When Haaland was out, we looked a more compact team because there was no Alvarez in the midfield messing passes and losing balls!Overall , Alvarez has offered us more than Haaland this season
we looked a more compact team when Haaland was out injured and Alvarez was deputising
yet he gets no criticism
its double standards
Why should we worry about him leaving but not others? I really cannot get it. Cash him in and I will see a minimum of 60M and we can buy a quality deputy striker.not a winger, not a midfielder. not his fault imho. only 56% pass accuracy today.
that theory that he has to play so he doesn’t leave, would pep really do that?
Goosebumps. He had a phenomenal first season for such a young lad, and 29 G+A this season already as well. Often overplayed and out of position, but he is a magnificent player. Anyone who doesn't think he is quality needs to follow another sport.
All one has to do is watch Alvarez in the sequence when Salah has a shot blocked and then slashes a shot wide of the goal on the ensuing rebound. He dives in sideways and makes a terrible attempt to impede Salah. Then he lets Salah step right past him to fire away at the rebound. It's nowhere near the standard one would expect from a 13 year old midfielder (key word midfielder) let alone a midfielder at this level. It's quite evident that the young fella has no idea whatsoever how to go about defending in his own third which no matter how ball dominant a squad one is playing on anyone playing as an 8 or a wing needs to be proficient at.Cost the community shield game by his poor defending.
Cost the home game vs Liverpool by his poor defending again. (Doku shared the blame he did not track TAA and Alvarez had to fill his spot)
Cost the away game vs Liverpool again.
But I don't blame this lad. The blame is on Pep. Stop putting him in a deeper position rather than the striker. I don't get why Pep keeps saying "he deserves minutes" bla bla.
Shouldn't the midfielders compete for minutes in midfields and wingers compete for minutes on the wings? Is it fair for Alvarez - whose G/A is natrually higher than wingers/midfielders because of his natual positions - to compete with midfielders like Kova and Nunes / wingers like Doku Grealish and Bobb? He should go and challenge Halaand for the spot up front and I would say I will take Halaand off and sub Alvarez on at HT today!
Overall , Alvarez has offered us more than Haaland this season
we looked a more compact team when Haaland was out injured and Alvarez was deputising
yet he gets no criticism
its double standards
With all due respect to Pep, I know better. Bet you don’t.All one has to do is watch Alvarez in the sequence when Salah has a shot blocked and then slashes a shot wide of the goal on the ensuing rebound. He dives in sideways and makes a terrible attempt to impede Salah. Then he lets Salah step right past him to fire away at the rebound. It's nowhere near the standard one would expect from a 13 year old midfielder (key word midfielder) let alone a midfielder at this level. It's quite evident that the young fella has no idea whatsoever how to go about defending in his own third which no matter how ball dominant a squad one is playing on anyone playing as an 8 or a wing needs to be proficient at.
The play you refer to in the first Liverpool game where Trent scores the late goal is not an isolated incident regarding Alvarez. It just stands out because of the result.
The bigger question is what was Alvarez doing on the pitch being asked to defend deep that late in such a big game with us trying to see out a 1 nil?
I'm sorry but with all due respect to Pep and all he has accomplished he's dead wrong on Alvarez being able to play as an 8 or a wing on this squad, simple as.
So because I think Pep is wrong about playing Alvarez out of position it's the same thing as me saying I know more than Pep as a whole. Interesting application of logic that, except for the fact that it's an invalid conclusion based solely on your own myopic view of the situation. Playing Alvarez as a midfielder NOT AS A SECOND STRIKER IN THE ROLE KDB SEEMS TO NOW OPERATE IN is a terrible decision. Playing him on the wing doesn't appear to be a proper option either. Regardless of anything you want to say if that trend continues will win jack shit this year in terms of the league or the CL. Hopefully it won't come to that.With all due respect to Pep, I know better. Bet you don’t.
The problem with this is you don’t know the reasons behind why Pep has chosen to go this way. There’s always a reason with Pep and it’s usually because he’s thought about things us mere mortals don’t.So because I think Pep is wrong about playing Alvarez out of position it's the same thing as me saying I know more than Pep as a whole. Interesting application of logic that, except for the fact that it's an invalid conclusion based solely on your own myopic view of the situation. Playing Alvarez as a midfielder NOT AS A SECOND STRIKER IN THE ROLE KDB SEEMS TO NOW OPERATE IN is a terrible decision. Playing him on the wing doesn't appear to be a proper option either. Regardless of anything you want to say if that trend continues will win jack shit this year in terms of the league or the CL. Hopefully it won't come to that.
No, what you are saying isn’t Pep tried something it didn’t work move on, ( like say Phillips) if that was the case you might be able to say you were right he was wrong. Similar to when at Bayern he tried Martinez in midfield and after half an hour asked himself why he’d done it.So because I think Pep is wrong about playing Alvarez out of position it's the same thing as me saying I know more than Pep as a whole. Interesting application of logic that, except for the fact that it's an invalid conclusion based solely on your own myopic view of the situation. Playing Alvarez as a midfielder NOT AS A SECOND STRIKER IN THE ROLE KDB SEEMS TO NOW OPERATE IN is a terrible decision. Playing him on the wing doesn't appear to be a proper option either. Regardless of anything you want to say if that trend continues will win jack shit this year in terms of the league or the CL. Hopefully it won't come to that.
