Al Hilal (N) | CWC | Post Match Thread

[Luke The Blue]

Absolutely knackered and still annoyed at that performance last night. Just glad I didn't behave like a rag fan and claim "we are back". Would of looked a bit of a fool now haha.

Pros
. Foden
. Doku
. Bernardo (Don't think he deserved the stick he was getting) (Also some great corners)

Cons
. Savinho
. Dias
. Ederson
. Haaland (Should of had at least 3)
. Shambles high line
. Pep stubborn Subs

I know people see it as just a friendly but would of loved to try and win that. The disappointing thing was at times it was just like watching us last season. I really hope Pep stops playing Dias and Savinho until they prove they can do it more consistent.

Haaland is a tricky situation cos he always seems to score but also wastes alot of great opportunities. I would think about dropping him for Marmoush if he doesn't improve.

Hopefully it was just a one off and we come back stronger.

 

[DMA's]

It's funny how football changes people's opinions.

One week we look like world beaters then next week we are crap and are no where near challenging for the title or anything

People have the right to be annoyed with the result but goodness me

It’s pretty simple to me. We played two absolutely terrible sides and then we played an average side who for some reason went man to man and left us a lot of space to exploit. Even last season when teams would go man to man with us we would usually win comfortably and look very impressive (Newcastle at home a great example)

Last night we had a team sit in a deep block and counter with pace. We have struggled with this for a long long time now. We once again looked very vulnerable. It’s clear the same issues that plagued us last season are still staring us in the face.

I didn’t get too excited by the first 3 games as there was still times these 3 poor sides got in and hurt us. First time we play a fairly good (being kind) level of opposition we came unstuck.

I don’t know what the answer is. For a long time we had Walker who would single handily stop counter attacks. Since he has fallen off a cliff form wise we have looked very open defensively.

I foresee a very up and down season next year and a probable 3rd place finish once again

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

Every single game that really mattered since 2024 FA cup final has been debacle.

I was giving them a bit of leeway in the PL as after the initial half of the season our stats have been pretty good.

 

[Lee the Blue]

So glad I got up at 2am to watch that shambles. A few points to make after watching us conceded 4 goals to Al Hilal - when you do that you simply dont deserve to win

- I thought we'd realised fielding old men in central midfield doesnt work? Yet here we were again with Bernardo and Gundo deployed centrally and we waited until we were 2-1 down before making a change. STOP WITH THE OLD MAN MIDFIELD FFS

- Nunes isnt up to it, never has been and never will be. Pep had to withdraw him last night before he may have got himself sent off. Akanji comes on and though solid defensively he offers nothing in the oppositions half of the field, so this greatly reduces our effect as an attacking force. Priority 1 and 1A has to be to find a right back who fits Peps system and is up to the standard

- The goalkeeper; does he ever make a save these days? The "ole" wave at the 3rd goal as though diving is beneath him was annoying. The opposition keeper makes umpteen saves - every shot at our goal goes in. Ederson is injured too often these days and seems to be a man running his contract down to bugger off for high wages next summer. I cant be the only one who thinks we need a better keeper?

- 3 Centre halves on the pitch and we cant defend a crossed ball, for either the 3rd or 4th goal. Garbage

- Standard stuff from Savinho and to a lesser extent Doku - who was double marked most of the night. After great games they dont affect another one the same way for weeks. Their next games like the one vs Juve will be in November on what theyve shown so far

- No idea why Nico Gonzalez isnt seeing the field much at all and seems the final option in midfield. Always looks half decent to me when he plays but Pep clearly doesnt rate the lad at all. Khusanov too appears to have dropped into this envelope - the lad looked really promising but has since disappeared and Nunes, Rico,Ake and Akanji are clearly preferred to him - Im not sure why?

- Plus point is we should give them all the squad the month of July off to recharge, rest and clear their heads. Hopefully in that time we can use it to locate and acquire a right back and hopefully a goalkeeper who can make the odd save and looks like he wants to be here. Also time to remove all the dead wood in the squad - 8/9 need to go elsehwere, at a guess Ortega, Nunes, Stones (cant stay fit), McAtee, Reis (loan), Echeverri (loan), Grealish, Phillips, Walker for starters.

