Basel (H) Post Match Thread

[The perfect fumble]

I bloody hate all that continental dirge chanting we got from the Basel fans last night.

 

[grim up north]

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.

You seriously need to stop posting on here you are far to sensible and to often correct

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I bloody hate all that continental dirge chanting we got from the Basel fans last night.

They even all wore the same coats.

Contrived self-aware bullshit.

 

[fatbloke]

Disappointed to see Yaya on the teamsheet as we all know before a ball is even kicked that we’ll be slow in possession and the usual high pressing will be nonexistent. That said we needed to give De Bruyne and Silva a rest after Arsenal (x2) and Chelsea so I suppose Yaya had to play unfortunately.

Thought Foden was very good at times with his movement and ‘the simple things’ we try to do but I felt sorry for him and Gundogan as they were starved of possession in decent areas because of the slow build up from the two centre backs and Yaya. Gabby looked a yard off the pace as well but again never really had runners from midfield to bring into play because of the slow build up.

The only real standouts were Sane and Laporte who both looked a class above the rest but job done and onto the quarters with our first XI back.

 

[FantasyIreland]

The only real standouts were Sane and Laporte who both looked a class above the rest

I agree in regards Leroy,but Laporte most certainly did not.

He was hesitant,half hearted and looked nervous for much of the game,he didn't warrant anything better than 6/10 for his performance.

Bernardo Silva is much more deserving of such praise,he was busy as well as a constant threat.

 

[inchy14]

agree he had no choice but that doesn't detract from his failings at left back

I agree he has failings but as I said not really any other choice. To be fair the lad has done ok in an awkward position, he’ll gave learnt loads from it.

 

[fatbloke]

I agree in regards Leroy,but Laporte most certainly did not.

He was hesitant,half hearted and looked nervous for much of the game,he didn't warrant anything better than 6/10 for his performance.

Bernardo Silva is much more deserving of such praise,he was busy as well as a constant threat.

I agree with the Bernardo comments, I forgot about him in all fairness.

I disagree with Laporte though, I thought his reading of the game and calmness in possession while those around him (Stones, Yaya & Bravo) struggled was really positive. I certainly don’t think he was half hearted, just surrounded by players who were or were off form.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

I bloody hate all that continental dirge chanting we got from the Basel fans last night.

Same here. It's like the same monotonous noise no matter what the score is. That's not support.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

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.

Not sure Pep will rest players, the defeats of his Bayern in the CL (After they had comfortably won their league and he started resting players) was a sting in the tail, I think he prefers to just keep going with the main team and keep them on their toes. I dont think we'll see too much change in the prem games anyway.

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

Not sure Pep will rest players, the defeats of his Bayern in the CL (After they had comfortably won their league and he started resting players) was a sting in the tail, I think he prefers to just keep going with the main team and keep them on their toes. I dont think we'll see too much change in the prem games anyway.

This is certainly the approach he's taken in the past and he may take it this season, but we don't have a winter break in England and we play in one competition more than they do in Spain or Germany. I think Pep may also be influenced by what he's seen this season: Vinnie, Merlin and Ferna are so important to the way the team plays and they are all the wrong side of thirty. Vinnie has had a traumatic 2-3 seasons with injury but is still a unique influence on team spirit that he has to be nursed. David has had a nerve shredding time recently that we mustn't overplay him and Ferna is at risk because of his involvement in the very physical parts of the game. Others such as KdB, Leroy, Raheem, Bernardo etc need to be played enough but not to much, while Mendy and Delph need to get back to full match readiness - and others have to be in condition to come in if necessary. I'm only thinking aloud but we can trust Pep to get it right, but I wonder if last night showed that while his first eleven might be unstoppable we don't have to lose too many for the picture to change completely.