“City in crisis”

[Feed the Elk]

Personally I dont think it is all down to the players, our style of play is shite and has been worked out. Teams know that they need to sit deep and hit us on the break, we spend 70% of our possession passing the ball back and forth across the box, its become predictable and boring as fuck. We need a change of system

It’s a mixture of both.

The current first xi can’t carry out Pep’s plan to the level it needs to be, and Pep’s plan had been broadly similar for so long now that unless it is perfect it is very predictable.
That and the forwards not taking the chances to put us ahead in games which is also causing us huge problems

 

[Gone for a Burton]

Yes but buy proven, top-level players. We are, after all, World Champions and we should be shopping in the top strata of player recruitment. Instead of making new Netflix guff we need to realise we are, first and foremost, a sports team and it’s the business of playing football we should be concentrating on.

So....please name these proven, top-level players we should signed after Erling Haaland & Josko Guardiol.

 

[M12Blue]

I think the injury situation is far worse than we are led to believe. Players recovery taking far longer than initially thought. Players being selected whilst still not right. Pep alluded to this a couple of weeks ago, when he talked about players having to play through the pain barrier. Akanji, Walker, Stones look nowhere near it. Gundogan is a sorry shadow of his former self, but is having to play every game, when he was probably expecting to be a rotational player.

How else do you explain KDB and Grealish not being brought on until so late, once the game has gone? It was obvious they were needed at HT. Pep knows they are not fit and is trying to manage them back to fitness. Kev actually did quite well in his time on the pitch. These injuries are killing us. Though what the issue with McAtee is, only Pep knows.

I agree completely with this, the drop in level pretty much overnight suggests team burning out as injuries are preventing rotation, and those coming in are either rushed back, or fit but needing time to get match fit.
I won’t write off the season until mathematical, but we need 3 top players in January even if pay over the odds.

 

[TheBlueCat]

Personally I dont think it is all down to the players, our style of play is shite and has been worked out. Teams know that they need to sit deep and hit us on the break, we spend 70% of our possession passing the ball back and forth across the box, its become predictable and boring as fuck. We need a change of system

There is no doubt this is correct. It is more than this though. Our lack of energy in midfield means that we cannot press like we did and this was evident against Spurs. I lost count of the times they went from defence to attack, through our non existent midfield without any sort of challenge. Add to that our over reliance on Haaland and lock of goals from elsewhere creates panic and loss of confidence/ control.

 

[M12Blue]

Pep hasn’t extended to reside over a decline. He will want to leave on top.
I’ll sleep easier knowing this, just need to hold nerve and stay humble

 

[StockportJB76]

There is something strange about this year. There will be whispers inside the club. I am convinced we get a points deduction before too long and the players know their performances this year are essentually worthless. Very strange how players/teams pick up on these vibes. When we had crap owners (Swales), no matter what changes were made, the performances always seemed to be affected.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

There is something strange about this year. There will be whispers inside the club. I am convinced we get a points deduction before too long and the players know their performances this year are essentually worthless. Very strange how players/teams pick up on these vibes. When we had crap owners (Swales), no matter what changes were made, the performances always seemed to be affected.

You certainly seem to be affected.

Less said the better !!

 

[Didsbury Dave]

We’ve won so much and been so great that in a perverse kind of way I’m looking forward to seeing how Pep takes on this challenge and turns this around.

There won’t be any treble this year but having gone so many years winning the league and falling short in the champions league, I wouldn’t put it past us to do the opposite for once. I’d take that.

 

[levets]

We’ve won so much and been so great that in a perverse kind of way I’m looking forward to seeing how Pep takes on this challenge and turns this around.

There won’t be any treble this year but having gone so many years winning the league and falling short in the champions league, I wouldn’t put it past us to do the opposite for once. I’d take that.

We need to improve to even qualify for the top 8 in CL mate, otherwise we may face a very tricky two game play off.

 

[Jimmy89]

Crisis?
4 in a row!
Even with the best players and system, the level was always going to drop at some point, after 4 years of domination.

Then you add so many injuries, not just to key players, but with so many, its a fact getting on it and match fit takes some time due to the disruption. Form is down to, fitness, confidence and performance.

So then because of the above, we lose a couple. Performances, as Pep stated, were not bad, but losses all the same. Unheard of territory for this group. Another factor.

The losses, added to the level drop and injuries, affect confidence. I don't care who you are, what has been won, a losing streak, when its unheard of for this group can affect any player and it has.

For me, as Pep has said himself, it's a multitude of things all coming together at the same time.

Pep will protect the group, tell them facts, focus on the basics, players will get fit, they will win a match, form will return (they have proven to us all, they are good enough, have people forgotten what they have achieved?) and we'll go on a run.

In the treble season we had a difficult period, not quite as bad, granted, but this group have their pride really hurting now, Pep will use it to galvanise the squad, it could well be out greatest season yet..... people should stop worrying. The great man is great for a reason!