A game of two halves

[Kippax Street 1880]

Then a cup of Bovril for every starter!

Think we need some inhalers

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

Just thinking about this while waiting fore my brew to be ready. We've often seen a pattern whereby we're a bit underwhelming in the first half and Pep sorts it out at half-time so we're much better second half. We say it at the game "Pep'll sort them out at half time". Yet certainly in the last two games, we've done well first half, dominated the game, yet come out looking completely lost for the second half.

What's going on? Are we getting too comfortable when we're a goal up, with Pep telling the players to try to see it out? Are we leaving everything on the pitch in the first 45 minutes, leaving us unable to respond in the second 45? Are we just vulnerable to teams upping the energy levels and pace? Is the opposition manager seeing things that Pep hasn't?

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.

 

[Lost in space]

I think all these international breaks and a lack of rythm are physically and mentally wrecking us at the minute. Maybe after the Oct break the agreement was to try and get past this next break without busting our guys then knuckle down once they are back.

 

[MillisleBlue]

We’re in line for some right dickings in the next month .
Why did it not occur to City that an increased number of games using a small ageing tired squad was a risky recipe for continued success.

Yup, Son and Salah will run riot against us and, at the moment, we've no answer to either. Ain't much Pep can do with a small squad decimated by recurring injuries.

 

[eyalluvitt]

We need multiple chances to score 1 goal, and we can’t run for more than 45 minutes.

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

 

[SWPISHOME]

We were the best in the business at being able to go through the gears, Our game management over the last four years has been sensational.

We could finish an opponent in 15 minutes by scoring 2 or 3 early goals and just play keep ball and pick them off in the latter stages of the game. We could also be winning 1-0 and just see the game out by keeping the ball and being comfortable.

We can't do any of the above this season, Personally I think it's more down to a fatigued squad more so than injured players. The players look absolute fucked. We can play for 40/50 minutes and we've nothing left to give.

 

[jrb]

Aging midfield legs.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Just thinking about this while waiting fore my brew to be ready. We've often seen a pattern whereby we're a bit underwhelming in the first half and Pep sorts it out at half-time so we're much better second half. We say it at the game "Pep'll sort them out at half time". Yet certainly in the last two games, we've done well first half, dominated the game, yet come out looking completely lost for the second half.

What's going on? Are we getting too comfortable when we're a goal up, with Pep telling the players to try to see it out? Are we leaving everything on the pitch in the first 45 minutes, leaving us unable to respond in the second 45? Are we just vulnerable to teams upping the energy levels and pace? Is the opposition manager seeing things that Pep hasn't?

You've answered your own question, with the two sentences in bold. There's no mystery. Pep's said it: we can play well for 45 minutes, maybe even 60. With our current injury situation, we cannot play well in defence, midfield, and attack for ninety minutes. I do not for one second believe that the team feels comfortable with just a one goal advantage. And I don't think there's the manager born who sees things that Pep, the most psychopathically analytical coach on the planet, doesn't.
We've just got to grin, bear it, grit our teeth and sit this one out.

 

[the blue panther]

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!

 

[jrb]

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!

The difference is, Liverpool don’t look like losing a game under Slot. Klopp’s teams always had a poor 2nd half of the season, as he burnt his players out in the first half of the season. Slot’s football is completely the opposite. If, If, City lose against Spurs and Liverpool, City aren’t making 12points back on Liverpool. Not with this team and squad.