Basel (H) Post Match Thread

[Manc Born & Bred]

Very strange game last night. The overall objective when the draw was made was to qualify which we have done. Once we had won the first leg the objective last night was surely to win the game but also to give valuable minutes to various players. The back four were a shambles and Yaya was playing as if it was a testimonial. Despite attempting over 1000 passes and having the majority of possession it was noticeable that when Basel had the ball their first thought was to go forward which exposed the gaps in midfield. Our first thought was to go backwards, sideways, backwards etc which gave Basel time to regroup. Very frustrating to watch. Players who should have impressed didn't and special mention must go to the total knob in front of me who berated me for wanting to see some urgency and passion, telling me to enjoy the finest football we have ever seen and then spent 90 minutes moaning about Jesus, Stones etc. If only Carling did hypocrisy

 

[Basler]

Oh well.

How absolutely brilliant were the Basel away fans last night. They were superb to a man.

Best this season.

Thanks man. It was a special game for us and seeing our boys fight that hard was great to see. We had a few very bad games at last and hope that we can take the success back in our league and win the season.

And thank you all for having me as a guest in here. You guys have a nice city with great people.

 

[adr2.8i]

All i care about is that we are in the hat for the next round. Only our 2nd ever time into the quarter finals of the CL remember!!
We jogged around last night and saw out the game. Job done. Cant wait for the draw now!

But on a very selfish point of view here, if we win the league in the next 4 games, i dont want Pep to start messing about with our line ups too much..........some of us have the 100+ goal tally to win you know!! :-) So keep playing our main men Pep and tell them to keep playing and trying to score goals please mate! :-) thanks.

 

[come-on-barney]

380 mile return journey yesterday and was also annoyed at the booing, I knew it wasn’t going to be a great game but you take the rough with the smooth and wasn’t going to miss it. Certainly around me not many in the champs league scheme not sure our fans have embraced this yet. Sane was fantastic and Pep will have noticed his performance, one of the few who played well last night. No coincidence he’s always on the team sheet. This lad is going to be world class. He gets bums off seats when he has the ball. Foden still a way to go and needs more experience. My only moan is Diaz. Really think this lad is going to be special but only gets like 10/15 minutes and us trying sometimes too hard to impress cause he doesn’t get the game time. There was one occasion where he wanted the ball over the top, and he got a poor ball and pointed to his eyes. Confident little chappy. Really needs to get more game time and is probably closer than Foden right now. As has been said many times there is a big drop off from the first choice team. However, if we would have won 8.0 yesterday it would have made no difference to the tie. The big guns will be back Monday. We have had a really good season and there is more to win!

 

[jockblue]

I was talking to my mate on Sunday. About 13 years ago, he had to put down his much loved Rottweiler Miller. Now my mate nurtured old Miller from a puppy and now he was approaching 13, his back legs gone, incontinent, in pain and having nightmares. Now over the course of about 12 months, poor Miller was weeing all over house and it was getting worse. I couldn't help but think those last 6-12:months turned thoughts of a once fit n healthy dog into memories of a incontinent weak animal. So last night, I watched arguably the greatest player in our history turn into Miller. ( not Roger) So sad to see,because I love YaYa, but the memory of his goal against Villa in 2014 is fast being replaced with performances like last night. He was by no means alone last night,but this is YaYa Toure we're talking about. CTID.

Yes, he had a poor game, but putting him down's a bit extreme I think...

 

[mosssideblue]

I don't like to complain after the season we have had so far, however that was a shocking performance, traffic was a nightmare getting there as usual for a night game, paid £50 for me, Mrs and son and it was a complete waste of money. I don't remember a forward pass in the 2nd half. I don't think i'll do the champions league cup scheme next season as majorly disappointing !!

I agree the game was poor and I had a nightmare journey too, but the tactics for last night were determined two weeks ago. If it had been in the balance, we would have seen a totally different line up and game strategy.

We knew it was a dead rubber and was played out as such

 

[Marvin]

I agree the game was poor and I had a nightmare journey too, but the tactics for last night were determined two weeks ago. If it had been in the balance, we would have seen a totally different line up and game strategy.

We knew it was a dead rubber and was played out as such

Wider point is why are there so many dead fixtures at this stage of the competition.

 

[Bluebee2]

Almost completely a second team, everyone on that pitch last night apart from Sane would not start in the next Premier league game if everyone else is fit.
Ridiculous booing at the end, there’s some right idiots at matches nowadays.

 

[blueincy]

As Frankie out of the groovie goolies used to say "I needed that!" Forgot what a defeat felt like:-)
Still through happy the kids got a run out in the competition...

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Last night was a dead rubber but momentum is important. last year we gave the Rags the initiative when we played our reserves in the League Cup. We will need to fire up everyone for Stoke on Monday now. Nothing sadder than watching a legend like Ya Ya whose legs have gone being overrun in midfield. It was pointless playing him and I really hope, apart from a Champagne substitution on the last day, he does not get selected again. He looked humiliated last night, especially when he didn't even have the confidence to take that free kick on.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Yes, he had a poor game, but putting him down's a bit extreme I think...

HA HA!!!

