Al Hilal (N) | CWC | Post Match Thread

Two problems with that: (1) We have other MF he could have used in rotation; (2) We've all seen the Bernie-Gundo kiss of death MF over and over and over again. How many times this past season did you see the starting lineup, see that pairing and know how the game was going to go. Most of the times we paired the two of them, it looked a lot like last night.

Of course Pep has to rotate, but in doing that, he can't put out lineups that are so flawed that it creates an obvious, sizable weakness. And yet he does it over and over again, and with the same two culprits. At times, it seems like Pep would rather lose with his guys than chance winning with the guys that aren't his. It's maddening from a guy who is the best manager of most of our lifetimes.
Pep has played a blinder putting gundog and Bernardo in midfield.

He knew with that the team would be going home and getting a good rest before the season starts.

Just saying....:)
 
We conceded four goals. Against Al-Hilal. That isn't going in the right direction. All of them were poor goals to concede. Even when playing badly last season, we usually dominated the stats. We lost 4-0 at home to Spurs and had 30 shots to their 6. However, the failings are there for all to see and they are exactly the same failings.

We gave up 17 shots from Al Hilal with 6 on target. That is a massive amount and shows that we are not defending at all. However, we had the exact same problem last season. Bournemouth, Brighton, United, Madrid, Juventus, PSV, Wolves, and probably even more games where we gave up double figures of shots. These are teams that I wouldn’t consider more offensively orientated than us. The problem is our defenders seemingly forgetting to do their jobs. I don’t believe it is simply a tactical change or teams figuring it out.
 
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I did not see it but apparently the Chairman had a face like a dying wasp after the game. Pep may find out rather quickly how little loyalty is shown in the modern monied football world if this view which has emerged that he favours the old gaurd is true.

There's been no evidence of the City Board having a ruthless side since Pep arrived.. Obviously, they've not needed to show one!

That said, I honestly suspect that they're not football people, and that they will not have any idea just how to progress when Pep does leave.

He's got far too much power at the club. In fact, I suspect that a lot of people (including many long-term City fans on here) see him as being bigger than the club.

The Board (and his fans) would probably stay loyal to him even if we got relegated next season.

I already feel sorry for his successor.
 
Is the real reason for our defeat that we simply are unable to convert good chances into goals?
By all means criticize our defence for the 4 goals conceded but Haaland included what excuse have our shot takers for missing chance after chance.
My potential excuse for this would be that usually our chances come quickly, in a crowded box. Less time to set yourself and less of the goal to aim it makes it simultaneously harder to finish well and easier for the keeper to read.

By contrast quite often the opponents opportunities come on the break and they basically have the whole goal to aim at and time to pick their spot.
 
Just saw the result an hour ago. Wow. 6 shots on target and 4 goals. Fuck me. Imagine my surprise when I saw that stat !

Oh well. It is what it is. Depressing to see though after all our new signings. Same old same old shit at the back I guess. Why the fuck has that never been addressed ?
 
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I don’t expect us to walk anything. I do expect that we beat a team who isn’t even top of the Saudi Arabian league however. It’s an embarrassing result coming on the back of the Juve game when we showed what we’re capable of. I hope the players are hurting after that I really do. I can’t articulate how gutted I am waking up in Florida feeling this low. It’s not just the fact we’re out, it’s the fact we’ve gone out in embarrassing fashion that pains me.
Have you thought about visiting one of the theme parks to cheer yourself up?
 
My potential excuse for this would be that usually our chances come quickly, in a crowded box. Less time to set yourself and less of the goal to aim it makes it simultaneously harder to finish well and easier for the keeper to read.

By contrast quite often the opponents opportunities come on the break and they basically have the whole goal to aim at and time to pick their spot.

This is why Ederson doesn't make the saves opposition keepers do aswell, pretty every chance the opposition gets is a very good one.
 
There's been no evidence of the City Board having a ruthless side since Pep arrived.. Obviously, they've not needed to show one!

That said, I honestly suspect that they're not football people, and that they will not have any idea just how to progress when Pep does leave.

He's got far too much power at the club. In fact, I suspect that a lot of people (including many long-term City fans on here) see him as being bigger than the club.

The Board (and his fans) would probably stay loyal to him even if we got relegated next season.

I already feel sorry for his successor.
'That said, I honestly suspect that they're not football people, and that they will not have any idea just how to progress when Pep does leave'

To think that the board, who have taken City to unprecedented success on the field and from an almost bankrupt club to either second or third highest earning clubs in the world, won't know how to progress when Pep leaves shows disregard for their meticulous running of City.
Unless of course you have posted in the wrong thread, the joke thread is that way>>> ;-)
 
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Just saw the result an hour ago. Wow. 6 shots on target and 4 goals. Fuck me. Imagine my surprise when I saw that stat !

Oh well. It is what it is. Depressing to see though after all our new signings. Same old same old shit at the back I guess. Why the fuck has that never been addressed ?

Giving up 17 shots with 6 on target is a lot. In our prime teams would get lucky to have 5 shots in total against us. However, we can’t defend.
 
Just saw the result an hour ago. Wow. 6 shots on target and 4 goals. Fuck me. Imagine my surprise when I saw that stat !

Oh well. It is what it is. Depressing to see though after all our new signings. Same old same old shit at the back I guess. Why the fuck has that never been addressed ?

the other teams create chances to score ? City keeps the ball and has 50 touches to keep before we shoot or look to create something or lose it, All it takes from the other teams is one pass then 1 or 2 touches and City's defence opens up and Goal
 

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