I acknowledge your pessimism but it’s two months into the season and we have a load of key injured players to come back.This result has long since been coming - we're not nearly as good as we were 2 years ago and meanwhile Liverpool and Arsenal have improved.
For me:
P/L
Arsenal - wins the P/L title;
Liverpool - 2nd
Man City - 3rd
C/L
City - Makes Round of 16
Beyond that - depends on whom we face
Lucky to win any trophy this year. And shit time for Pep's contract to come up for renewal plus the bullshit FFP allegations against us.
Foden shocking for that first goal… half heartedI appreciate Walker was rushed back to play yesterday so not digging him out, was he way out of position and hence why Foden was in the right back slot for their first goal? I only saw brief highlights.
He often is when it comes to defensive duties.Foden shocking for that first goal… half hearted
For the last time we didnt make a mistake letting palmer go , he couldnt get in the team when everyone was fit and he asked to leave , let it goThe most disappointing thing about yesterday’s performance is that we have seen for weeks that this midfield doesn’t work and desperately lacks legs and energy.
I am not Nunes biggest fan, but he has definitely put some good performances in recently and regained some confidence…..why not put him in the middle (The position we bought him for) to at least freshen it up.
I am still hopeful we will see Gundogan return to something like, but surely McAtee should be given a run….he can’t do any worse. Grealish, when fit should also be given a chance to play in the middle.
Gvardiol was bought as a centre half……..why not play him in there today and play Ake at fullback……he struggles against pace and power especially in the middle.
I seem to remember two years ago City putting in a similar performance against Brentford at home……look what happened that season…….however the players are another two years older and some are definitely in decline.
We have made mistakes…..letting Palmer go and not getting a proper back up for Rodri etc however I’d take not winning anything this season if some of the youngsters are given a proper chance.
I want Pep to stay, but he’s not above criticism and this turgid side to side passing without any creativity or end product is a really hard watch at the moment.
It also amazes me that when we eventually do get in a position to cross to Haaland the players do not seem capable of lifting the ball sufficiently and invariably hit the first defender….Nunes actually put the best crosses in today.
Five in a row is a tough ask…….and we can’t forget the majority of these players got us to the 4……but I fear that it’s one season too many for some.
Was like watching City in Pep's first seasonThis was worse than Wolves though. This was like watching City of old, our worst performance for many years.
Worse. Mid season Hughes… when we couldn’t get a resultWas like watching City in Pep's first season
My concern is that squeaking a few results has inflated our current position and papered over cracks that are becoming fissures.But it is ok to be below par, They (players) are human after all,
We have to drop off at some point after the past 5 years we have had, So what if we have looked normal
Our players are being asked to reach superhuman levels and Pep said he likes to work with a small squad.
Key Injuries are a major problem with having a small squad, it could be down to just one player like Rodri out for the season and the plans are out of the window.
PS
We were top of the league before kick-off so it's not all bad
While I like and appreciate both players, neither have been anywhere near, except in flashes, and are living on reputation at present.That's clearly from the heart, much of it true and the rest certainly arguable. Your 'mediocrity' tag on Jack is well off though and Phil is on the up despite being not at last season's level yet. We're only 9 games in, let's see how it goes until the window - hope it won't be too late then for a midfield boost to keep us in the battle for the glittering prizes.
Looked that way mate.Foden shocking for that first goal… half hearted
the players dont see it that wayI can see next week being a similar story, but we’ve got to somehow get a result. Then we have a few weeks break to get some players back and fit and then into a tough spell of games.
I hope pep is very clear to any player who even fucking sneezes in the next week or so, you do not go on international duty.
I would also say given our defence a high line is suicidal these days, Pep needs to tweak something so we gave more space around the box. Other tabs are basically getting quick men up front sitting back hit the channels on the break knowing we will struggle to get back. Haaland is starved of service as well. Yes I know we gave injuries but we would still play the sane way it was ok in the past when KDB broke and found feed people with Rodri mopping up but that’s not an option anymore. You have to use the hand you are dealt, Peps stubbornness with the same system with aging and lesser players who are knackered after 4 years of intense football could be our undoing this year, anyteam with pace up front will be looking forward to playing us, Brighton are going to be very hard to beat.My concern is that squeaking a few results has inflated our current position and papered over cracks that are becoming fissures.
