Al Hilal (N) | CWC | Post Match Thread

I actually think this might be a good thing. I think we’ve played too many games and the players are at risk of more injuries
I agree. Played enough, seen good things from new players. Pocketed a fortune. Phil and Rodders back. But equally had a stark reminder that things are not sorted at the back. Which is timely. Better now than six games into new season. And can have a needed break and refresh. Tbh whilst last night was a bit embarrassing I was not really fussed about winning this tournament. A nice to have at most and it is a very odd construct.
Ps anyone else getting a bit tired of Captain Bernie doing his we must work and try harder piece post these sorts of results?
 
While the defeat is disappointing, it’s important to focus on the positives and lessons learned.More Rest for Premier League.Reveals Areas for Improvement especially defensive solidity.Avoids Complacency a false sense of being "complete" can be dangerous.The best teams use setbacks as fuel. If the squad and management take the right lessons, this could end up being a turning point. Onwards and upwards!
 
We reverted back to last season, running out of ideas and Akanji/Dias just hitting hopeless balls in to the box when we had Marmoush/Foden/Cherki on the bench. I don’t get it. We also learnt nothing about Khusanov and Nico. Viana must be tearing his hair out.
 
we are laughably bad in the air. every goal kick is so easily controlled by the opponent no matter who's their center forward. at one point gvardiol got bodied so hard he literally just gave up and started running back, preparing for the inevitable counter.
I keep on saying this, Our defenders are absolute fannies every single one of them apart from Khusanov who can't get a kick.

All of them constantly can't win a header from a goal kick or a set piece, They can't win a duel and they always get well beaten in a race against the opponent.

At least Khusanov has a set if bollocks and loves the physicality, The lad is aggressive in duels absolutely no nonsense defender.
 
Having watched some of the highlights, it’s very clear that the problems from last year still remain.

We play a ridiculously high line without having any exceptionally quick defenders (Khusanov the possible exception but he’s not exactly prime Walker) to counter the counter and as a result most teams can fashion at least two or three clear cut goal scoring opportunities against us.

I can’t remember when I was last confident we’d keep a clean sheet - and that includes so-called ‘easy’ games.
 
While the defeat is disappointing, it’s important to focus on the positives and lessons learned.More Rest for Premier League.Reveals Areas for Improvement especially defensive solidity.Avoids Complacency a false sense of being "complete" can be dangerous.The best teams use setbacks as fuel. If the squad and management take the right lessons, this could end up being a turning point. Onwards and upwards!
Agreed. I said last night it was a blessing in disguise. I still think so. A months rest is the best thing for the management and squad.
 
Not read the thread just seen the highlights on the website. One question, why can’t (City) goalkeepers catch / hold a shot any more ?
 
Was hoping to avoid all mentions of result and watch full match this evening. Do a “Likely Lads”. All going great then, like an absolute tit, instead of clicking on Wordle I hit Bluemoon main forum and noticed the post-match thread was already past 50 pages (100 in old school money). Either some ****’s been killed by lightning; or we’ve lost. Well there ain’t no thunder.
Fucking hell. What a shit result. And what a tit I am. “City F……”
 
Not read the thread just seen the highlights on the website. One question, why can’t (City) goalkeepers catch / hold a shot any more ?
Another strange one, this. They claim that the balls move so much these days, but then they often opt to punch, which has a narrower margin for error than catching the thing!
One day Gordon Banks MK2 will come along and everybody else will have to start catching the ball again.
 
Ok Lets talk about Haaland ? Where has the power gone? And where has the hunger gone

Looks so unfit and carrying an injury, spent most of the game bent over with his hands on his knees
If he is not fully fit, then why play him, strange thing was before the Juve Game in the tunnel, the other players were trying to pump him up and pointing and saying you have to do this or that, giving him orders ??

The problem is maybe he's had enough of just making runs after runs and not getting the ball ? Haaland wants to be involved and use his skills and not just be feeding off drips,

A striker not getting the ball in them danger zones and using his skills is pointless, Also not knowing when the pass is coming or a cross must drive him crazy,
 
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 ?
One of those 6 shots was saved by Ederson, but they scored from the rebound. If it had gone in directly the stat would be 4 goals from 5 shots. That's Claudio Bravo quality that is.
 
Having watched some of the highlights, it’s very clear that the problems from last year still remain.

We play a ridiculously high line without having any exceptionally quick defenders (Khusanov the possible exception but he’s not exactly prime Walker) to counter the counter and as a result most teams can fashion at least two or three clear cut goal scoring opportunities against us.

I can’t remember when I was last confident we’d keep a clean sheet - and that includes so-called ‘easy’ games.
But it’s the conversion rate from those ‘on the break’ chances for our opponents, compared to our conversion rate from the many, many chances we create at close quarters to their goal, that to my eyes seems to be the bigger issue. For example in this game should have scored probably 3, certainly 2, by half time.
 
Pep really needs to stop playing the old guard. Iv no idea why he is stopping our transition. The same problems last season all came back against a good team who counter quickly and can defend the low block. I know we scored some good goals and the link up play in the first half was great but and it’s a big but, we didn’t take our chances and we can’t manage a lead.

Should have shut down al hilal and controlled the game far better than we did.

Honestly sick of watching us get ripped apart by 1 ball over the top. It’s getting tedious now and we seemingly don’t know how to solve this problem.

IMO very much one step forward and five back. We won’t be winning anything defending like that every match.
That’s where the director of football needs to be stepping in. He bought good players in January, we’ve only seen one of those players now and again. Need a pacey centre half, nah leave him on the bench. The management team need to be asking serious questions, and I am talking Senior Management. £400 million spent since January, and yesterday we looked no better than last season. You cannot drop that sort of money and see no improvement!!!
 
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Was hoping to avoid all mentions of result and watch full match this evening. Do a “Likely Lads”. All going great then, like an absolute tit, instead of clicking on Wordle I hit Bluemoon main forum and noticed the post-match thread was already past 50 pages (100 in old school money). Either some ****’s been killed by lightning; or we’ve lost. Well there ain’t no thunder.
Fucking hell. What a shit result. And what a tit I am. “City F……”
Did the same this morning

Turned tv on to watch the recording.

SSN headlines on the hour as they do, glimpsed Pep doing his post match.

Had a feeling we had lost because if we had won, it would not have been a headline.

Actually gutted and was so looking forward to Friday night and the next game!
 
Ok Lets talk about Haaland ? Where has the power gone? And where has the hunger gone

Looks so unfit and carrying an injury, spent most of the game bent over with his hands on his knees
If he is not fully fit, then why play him, strange thing was before the Juve Game in the tunnel, the other players were trying to pump him up and pointing and saying you have to do this or that, giving him orders ??

The problem is maybe he's had enough of just making runs after runs and not getting the ball ? Haaland wants to be involved and use his skills and not just be feeding off drips,

A striker not getting the ball in them danger zones and using his skills is pointless, Also not knowing when the pass is coming or a cross must drive him crazy,
Should've buried that chance to win it!

The goal line one.
 

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