 

[Gunnerblue9320]

[QUOTE="Bluebee2, post: 10853896, member: 19804"
Ridiculous booing at the end, there’s some right idiots at matches nowadays.[/QUOTE]

I didn't hear any booing. what stand were you in?

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

One of the few chances to rotate properly, yet only facing 1 opponent in the next three weeks.
Time will tell, but it was always going to be a lopsided performance with Foden arguably trying too hard, Yaya slowing the game down to walking pace. defenders trying not to get injured, and Jesus almost getting a red card.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

[QUOTE="Bluebee2, post: 10853896, member: 19804"
Ridiculous booing at the end, there’s some right idiots at matches nowadays.

I didn't hear any booing. what stand were you in?[/QUOTE]

Plenty of booing at the beginning for that fuckin' anthem! But I didn't hear anything at the end in CBL3.

Bit disappointed with the performance, even with the starting eleven. Thought they would make a better job of it than they did. But if yer set up with a player or players who are known or unknown quantities, you have to get a good team performance to stay level. I thought Basel defended very well, and their pressing was founded in the believe that they could get a result, even at 1-1.

I thought Sané was the only one who brought his 'A-game'!

Take either KdB or David Silva out of the starting eleven and there's a tangible drop in creativity. Take both out and there isn't one player at the club who can fill the void.

We shouldn't be defeated at home to a side that would be mid-table in the PL at best.

Some of the passing was quite wretched.

 

[Marvin]

Almost completely a second team, everyone on that pitch last night apart from Sane would not start in the next Premier league game if everyone else is fit.
Ridiculous booing at the end, there’s some right idiots at matches nowadays.

I don't know about that. I was disappointed with City. We could have played the kids and still put in a good performance but Yaya totally wrecked our midfield.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Last night was a dead rubber but momentum is important. last year we gave the Rags the initiative when we played our reserves in the League Cup. We will need to fire up everyone for Stoke on Monday now. Nothing sadder than watching a legend like Ya Ya whose legs have gone being overrun in midfield. It was pointless playing him and I really hope, apart from a Champagne substitution on the last day, he does not get selected again. He looked humiliated last night, especially when he didn't even have the confidence to take that free kick on.

I found it quite remarkable that he didn't take the kick. He had a string of free kicks a couple of seasons ago from probably the same blade of grass, and each one sailed into the top corner. I don't know what Pep thought he might do. We all know that the game is driven at just slightly quicker than walking pace when Yaya has a central role, and I think that he feels that his status will prevent him from being tackled, pressed, and harried, and I feel he thinks that opposition players will part like the Red Sea and allow him to drive at the heart of the defence. Not any longer, sadly.

 

[blueparsman]

We made the round trip of 520 mile knowing it would be a very changed side, and it was great to see Foden and Diaz get a game. But it was so frustrating watching some of the simple passes being totally b*llsed up. Gundog was awful along with a few others. I did not expect them to run there socks off, but a bit of effort second half would have been nice. There was a wee bit booing at end but nothing to write home about. About ten mins or so before end the crowd got onto them for passing about doing nothing then they upped tempo and we made a chance for Diaz. If only they had shown that tempo a wee bit more in second half. But we are in Qtr final and no injuries that could see.

 

[Marvin]

I didn't hear any booing. what stand were you in?

Plenty of booing at the beginning for that fuckin' anthem! But I didn't hear anything at the end in CBL3.

Bit disappointed with the performance, even with the starting eleven. Thought they would make a better job of it than they did. But if yer set up with a player or players who are known or unknown quantities, you have to get a good team performance to stay level. I thought Basel defended very well, and their pressing was founded in the believe that they could get a result, even at 1-1.

I thought Sané was the only one who brought his 'A-game'!

Take either KdB or David Silva out of the starting eleven and there's a tangible drop in creativity. Take both out and there isn't one player at the club who can fill the void.

We shouldn't be defeated at home to a side that would be mid-table in the PL at best.

Some of the passing was quite wretched.[/QUOTE]
Lots of poor performances from senior players:

Stones, Danilo and Gundog probably the worst. My suggestion at half time was get Yaya off. Put Tosin at centre-back and move Stones forward into midfield. Stones has the ability to play a pass, and he is also very good at striding out with the ball at his feet. We had no one breaking into the penalty area last night, just Jesus who was marked out of the game by two central defenders

We'll probably find a game later on in the season where we are losing and need to change things up so you have to try things out like this.

I think Guardiola was happy at 2-1 down just to see if the team he had out could turn it around. Only Sane tried to take the responsibility

 

[lionheart]

Aguero must have been fuming. Every opportunity to score 2-3 goals if brought on after 60 minutes, giving him a chance to compete for the Golden Boot (or whatever) if we go all the way.

 

[west didsblue]

I think Pep nailed it. First half was fine but second half was poor mostly due to Yaya slowing the game, but who cares? We're through and it was never in doubt. Didn't expect a classic so wasn't disappointed. If you take out Yaya and Bravo, the average age of the team including the two subs was 21 years old and considering Bravo probably should have saved the second goal and Yaya was a liability, there's not really a lot to complain about.