“City in crisis”

The only rational explanation for me is that Rodri's injury has exposed a number of weaknesses that were already there, and they've since been magnified, especially as we now lose the ball more often in silly positions.

I always suspected that one day Ederson would prove to be a liability but equally not having a single orthodox Left Back, (despite chasing Cucurella a couple of summers ago) is now beginning to bite without Rodri's presence.

Walker and De Bruyne were both showing signs of ageing last season, but it didn't matter because Foden was scoring so many goals. Now he's not scoring any.

Plus what's the point of buying the most prolific goalscorer in world football if we're not even trying to play to his strengths with pace down the flanks and the ball whipped across?


I'm not sure if that constitutes a crisis, but after Villa we've got a run of supposedly winnable matches that will surely provide the answer.
 
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wolviedinho said:
I have had a thought about our problems.

Suppose just for a second know one is to blame!! I know right -:)

We have looked rather stale now for a while on the pitch. Predictable and sometimes a hard watch. What was once a formidable machine has ground to a halt.

Pep wants to continue using his system that has brought unparalleled success with this group of players. High press, high line, patient control the game, pass pass pass until you find an opening for a chance. Defend high and intercept the ball quickly to put the opponent under pressure.

Some of the players can’t do this anymore. The problems are well documented.

The only solution is to play counter attack football. Soak up pressure and use the wingers and Haaland to break on teams. Sit back when we don’t have the ball.

The team is stuck in no man’s land as a result. The only solution is the second option until we get to the summer for a reset. Pep can’t see it due to his blind side and philosophy and some of the senior players can’t admit it.

In summary,

Pep has his way of playing. Struggling to see past it which requires a complete change of thinking. Someone strong at the club needs to have an honest conversation which so far hasn’t happened.

Some of the older players can’t do what is asked anymore and either won’t admit it or can’t and some of the new players are not good enough to take over. As a result, we see a disjointed team all over the pitch.

All if them trying their best btw.

Until these honest discussions take place nothing will change. Time we see leadership off the pitch and time someone has the balls to point out what needs to be done and not worry about hurting peoples feelings. Khaldoon should be doing this.

Anyway, that’s what I have woke up thinking about now that iv digested the performances. You can see the players who believe in pep’s approach and can still carry it out. You can also see the players who can’t carry it out and you can also see the players who are not good enough to carry it out. Come on pep, set them up differently and remove some of the problems.
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I think there is a lot in this. I’d say some blame sits with the players - yesterday Silva left Walker exposed time and time again for example especially in the first half - and some form has dropped.

But the general problem of a high line and lack of a press is costing us and leaving the defence exposed is it in a nutshell IMHO.
 
Squandering hundreds of millions over 2/3 years on inadequate midfielders who haven't improved the squad 1 iota is a big cause of the present "crisis".

Failure to accept the inadequacies of the squad almost from day one this season, and to ensure that the youngsters we retained were good enough to be used, instead of unfit/out of form first teamers, is another cause. Heads have been in the sand.

If you aren't going to use the youngsters, and you keep complaining about the schedule, as the latter isn't going to change (though it might next year as we may not get top 4 at the rate we're declining) we need much deeper squad depth.

An embarrassing catalogue of major errors have led to this perfect 2 month storm of results, and damaging performances where our confidence is now 'shot.'

It remains to be seen whether we will ever get back on to that lofty perch. We decided to just fall off it without even being pushed. I hope the slump can be addressed - by Pep: he's proved himself to be the best in the business before, and he now has to be brutal; rectify many mistakes; reinvent himself and the team, to get himself back to the top - where he belongs..... with City.

Oh, and, I didn't like that banner "You'll Never Win 4 In A Row" yesterday. It was embarrassing. Just a bit of fun? IMHO, it made us look as bad as the scum with their 'clock.' Though, I must admit, the irony was lovely - at a time when we can't win 4 games in a row!
 
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