First half/ second half

[Silva2021]

Could be far too early for this type of thread and in no way complaining, but are we looking a lot better first half then second half?

Obviously there was the derby, but very noticable in the West Ham game too.

Is it potentially the case of just simply the high intensity not being able to be maintained, in game management, the opposition making changes etc.

Do any fellow blues feel this is the case or simply that by default you always play one half better then the other and just coincidental the last 2 have been first half.

I think for me I notice it more as always considered we played better after half time in most games, whereas I like the idea of getting the game won early.

 

[Gabriel]

Wasn't the case in Bucharest, but at least the opposition there attempted to go toe-to-toe with us, albeit disastrously for them. Think it's a combination of us tiring, other managers responding tactically, and us not having had a fully fit bench of the same quality as has started.

If we took more of our chances in games, however, the discussion would be ended.

 

[Rolee]

I don't think our levels dropped on Saturday, I just think the rags levels increased.

 

[DWIFF]

We really just need to make sure that kill teams off in the first half which we should have done to the rags and West Ham.

We really need to press home the advantage and demoralise teams more often.

 

[franksinatra]

I think its human nature when winning to protect what you have and that maybe leads you to defend slightly deeper or be more passive when committing yourself.

Also with this team when sides are pressuring us we have the perfect players to expliot the space behind on the counter attack. The final ball has not been quite there yet but someone is going to take a real pasting one day.

 

[sktooblue]

I think this is mainly down to fitness levels and ours have dropped over the last couple of seasons. Borussia Dortmund, Barca and Bayern can maintain those levels for the full 90 mins and I'm sure we will get there. I think this is what Pep was referring to when he said we weren't yet at a level to win the league or champions league. Imagine how good we will be when we can play for the full 90, like we did in the opening 45 on Saturday!! God help everyone else.

 

[kupest]

Had the Rags scored we would have gone on and scored another we just led them on to believe. I din't feel the nerves in the second either, they had no chances if you look at it and we had 4-5 atleast.

 

[Ric]

Had we not conceded just before half time, then I think we would have dominated the second half in a similar fashion on Saturday. Their goal lifted the players and the crowd, and made for a very different game. Had they gone in 2-0 at the break they would've been deflated, but as it was they could scarcely believe they were still in the contest.

I think it's just coincidental that our best football has tended to come in the first half so far this season, although you may have a point about finding it difficult to maintain that intensity over 90 minutes.

 

[Rammyblues]

Maybe it is just time and patience. Barca seemed to be able to play high intensity for 90 mins not seen much of Bayern but they seem to have developed the same habit. Rather go in at the moment 3-0 to the good and be able to relax the 2nd half rather than chasing a game and needing a last minute winner. Players are still not fit and it may be worth looking at this again in about 5 games time. IMO the goal is high intensity 90 mins, if a player can't do that he will be replaced.

 

[mosssideblue]

Will be interesting with the games coming thick and fast as to whether our 1st half performance levels dip a little

 

[CTID1988]

Ive noticed it this season too. I think its a fitness thing, will gradually get better. We need to start putting games to bed in the first half

 

[Phil1]

Had we not conceded just before half time, then I think we would have dominated the second half in a similar fashion on Saturday. Their goal lifted the players and the crowd, and made for a very different game. Had they gone in 2-0 at the break they would've been deflated, but as it was they could scarcely believe they were still in the contest.

I think it's just coincidental that our best football has tended to come in the first half so far this season, although you may have a point about finding it difficult to maintain that intensity over 90 minutes.

That's my take as well.

 

[Andrew___K]

IMO, the reason is we are still learning 'Pep-style' pressing system. It's more or less similar to that which he implemented from the first days of his career in Barcelona B. It's Pep's main 'know-how' that makes him so dominant and sometimes almost invulnerable for the opponents. The basic principles of this system are closing passing lanes (he doesn't press the ballcarrier directly) and switching-on relentless 'hunting in packs' when the ball is lost. The main complexity of this system's implementation is that team expands considerable amount of energy during every short collective pressing spurt, so you have to:
- move smartly, avoid brainless running
- lose the ball as rarely as you can and play it safe - that is one of the reasons why Pep's Barca always tried to walk the ball into the net - you just can't afford to spend your 'pressing spurts' on low-probability attacks/shots.

Now City just can't use the energy properly. The players run more than they have to and get tired to the 60' min. I recall some posters here raving about City running more than Stoke like that was a great achievment. But it's not an achievment, it's a price paid for the lack of teamwork's coherence. Pep's teams are renowned for running less than the opponent. So IMO, ManUtd's and Stoke's pressure in the second halves doesn't have anything with the opponents. It's a City's problem that is to be solved with time. It might take a few months to settle. Maybe the attacking risks have to be reduced. Maybe it will work only next season after completing the squad's overhaul and getting the right players. We'll see.

