Brentford (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[Jonas.shaffer]

Yet he made a save that kept us in the game, one that Ederson doesn’t make

Did you miss me saying he's a great shot stopper, or did you ignore it? My reply was specifically to OP regarding how much we're struggling to play it out from the back and through opposition presses.

 

[kunaguero10]

Missing half of them to injury

Who?

 

[hcblue95]

Haaland should be our captain.

 

[K-Bo]

we're not playing well, but we're not losing. 3 points off the top is a good position to be in, but the performance needs to improve, particularly with the attacking players that aren't called erling haaland.

 

[come-on-barney]

Sign of champions

I was going to say you got to be kidding after that second half performance. But the league is so poor this season, it literally could be anyone’s.

 

[citytill1die84]

Again, I'm convinced you didn't watch the match.

Ok then. Lol

 

[Millennium]

Unfortunately, City's level is not reassuring. In the first half, we performed well and wasted opportunities, but we came out ahead with a goal from Haaland. However, in the second half, as usual, our performance declined, and we were no longer able to move the ball well into the final third of the opponent's field. Savinho's performance was negative and he did not make a real contribution, and the same applies to Nico Gonzalez.

 

[spider blue]

We can criticise the second half performance, but I would labour the fact that having played Brighton away, Arsenal away, United and Spurs in the first 7 games... only being 3 points off top is a position I would have taken at the start of the season.

Since Donnarumma arrived...
7 games unbeaten in all competitions
And we've conceded 4 goals in those 7 games (and one was a bullshit penalty)

Despite all the hysterical bleating about our "defensive frailty", since August we've got literally the best defensive record in the Premier League.

We are a different prospect to last season, and although we're a way off knowing if we can go for a title run again, I think we've made as good a start as any City team would in recent years given the fixtures we've played. The test is if we can play consistently at this level all season. If we do ,then we'll be there or thereabouts.

Nice bit of common sense.

 

[deano ou812]

Big result that,even taking in the poor second half.The big man is absolutely colossal for us,my only worry is if he was to get injured as who is scoring the goals in this team..

 

[IronsideKozuch]

The fact that you are calling the other guy stupid, then using the fact that we were good for 45 minutes to prove your point!

yeah, because he said we been awful whole game. So hes either stupid or lying. I assume theres no point in lying about entertainment and to mock your own team, so there we are

 

[madloaf]

Ok then. Lol

Lol. (Sighs)

 

[DenisLawBackHeel74]

Brilliant first half with a lot of positives from our MF and wide positions, topped off by a masterclass in goal scoring from Haaland….

Second half was abysmal by contrast. Lacked any real goal threat and the players looked gassed after 50 mins. Haaland dropped deeper into MF to receive the ball and we continued with the ridiculous high line defensively…..I think pep needs to have a plan to close games out because it’s very risky at the minute.

All that said, we are 3 points off the top and actually could have been evens if we’d managed to hold off Arsenal the other week…lots to be positive about and surely we are due a bit of luck on the injury situation….

Onwards blues.

 

[hateutd]

Another team without Rodri....3 points are gold... second half,we lost in mediocrity....

 

[East Level 2]

Thank fuck for that! Quite happy it’s an international break now. Stress free for two weeks.

It's not stress-free when so many of our players are involved in the bloody international games.

 

[citytill1die84]

We've seen games in the past decade where we've probably created 25-30 chances in a match ..... we scored in the first half today, and put another couple of decent efforts in, but it's nowhere near enough ..... we got away with it today because of our workrate, and our organisation, which was pretty much perfect apart from the cock up that forced Donnarumma into making a save.

Didn't get away with fuck all, we were the better team all game they had 1 shot in 97 minutes ffs.

Unbelievable.

 

[oldius]

Strange criticism of Gonzalez, in my view.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Didn't know Haaland had a kid

Born last December, Pep inadvertently mentioned it after the win at Leicester last Christmas, something like Erling not getting much sleep he's a new dad.

Seen pix of Isabella with the pram, gender not revealed * and fair play to them for that.

So yes, he's a dad.

 

[Chak19]

Yet he made a save that kept us in the game, one that Ederson doesn’t make

Eddy has made saves like that before, just as not consistently as Gigi.

 

[noseve]

We also have a goalkeeper who's poor with the ball at his feet. I understand he's a great shot stopper, but I don't understand the thinking of the club going from one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers of all time to one who's very uncomfortable with the ball at his feet. Especially when playing from the back is the 'DNA' of the club at every level, from under 8's to the senior team, men and women. Why not emulate PSG's approach to replacing Donnarumma and find a middle ground between shot-stopping and ball-playing? Oh, well. Too late now to question it, I suppose.

I think Donnarumma is the single biggest step forward we've made this season - maybe matched by what looked like a willingness to start with Khus, before his injury.
The new keeper is well in credit, already

 

[Bewar3them00n]

Apart from the lack of cutting edge in the 2nd half, we look far more solid in defence, Brentford hardly had a sniff.
No bozo moments from Nunes, who had a decent game, as did Dias, Gvardiol & O’Rielly.
Thought Savinho was average, & we missed that link up play down the left between Doku & O’Rielly, minimal threat down the left.
Nico G & Reijnders should be able to deputise for Rodri while he’s out, & Khusanov should be back after the International break