Brentford (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[Stevieatlasblue]

That’s all on Pep with those awful substitutions

The meltdown continues. I reckon it goes past 170 tonight.

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

Akanji is what we signed, a £15mill player who has been carried but should now be replaced

Nah. He wasn’t good tonight but he’s been a big part of our success and could still be at RB

 

[willipp]

It's crazy! But still no links to any DM. We're very old, very slow and very predictable.

It’s the way teams just cut through our midfield with no protection. Quick passes and bang, teams are breaking with 4/5 players onto our back 3 or 4. It happens over and over again and you see Kovacic, gundo and Bernardo just floundering in the middle.

 

[MMA]

I trust Pep 1000% but sometimes I think not having proper fullbacks or a left-back at the club does puzzle me,
Pep is 100% with his system and will never change and will defend it to the hilt.

Sometimes I wish we had a plan B and became ugly and dirty and defended in the type of Terry Butcher or Tony Adams No nonsense stuff

I love pep mate.
He's the best ever.
But he's not perfect.
Nothing is.
Ask any martial arts instructor and they'll tell you all the black belt level is the white belt level but done correctly..
Do the basics right then the rest will follow.
We can't defend for toffee.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Pep does have these Brain farts now and again but he’s allowed them

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

Dippers just got a free kick. Jeez they press, harass, run tackle score goals for fun. So jealous.

Jealous lol???

 

[bitterblue78]

On the verge of signing a couple of defenders and a wide player yet not even linked with midfielders given thats what we need. Borderline criminal that

 

[Dribble]

FUCKIN GUTTED!!​

On the plus side, we displayed as much energy in 97 minutes of football tonight, as we possibly have over the last 3 months.

At times, some of our football was sublime, but at other times we looked nervy on the ball, lacking that telepathy we seemed to have built our all conquering sides around.



It was a proper battle at the GTech & the fear other teams had of us in the past has been replaced with a cautious respect. Brentford came to give us a game & it's not lost on me that the opposition kept targeting our left side of defence... AGAIN!

Thankfully, Phil put us 0-1 up in the second half after a trademark cross from my MoTM KDB, which settled us down & subdued Brentford who were still dangerous on the counter.

Savinho grew in influence during the second half & was unlucky not to score after spinning away from the right back, & sprinting from the halfway line to unleash a shot which whizzed past the far post.



Savinho broke again & led a City break, where he lashed in another shot, which was saved, but landed to Foden to stroke the ball home. 0-2 City.

HOWEVER, with 10 minutes left, we still looked vulnerable in defence, where again there was a Rodri sized hole missing, where he'd normally be protecting the CB's.

Brentford pulled one back, which spiked City again as we went in search of the 3rd & potential match winning goal. Still looking defensively vulnerable to a nothing to lose Brentford, we again were breached on the left where a clearance landed to a Bees player, who banged home the equaliser.

Gutted we didn't win. We're still not back to playing the dominating brand of possession football we've become known for, but the physical effort we showed today was at least some kind of consolation for conceding a 94th minute equaliser.

There was a time when we'd have been taking the ball into the corner & game managing a win. Uncharacteristically, we tried to put clear Sky Blue water between us & Brentford late on, & came a cropper for it.

We're still unbeaten during our mini revival, so I suppose it's about baby steps. The main takeaway is that we're in desperate need of a Rodri replacement & for me, two proper overlapping FB's.

 

[Jezza11]

Savio showing everyone what he’s about, take a bow son. Vintage KDB assist. But that was just papering over the cracks.
My sons U9s team would give us a hard time at the moment we are so shit defensively. Was only gonna go one way when we brought gundo on for kovacic, we had absolutely nothing in midfield was like masters football.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Draw fair result imo. Brentford are a cracking little side and they work their tits off. Frank is a very very good coach.

Best we’ve played for ages for me. Looked fitter and sharper than for weeks. Some cracking attacking play and even some good counters!

Gvardiol a universe better than he’s been. Much more switched on and played with proper commitment rather than sulking about.

Game changed with Gundogan’s introduction. Offered nothing in terms of defensive protection and the game simply passed him by again. Was like playing with 10 men. The bottom line is he’s absolutely shit nowadays.

Kev was a joy to watch. Still the best player in the league and still got it. Need him fully fit for the top 4 push.

Savinho is utter class. Very Mahrez esque in movement, touch and confidence. Going to be some good player. Let himself down badly by allowing their cross for the equaliser but that’ll come.

Get Marmoush, Khusanov and Reis in and we’re looking good. Get Dias and Stones back and even better.

Still desperate for a proper DM even if a loan stop gap.

 

[Blue tiger]

One positive we are getting goals from other players and not just Earling.

 

[pride in battle]

Everything wrong with this season right there.

Kovacic and Akanji are absolutely nowhere near the level we need starters to be at. Jesus Christ I can’t get over how bad Kovacic was before he came off…didn’t even once break into a run. The score had nothing to do with him going off either, we were lucky not be shipping goals tbh.

Attacking wise we were far better.

Kev, Ake, Phil and Haaland all did well.

But we’re in trouble still.

Really ? Kovacic ?

 

[Ken92]

Nah. He wasn’t good tonight but he’s been a big part of our success and could still be at RB

No he isn't good enough to be our starter and you could see his obvious weaknesses while being under pressure much more this season

 

[B\connellblue]

Dippers just got a free kick. Jeez they press, harass, run tackle score goals for fun. So jealous.

And got a point

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Good game


Didn’t get why we couldn’t just take it into the corner and waste time

And why put a corner into the box near the end

 

[peter.evans]

I agree mate, but Gundo was not the sub to make there

He would have been if the genius manager for a change just tries to shore up the defence by taking a forward off.

 

[Blue2202]

Result is on Savinho could have killed the game multiple times , greedy bastard

We had a two goal lead with 10 mins to play, attacking players had done their job despite several wasted chances.

Defence couldn’t do their job and close the game out, wouldn’t rely on them being able to close a fucking door at present.

 

[deano ou812]

It’s piss poor coaching throughout the club.
Fitness/conditioning coaches don’t seem to be doing much as other teams play as much of us and don’t look fucked after half time. Added our woeful defending and finishing and set pieces, you do wonder what we do in between games.

Every player bar savinho looked like they were treading water second half even gundogan and he was only on for 20 mins or so..it’s like lethargy has crept in as well..

 

[uwerosler28]

Not really, his chances were before we went 2 up.

Doesn't matter when they where he makes the correct decisions that game isn't in doubt

 

[David White]

I thought our attacking play was miles better, the finishing wasn’t but we showed much more intent. We need a striker to give Haaland a kick up the arse and some competition and a rest. Nunes should have buried that chance in the first half.

2 very poor goals to concede unfortunately and we looked weaker after kovacic went off. Not sure why he was hooked other than fitness, I’d be disappointed if there was any other reason as we struggled at times after he went off.

A draw was probably fair on the balance of play but a bit of a choker when it happens in the last few minutes.

Let’s hope a few of these rumours come to fruition. I’ve never heard of any of them but as long as they’re fit they’ll be an improvement to the squad.