AS Monaco (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

[AirbagsOptionalTheReturn]

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

 

[Ajm1985]

It's a simple game.

Well it is if you think winning = control of the game at that stage.

We had more control, in the second half, after the substitutions. In the period at the start of the second half to 60 minutes, they had the majority of their shots. Them having the majority of their shots isn't us controlling it.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned but looks like we still don’t have a penalty-saving goalkeeper. Committed himself way too soon.) Thought Dyer would side foot it so it was only going one way (and not the way Donnarumma went!) Hopefully we don’t concede another one on Sunday! Probably would have taken a draw before kick-off but very disappointing not to see it out (and not for the first time this season!)

Name a few “penalty-saving” keepers?

 

[blue by birth]

Sounds to me a lot of people came to watch a football match for the first time. When the ball is at head height you must exercise carefulness. You leg should be absolutely clear from potentially collision with opponent’s head no matter what. It is called high boot and it is not a recent invention by EUFA. There is no argument about who touched the ball first in this situation.

Yeah it was my first time watching a football match.so I have to agree with you

Oops my mistake..I've been going to watch City for over 60 years so maybe I've seen a few more games than you.

You seem like you think you know more than City fans who agree that the penalty was a fucking joke..

Exercise carefulness my fucking arse.. football is a contact sport..
Regardless of anything he won the ball and that's all that matters..it wasn't out of control or dangerous FFS ..it was a flick of his boot to win the ball which he did...if anything Diers head made contact with the boot of Nico not the other way round.

 

[Big Yaya Wilko 12]

Peps blind loyalty to Bernardo might cost us dearly at some point this season, hopefully it’s not a final…

If he sticks with him we won’t be making any finals, so don’t worry too much.

 

[Manchester33]

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.

He’s decent until he’s not. He’s made mistakes against Spurs (showing for the ball when he clearly wasn’t open), Arsenal and Monaco which have cost us points.

My worry is his concentration. It’s not something you can coach. He’s still young though and plenty of time for him to improve.

 

[.db.]

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).

I agree with Erling to be honest.





He was awarded MOTM and said he didn’t want it so gave it back, he was that pissed off with our performance.

 

[noseve]

Yes. Because I expect my defenders TO DEFEND. This was simply unlucky. How many times does a player — defender or no — lift his leg this high in a match and someone’s head is there vs. not? You know as well as I do that if he’d just stood there and Dier had scored the same people slagging him off for this foul would be doing the same for standing still.

Well, I wouldn't have slagged him off, any more than I would slag off the last defender who is intelligent enough not to bring down an attacker, in the knowledge that there would be a likely red.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Name a few “penalty-saving” keepers?

Big Willy

 

[Marvin.]

If we won all four home games and drew in four aways, we’d finish on 16 points.

3 clubs finished on 16 points last year and all qualified in the top 8.

A draw last night wasn’t a terrible result. Shame not to win, but that’s football!

I know that. At the same time 16 points got Villa 8th. We are 8th now. I looked at last season's qualifying stage table before making my point because it demonstrates that automatic qualification is now more difficult for the seeded clubs than in the group stages. Then, if you won 3 at home and drew 3 away, you'd qualify easily. Now that strategy is marginal. I know it's not a terrible result but my point is that the new format requires teams to be a little more ambitious away from home. In terms of our qualification consider that we have Real Madrid away. I think we'll lose that, so that means we need to win another game away (and win all our home games) to qualify automatically. That's challenging.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

Yeah it was my first time watching a football match.so I have to agree with you

Oops my mistake..I've been going to watch City for over 60 years so maybe I've seen a few more games than you.

You seem like you think you know more than City fans who agree that the penalty was a fucking joke..

Exercise carefulness my fucking arse.. football is a contact sport..
Regardless of anything he won the ball and that's all that matters..it wasn't out of control or dangerous FFS ..it was a flick of his boot to win the ball which he did...if anything Diers head made contact with the boot of Nico not the other way round.

At the time I was furious, and I still think the referee (VAR really) made a mistake, and I recogniz(s)e why others disagree . . . but what chaps me is those blaming NG for it as if it was a better alternative for him to just stand there like a fucking statue.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Too much focus on the penalty. We should have already scored enough by then. It’s not a disaster but is a reminder that this team is still a work in progress. The one big concern for me was Rodri. He didn’t look right at all.

He looks like first season Rodri to me, I dint think we will see him back to his best until next season if at all.

 

[manimanc]

I agree with Erling to be honest.



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He was awarded MOTM and said he didn’t want it so gave it back, he was that pissed off with our performance.

Yes two points dropped but a point away from home is better than none. On another night we don't hit the post twice and run away with it but we draw a line under it and move on.

 

[Newman Noggs]

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.

 

[heslops barnet]

What was the reason for the penalty ? I guess a high foot. But the studs weren't showing so not dangerous, the ball had been played before dier head the boot.

If the studs had hit dier it would make more sence but to head the top of the boot is the same as heading someone's arm or hand.

Cant talk about how City played as I didnt see the game just the highlights.

There were highlights?

 

[noseve]

as I always thought the rules were the same as the Premier league

They might be, but they've been interpreted differently in Europe for years.

 

[Vic]

I'd never start savinho nor would I put him on over bobb but if this is the case then we will forever be worse going forward with bernardo right wing unless he has an overlapping full back.

Bernie's unlikely to beat two players (and Doku gave up on that after the early foul on him). No-one ever moved to give Bernie a chance of making a forward pass, and in the grand scheme of things passing back meant we kept possession.

When we lost possession it was usually because someone (usually Phil) tried and failed with a forward pass.

We just don't give the player on the ball many options, whoever it is. And players turn back even when they have space to go forward. Is no-one on the pitch communicating?

 

[jamesha]

Name a few “penalty-saving” keepers?

Paul Cooper but he might be a little long in the tooth (born in 1953)

 

[sk3ptical]

Pep keeps playing bernardo silva on the wings like its 2018

 

[lightning Rodri]

Pathetic second half Pep I'm afraid.

This. From 45-80 mins we were too passive, we had the upperhand but decided to take the safe route instead of getting that next goal. Pep should have changed things around.