Disagree. Yes it wouldn't have stopped a counter attack per se. However, it would make us far more likely to score ourselves, plus it wouldn't leave our supposed wide players so far upfront and narrow if they lose the ball, which they did lotsWe were being hit on the transition or what we used to say counter-attack and getting hurt. Loading it into the box would not have worked.
Is it though? The lads from the Slaughtered Lamb would put up a better show right now.
View attachment 181151"You made me miss"
"You made me miss" ...a young Rik Mayall and the PE Teacher from KesIs it though? The lads from the Slaughtered Lamb would put up a better show right now.
View attachment 181151
WTF you on about. It's a basic problem throughout the team that's become evident lately imo. Pm'd you anyway.Why are you trying to find some fundamental tactical, or strategic problem when it's obvious that our very young defence was in pieces and we lacked the wingers to open up a side playing a low block and counter-attacking at every opportunity. That was a very young side missing 10 players and the senior players who were playing were low on energy.
I thought we tried, and we did create some opportunities. We looked a bit demoralised but we didn't give up, and we didn't lose our discipline.
Please do not spend the rest of the week slagging our players and Pep off. This is a time when the fans need to get behind the team for the Wolves game.
The way they’re currently playing, they’ll miss out anyway!How many of our players are hoping to play for their National team in the World Cup?
Maybe they are holding back because they’re concerned they’ll get injured and miss out?
Yep - What would have helped was having at least one midfielder that realised that you cannot have six players left on the edge of their box in a line whilst they break away with four players running at Rodri - Ait-Nouri too was often caught level with their 18 yard box as they broke away. That is about having football smarts - we are like a kids team where everyone wants to attack. Coaching is one thing but I look at the positioning of Tiijani and Rico in particular and it was terrible all game and left us open.Disagree. Yes it wouldn't have stopped a counter attack per se. However, it would make us far more likely to score ourselves, plus it wouldn't leave our supposed wide players so far upfront and narrow if they lose the ball, which they did lots
I think there is definitely one of them……John Stones! (I’m running away now with my hands over my ears singing lalala so I can’t hear your screams)How many of our players are hoping to play for their National team in the World Cup?
Maybe they are holding back because they’re concerned they’ll get injured and miss out?
It’s was a mistake to sign him, he isn’t what we neededWith difficulty. We had a go. That was what we had in the squad. Alternatives might have been to use Marmoush but I have never seen him play well out wide.
I think the idea was for O'Reilly and RAN to supply some width because we had no wingers. Doku was on the bench but in the post-match press conference, Pep said we really missed the fast wingers so I am assuming he was not 100%.
I know we played a terrible game but we had a lot of players out. We did look in defensive disarray when they counter-attacked. Wolves fans will have looked on and smiled because RAN is known as an attacking full back who is frequently caught out of position. I think it was a mistake to use him like that but we were really struggling to put together a strategy for beating them with a lot of missing players.
John Stones is not playing and therefore can’t be holding back.I think there is definitely one of them……John Stones! (I’m running away now with my hands over my ears singing lalala so I can’t hear your screams)
In my defence you made it easy for me with your post :-)
Width for what? We continually turn inside when wide and it must be instruction. At times we had 9/10 players in their half and ONE not difficult pass meant they were in on goal.With difficulty. We had a go. That was what we had in the squad. Alternatives might have been to use Marmoush but I have never seen him play well out wide.
I think the idea was for O'Reilly and RAN to supply some width because we had no wingers. Doku was on the bench but in the post-match press conference, Pep said we really missed the fast wingers so I am assuming he was not 100%.
I know we played a terrible game but we had a lot of players out. We did look in defensive disarray when they counter-attacked. Wolves fans will have looked on and smiled because RAN is known as an attacking full back who is frequently caught out of position. I think it was a mistake to use him like that but we were really struggling to put together a strategy for beating them with a lot of missing players.
Is it poor planning or is rebuilding a squad as good as the one we had going to take a couple of seasons and getting to finals and the latter stages of the CL while doing so impressive from everyone involved?Agree but who is to blame? We went into this season with no recognised right back, and kept Stoned and Ake. Last January we invested £60m in two central defenders - neither of which is capable at this stage. Promising but not ready. That is called poor planning and strategy. The injuries mean zilch - all clubs have them.
On the positive side, I think this is when Pep produces his best. We have problems no doubt. Pep is a genius where football is concerned and he will come up with a solution. Keep the faith.
He wasnt there as it wasnt England :)John Stones is not playing and therefore can’t be holding back.
John Stones gets blamed when he ain’t even there!!! :-)
Yep - What would have helped was having at least one midfielder that realised that you cannot have six players left on the edge of their box in a line whilst they break away with four players running at Rodri - Ait-Nouri too was often caught level with their 18 yard box as they broke away. That is about having football smarts - we are like a kids team where everyone wants to attack. Coaching is one thing but I look at the positioning of Tiijani and Rico in particular and it was terrible all game and left us open.
Phil too was supposed to be in the space behind Erling but as at the weekend the game passed him by and he failed to move into the right spaces to receive the ball and help stop them charging out when we lost possession. A lot went wrong but some players have to take responsibility.
Finally I wonder what the stats were on our missed tackle count - I can't recall one challenge where I thought yeah we won that battle - we seemed to lose every 50/50 - maybe they were worried about burning their knees on the artificial pitch!
How did that turn out?Given that we had no wingers available and a shaky back line, playing Aït-Nouri on the right was absolutely the right call. It allowed him to step inside in the build-up, use his stronger foot for passes into central areas rather than down the line, make it harder for the opposition to press, and help protect a slower back line by keeping the team more compact.
Bodo (both in their domestic League and European football) are well known for exploiting opponents hesitancy on the astroturf. They fly into challenges like they are playing on grass. We are one of many teams who haven’t been able to match Bodo in 50/50 challenges etc.
This was always going to be a tough game and we needed points in the bank before we went to Bodo. They have been getting closer to winning a CL tie and we won’t be their last victims.
How about playing the same tactics that need a prime KDB, Stones, Silva and Bernardo to implement, we’ve not got the players to carry that out.How is it down to Pep? What do you want Pep to do...run on the field and smack them in the mouth for not putting enough effort in?...i actually think some on here would agree with that.
As we have for 18 months but not learning. I genuinely hope we don’t go the way of our neighbours….but the poor squad planning and average players we’ve been buying suggests we’re not learning. The January signings, on paper, look amazing. I’m hoping they both smash it for us