bluetonium
Well-Known Member
Questions will inevitably be asked now on our attitude going into the final stages of the season, and whether our 'second string' are good enough. Luckily, i don't think Pep will let it become an issue and there are a good 5 or 6 who will step into the team for Stoke anyway. Pep will certainly use this as an example of how things can go wrong if you take your foot off the gas, especially in a knockout competition.
Diaz is special though, has always had that ability to glide past players at speed with incredibly close control and actually head towards goal, if he can do it against a physical team like Basel then the signs are good for him and us.
At least Basel had a go, so well done to them. Supposedly superior teams have come to the Etihad and show much less ambition this season, and got absolutely nothing for their trouble. Bloody good job we got 4 away though, or else it could have been an uncomfortable last ten minutes. If they'd given up then we'd have drawn and not be feeling so sore today despite the tame efforts we made in the second half to play.
All in all, we can afford to not be too critical of Danilo, Zinchenko etc, as it is their first full season and injuries have left us playing them more frequently that we may otherwise have done. But it certainly highlighted to me in a big way how Yaya just can't be the fulcrum in Pep's system, he prefers to slow it down and play the pass, essentially doing what the centre back behind him also want to do, when what we want in that midfield position is one touch and on, or first time to keep it moving and drag people out of position. He's a blue legend, but as long known his time has come unfortunately.
Diaz is special though, has always had that ability to glide past players at speed with incredibly close control and actually head towards goal, if he can do it against a physical team like Basel then the signs are good for him and us.
At least Basel had a go, so well done to them. Supposedly superior teams have come to the Etihad and show much less ambition this season, and got absolutely nothing for their trouble. Bloody good job we got 4 away though, or else it could have been an uncomfortable last ten minutes. If they'd given up then we'd have drawn and not be feeling so sore today despite the tame efforts we made in the second half to play.
All in all, we can afford to not be too critical of Danilo, Zinchenko etc, as it is their first full season and injuries have left us playing them more frequently that we may otherwise have done. But it certainly highlighted to me in a big way how Yaya just can't be the fulcrum in Pep's system, he prefers to slow it down and play the pass, essentially doing what the centre back behind him also want to do, when what we want in that midfield position is one touch and on, or first time to keep it moving and drag people out of position. He's a blue legend, but as long known his time has come unfortunately.