injured straight away. His last injury was March 2023. All our issues on the pitch stem from how bad, old and slow our midfield is. It’s disgraceful they let it get like that.
This whole lot of badness contributes to why we are struggling so badly. Could be a long few months till the summer.
Injury crisis, ageing squad and poor recruitment are the biggest factors. Players are mentally shot.
Probably the one guy you don’t want to get an ACL goes down and tbh we were fucked from that moment. Not saying Rodri would solve everything because our issues are beyond that.
Hangovers from the summer of 2023 and doing nothing last summer to improve the squad in a significant way. We’ve let this squad get old, they’ve won everything together. Now they seem very fragile and low on confidence.
The good news is that the club showed intent this January with the four additions. I think that’s indicative of how much work they know there is to do because I could easily another 4/5 come in this summer too.
It sums up our luck that Nico comes in and gets injured straight away. His last injury was March 2023. All our issues on the pitch stem from how bad, old and slow our midfield is. It’s disgraceful they let it get like that.
This whole lot of badness contributes to why we are struggling so badly. Could be a long few months till the summer.
Father Paul
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 18 Jun 2015
- Messages
- 5,189
If we have any sense we get out of that ridiculous competition at the earliest opportunity. Apparently we are forced to send a full squad but might be best if we treat it as a bit of a holiday for the lads.Maybe the new players have come in a bit late to salvage the champions league but if we integrate Khusanov, Marmoush and Nico into a team that contains Foden, Haaland,Savinho, Doku, Gvardiol plus possibly Rodri we could win the world club thing.
To do that we need to get Eddie's head sorted and make sure Stones, Dias and Ake remain fit.
You're probably right. Maybe use it as our preseason.If we have any sense we get out of that ridiculous competition at the earliest opportunity. Apparently we are forced to send a full squad but might be best if we treat it as a bit of a holiday for the lads.
OntarioBlue
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 12 Jun 2016
- Messages
- 14,031
To be honest I think you flatter the team to say they are a 75 minute team. I have been commenting on here all season that I don’t think the squad is training properly (probably in an effort to avoid more injuries) and seem to run out of steam after 60 minutes. The players are clearly not as fit as they were in previous seasons and probably not as fit as they should be. Add to this that we don’t tackle anymore and somehow seem incapable of finding a teammate with a pass and we have the perfect storm for a shit season.We’re a 75 minute team playing 90 minute games.
Our lack of fitness is a massive issue.
If games lasted 75 minutes, we’d probably be in for quite a few trophies this season. Unfortunately for us, they aren’t. It’d genuinely do us good to go out of the CL and even the FA Cup and just concentrate on getting enough points from our 75 minutes we have in us each week and see if we can get that 5th spot in the league.
I feel sorry for the lads. Some of them only have an hour in them.
We were even hanging on late on against Leyton Orient the other day. Their fitness shone through over ours towards the end.
‘We’re Man City, we fight til the end’ has never been so far away from this team.
I think we just need to write this season off and hopefully do some rebuilding in the close season and come back stronger. The Club World Cup isn’t going to help though.
yerwot?
Well-Known Member
A season too far for many of our core players, unforced errors aren't due to laziness, imo, the pressure not to make errors causes errors, having to train when carrying niggles takes it toll, the older the player the less resilient they are. Football has changed, not sure Pep can, or wants to. Small consolation last night....it could have been a lot worse....
Results have looked better because of the level of opposition we’ve played - wins against 3 teams at the bottom fighting relegation and two lower league teams.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.
We have 8 wins in 24 games and Chelsea and Forrest are the only two sides of any note we’ve managed to beat. We’ve still struggled against any side who set up well and are organised.
All the previous issues remain and we continue to throw away games and concede a huge amount of goals.
I’m sorry but struggling to see how this is any kind of evidence of having our ‘mojo’ back.
Think the club are going to want to be as competitive as possible. It’ll be a pretty big deal for them. Not going to be like a preseason tourYou're probably right. Maybe use it as our preseason.
The big hitters will be playing, just need to make sure we bring new players in over the course of the summer.
I've been thinking along the same lines. Putting the ridiculous mistakes to one side, it's noticeable how many things that made us successful aren't being done to any great degree any more. Pressing, tackling, concentrating, conceding possession in key areas with sloppy passes. I'm sure there's a few more as well. New, energetic players doing Peps thing next season gives me optimism.To be honest I think you flatter the team to say they are a 75 minute team. I have been commenting on here all season that I don’t think the squad is training properly (probably in an effort to avoid more injuries) and seem to run out of steam after 60 minutes. The players are clearly not as fit as they were in previous seasons and probably not as fit as they should be. Add to this that we don’t tackle anymore and somehow seem incapable of finding a teammate with a pass and we have the perfect storm for a shit season.
I think we just need to write this season off and hopefully do some rebuilding in the close season and come back stronger. The Club World Cup isn’t going to help though.
Most are missing large part of the season through injury.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.