Our honeymoon period is finally over. Which is a good thing. Now no more talks of silly " little records". Time to get back to basics and start grinding.
We played well against Celtics. They just played well too. They showed lots of energy and drive. We matched it in bits and parts but it was back and forth. This is what I expect games with Arsenal, Tothenham and Liverpool to look like.
Again our defensive passing while greatly improved is still not as smooth in transition. Especially without Stones, it looks a lot weaker. But even with Stones it still labors under intense pressure.
Zaba, Sagna, Clichy and Kola when playing LB are simply not as efficient or as effective as it seems Pep would like it.
I know it is unpopular now but so long as DeBryune is absent, I think Dihno is the best player to take His place as the free 8 and I also think Gundogan is a better passer than Dihno and would probably do a better Job at the 6 position. However, I'd rather Nando starts against Spurs. Until the switch has gotten a whole week of practice time.
Finally, I'm having a bit of an issue with our pressure game. And the problem frankly is Aguero. He is not help our gengenpressing with his soft pressure on their defense. I mean compare the work on defense Aguero put in to the work Dembele and the ex City boy who seemed to be on drugs yesterday. Chasing everything and making us work. Sterling and Nolito pressure hard and often. So if two press and it's still soft, it's clear Aguero wasn't working as hard.
Pep has hinted at this part of his game 2ice "Help us in the process, the build up to keep possession..." It's clear what Pep is saying. He need Aguero to work harder when we don't have the ball. I see it too.
Anyway, looking forward to Spurs. I reckon Navas's hustle will earn him a spot over Sane, and Nando comes in for someone in the middle.