Borussia Dortmund (A) | CL | Post-Match Thread

[shevtheblue]

Feel a bit for Alvarez here, it can't be easy having to come in off the bench and just be expected to perform when you have an absolute monster in your position. Another issue i think is that the team have slowly been changing the style of play to suit Haaland, it's then difficult to switch it again when Alvarez slots into 9. Thought we played ok, Dortmund are a really good team and it's easy to forget that - we handled them pretty well.

We do need to talk about Mahrez though, whether he's in a poor patch of form i'm not completely sure but it's hindering us and i don't think we're currently in a position to ride out games with him. I'd be more inclined to start Palmer over him, at the moment.

 

[ancoats]

It's funny how quick we have turned into not being happy with winning top of the group and playing for a draw in a meaningless game, for me pep should have made more changes and at one point Rodri got a bad looking challenge and pep face was like holly fuck NOT a bad injury,

Cole palmer and Grealish should have started for Mahrez plus he should never take another pen ?

What do we take out of the game
well Nothing other than JOB done

 

[ancoats]

Feel a bit for Alvarez here, it can't be easy having to come in off the bench and just be expected to perform when you have an absolute monster in your position. Another issue i think is that the team have slowly been changing the style of play to suit Haaland, it's then difficult to switch it again when Alvarez slots into 9. Thought we played ok, Dortmund are a really good team and it's easy to forget that - we handled them pretty well.

We do need to talk about Mahrez though, whether he's in a poor patch of form i'm not completely sure but it's hindering us and i don't think we're currently in a position to ride out games with him. I'd be more inclined to start Palmer over him, at the moment.

I thought Alvarez was not being found by the city players because of Haaland and rightly so, Haaland is the main man and wants the ball and hunts it down, so Alvarez was being used as a dummy to move players around, so Haaland has more space to work in,

Mahrez form has dropped and has lost the spark to a point he just does not want the ball and just plays it back
he used to run at the defenders and take them on and push them back

 

[blue ranger]

I'm disappointed for Alvarez. He came to the club on the back of a good run of form and brought that into his first couple of appearances, but now he looks lost.i think he should have started in place of Marez or Grealish in some games. I don't know what he was told when he came, but it can't have been this.

Yep agree. After his initial start he looks well out of his depth. This is going to sound really harsh but he looks like a modern Paul Dickov. Needs to be given time of course but I’m not convinced.

 

[bennyboy]

I thought we played really well in the second half.
Okay we did not score but a really comfortable draw.

 

[shevtheblue]

I thought Alvarez was not being found by the city players because of Haaland and rightly so, Haaland is the main man and wants the ball and hunts it down, so Alvarez was being used as a dummy to move players around, so Haaland has more space to work in,

Mahrez form has dropped and has lost the spark to a point he just does not want the ball and just plays it back
he used to run at the defenders and take them on and push them back

Oh yeah, i mean more so when Alvarez comes in as the striker. We need to adjust our play a bit more to last season, Alvarez is more like a false 9 with better instincts than Foden so we need to make an adjustment. It's still early days and just another thing we can use, but will take time.

One thing you could always rely on from Mahrez was the ability to keep the ball (except for when he would try a shot!). He's giving the ball away constantly and unable to keep a hold of it, that's a key marker in loss of form.

 

[paulchapo]

Long term I feel they both miss too many chances. They're better suited in our team as dribblers and providers which is why we let them go as we need clinical finishers. Alvarez will show is worth if he gets a good run of form. He won't be like Jesus or Sterling where confidence means they need to be on a good run or feel like they're a guaranteed starter. He'll be able to do the business regardless.

They do but their runs and workrate frees up others, plus they chip in with a fair few.

 

[ancoats]

Oh yeah, i mean more so when Alvarez comes in as the striker. We need to adjust our play a bit more to last season, Alvarez is more like a false 9 with better instincts than Foden so we need to make an adjustment. It's still early days and just another thing we can use, but will take time.

One thing you could always rely on from Mahrez was the ability to keep the ball (except for when he would try a shot!). He's giving the ball away constantly and unable to keep a hold of it, that's a key marker in loss of form.

yep

pep will have that setup in the bank for Alvarez as a false 9 and will be used in the league cup and maybe early FAcup rounds

 

[GX Blue]

These are the games where Sterling made the difference.
His runs behind the back were brilliant.

Mahrez, Grealish, Bernardo and even Palmer are all fantastic in their own right but all similar styles.

 

[Gremlin]

The game petered out in the last 15 mins as you could tell both teams were happy to settle for a draw as it suited us both so I'm not sure you can take any great conclusions from it. We got what we wanted and we move on.