I agree, I don't know. The worrying thing is normally when Pep does something that raises an eyebrow it becomes evident why he's doing so in a matter of time and the results reflect this. This infatuation with shoehorning Alvarez into the lineup has not worked in big games and by all that we've seen will not work anytime in the near or distant future. I genuinely believe KDB was upset at coming off because he wanted a chance to see if he could do something with a real winger coming on. He'll never say that but he was making all sorts of gestures back toward the pitch. Also Rodri was having a go at Stones during the chaos that was that second half. When have we ever seen that? These guys are all now proven players and established treble winners. I'm not saying it's right that they should start to question Pep's decisions but I can't imagine that an eyebrow or two hasn't been raised by some this season. As a die hard fan I don't think it's out of order to at least raise some concerns, especially on a forum, in regards to what we're seeing. I'm not saying you, but some people get so damn defensive whenever anyone raises a question regarding anything Pep does. JMOThe problem with this is you don’t know the reasons behind why Pep has chosen to go this way. There’s always a reason with Pep and it’s usually because he’s thought about things us mere mortals don’t.
Us fans are normally playing catch up 6 months later.
So I'll ask you then. Do you think playing Alvarez anywhere when both Haaland and KDB are on the pitch is a good idea and has it proven to be successful?No, what you are saying isn’t Pep tried something it didn’t work move on, ( like say Phillips) if that was the case you might be able to say you were right he was wrong. Similar to when at Bayern he tried Martinez in midfield and after half an hour asked himself why he’d done it.
What you’re saying is Pep tried something it didn’t work and he can’t see it doesn’t work and he keeps repeating the thing that doesn’t work over and over, yet It’s obvious to posters on blue moon it doesn’t work. How likely do you think that is ?
I’ve learnt to trust the process. Pep had a habit of making people look silly in the long run.I agree, I don't know. The worrying thing is normally when Pep does something that raises an eyebrow it becomes evident why he's doing so in a matter of time and the results reflect this. This infatuation with shoehorning Alvarez into the lineup has not worked in big games and by all that we've seen will not work anytime in the near or distant future. I genuinely believe KDB was upset at coming off because he wanted a chance to see if he could do something with a real winger coming on. He'll never say that but he was making all sorts of gestures back toward the pitch. Also Rodri was having a go at Stones during the chaos that was that second half. When have we ever seen that? These guys are all now proven players and established treble winners. I'm not saying it's right that they should start to question Pep's decisions but I can't imagine that an eyebrow or two hasn't been raised by some this season. As a die hard fan I don't think it's out of order to at least raise some concerns, especially on a forum, in regards to what we're seeing. I'm not saying you, but some people get so damn defensive whenever anyone raises a question regarding anything Pep does. JMO
KDB was not good. But we have no idea what may or may not have been on his mind. I'm not looking to give him a pass but just like Pep gets the benefit of the doubt, I'm giving Kevin the benefit of the doubt. What if he's thinking this formation is for shit. Who knows if his performance is the result of some form of discontent with the set up? Not intentionally, of course, but as a matter of being a bit off kilter.I’ve learnt to trust the process. Pep had a habit of making people look silly in the long run.
I’m not overly keen on Alverez playing where he is right now but I accept it.
Kev hasn’t a leg to stand in regards Sunday, btw. He was garbage. Not alone of course but not really a performance that warrants him having a go at anybody.
All 5 of those you mention (could be any 5 it doesn’t matter) weren’t considered the best in the Prem before Pep got hold of them.KDB was not good. But we have no idea what may or may not have been on his mind. I'm not looking to give him a pass but just like Pep gets the benefit of the doubt, I'm giving Kevin the benefit of the doubt. What if he's thinking this formation is for shit. Who knows if his performance is the result of some form of discontent with the set up? Not intentionally, of course, but as a matter of being a bit off kilter.
I love Pep as our manager but let's not all pretend he's doing more with less. He's doing more with more. There's a reason opposing fans roll their eyes when some City fans complain about the make up and size of our squad. We only have at least 5 of the best 10 footballers in the Prem and that's just for starters.
For what it's worth, I'm still 1000% convinced we win the Prem and the CL again.
I don’t know what’s going on, has it proven to be successful? Again don’t know how many games have we won v lost playing them,that’s okay I don’t need to know. Pep knows and whatever it is will be fine in the end. You say he can see it’s not working but you don’t know what he wants so you can’t say that.So I'll ask you then. Do you think playing Alvarez anywhere when both Haaland and KDB are on the pitch is a good idea and has it proven to be successful?
I think you are missing my point. I know 1000% Pep sees and knows it's not working. My concern is why is he continuing to employ him in these roles when it's absolutely killing us? And make no mistake, at this level, with these fine margins, that's not an exaggeration.
Pep is known to be ruthless in terms of his player selections. Being uncompromising is a great part of what's made him so successful.
So in summary, I'm saying the opposite of what you're accusing me of, that I think I know more than Pep. I'm saying if I can see it, he certainly can see it. So you tell me, what's going on? Because it's not working.
We'll see how we line up v. Arsenal on the 31st.
I'm sorry you think I'm brushing off Pep's success. I'm just trying to keep a more realistic perspective. I'm fully aware of the many who do less with more...All 5 of those you mention (could be any 5 it doesn’t matter) weren’t considered the best in the Prem before Pep got hold of them.
Haaland aside who is probably the first superstar we’ve signed in a while.
It’s the consistency that sets Pep apart and why he’s the greatest. Getting players up for each new season after a previously successful one is probably one of the hardest parts and shouldn’t be brushed off with some comment about doing more with more.
If Kev has something to say, try not doing it in front of the watching world at Anfield.