 

[SamBlue]

It would certainly help having someone quick for all the counters we’ll face defending that high

It wasn't lack of speed that led to their first, more like our CB (Gvardiol) had been introduced to his LB at half time. When he was subbed he looked like he was thinking that was still that Sporting game.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

I understand why everyone loves Ederson but if City continue to lose the ball so cheaply and be so exposed to counter attacks then we need him to contribute defensively.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

It's funny how football changes people's opinions.

One week we look like world beaters then next week we are crap and are no where near challenging for the title or anything

People have the right to be annoyed with the result but goodness me

For the record - my opinion about City hasn't changed at all.

We're nowhere near as good as PSG. Mostly because our press isn't as good and our CB's have no pace.

Both our system and PSG's play a very high line and rely on defensive pressure to mostly cut off chances for the opposition. Sometimes this press fails - and a long ball is played over the top.

And in this respect - in particular - there's night-and-day between us and PSG. PSG have pacy defenders who can cope with long balls - and they're pacy, almost always able to win a foot race.

We're a very good side - top 5 or so in the world. But we're unacceptably week at a long ball played over the top of our defensive line.

Still... the rebuild is ongoing. Our most recent loss only highlights the need for further changes.

 

[madloaf]

Juventus looked like maybe we'd worked stuff out. This was proof that old habits die hard.

The slower we play, the worse we are defensively as the whole of the play and 19-20 players are squeezed into our attacking third, the moment we lose the ball there's so much space to attack. If, as many of us would like, we attacked quicker, leaving no time for Akanji, Dias etc to squeeze forward, we'd be in a better position to defend - one, because their not so high up the pitch and 2, because the opposition players are running towards their own goal.

Or, we can, as we have done since we lost to Real Madrid in 2024, continue to play as we have, and will likely have the same results - which is win more than we lose, but probably don't take home any trophies.

 

[Craig]

It wasn't lack of speed that led to their first, more like our CB (Gvardiol) had been introduced to his LB at half time. When he was subbed he looked like he was thinking that was still that Sporting game.

Might not have led to the goals but it was a glaring weakness throughout the game. Will continue to be as we’ll persist with the high line, have slow centre backs and basically a left winger playing fullback.

 

[SheeshKebab]

Had a tired panic last night when I set an alarm to watch it and watched that dross. Got a few points on it but I do think most of European teams haven't took it as serious as other teams. When your whole heart isn't in it, and the other teams is, sometimes they deserve it so fair play.

But, glaring issues again I'd like to point out:

Nunes - Wasn't really at fault for any of the goals but he really isn't our level. We need a new right back and I think and hope we're pulling the trigger on Livramento.

Ederson - Fantastic with his feet. Best in the world at that in my opinion but his goalkeeping ability has dropped off a cliff. He can't make simple saves anymore and his positioning for their second was woeful. I'm worried it looks like he's staying now. The difference between him and Bono was crazy.

Dias - Teams who play on the counter, his pace isn't close to good enough. I don't want to get rid because I rate him but I think last night cried out for a Khusanov with his pace to stop them getting in behind.

All in all. Kinda glad we're out for the extra rest we should get now but would have been nice to win it for the inaugural one. That press we had against Juventus dropped off after the 15th minute or so, might be good we recharged and went for it from August/Late July because with how aggressive we're looking when we're taking it serious is scary.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

It’s pretty simple to me. We played two absolutely terrible sides and then we played a huge side for some reason went man to man and left us a lot of space to exploit. Even last season when teams would go man to man with us we would usually win comfortably and look very impressive (Newcastle at home a great example)

Last night we had a team sit in a deep block and counter with pace. We have struggled with this for a long long time now. We once again looked very vulnerable. It’s clear the same issues that plagued us last season are still staring us in the face.

I didn’t get too excited by the first 3 games as there was still times these 3 poor sides got in and hurt us. First time we play a fairly good (being kind) level of opposition we came unstuck.

I don’t know what the answer is. For a long time we had Walker who would single handily stop counter attacks. Since he has fallen off a cliff form wise we have looked very open defensively.

I foresee a very up and down season next year and a probable 3rd place finish once again

Yeah same here. I never really thought we would hit the ground running though and storm the PL from day one.