One thing I would note is that our transfer business has not been up to snuff for the last few years. The likes of Phillips, Nunes, Kovacic and Doku have been expensive and peripheral, at best, to date. When we talk about players that would improve us, it’s the likes of Wirtz, Musiala…players that have a built-in starting position in the team…yet we have bought expensive squad players. In fact, Savinho is the only big signing we have made recently that has created any serious excitement and looks like they are a big time player, even though Doku and Nunes have shown flashes and Kova has been a steady Eddie in midfield and thank fuck we’ve had him!
Another thing is that Pep’s attacking philosophy requires almost perfection to achieve the results that we all crave. As we have seen, we are brilliant at bringing the ball, and the entire team, into the last third, but from there we faff about for minutes on end. Shuffle left, shuffle right, nope, back to the left, nope, back to the right….
Now, I understand there are often 18 players in there, but if we can’t generate a chance, a shot or a cross out of all the faffing about, then what’s the point?
I might get pilloried for even pointing it out, but Fergie’s United were masters of this for a decade. They pushed it wide and put it across, retrieve the out ball and recycled it. It was constant pressure, constant chances, all just waiting for a mistake, a loose ball, a deflection…and a goal.
We are a “play to feet” team. I get it. We are technically quite brilliant, and can often move teams around to create space. Brilliant! But where there is NO SPACE? What then?
Pep loves to talk about the 11 behind the ball, Erling has three on him and two in front. OK, that’s 5, so where are OUR open men?! Well, they’re the 5 shuttling ball from left to right!
Instead, we should be dropping a player like Foden OUT of the box and pushing a player like Dias, Stones, Akanji INTO the box. Not only does that give us more height in the box, but it replaces a non-shooting defender with a midfielder with an excellent outside shot AND a killer pass in him, if he sees it!
We also have 4 wingers who need to understand that not every cross has to go 8 ft in the air. A good attacking cross at 4-6 feet in a nightmare for defenders, because it’s neither here nor there, it is mid-body and arm height, and there’s almost nothing they can do to defend it with their feet OR head. So, drive a few balls in. See if there’s a deflection, feed off the chaos, and if it does drop it has as much chance of dropping for us as them.
Leave a Rico deep and play 9 vs 11, because they’re playing a zonal shell at that point and our movement and willingness to put the ball in the mix is their worst nightmare. When they hoof it clear, have Rico sweep it up and recycle it!
In short, we MUST do something different because we are struggling to beat teams who come to play 11 defenders and break on us AND the teams who aggressively pressure us and don’t give us the time to build up to the last third. What’s left???
After his pay off we could have the first 3 years free :-)That Ten Hag is on the market, he’d get a tune out of this group of players.
Not just that..Foden shocking for that first goal… half hearted
Bernies shrinking with age and non stop running.Not just that..
He had 2 or 3 easy chances and his shooting was woeful.
Don't know if it's just me but he looks a bit bigger then he usually does too..
He normally looks a bit like Bernie stature wise but there was a moment where they was next to each other and it was noticable that phil looked way bigger then him..
Not in an unhealthy way.
A muscular stocky way..
Agree 100%. What's with all the excuses? We have been piss poor. Losing Rodri is not a good enough reason to fall off the way we have if we were truly still an elite side. We're looking vulnerable for one simple reason. Our squad is nowhere near deep enough to withstand any critical injuries like in seasons past. We won the league last year mainly because Rodri remained healthy throughout. After winning the Treble many believed we were going to take it to another level but the reality is we've stagnated and rested on our laurels squeezing every last drop out of the squad last season. Gvardiol is the one potential world class player and Savio has a chance. Walker, Gundo, O'Reilly, Wilson-Esbrand, and Carson are on the 25 man roster which means we really have 20 minus Rodri, Bobb, and KDB. Ake and Stones are walking sick notes. Rico should be a rotational squad player, not an every minute RB. McAtee can't get a sniff. Having no back up striker is mind boggling. The excuse that no one wants to sit behind Haaland is ridiculous. Every club you can name has a back up striker. It's called paying someone to fill that role. Palmer this, Rogers that, Lavia this, Porro that...it's gaslighting. If teams were taking great strides to catch us I'd say yes it's hard to stay at the top. But the reality is we've basically sat still, actually regressed a bit allowing others to catch up without having to do any great business. And it's all been by choice, self inflicted. Many of you are OK with the standard being lowered and that's OK. I get it. Your bellies are full. But please stop insisting that it's all good and our squad building over the past 18 months has been anywhere near the levels of the previous 5 years...All sounds great….AND?
