Basel (H) Post Match Thread

[moon]

True disappointment but not down hearted

Job done . team picked to give players a rest after a busy week because we already had the tie won.

 

[Bluebee2]

After the previous week Arsenal x 2 and Chelsea the lads deserved a rest

 

[Gray]

Our best team would be:

........................ Ederson ...........................
Walker.......Kompany.....Otamendi....Delph (Mendy)
.................... Fernandinho.........................
............ De Bruyne ....... D.Silva ..................
Sterling (B. Silva)....... Aguero ......... Sane(Jesus)

Last night only B. Silva, Sane and Jesus played from that lot.

 

[Jacko1956]

The last couple of weeks I've been an optimist whomever we get, but after seeing both goals last night - the second in particular - I am dreading every team in QFs.[/QUOT


Wouldn't worry, will be totally different back four and midfield, however think Stones is now our forth choice centre back, been awful since returning from injury although Laporte looks good better defenceivly and better on the ball than Stones.

 

[KCblue]

Our best team would be:

........................ Ederson ...........................
Walker.......Kompany.....Otamendi....Delph (Mendy)
.................... Fernandinho.........................
............ De Bruyne ....... D.Silva ..................
Sterling (B. Silva)....... Aguero ......... Sane(Jesus)

Last night only B. Silva, Sane and Jesus played from that lot.

Came here to say the exact same. And as you pointed out, two the three that played are usually just one of our first subs off the bench.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Paul Dempsey.

Yep, that's him, the boxing fella.

And very good observations, too.

Better than that red cnut they usually have.

 

[FantasyIreland]

The last couple of weeks I've been an optimist whomever we get, but after seeing both goals last night - the second in particular - I am dreading every team in QFs.

I see you have been back on the forum since you made this comment,would you like to respond to the people asking you why?

 

[SebastianBlue]

ouch...now that is rotten luck....a couple of seasons back the two games that I came down for were the 0-1 loss v Stoke then a a 1-1 draw with Hull

I came back for the Southampton match in November, as well, so I’ve tied it up on both legs and am now playing into extra time (in May?). ;-)

 

[Azzurri4]

Came here to say the exact same. And as you pointed out, two the three that played are usually just one of our first subs off the bench.

With all the criticism of Stones, we should remember he was (1) playing with Bravo (2) playing with Danilo and (3) playing without CDM cover thanks to Yaya. Basically all of the things that made life difficult for him last season.

That is a lot going against a guy trying to find his form. Not to mention he's still playing with a new partner in Aymeric.

While I agree his play didnt inspire confidence, the above must be considered.

The only fault of this team is that we have long spells when we just have no cutting edge (particularly when KDB isnt playing). We are so determined to keep possession that we are scared to make a daring pass to a runner through the middle of the pitch. I was particularly relieved by Pep's comments after the match - he clearly saw the same thing and bemoaned passing for the sake of passing.

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

I expected us to coast through last night's match at a canter especially after the first ten minutes, but this was unfair to Basel, who were an impressively neat and tidy team, and also rather blind to the condition of our eleven. Pep has, as is only to be expected, hit several nails on the head in his public comments on the match and he's right to point out that you never get a fluent performance out of a team showing six changes. What I believe is that Pep wasn't really surprised by what he saw and he was actually prepared to accept the defeat rather than send on the creme de la creme to save the game. The tie was won, the PL title is close and we're into the last eight of the CL, which is the really difficult one. If we can tie up the PL quickly Pep will want all the squad to be match sharp just in case. This will mean that many of the players involved last night will be playing much more often in the PL so that all the squad will be rested, refreshed and used to playing with each other. This was not the case last night. Danilo and Zinchenko have played fairly regularly but not with Stones and Laporte, who have not played much in the last couple of months and not together. Bravo has not played much. The back 5 were like 5 strangers last night and only by playing together and dealing with real match situations will that change. Mendy and Delph will also need game time, in real PL matches. And there are problems further forward. KdB, Merlin, Ferna and Ilkay are going to be nursed through the rest of the season we hope and this means Youngsters Phil and Brahim and veteran Ya Ya are going to play more. Foden and Diaz looked fine last night, but Ya Ya looked like someone who, if their legs haven't gone, has hardly played at all this season. And up front Gabriel looked way short of match fitness and totally lacking match sharpness, as is to be expected in someone who has been out with a very nasty injury since December 31.

I don't think Pep expected to lose but I think he may well be of the opinion that those last 20 minutes were an important and valuable experience for those players.