AS Monaco (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

Newman Noggs said:
I'm becoming of the view that what some regard as "controlling possession" isn't our tactic at all, it is being allowed possession by the opposition. Passive rather than active.

When we used to control possession with Silva, KDB, Rodri and Bernardo in his pomp, the opposition were running round trying to regain possession and we were passing it around them making them look impotent and tiring them out.

What is happening now is that the opposition are holding their ground, conserving energy and controlling who has that possession, usually Stones, Dias or Gvardiol, by dropping back and nullifying the threat of our midfield and wingers through sheer numbers and letting our central defenders pass it around amongst themselves.

On the odd occasion they manage to pass it through the lines, the receiving midfield player has his back to goal and, more often than not returns it straight back to whence it came so the process starts again.

In the meantime, they know if they can get a break away or a set piece we're always vulnerable.

I'm not sure what the answer is.
Click to expand...
There is no doubt that teams are much more skilled in playing against our possession game, but it is also true that we created plenty of chances last night. I have no concerns about us being on a better path now, but it won't be instant.
 
paulsimpson said:
Nico fouled a Monaco player to give them a free kick before the penalty incident. The player was not going to get through our back line so I think Nico has to learn to let the player past him if he's been beaten and there's little chance of danger. He's a bit too rash at times.
Click to expand...

He didn't have a great couple of minutes there, that's for sure. He was otherwise OK.
FogBlueInSanFran said:
Seems to me that unless Dier is motherfucking four foot two it’s not at “head height”, is it?

As I said to all the other referees here, you tell me what Nico is supposed to do here. You sure as hell better be applauding any City player that doesn’t make a challenge like that trying to poke the ball clear for the rest of your lives.

You want to call it terribly unlucky, fine. You want to blame Nico, then you’re making an inane argument.
Click to expand...

Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player themself) and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.

A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible provided that it is not dangerous to an opponent.
 
AirbagsOptionalTheReturn said:
I know we must defend it better, but that was in no way a free kick that led to the pen. Player conned the ref by diving on the floor.
I thought we played well, Rudolph could have had 2 or 3 with better finishing and we controlled the match for 90% of the time. Only worry is that we are dropping too deep when defending - see their first - I think we need to be 5 yards further up the pitch as a team
Click to expand...
I'm not even sure the player conned the ref for the free kick. In my opinion the ref just got it completely wrong.
 
A game of two halves,like Brighton,with both second halves being of real concern for the same & different reasons.

Both were games we should've won but didn't become the the lacked the ruthlessness of elite teams.

Erling was brutally angry and honest in saying that we lacked the physical intensity and mental strength to win the second half and the game.

Imo, we're a 6/10 side currently and will need to become a consistent 8/10 very quickly if we're going to be successful this season.

Square pegs in round holes will not work on a consistent basis.

Half hearted chickens who currently lack the courage for a physical battle and the dirty,hard work side of the game must be sidelined until they frame up.

Chances must be taken.

Rodri needs nursing back carefully so that he's 100% physically & mentally for the second half of the season.......he would've thrown himself into a block to prevent their first goal pre his injury.

A disappointing result after a poor second half and a 'questionable' VAR decision which allows 'All in wrestling' at every corner in plain sight of the referee, but not nicking the ball away from an opponent who is ducking into a cross.

The referee's first decision in real time was correct, var's in slowmo was not & imo, all VAR reviews should be in real game time speed,the game is not played in slowmo,so shouldn't need reviewed in slowmo !!
 
halfcenturyup said:
He didn't have a great couple of minutes there, that's for sure. He was otherwise OK.


Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player themself) and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.

A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible provided that it is not dangerous to an opponent.
Click to expand...

Punishable by an indirect free kick, not a direct free kick - so it wasn't playing in a dangerous manner.
 
I've woke up this morning and I'm still really annoyed with it. I was getting stressed with the way we were letting them counter and just not pressing them or putting them under pressure at all in that second half but I still don't think it was THAT bad. We should have been out of sight with both of them crossbar shots and they scored a wonder goal.

I'm actually more annoyed about that refereeing performance. I don't know in what world of a physical contact sport that is a foul, never mind a penalty. Everyone says "Oh, we should have been out of sight and put it to bed" Yes, true but look it from the other perspective - They were going down and diving all day and that ref was giving everything. The free kick going into the box from the penalty shout wasn't even a foul as well. If I'm playing in the champions league now, I'm literally headbutting peoples feet and asking for penalties because that's where it's going to lead if you let awful referees continue with this stuff.

TNT sports need their heads booting as well with that presenter after it as well, just bypassing like it wasn't that much of a bad call, if that's Arsenal or Liverpool, the whole studio would be in uproar and there would be a minutes silence or something.

It's good to vent, feel much better for doing it.

Still think its going to get much better and by January, we'll be a transformed side and those second half performances will be a thing of the past.
 
Stelea said:
Haaland sounds fuming with his team mates
Click to expand...
He's done his job as a striker. Scored 2 goals away from home in the champions league.

Then turns and watches our defence and midfield throw it away.

No wonder he's livid. If we had 4 defenders as good as he is up top, we'd concede less than 10 goals a season.
 
One moment of class - after Phil hit the bar, there was zero reaction from him, just followed the ball as if nothing had happened. Top players do this.

So often players stand there, head in hands as if they've never hit the woodwork before.

Great to have him back, slightly more arrogant (in a good way) with each match.
 
manimanc said:
Just checking that we didn't get beat last night as the bedwetters and kneejerkers are in their element tonight.
(Of course some of them are fans from other teams but ssshhh don't tell them we know).
Click to expand...

It's all absolute over-reaction bollocks, isn't it? We played well in parts, we didn't play well in other parts, it was a penalty and I'll take a draw in the circumstances. The whole forum is getting like the matchday thread these days. Uninformed bullshit. People need to grow up.
 
Ajm1985 said:
Punishable by an indirect free kick, not a direct free kick - so it wasn't playing in a dangerous manner.
Click to expand...

I was countering the argument that it wasn't an offence. Then the question becomes if it meets this criteria:

"A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
  • charges
  • jumps at
  • kicks or attempts to kick
  • pushes
  • strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)
  • tackles or challenges
  • trips or attempts to trip"

What do you think? Imo, direct free kicks have been given for that sort of thing for as long as I can remember.
 
oldius said:
I thought Nico G looked superb when he came on. He injected some fervour, kept it with deft control and movement, and gave it. The referee pulled him a couple of times for fouls that were not fouls, IMO, and that isn't on him. Neither was the penalty, IMO. Reading here this morning, he was shite, and that is NOT what I watched at all.

I thought we gave a very decent performance. I thought Nunes should have started for Stones, and didn't really understand that call - Stones for Dias by all means - but there will always be the odd selection decision we don't agree with. We created many more chances than Monaco, generally controlled possession, and kept them to very few opportunities despite their obvious pace and skill. The ref was a bad one, and it's one of the reasons I don't get as interested in European games, and Monaco were skilled in deceiving him, repeatedly.
Click to expand...
Way I saw it too mate.
 
Must say, like a few others, that I can’t quite believe we are back at Bernie on the right wing.

Crazy how bad our right side was last night, when I saw Stones at right back I wrongly assumed we had a plan for something a bit different. I just don’t see why Pep made that decision and thought John and Bernie on our right was going to be anything other than a disaster.
 
If we had Marmoush and Cherki as attacking options from the bench. They both come on in the second half and city kill the game. Bernardo is doing 90 minute stints on the wing and I’m sorry but Savio and Bobb just don’t have any goal threat. Monaco’s only threat came from the two chances they had. I’m not concerned at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top