Yep, it’s BEEN great! Today wasn’t just about today, though, was it?!
Today was the culmination of what’s been coming, and almost happened against Wolves and Southampton and, and…
This team, this season, is not like any of the other teams we have lauded. It’s old, tired, injured and has lost its best player…the Best Player in the World, no less, AND a guy who was Top 10, while the #2 is struggling mightily…but is still trying to plug away with the possession game.
At one point today, we had 75% possession, yet had ZERO attempts on goal and 2 touches inside the opposition box. They had 25% and 8 attempts on target…and 27 touches(?) inside our box!!
Our first shot on target was at 79:20!!!
Today was poor…tactically, structurally, mentally and physically. Had Ederson had an off day, it would have been a cricket score. As it was 2-1 SOUNDS like we took part in a game that even the most casual of observers would say we were only in for 10 mins of normal time and the 6 mins of injury time!
3/4 possession, yet only in the game for less than 1/4 of the time! THAT is what we have become…a toothless tiger.
I entirely agree with this. As fans its not being ''entitled' to want us to win another Title or Champions League. Its not being a rag to comment on why we lost a game. I think the squad have become soft and that stems from the Top. The FA Cup defeat still irks me because it was clearly seen as 'acceptable' in house . One Trophy was enough -mission accomplished. Seeing players laughing on the bench midweek as we were losing is galling. The hunger that drove us to the treble is not there. The narrative is that the squad are all too shattered after endless games. This may well be correct but we seem keen to make a point of this while the competition keep pushing on.Agree 100%. What's with all the excuses? We have been piss poor. Losing Rodri is not a good enough reason to fall off the way we have if we were truly still an elite side. We're looking vulnerable for one simple reason. Our squad is nowhere near deep enough to withstand any critical injuries like in seasons past. We won the league last year mainly because Rodri remained healthy throughout. After winning the Treble many believed we were going to take it to another level but the reality is we've stagnated and rested on our laurels squeezing every last drop out of the squad last season. Gvardiol is the one potential world class player and Savio has a chance. Walker, Gundo, O'Reilly, Wilson-Esbrand, and Carson are on the 25 man roster which means we really have 20 minus Rodri, Bobb, and KDB. Ake and Stones are walking sick notes. Rico should be a rotational squad player, not an every minute RB. McAtee can't get a sniff. Having no back up striker is mind boggling. The excuse that no one wants to sit behind Haaland is ridiculous. Every club you can name has a back up striker. It's called paying someone to fill that role. Palmer this, Rogers that, Lavia this, Porro that...it's gaslighting. If teams were taking great strides to catch us I'd say yes it's hard to stay at the top. But the reality is we've basically sat still, actually regressed a bit allowing others to catch up without having to do any great business. And it's all been by choice, self inflicted. Many of you are OK with the standard being lowered and that's OK. I get it. Your bellies are full. But please stop insisting that it's all good and our squad building over the past 18 months has been anywhere near the levels of the previous 5 years...
Exactly this...I entirely agree with this. As fans its not being ''entitled' to want us to win another Title or Champions League. Its not being a rag to comment on why we lost a game. I think the squad have become soft and that stems from the Top. The FA Cup defeat still irks me because it was clearly seen as 'acceptable' in house . One Trophy was enough -mission accomplished. Seeing players laughing on the bench midweek as we were losing is galling. The hunger that drove us to the treble is not there. The narrative is that the squad are all too shattered after endless games. This may well be correct but we seem keen to make a point of this while the competition keep pushing on.
We have not built on success with the ruthless efficiency which was required, Perhaps the appetite has gone -we'll see in the coming months.