I think it’s fair to say we won’t be challenging for the title next season. It’s unrealistic to suggest we will improve so dramatically from last season.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 to. We played a tough match at the end of a tough season with a team that still needs a lot more time to get used to the new signings, in ridiculous heat and humidity against a very good side who play in that sort of heat week in week out.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
Whether they have earned it or not.:)Shame we miss out on some prize money but at least the lads can get a decent break now
I agree.Not a popular opinion but as long dias is the main centre back city will always struggle defence wise
Agree somewhat on most of the rest but Akanji wasnt solid he was poor gave him man too much space needs to goAkanji comes on and though solid defensively
Think I used that line for about 35 years.A defensive disaster class
But could turn out to be a blessing in disguise
Some good stuff in there. Not sure about the squad being given July off though, although I agree with your sentiment. That would leave us with 2 weeks to prepare for the PL with new arrivals, fitness, tactics to implement.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.
Why is it fair to say we won't be challenging for the title? Because we narrowly lost one match against a side who are used to playing in conditions like that every week? You're basing our title challenge on that? Perhaps we'd better have a total clearout then and start again.I think it’s fair to say we won’t be challenging for the title next season. It’s unrealistic to suggest we will improve so dramatically from last season.
Alongside being beaten by Al Hilal it doesn’t point towards anything but a season of transition.
I think this is nonsense.I think it’s fair to say we won’t be challenging for the title next season. It’s unrealistic to suggest we will improve so dramatically from last season.
Alongside being beaten by Al Hilal it doesn’t point towards anything but a season of transition.
I don't think the money men upstairs will agree with your comment.I haven't been watching much, if any, of this tournament. It was a meaningless "competition" that added unnecessary games to the end of a long season and hope we never get invited back.
The only good thing about this tournament is that we've exploited FIFA's desperation by banking about £50m from beating two very poor teams and brushing aside a very average Juve side.I don't think the money men upstairs will agree with your comment.
One shot of Khaldoun after their 4th goal said it all. He was definitely taking this tournament seriously and so were the club. Let's not pretend it was meaningless just because we're out.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.