Atalanta (A) CL Post-Match Thread

[cleavers]

History makers
Claudio Bravo is the first ever substitute goalkeeper to be sent off in Champions League history

Kyle Walker is the first English keeper to make a save in the CL since Leicester were in it.

 

[SebastianBlue]

I think you mean most of the second half until Bravo's brain fart. After the resulting free kick, we were excellent, Atalanta barely had a touch of the ball in an attacking sense, and we managed the 7 extra minutes brilliantly.

It is interesting that we seemingly often need that kick up the arse this season, rather than imposing our will, being clinical, putting the match to bed, and then coasting to the final whistle.

Pep has mentioned it in his post-match analysis and I am sure the coaching staff are trying to find some means of changing that lacklustre mentality.

 

[Ban-jani]

It was a pretty fucking awful bit of goalkeeping as well as a dive. No idea why he thought charging 20 yards outside of his box in that situation was the right decision, but then the lad did inexplicably dive instead of just rolling it into the open net

We’ve all been there... he definitely just thought “oh bollocks to it” before charging out.

 

[paulchapo]

One thing we still have in common with the rags is an appalling injury record.

 

[Burtonblue]

agree but that back four especially Mendy is a liability

Disagree based on tonight’s performance
I have been worried about his performances in the last few weeks but tonight he was pretty good, especially defensively.
He is getting used to playing again and that’s taking time
Tonight will be a confidence boost for him

 

[Marvin]

Disagree based on tonight’s performance
I have been worried about his performances in the last few weeks but tonight he was pretty good, especially defensively.
He is getting used to playing again and that’s taking time
Tonight will be a confidence boost for him

I thought he passed the ball really well. Good positioning.

 

[daztrueblue91]

No idea what’s wrong with Kev at the moment, just flits in and out of the game. Can’t be fitness surely as he’s played enough to get up to speed now, just not dictating games like we know he can.

Kev, Mendy and Gundogan have all had long-term injuries and look extremely slow. Not sure whether it’s their conditioning but all three seem to lumber around the pitch now

 

[SebastianBlue]

Disagree based on tonight’s performance
I have been worried about his performances in the last few weeks but tonight he was pretty good, especially defensively.
He is getting used to playing again and that’s taking time
Tonight will be a confidence boost for him

Not sure it will be a confidence boost for Mendy or any other player.

And he was very loose with his passing today, giving away the ball while under very little pressure quite a few times, which Pep will not like. Though, I agree his defensive contributions were generally sound.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Kev, Mendy and Gundogan have all had long-term injuries and look extremely slow. Not sure whether it’s their conditioning but all three seem to lumber around the pitch now

The only salvation is the possibility that Kev was saving his legs for Sunday.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Hmmm the more you post...

Karen, it was one of the worst penalties I've ever seen, you can't dispute that.