Brentford (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Would be interesting to see the stats on conceding from the opponents 1st shot on target.

Toney went through and Ederson saved a one on one that was subsequently flagged for offside. That should count as a save in my book.

 

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

Thats the thing, you double up on him and you leave other players free, so it's not that simple.

Great tactic if your play a sport where only Haalands goals count, otherwise it's really not a great tactic. In some ways it's worse doubling up on him. Even if you don't double up, he still has get the better of a defender. Surely the odds are better to go that route rather than leaving someome like Foden absolutely free.

The good thing is that this is clearly being highlighted now, so other managers have to choose between giving Haaland more room, which often means you'll get punished, or double up and let other top players waltz into your box unmarked.

That's why he's a huge asset even in games he doesn't score.

Absolutely. But I think the key phrase is "double up and let other top players waltz into your box unmarked." Last night Phil took full advantage but Julian and KdB were on the pitch to profit on occasions and Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Oscar Bobb were on the bench ready to come on to play out wide but move inside to take advantage of the terror facto Erling brings with him. This City team can be, and often is, a fearsome opponent.

 

[ancoats]

Hard to know what to make of the one sloppy goal we seem to gift the opposition every game at the moment.

But otherwise I think we look like we are going up the gears at just the right time. The weird 2-3-4-1 with Walker in midfield and Gvardiol and Bernie on the wings and Kev, Foden and Alvarez all playing between the lines across the pitch is a bit of a headfuck but seems to be for the opposition defence as well. It leaves us a touch more vulnerable on the counterattack than last year but maybe Pep just trusts that formation to get more goals. I don't love it for the CL but it'll be interesting to watch for the rest of the season.

Facing the better teams we can not keep turning off and giving a goal away
But when Haaland and KDB get match fit and games under their belts, I think they will be firing very soon and goals will be flowing, Last night City should have been 3 or 4 before Brentford scored, that would have changed their game plan and the City team settle down,

There are still loads of improvements to come but we are starting to gel and when we are on it lookout

 

[ballbag]

It’s just a bit of banter by some Twitter knob. But lots seem to think it was real. That’s the trouble with Twitter I guess

Its the trouble with people on Twitter. Or just people in general. Its true if they agree with it, even if it isn't.

 

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

Quite superb going forward for the entire 90 odd minutes. Started off somewhat edgy at the back, appearing to kick the ball into each other and fiddle about rather than clear the ball, but I think much of this was the result of Brentford playing long, which they do very well, and then pressing and competing for the second ball. Brentford did always look dangerous when they moved forward, so that they did put us under pressure at times and they did have chances. Fortunately our possession game meant their opportunities were quite rare. Our quality in midfield and up front meant they were always under pressure. Erling's presence up front and Phil's movement created enough space to overcome their low bloc. A very good watch - despite Pep being so boring! And what a team City are.

 

[pennblue]

I thought last night was an exceptional demonstration of how well Foden has developed under Pep. He's genuinely excellent at smelling out pockets on the pitch that all of his years of being moved around, and the false 9 season especially, has really honed that skill for him.

There were a number of times where we seemed static, slow and not showing for the ball, but Phil seemed to be the exception. Felt like he was always making himself available in the little pockets, and when we found him good things happened

 

[Blue Til Death]

Heard a lot about the Brentford keeper having a worldie performance last night, watching the game today, he didn’t make a single save I wouldn’t expect a PL keeper to make..

City were shooting from distance at the centre of the goal or just off, making his life easy …!

The pisser is, if it was the rags or dippers playing last night. Those routine saves would have been goals as demonstrated in his previous performances..

 

[gloryhuntersince85]

The last City player not born in Stockport to score away at Brentford was Clive Wilson in 92

Nicky Summerbee did in 97

 

[eyalluvitt]

Nicky Summerbee did in 97

Born in Altrincham, in the Royal borough of Stockport

 

[DTKOAG]

It was really noticeable last night, lots of obvious tourists in half and half scarves and some very expensive clobber. I’m absolutely no fashion expert but two Asian guys stood next to us underneath before the game had Montcler and Canada Goose jackets respectively, and that is pricey stuff. So paying hundreds for a ticket is presumably not a problem. It creates tension, and it obviously did last night, but if these tickets are being sold on by points holding blues to touts or agencies, rather than directly by City, it isn’t really the clubs fault. But who knows for sure.

Polish Blues out in force last night.