ChicagoBlue
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 10 Jan 2009
- Messages
- 18,305
Ortega
Lewis (assumes Stones not fit)
Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Bernardo
Rodri
KDB
Foden
Nunes
Haaland
Villa will not sit and wait for the counter, even though they’re quite good at it. The battle for the midfield should determine the outcome. With Phil playing second striker, that gives us a strong midfield 5 when needed, with Nunes and Foden (and KDB when he’s not shagged) giving us quick options out.
This set up also allows Bernardo the freedom to roam with us on the ball, because Lewis can tuck in alongside Godri, as needed, or Akanji can step forward.
It’s time to give Nunes his legs and if he’s not had any impact by 60 minutes, bring on Bobb. Alvarez is then available late if we need to overload the front because we are losing/drawing, or to relieve Foden or KDB. Kova and Stones provide defensive cover (unless Stones really is not fit and just warming the bench)
We are looking pretty thin on the ground atm with Ederson, Walker, Stones & Ake missing from the starting back four, our midfield looking tired and devoid of attacking ideas, and our forward line looking like they may never beat a full back and Haaland having left his shooting boots in a closet in Norway, by the looks of things.
It’s never good for an impact player to not be having an impact, but when ALL of your impact players are looking a little off the pace, it makes putting together a 9 for 9 run virtually impossible.
Personally, at this point, I feel like Pep and the players must be feeling like Liverpool and Arsenal have got our number this season, and the knockout games against big clubs are going to be easier to get up for.
It feels to me that the League feels to them a bridge too far after 5 of 6 seasons at the very top. There’s a reason it hasn’t been done before and the personnel changes required to help make it happen just haven’t panned out.
This summer, given the money available and the players we are going to ship out, it’s time for a big revamp with young, on the verge of world class, talent being brought in and for Pep to consider how he can freshen up his own thinking about the game.
He has, no doubt about it, changed the way the world plays football. There is no young goalkeeper in the world who believes he’s not going to have to be brilliant with the ball at his feet and have a range of passes in his pocket…with both feet! There isn’t a DM in the world who hasn’t watched Busquets and now Rodri who doesn’t know the levels needed to compete in the position. And, there isn’t a manager in the world that hasn’t studied Pep’s boxes and how many players should be in them, supporting them, or getting out of them, at any given time.
As a City fan, you can already SEE (literally) where the next pass is going at least 80% of the time. It’s predictable, but only because the work has been done to open up the spare man to receive it. Yes, it’s predictable, but it’s almost indefensible, unless you commit more men forward to stop it… and they’re not, which is why 90% of teams play a 20 man defence against us got 90% of the game!
Pep and City have changed English football forever. The problem for Pep is that everyone else with a football brain has watched, learned, and developed their own games over the last decade. Emery, Ange, Klopp and Arteta are all showing that they understand the game just as well as Pep and have their own versions of what it takes to win, and defeat Pep’s plans.
Does City have time for Pep 2.0/3.0/4.0 or whatever tweaked version we are currently on, OR is Pep ready for a break, a new challenge, possibly in a place that doesn’t make it seem like he is constantly coming down with a cough and a cold, and where he can put his polo neck sweater in the back of the closet…and we need to be seriously thinking about who is next and what (and whom) do they need in sky blue???
Never a dull moment, even when the senses may have been filled by Arteta’s wet blanket!
Lewis (assumes Stones not fit)
Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Bernardo
Rodri
KDB
Foden
Nunes
Haaland
Villa will not sit and wait for the counter, even though they’re quite good at it. The battle for the midfield should determine the outcome. With Phil playing second striker, that gives us a strong midfield 5 when needed, with Nunes and Foden (and KDB when he’s not shagged) giving us quick options out.
This set up also allows Bernardo the freedom to roam with us on the ball, because Lewis can tuck in alongside Godri, as needed, or Akanji can step forward.
It’s time to give Nunes his legs and if he’s not had any impact by 60 minutes, bring on Bobb. Alvarez is then available late if we need to overload the front because we are losing/drawing, or to relieve Foden or KDB. Kova and Stones provide defensive cover (unless Stones really is not fit and just warming the bench)
We are looking pretty thin on the ground atm with Ederson, Walker, Stones & Ake missing from the starting back four, our midfield looking tired and devoid of attacking ideas, and our forward line looking like they may never beat a full back and Haaland having left his shooting boots in a closet in Norway, by the looks of things.
It’s never good for an impact player to not be having an impact, but when ALL of your impact players are looking a little off the pace, it makes putting together a 9 for 9 run virtually impossible.
Personally, at this point, I feel like Pep and the players must be feeling like Liverpool and Arsenal have got our number this season, and the knockout games against big clubs are going to be easier to get up for.
It feels to me that the League feels to them a bridge too far after 5 of 6 seasons at the very top. There’s a reason it hasn’t been done before and the personnel changes required to help make it happen just haven’t panned out.
This summer, given the money available and the players we are going to ship out, it’s time for a big revamp with young, on the verge of world class, talent being brought in and for Pep to consider how he can freshen up his own thinking about the game.
He has, no doubt about it, changed the way the world plays football. There is no young goalkeeper in the world who believes he’s not going to have to be brilliant with the ball at his feet and have a range of passes in his pocket…with both feet! There isn’t a DM in the world who hasn’t watched Busquets and now Rodri who doesn’t know the levels needed to compete in the position. And, there isn’t a manager in the world that hasn’t studied Pep’s boxes and how many players should be in them, supporting them, or getting out of them, at any given time.
As a City fan, you can already SEE (literally) where the next pass is going at least 80% of the time. It’s predictable, but only because the work has been done to open up the spare man to receive it. Yes, it’s predictable, but it’s almost indefensible, unless you commit more men forward to stop it… and they’re not, which is why 90% of teams play a 20 man defence against us got 90% of the game!
Pep and City have changed English football forever. The problem for Pep is that everyone else with a football brain has watched, learned, and developed their own games over the last decade. Emery, Ange, Klopp and Arteta are all showing that they understand the game just as well as Pep and have their own versions of what it takes to win, and defeat Pep’s plans.
Does City have time for Pep 2.0/3.0/4.0 or whatever tweaked version we are currently on, OR is Pep ready for a break, a new challenge, possibly in a place that doesn’t make it seem like he is constantly coming down with a cough and a cold, and where he can put his polo neck sweater in the back of the closet…and we need to be seriously thinking about who is next and what (and whom) do they need in sky blue???
Never a dull moment, even when the senses may have been filled by Arteta’s wet blanket!