10 | Jack Grealish - 2022/23 Performances

[freshie]

What fans see as a problem may be a solution.

Michael Walker: Great sporting strategists know value of controlled rhythm

From the late great Bob Paisley through to Richard Williams and Pep Guardiola runs a singular overview: an ability to see what others cannot

www.irishtimes.com

I think this part of the article may explain the more subdued performances we have seen from Phil in the last couple of games

"Foden’s determination to attack at pace seemingly every time he got the ball was part of an engrossing spectacle. But it did not give City control, the hallmark of a Guardiola team.

The coach was willing to accept Foden’s attitude, but only if it brought a goal. If it resulted in the loss of possession, Guardiola was less impressed. “If you don’t finish, you don’t control Saint-Maximin and Almiron,” Guardiola said, referring to Newcastle’s twin breakaway engines."

 

[Phil1]

I think this part of the article may explain the more subdued performances we have seen from Phil in the last couple of games

"Foden’s determination to attack at pace seemingly every time he got the ball was part of an engrossing spectacle. But it did not give City control, the hallmark of a Guardiola team.

The coach was willing to accept Foden’s attitude, but only if it brought a goal. If it resulted in the loss of possession, Guardiola was less impressed. “If you don’t finish, you don’t control Saint-Maximin and Almiron,” Guardiola said, referring to Newcastle’s twin breakaway engines."

It’s something a few of us have pointed out continuously but it falls on deaf ears because a 37 year old Ashley Young apparently had him in his pocket.
I still find myself baffled at how many of our fans don’t see how Pep puts control of the game over most over things.
It’s not done us too bad so far.

 

[freshie]

It’s something a few of us have pointed out continuously but it falls on deaf ears because a 37 year old Ashley Young apparently had him in his pocket.
I still find myself baffled at how many of our fans don’t see how Pep puts control of the game over most over things.
It’s not done us too bad so far.

7 years in and some people still don't know understand how Pep wants us to play. The mind boggles

 

[Craig]

It’s something a few of us have pointed out continuously but it falls on deaf ears because a 37 year old Ashley Young apparently had him in his pocket.
I still find myself baffled at how many of our fans don’t see how Pep puts control of the game over most over things.
It’s not done us too bad so far.

Agree, he’s clearly under instructions to not take on his man and just keep the ball. Think it’s pretty ridiculous though when one on one with the likes of Young and Trippier. The Newcastle counters had nothing to do with Foden.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Agree, he’s clearly under instructions to not take on his man and just keep the ball. Think it’s pretty ridiculous though when one on one with the likes of Young and Trippier. The Newcastle counters had nothing to do with Foden.

The quote from Pep was "If you don't finish, you don't control Saint-Maximin and Almiron." So Foden's decision to hit a fairly tame shot instead of squaring the ball to Haaland is exactly what he's talking about there. Go 2-0 and you gain much more control of the game. The second goal really is crucial for us

 

[Craig]

The quote from Pep was "If you don't finish, you don't control Saint-Maximin and Almiron." So Foden's decision to hit a fairly tame shot instead of squaring the ball to Haaland is exactly what he's talking about there. Go 2-0 and you gain much more control of the game. The second goal really is crucial for us

So a winger taking a shot is the reason we were getting ripped to bits for 25 minutes? That was nothing like his one against Bournemouth or Walker’s on Saturday. It’s all easy to say when slowed down and looked at but in real time he had a split second

 

[applejuice]

Pep surely will play him as starter against Sevilla, Pep says his return will be very important.

Don't pep usually ramp up minutes from 30min as a sub after returning from injury? I think that he will not start vs Sevilla. Might come up as a sub and start at weekend. Just guessing.

 

[applejuice]

So a winger taking a shot is the reason we were getting ripped to bits for 25 minutes? That was nothing like his one against Bournemouth or Walker’s on Saturday. It’s all easy to say when slowed down and looked at but in real time he had a split second

Agree. I think that it was overraction to blame Foden or Walker for the draw. Yes they should probably do better on the shot. But we cannot ignore the mess of the midfield.

IMO I think Pep wants wingers sometimes to hold the ball a bit longer to give the other teammates a brief moment to organise the shape and do some communication. Wingers are ideal to carry such work because they can use the touchline to protect the ball and hold it longer. The problem is - Grealish does it too often and Foden does not do it enough... If we can combine these two we will get the best left winger :)

 

[applejuice]

What fans see as a problem may be a solution.

Michael Walker: Great sporting strategists know value of controlled rhythm

From the late great Bob Paisley through to Richard Williams and Pep Guardiola runs a singular overview: an ability to see what others cannot

www.irishtimes.com

That is what Pep said in the first interview after we bought Grealish.

----
Asked when he first thought he would like to sign him, the Spaniard said at a press conference: 'Years ago, when I saw him for the first time - but then it wasn't possible. You have the squad and we had to invest in other parts as those parts were weaker.

'But especially when I saw him on TV. I said, 'That guy controls the tempo'.

'I love when he has the ball. He stops before the dribble and all the opponents stop as well. He controls the tempo and rhythm when he accelerates and decelerates the action.

'Then especially when I played against him - the physicality, the special mentality of how he fought against the opponents, against our players, he said, 'I'm here'.

'I liked many things that we saw and that's why we tried.'
---

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

So a winger taking a shot is the reason we were getting ripped to bits for 25 minutes? That was nothing like his one against Bournemouth or Walker’s on Saturday. It’s all easy to say when slowed down and looked at but in real time he had a split second

It’s a symptom rather than the cause, I think. Going forward too quickly, overcommitting, but then not actually making the situation count and losing control of the game.

Instead of slowing suffocating them, we were throwing punches that left us open to a counter if we missed. The game got stretched as a result, and Pep HATES that