 

[schfc6]

Funnily enough I was speaking with a rag Saturday. We both thought that Guardiola is thinking about the whole 90 minutes as thirds.
First 30, totally dominate, never take the foot off the base. The next 30 minutes attempt to controle the game but continue to wear the opposition out and in the final 30 allow the other team who be knackered from chasing shadows for an hour more of the ball and look to exploit on the break.
Another day Saturday or if Aguero had of played things would have been different to me.
The outnumbering counter attacks were a little blunt, we lacked a striker making a strikers run.

United were throwing everything at us, but not in a controlled fashion. I thought for 40 minutes of the se one half we looked a lot more like scoring than them.

In time if the first period of the game doesn't kill them off, the final period will. We've already hit 4 last ten minute goals in 4 league games.

Are we tiring? I'm not so sure. I think it's about leaving some in the tank for the last 20.

It will be interesting to see how we do if we're losing or at 0-0.

When Sunderland equalised we stepped it back up with ease.

We have also missed a few players. Adding Sane, Gundogan & Kompany will make a big difference.

Not to question Pep and would have been a gamble, I'd have left Iheanacho on, took Sterling off earlier.
A strikers natural runs with De Bruyne and Silva on the break would have been a lot more clinical than De Bruyne's runs.
But other than the odd bounce, we never looked like conceding, so Pep was right.

I think we'll score a shit load of goals.

People asked if Pep could adapt to the Prem, perhaps he believes it would be impossible to player for 90 minutes like we do for 45.
So this could be part one of his adaptios.

 

[cleavers]

Well there was one team blowing out of their arse at the end of the game and it certainly wasn't City, KdB apart, who did look knackered when he was taken off. They ran 9km less than we did in the game, and yet they looked shot in the last 5-10 minutes, it could quite easily have gone the same way as the 6-1 in the end with the breakaways, and they had created little or nothing in their 'far better' second half.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Maybe it is just time and patience. Barca seemed to be able to play high intensity for 90 mins not seen much of Bayern but they seem to have developed the same habit. Rather go in at the moment 3-0 to the good and be able to relax the 2nd half rather than chasing a game and needing a last minute winner. Players are still not fit and it may be worth looking at this again in about 5 games time. IMO the goal is high intensity 90 mins, if a player can't do that he will be replaced.

I completely agree with this. I just don't think the squad are at the 100% peak of fitness level yet to maintain for 90 minutes but give them another month and they will. Once we achieve that and being more clinical with the final pass, I think we will be unstoppable in the PL.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

I've noticed this aswell, seems around the last 15/20 mins we seem to tire.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

It's down to our pressing. We have not been able to press as intensively in the 2nd half, purely down to fitness. But hopefully that improves with time.

 

[SWP's back]

IMO, the reason is we are still learning 'Pep-style' pressing system. It's more or less similar to that which he implemented from the first days of his career in Barcelona B. It's Pep's main 'know-how' that makes him so dominant and sometimes almost invulnerable for the opponents. The basic principles of this system are closing passing lanes (he doesn't press the ballcarrier directly) and switching-on relentless 'hunting in packs' when the ball is lost. The main complexity of this system's implementation is that team expands considerable amount of energy during every short collective pressing spurt, so you have to:
- move smartly, avoid brainless running
- lose the ball as rarely as you can and play it safe - that is one of the reasons why Pep's Barca always tried to walk the ball into the net - you just can't afford to spend your 'pressing spurts' on low-probability attacks/shots.

Now City just can't use the energy properly. The players run more than they have to and get tired to the 60' min. I recall some posters here raving about City running more than Stoke like that was a great achievment. But it's not an achievment, it's a price paid for the lack of teamwork's coherence. Pep's teams are renowned for running less than the opponent. So IMO, ManUtd's and Stoke's pressure in the second halves doesn't have anything with the opponents. It's a City's problem that is to be solved with time. It might take a few months to settle. Maybe the attacking risks have to be reduced. Maybe it will work only next season after completing the squad's overhaul and getting the right players. We'll see.

We ran 8km more than United as well.

And despite the second half revisionism going on, we had 54% in the second half and more chances than United.

 

[SWP's back]

Well there was one team blowing out of their arse at the end of the game and it certainly wasn't City, KdB apart, who did look knackered when he was taken off. They ran 9km less than we did in the game, and yet they looked shot in the last 5-10 minutes, it could quite easily have gone the same way as the 6-1 in the end with the breakaways, and they had created little or nothing in their 'far better' second half.

Great post.