Al Hilal (N) | CWC | Post Match Thread

[jollylescott]

I must admit I was arrogant enough to think the final was in the bags. I think I will lower my expectations next time, the club has not played elite level for 2 years now and it's obvious more has to be done.

I think some of the players were also over confident. Pep also shuffled the team and I honestly think there was an element of Pep believing whatever eleven he put out there would produce the goods.

Having said that it’s probably a positive that our continued defensive fragility has come to light now. I thought Khoulibaly was excellent for them and showed real toughness in defence, something we are lacking.

Our lack of speed in defence was also exposed. With our high line it becomes a foot race, and our defenders just lack speed (other than Khusanov).

At least Pep has 6 weeks to sort these matters out.

 

[CityDE]

Phil and Cherki will give us a lot of joy next season and I'm excited to see more of Doku and Ait Nouri together.
If it's not Nunes it needs to be Khusanov at RB. Never Akanji. He's absolutely clueless every time Savinho plays the ball back to him.

 

[melrose40yarder]

Cant understand how Gonzalez,Kushnov and Reiss cant get any game time.Dias and Akanji time is up.

 

[jim tolmies perm]

Well I wasn’t expecting that result !

I just woke up and I'm in total shock...this is pretty humiliating...

 

[Silvatoure21]

What about Pep's role in the loss to Al Hilal? He must be considered the main reason for our defeat due to his poor selections and his preference for some expired players.

We are going to score goals this season. But the fact that this is going on two years of getting exposed on the counter consistently is astounding. We masked it two years ago enough to win a title. But last year and still now we are seeing the defense exposed in a pace vs plod scenario. If we are going to play akanji and Dias and ake and stones for the 5 games he’s healthy, we can’t play a high line.

 

[adrianr]

Are we not back then?

 

[BolinCell]

Are we not back then?

Yeah were back. Back to last seasons defending.

 

[i kne albert davy]

Are we not back then?

Think we will be tomorrow.

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

How did Savhino stay on that pitch the guy is useless only good thing he does I wave his arms at the crowd

 

[MCFC ISRAEL]

Think it’s to do with he can’t speak English and he always has backed his experience players and always will! Start of the season be Akanji Dias and silva starting the season but least our midfield will be Rodri and Rjenders in front of them

I saw an interview this week with Savinho who says that he doesn't speak English yet and he played 120 minutes today. The language thing is nonsense in my opinion, how many common words in defense does he need to learn? He doesn't need to be a professor of literary English, just a few words and he's been with us for six months.

 

[cookster]

Are we not back then?

Yes, back to 2024/25 City.

 

[cookster]

How did Savhino stay on that pitch the guy is useless only good thing he does I wave his arms at the crowd

I was saying the same all last season.

 

[waspish]

I saw an interview this week with Savinho who says that he doesn't speak English yet and he played 120 minutes today. The language thing is nonsense in my opinion, how many common words in defense does he need to learn? He doesn't need to be a professor of literary English, just a few words and he's been with us for six months.

When you know pep as we know him now Dias Gvardiol will be our main centre backs all season unless injured! Khosovnov will get cup games and that’s it Gonzales be on bench all season silva will start every game Rodri and Rjenders too!

 

[urban genie]

The term "Uncs" should be banned from the forum.

and whoever made the term up, probably used by the same sadsacs that called mahrez ffs and post that stupid god wills it gif


and also ban anyone caling Reijinders (pronounced rine-ders not reindeers) rudolph

 

[baggy]

Only seen the highlights but ederson looked like prime onana.

 

[urban genie]

Most clubs could say the same.
'Remember that time we lost a game we thought we'd win?'

Typical city is a lot more than losing a game in fact many typical city moments happen off the pitch away from the game.

 

[remember arthur mann]

Complacency from Pep.
If we 'd started with Cherki & Foden we would have won easily but trying to rest them has completely backfired.

Like I said last night, it's now up to Pep. Meaning, which team he picks.

 

[Bluekiwi]

What was the thinking of taking two defenders off at the 53 minute mark? Were they the worst of the back four? mUen claims the defending suffered when Nunes was replaced. And Dias scored the lowest mark !!!!!!

 

[hateutd]

And just like that.......

..hallo darkness my old friend.....

 

[Apex82]

What was the thinking of taking two defenders off at the 53 minute mark? Were they the worst of the back four? mUen claims the defending suffered when Nunes was replaced. And Dias scored the lowest mark !!!!!!

Think it was because they were both on yellows and unable to defend aggressively enough due to it