Brentford (H) | Post-Match Thread

[jimharri]

Walker is a big miss as he tries 100% always..makes a big difference when you have a character that makes others understand what's important ...

Him being out has been a blow to us. I'm not sure people realised how important he is to us, until he's not there. I certainly didn't. Yes; he has the odd brainfart. But they're few and far between.

 

[Phil1]

I would prefer to say that we didn't 'click' and Brentford came with a set of frustrating tactics that added to the mix that didn't get us 'clicking". You didn't see any of the games in the early 60's? They were 'fuckin' awful'!

I didn't see the games in the 60's so correct on that score but it's all relevant isn't it? This version of City is different and by our standards we weren't good by any measurement. If only 2/3 players (at a push) turn up then you're going to suffer. That's what happened and it meant we were terrible on the day. No point overthinking it, or looking at the past, it has no relevance.

 

[Tolmie scores]

Him being out has been a blow to us. I'm not sure people realised how important he is to us, until he's not there. I certainly didn't. Yes; he has the odd brainfart. But they're few and far between.

His speed and determination to make up for mistakes is infectious.. without him we are pretty limp..lack some real balls really

 

[Grassland Blue]

Well that nails it then, they scored 2 we scored 1 and we apparently have the best striker in the world

Haaland is a beast. He has an instinct for hitting the target.
The difficulty yesterday was getting the ball to him to enable him to have a crack.
Crosses which he couldn't jump high enough to reach or were a yard behind him were happening all game.

 

[Metalartin]

I'm over it now. I don't think the ref or VAR were the problem in that game, I fully understand Brentfords tactics against City also, so I'm not complaining about that either.

I will say, although I have no complaints about the decision myself, if the shoe was on the other foot on the penalty call and it was Brentford asking the question. The conspiracy bellends would be out in force all over social media, saying it was definitely on the line and therefore "a stonewall pen". You just know it, but they probably don't even remember there being a VAR check, they are that selective. Twitter/Youtube muppets for you though, I suppose.

 

[1961_vintage]

City will be a different animal after the break. The 5pts will keep us focused and on the hunt. These types of title fights brings out the best in us. Unless we get a ton of injuries, expect a winning run when we return to action. Break has come at the wrong time for some teams but the right time for us.

I suspect that it will be late January before we are back in our normal groove.

 

[wolviedinho]

I suspect that it will be late January before we are back in our normal groove.

We don’t have much room for complacency. Need to chase Arsenal now and see how they handle the pressure. Full backs seem to be causing most of the problems. The link to attack is broken and our solidified defensive link is not working with a make shift rb. Far too early to be throwing in the towel.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I didn't see the games in the 60's so correct on that score but it's all relevant isn't it? This version of City is different and by our standards we weren't good by any measurement. If only 2/3 players (at a push) turn up then you're going to suffer. That's what happened and it meant we were terrible on the day. No point overthinking it, or looking at the past, it has no relevance.

I agree we weren't good, but we've won games in the past by not being 'good', or up to a standard that we have enjoyed, but that's the nature of the game. We had two-thirds of the team on Saturday who couldn't get going, whether that was down to Brentford stifling our efforts and us not finding a crowbar when needed, it's difficult to say!

 

[Grassland Blue]

Haaland is desperate for that early ball in behind the defence. He would be buying dinner for Sané every night if the week with the kind of service Sané would be providing him!

We have a CF who likes the ball in behind, which isn’t easy given the 5-3-2 block, so you have to lift the ball looking for him directly or to clean up second balls. Just didn’t do EITHER with any effectiveness yesterday!

The key to these types of games is EXACTLY what Brentford did to us…get the first goal, make the opposition chase the game, then hit them as often as possible once they open up.

Usually, the oppositions soft underbelly is the open spaces it creates for us to exploit. Against us, it’s the commitment of all 10 outfield players inside their last third of the pitch.

As I said earlier, OUR greatest weapon is forcing OUR GAME on other teams. However, early on, Brentford forced THEIR game on us and SHOUKD have had a 3-0 lead in the first 16 minutes!

From there, it was long cross & knock on for the angled runner in behind or the one on one runner with pace playing hit and run with our slower defenders. Their pace caused us problems because we play high risk defence. Yesterday it cost us. Normally it does not,

Our troubles ALWAYS seem to come against the disciplined 11 man defence they can not only press and collapse of we beat that press, but can break out at pace, with rabbits that can hold the ball up or take players on one on one.

It has been this way for years under Pep, but playing the percentages means it has very rarely cost us 3 points. This year, it has made us look a bit slow, stale and at 6s and 7s.

The last thing I will say is that our schedule has been punishing. It hadn’t allowed us to do almost any tactical work, because there is simply no time with a weekend-midweek-weekend schedule due to travel, rest & recovery.

I’m hoping Pep has a fresh idea of two for the Abu Dhabi “mid-season” because we have started to look a bit one dimensional, even with different line ups, because we are facing the same challenge every game, with very little variation. We are becoming very predictable, both in the manner of our attack and the way in which we can be attacked…and teams like Fulham, Brentford and Palace are starting to become OUR most difficult opponents, because they don’t need to attack us, nobody expects them to get a result, and they have the exact same approach, which we struggle against!

Our saving grace over a season is that we usually score first and that creates the need for the opposition to come out at some point. This season, we have conceded first more often than I can ever remember happening.

I am reminded of when Pep had a sticky spell and we got the “Tackles? What is ‘the tackles?’ We do not train for the tackles!” comment.

It is time we did some self-reflection of what we are doing that is not achieving the desired results, and what our difficult opponents are doing that we are struggling to handle.

Lastly, it feels like this is the last iteration of this team and that we are on the verge of a transition…be that with or without Pep.

