Stones played the man onside. He slipped trying to play a man offside who was onside. He caused it all. The slip allows a man free in the box. His man. I dislike Rico but complaining he hasn’t got back to cover stones man is harshI personally thought Dias was atrocious for it. Stones slipped and Lewis did his usual woeful back post defending.
No, that is not a requirement.What can Kelly 'Dipper' Cates possibly have to say that is positive about Pep?
BTW she is divorced so for clarity shouldn't she just revert to her surname Dalglish???
The al hilal gane was the one as pep wouldn’t change and he won’t change this season either . This will continue untill pep calls it a day so we better get used to it .Pressure will be on this season, not sure the board will accept another poor campaign. Worrying signs yesterday
Just rewatched the whole game with cold heart :D
The main issue still was the incompetence of Rico and Trafford.
Trafford's mistake led to goal and had 2-3 errors as well during cameo, even looked at player's expressions and they weren't satisfied with Trafford's performance, panicked a lot.
In Rico's case I think faster fullback could have won that sprint and closed the cross from Richarlison. He also had 2-3 mistakes, like that moment when Bergvail easily passed him, but in overall Rico played better than Trafford, not that many mistakes.
Third player who made maybe more mistakes than Rico was Cherki. Except that cross to Haaland at the end of first half, he was absolutely useless and had too many incorrect passes or decisions for a midfielder.
Fourth player was Bobb, no mistakes but winger has to create some moments right ? yet he couldn't...
Our best players were our experienced players :D Read critics about John, Ruben and Ake but they did their best, no mistakes, Ake maybe isn't as good as Ait-Nouri in attack, but defensively he did well against Kudus, no mistakes.
Nico Gonzalez was decent as well. He isn't Rodri but kid did his best, at least he had no mistakes and won number of 50-50 situations. Pass accuracy as well. Well.. he isn't at that level to dominate in midfield and be a boss like Rodri, but in his age Rodri wasn't as well and therefore I see future for him, double pivot with Rodri and bring that energy, passion.
Bernardo was very bad, especially in midfield when he replaced Cherki.
In overall I think that even though we conceded 2 goals, our defensive players played better than attackers.
In attack we lacked team-play, fluidity, creativity. Marmoush not giving pass to Reijnders when he was in better position, then Reijnders not giving pass to Marmoush when Marmoush was in better position, Cherki stupid mistakes, Haaland missing those chances, Bobb And Doku not able to create moments, etc.
Unlucky as well. That Marmoush moment when Haaland delivered beautiful pass to Marmoush, Haaland missing header, Rodri's corner, these were the chances that could have changed the scenario of the game.
It's still the beginning of the season, I think we will improve, shitty games such as this happen.
Actually, these Spurs games in the beginning of the season, mostly are disaster. Except that away game in 2011/2012 season, when Dzeko scored poker.
Prime Walker was the most important player of Pep's time here. We won nothing before and our decline correlates well with Kyle's legs going.
With him in the team, break aways were snuffed out before they'd even touched the ball in our half. Kyle was always there first, took possession and kept us up the pitch. Now we are constantly exposed with our fullbacks both inverted and nowhere to be seen and the Cbs running back as if they're in a dream.
Not directly replacing that get out of jail card that he constantly was is borderline moronic. Also, not giving a chance to the lad you have warming the bench that could offer that counter resistance is almost as bad.
Would love to hear his thought process behind this. Because imo, we don't get better again under Pep, until this problem is addressed.
Prime Walker was the most important player of Pep's time here. We won nothing before and our decline correlates well with Kyle's legs going.
With him in the team, break aways were snuffed out before they'd even touched the ball in our half. Kyle was always there first, took possession and kept us up the pitch. Now we are constantly exposed with our fullbacks both inverted and nowhere to be seen and the Cbs running back as if they're in a dream.
Not directly replacing that get out of jail card that he constantly was is borderline moronic. Also, not giving a chance to the lad you have warming the bench that could offer that counter resistance is almost as bad.
Would love to hear his thought process behind this. Because imo, we don't get better again under Pep, until this problem is addressed.
I am convinced we struggle with the ball now.
It’s uncomfortable and full of mistakes from back to front. Surely they can’t be this bad in training? It’s the biggest elephant in the room and one which won’t be fixed.
Set up to fail.
It looks and feels uneasy.
Kyle Walker was unbelievably underrated.Prime Walker was the most important player of Pep's time here. We won nothing before and our decline correlates well with Kyle's legs going.
With him in the team, break aways were snuffed out before they'd even touched the ball in our half. Kyle was always there first, took possession and kept us up the pitch. Now we are constantly exposed with our fullbacks both inverted and nowhere to be seen and the Cbs running back as if they're in a dream.
Not directly replacing that get out of jail card that he constantly was is borderline moronic. Also, not giving a chance to the lad you have warming the bench that could offer that counter resistance is almost as bad.
Would love to hear his thought process behind this. Because imo, we don't get better again under Pep, until this problem is addressed.
Picked a line up more than capable?Not Pep’s fault today. What more could he have done? He picked a lineup that is more capable than the performance they put out today. We all know that.
Pep couldn’t tell the pitch to be better conditioned nor could he tell our players to do the basics better
36 matches still to go in the Prem, but...must admit, I thought our latest Prem title 2024 would've been the perfect time for him to leave on a high note.Fast becoming yesterday's man. I've said it so many times before... He should have left after winning the CL, and I'll always believe that.
That’s a bit of an exaggeration and overreaction. The 11 that started is more than good enough.Picked a line up more than capable?
4 of the line up had played 1 game each for us.
We have no idea if they will make it at City.
Plus Nico who we do not yet know if he is good enough.
Disastrous starting 11!
Ironically we were more balanced against Wolves because Bernardo was doing all the dirty work in the middle. I think we would look our best with Rodri, Gonzalez, Reijnders midfield, Cherki and Marmoush at RW/LW, Haaland up front and attacking LB/RB in Ait Nouri and Nunes.The team played well against Wolves, why change the formation ?
Its what a good fullback needs to be able to do, likewise CB covering for a FB out of position. Lewis should be able to do much better in such situations.Stones played the man onside. He slipped trying to play a man offside who was onside. He caused it all. The slip allows a man free in the box. His man. I dislike Rico but complaining he hasn’t got back to cover stones man is harsh
Rico can do more yes, but this forum cannot lay any blame at stones ever. Stones doesn’t try to play an onside man offside then the rest is irrelevant.Its what a good fullback needs to be able to do, likewise CB covering for a FB out of position. Lewis should be able to do much better in such situations.
I am over the shock of yesterdays performance and just about willing to forgive and forget and buy into the transition argument. But there was so much wrong with the footballing fundamentals yesterday and a lack of Traditional City fight that I am slightly fearful of the next 2 or 3 months.