A game of two halves

[Prestwich_Blue]

We should adopt the Arsenal tactics, then the ball will be in play for about 20 mins per half

You just reminded me that last Sunday, at the women's game, I was sat with one of my host's former teammates. The Palace keeper went down injured and she said "Did you see one of the coaches tap his shoulder just before she went down? That was the signal". As a normal fan, we'd never notice this but a professional did.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

For us, it's usually a season of 2 halves anyway, apart from the 100 points season.
We've come back from far worse positions than this in the last few years and won the league.
If we don't do it this season, so what?
What a great time to be a blue, you lucky bastards!

Just imagine this dream scenario: by December, we're ten points behind the leaders. They start dropping points, we come back to snatch it from Arserpool at the death. And we are completely exonerated from the 115, with maybe a rap over the knuckles in the form of a fine (to save PL face).
I shall bathe and frolic in the molten lava of hatred that will flow from all corners of the kingdom…

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

I think your last sentence may be nearer the mark, teams are making adjustments for the second half, where as we aren’t responding to those adjustments.

Currently we don't have much in the way of resources to respond - not that Pep has ever been one to make many changes anyway

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Think we need some inhalers

Too Dipperesque!

 

[Immel & Dibble]

Big January coming up. Address the desire of not wanting to spend in the summer.
Rodri complained he was knackered well before he got injured and back up was not brought in. Same for Alvarez.We have no back up striker!! Fucking unreal!! Walker's position is a priority for me. Come on Tixi ..Get on the fecking phone pal.
But still we are not down and out...as i said earlier City are in their usual slot pre January. Infact have more points than we usually do.
Keep the faith blues.

 

[LeonardoDaVnci]

The net profit transfer window in the summer was in pure football terms under whelming. As a guess, this was based on legal advice to create the best possible narrative for the legal cases. The January window is notoriously difficult, however if we have shown enforced restraint in the summer, hopefully we are able to pay a premium to get some quality new blood in. LB would by No 1 priority, as this would allow Gvardiol to return to his natural CB role. The CBs are becoming the Bernuda Triangle of the mens squad, people inexplicably go missing week in week out. Priority 2, a proficient striker who can contribute goals and allow Haaland some down time. Alvarez at Atleti looks just the type. Priority 3 if possible Wharton at Palace, a decent CDM who can play for something crazy like 90+ mins. If we do nothing in January the season is a write off, we can only hope the legal victories will cheer us all up.

 

[youngbob]

Playing that overly strong side v tottenham has cost us all of this,or at least contributed when
we knew we were throwing it/going out of the carabao,akanje injured in the warm up,dias and stones injured playing in a game we lost anyhow,twas madness and come back to bite us on our arse bigtime.

Reminds me of how Walker's red card against Leipzig in the group stages in 21-22 eventually resulted in us going out in the semi-finals against Madrid. Walker being sent off in the sixth group game meant he missed the last 16 round and the first quarter-final, which meant we had to play Stones at RB, which meant he got injured, which meant we had to rush Walker back from a muscle problem, which meant he got injured, which meant we had to play Fernandinho up against Vinicius Jr., which meant we had to rush Walker back again, which meant he got injured again, which meant Cancelo was the oblivious right-back when Madrid scored two goals in a minute to swing the tie.

 

[blue44]

Reminds me of how Walker's red card against Leipzig in the group stages in 21-22 eventually resulted in us going out in the semi-finals against Madrid. Walker being sent off in the sixth group game meant he missed the last 16 round and the first quarter-final, which meant we had to play Stones at RB, which meant he got injured, which meant we had to rush Walker back from a muscle problem, which meant he got injured, which meant we had to play Fernandinho up against Vinicius Jr., which meant we had to rush Walker back again, which meant he got injured again, which meant Cancelo was the oblivious right-back when Madrid scored two goals in a minute to swing the tie.

you've just give me an headache with all of that, I'm an early morning drinker , but you're probably right !

 

[Immel & Dibble]

Reminds me of how Walker's red card against Leipzig in the group stages in 21-22 eventually resulted in us going out in the semi-finals against Madrid. Walker being sent off in the sixth group game meant he missed the last 16 round and the first quarter-final, which meant we had to play Stones at RB, which meant he got injured, which meant we had to rush Walker back from a muscle problem, which meant he got injured, which meant we had to play Fernandinho up against Vinicius Jr., which meant we had to rush Walker back again, which meant he got injured again, which meant Cancelo was the oblivious right-back when Madrid scored two goals in a minute to swing the tie.

That fuckin Walker Bob!!

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Big January coming up. Address the desire of not wanting to spend in the summer.
Rodri complained he was knackered well before he got injured and back up was not brought in. Same for Alvarez.We have no back up striker!! Fucking unreal!! Walker's position is a priority for me. Come on Tixi ..Get on the fecking phone pal.
But still we are not down and out...as i said earlier City are in their usual slot pre January. Infact have more points than we usually do.
Keep the faith blues.

A lot of truth in that. You always feel with us that if we are in touch by January then it worries the hell out of whoever has failed to shake us off. We always go on a run when we get senior players back.

The difference this time though, is that 1. Rodri is definitely gone for the season. 2. Kovacic and Gundogan together can’t do what he does for us. They both lack stamina and pace and the replacements of Silva and KDB are unfortunately looking like time has caught up on them too.

Stones is in and out constantly. Walker too, looks like he’s lost agility. Ake, I’ve always thought is our most instinctive defender but he’s in and out also. Gvardiol and Akanji are better going forward but are not better defenders IMO. The backups we have don’t strengthen our defensive system. I love Rico. He works his socks off but defensively he switches off.

Grealish out too. But he’s not a goal scorer.
Really sorry Oscar Bobb got injured. He was looking dang and taking his opportunity.

All in all, what we have coming back from injury may not have it in them to up things as much as we’d need.

I think there is a slight rebuilding project required and I hope Pep stays on to manage it and prove to all that he is the best ever.