There is youth on the doorstep, there is age creeping up on s few players and injuries are causing too many reshuffles at times. Our possession is the stuff of legend, but it’s not creating the desired effect. It is no longer smothering and killing teams off with the chances it creates.

Rather, it is creating defensive blocks that are not only holding, but are spring-loaded to attack our soft underbelly…and being far too successful at it!

I’d expect another 2-3 man rotation this summer, with some pace and something a little different being injected into the squad. Grealish was certainly different to the profile, but isn’t being utilized as effectively as he could be, although he does seem like he has upped his game wrt to dribbling and taking on his man, albeit to little effect as yet.

With Gundo looking like he’s leaving and Bernardo apparently wanting to leave, we have major quality required to replace both of them, esp given one gets to walk away for free and will not contribute a penny to the transfer of his replacement.

Here’s hoping Txiki has identified the men and we are already working on the deals, because it will not be cheap!

Grealish will take over from Gundogan.
Bernardo is a bit special, but City will be prepared for if/when he leaves.
The academy is bearing fruit now.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

We got warned first 10 mins, correct. No reaction and got turned over. Really poor result, and after a bit of reflection it was warranted. Hopefully a kick up the arse mate.

Hopefully. The World Cup break has come at exactly the right time for us. If nothing else it should mean Walker will be back.

 

[1961_vintage]

Far too early to be throwing in the towel.

FFS - how else is this thread going to reach 150 pages?

 

[Tolmie scores]

We don’t have much room for complacency. Need to chase Arsenal now and see how they handle the pressure. Full backs seem to be causing most of the problems. The link to attack is broken and our solidified defensive link is not working with a make shift rb. Far too early to be throwing in the towel.

Our full backs are lost now tactically
.the overlap WAS our game..helps them focus on being tactically aggressive...now we have a different focal point..definitely affected us

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Grealish will take over from Gundogan.
Bernardo is a bit special, but City will be prepared for if/when he leaves.
The academy is bearing fruit now.

It’ll be interesting to see what Pep does, but in the near term, Grealish doesn’t look like a Gundo replacement to me, Bellingham does…a younger, faster, more athletic version who even pops up in the same scoring positions.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

I have given up on PEP. I bet he doesn't have good assistant.
Three things I hate pep for
1. Constantly changing the centre back pair. This leads to instability in the back
2.leaving cancelo as the last man when attacking corners
3.

The suspense is killing me, as is the grammar, but that’s another story! :-)

 

[Dodge]

The players have run through bricks walls to deliver title after title for us.

One below par effort, with extenuating circumstances, and we throw them under the bus. We're in decline, no leaders, too complacent and other ridiculous comments all over this thread. Smacked arses everywhere.

We're 2nd in the league, way ahead of our main rivals putting SIX past the Rags, group winners in the CL, into the last 16 of the League Cup.

Shit times to be a Blue eh...

 

[Grassland Blue]

Not good enough yesterday, infact I'd say the last 4-6 games have been hit or miss, with mnds elsewhere!

There's to many pre Madonna's worrying about the world cup, let's face it, most of them haven't a fookin cat in hells chance of picking up that throphy, most have more chance of picking up a STD. They'd be much better calling in sick and concentrating on the Prem and CL instead.

I do hate WC, infact all internationals, when certain players put more effort in to what gucci bag/colour of headphones they'll travel with, more than football pre and during the competition....its the "just get me on that plane syndrome"....!!

Yesterday was highly frustrating and their effort was no where near the money they get payed.

TBH one or two I'd wish them well, then change the locks on their lockers, leave their stuff at reception for when they get back!..."Here's your hair gel and sliders ya ****, now fuck off!!"....hahaha.

Fuckin World Cup my arse!!

Grrrrr!!

It is an honour to be picked to play for the national team imo.
I don't think that the timing of the announcement of the squad was good, just before the final round of league games. Maybe some players were 'on the plane' and other players (eg Ivan Toney) had a point to prove.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I have given up on PEP. I bet he doesn't have good assistant.
Three things I hate pep for
1. Constantly changing the centre back pair. This leads to instability in the back
2.leaving cancelo as the last man when attacking corners
3. Cancelo had already been subbed for their goal at the end.

Fixed

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Come May we’ll be 10 points Clear

 

[Tolmie scores]

We needed a worldy of a free kick to beat Leicester. We needed a softish last minute penalty against Fulham (granted, we played with 10 men and worked so hard) to win and we just got beaten by Brentford at home. That score could have been so much worse if not for 3 top saves by Ederson. We’ve taken 6 points from a possible 9. Whilst we all would have thought that “on paper” we should have taken 9, on performance, probably ended up with more than we deserved.

The blueprint is there for all to see over the last 3 matches. Opposition teams Get mass numbers behind the ball, play two defensive lines with little space between them, keep the majority of the defensive players within the width of the penalty box so as to create even more congestion and limit the space for City to play into.

They then break fast when the inevitable happens and city turn the ball over having pushed everyone forward/inside the opposition half. The amount of times in these matches where the opposition has had as many if not more players than us when they’re on the counter attack is alarming. This is exacerbated by the fact that we have very little pace.

It’s a really disappointing result to head into the World Cup break with. We could (will likely) be 5-points behind at the restart. Lots of football still to be played and I certainly won’t write this team off just yet. Let’s hope they come back firing for the back two thirds of the season.

Its an obvious and wise tactic..when the opposition have a great CF when balls played behind
Them..so drop deeper keep tge game in front of you...we had so many options breaking this down b4...not this season

 

[Makanaky90]

Pep should be advised.
1. Do not ROTATE centre backs (Rebuen-stones)
2. St!p playing centre back as full back and midfielder as wingers.
3 stop using cancelo as the last man to defend counter attack
4 Make substitution when due. They are Not super men everyday

If I Continue to see these things I might reconsider being a fan