From what iv seen though we have some exciting new players, a new system, so much more desire. So I am expecting us to get more solid as they play more together during the season.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

It’s pretty simple to me. We played two absolutely terrible sides and then we played a huge side for some reason went man to man and left us a lot of space to exploit. Even last season when teams would go man to man with us we would usually win comfortably and look very impressive (Newcastle at home a great example)

Last night we had a team sit in a deep block and counter with pace. We have struggled with this for a long long time now. We once again looked very vulnerable. It’s clear the same issues that plagued us last season are still staring us in the face.

I didn’t get too excited by the first 3 games as there was still times these 3 poor sides got in and hurt us. First time we play a fairly good (being kind) level of opposition we came unstuck.

I don’t know what the answer is. For a long time we had Walker who would single handily stop counter attacks. Since he has fallen off a cliff form wise we have looked very open defensively.

I foresee a very up and down season next year and a probable 3rd place finish once again

I agree with your points - but I'm much more optimistic about our season.

Khusanov has pace to burn - and I think should start (not sure about his overall defensive capabilities but he's young and could grow into the role).

And we might well make more transfers before the start of next season.

I think we'll finish 2nd in the P/L even if we make no more changes - and we'll do well in the C/L - but due to lack of pace in our CB's won't win the tournament.

 

[youngbob]

Friendlies, pre-season, before the proper football starts lol. Let’s pretend it was meaningless and we didn’t want to win it shall we

I have been consistent on this tournament since the beginning, when we were winning games and looking good.

I don't really have any expectations for the CWC. I'd rather we treated it like a pre-season tour, which we seem to be doing thus far.

But if it's Madrid and we lose then we come home earlier than planned and the lads get a proper rest.

Match Thread | Juventus vs. Manchester City (CWC) 26/06/25

Akanji…. If were trimming the squad I’d start there Can’t believe he’s still here tbh, just making up the numbers

forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk

Yeah we're playing in a game that's far less important.

 

[Tomblue]

The owners will look on this very dimly in my view.

You have to say there is massive pressure on Pep getting a good start in the prem and champions league now.

 

[David White]

Not arsed that we’re out, shouldn’t even be a tournament anyway. There’s enough football through the season and now they should get a break.

Hopefully Pep has learned a few things but I’m not convinced much will change from last season. We’ll be a bit better going forward but shambolic at the back. What has Khusanov done wrong?

 

[willipp]

Yeah same here. I never really thought we would hit the ground running though and storm the PL from day one.

From what iv seen though we have some exciting new players, a new system, so much more desire. So I am expecting us to get more solid as they play more together during the season.

There's definitely some promising signs from these few games, but it takes time and the CWC gives us a head start on that. Was never going to be a simple transition with so many new players, but also so many old plays who are clearly going to struggle.

 

[M Gaudino]

I understand why everyone loves Ederson but if City continue to lose the ball so cheaply and be so exposed to counter attacks then we need him to contribute defensively.

personally i have been saying for 2 years hes a very average keeper especially at saving the ball and he looks heavy. his keep attribute is not even something we utilise anymore as no teams press us in our own box. his long kicking creates a goal once in a blue moon as well and arguably its just a long ball punt which most keepers can have a crack at.

eventually when the stats remain the same game after game (we have lots of shots the opposition have very few and we concede) the conclusion you must draw is that the teams we are playing against generally have a guy in net who keeps the ball out more

 

[Matt Diablo]

Look Pep was moaning about it this week " going to destroy our season"

Akanji moaning before tournament that players don't want to do it etc

Well we are out now. 2 more weeks holiday. Stop fukin moaning then say how gutted we are when we get knocked out early. Its what you all fukin wanted so get on with it. "Yank" your heads out of your asses and give a better account of yourself next season or simply fuk off . . .

 

[Dazzle84]

Shite to go out like that with old failings exposed again. They won't go away overnight though - we might have refreshed the coaching team but there will be a while until that fully takes effect. Switching tactics against a low block would be a help - if we're 1-0 up we should surely be drawing them out to get in behind

It won't work on some of the players and I think there's a discussion to be had about Dias. Shadow of the player he was at a young age, that's not a good sign. I wouldn't lose any sleep if he left.

 

[dronefromsector7G]

Decided not to stay up for that. Just watched it back now, fucking shocking defeat. How do lose a match after having 30 shots, 14 on target? Looks like the same old issues are still there.