Club Brugge (H) | CL | Post Match Thread

[theres only one carlito]

We don't very often play into their hands. Very often,this season apart, we win and they lose and we win the league they don't.

By that logic we should win every year then no matter how we play? Because we have in the past?

Very often this season then? Which is what I meant. It’s only this season we can’t control it anymore due to the legs or lack thereof in midfield and an injury to our key midfielder. So by selecting said lack of legs in midfield and setting up to play on the edge of the opposition box with little to no recovery pace for counters especially from the middle we are definitely asking for trouble and trouble this season is exactly what were getting. Can’t keep harping on about past seasons. Every season is different, teams adapt and we should to. Imo.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

It was the first thing I thought on seeing how we were lining up. We had moved away from Bernardo out wide, and after his performance against Chelsea he was looking more like his old self playing centrally. First half undid a lot of the recent good work and their goal was as predictable as our short corner routine...

Credit to Pep for changing it at half time. Savinho is a special talent. He's still raw, but at his age and in his first season, he looks very promising and his contribution totally changed the game. Hopefully he can add the defensive instincts to his game, if he does, he will be a big player for us for a long time.

If Savinho keeps listening and learning then he's going to be a special talent. He's already got pace and that Mahrez trick of receiving a long pass on the front foot
For the moment he just needs to work on his running positioning and concentration when the opposition have the ball.

 

[noseve]

Gundogan removal was key. Allowed foden to move into the middle and savinho to come on to the left. He simply can't start for us. We're vulnerable on the counter at the best of times but when he's there we can never press effectively either.

Trouble is, if Gundogan doesn't start, then whoever hypnotised Pep 'Gundo must play, Gundo must play Gundo etc...' has obviously dictated that he must come on at some point. Lesser of two evils, but with him starting, there might still be time to do something about it when it all goes tits-up?
We've seen a couple of multiple goal leads disappear lately when he's come on as a sub, so I know which I prefer - other than leave him at home in his slippers.
Like everybody on here, I feel guilty about slamming Gundo - and especially KDB - but sentimentality has already cost us. I'd have loved 5-in-a-row much more than another UCL

 

[Marvin.]

It just seemed the tactic was patient probing. If Phil and Kev had scored when put clear rather than blasting over the bar, it would have been hailed as a master class.

Lots of chances too for someone to go into forward positions to receive a pass, but didn't, which again I took to be care not to risk losing the ball.

Plus another referee acting as an extra defender.

Patient probing describes it quite well and it isn't going to break down a well organised defence. I recall Foden delivering a few inaccurate balls towards Haaland at the far post we never really looked like scoring in that first half. We deserved exactly what we got in the 1st half. Brugge could not have imagined a more supine opponent. At half time it changed but it was an obvious change.

I listened to Pep's press conference and he's also disingenuous about his side and the options he has. When asked about the fragility in the face of counter-attacks and the midfield space he says his midfield players are old and slow but we don't have replacements. We do, but Pep just hasn't tried them. Grealish and Macatee can probably both play centrally and it's amazing that the season is half done and they have each barely played.

 

[Marvin.]

Trouble is, if Gundogan doesn't start, then whoever hypnotised Pep 'Gundo must play, Gundo must play Gundo etc...' has obviously dictated that he must come on at some point. Lesser of two evils, but with him starting, there might still be time to do something about it when it all goes tits-up?
We've seen a couple of multiple goal leads disappear lately when he's come on as a sub, so I know which I prefer - other than leave him at home in his slippers.
Like everybody on here, I feel guilty about slamming Gundo - and especially KDB - but sentimentality has already cost us. I'd have loved 5-in-a-row much more than another UCL

It's not just Gundogan. It's also KDB. They are both moribund. KDB put one good ball into the box at the start of the 2nd half when Stones headed it narrowly wide. You could in truth have taken either off at half-time.

 

[blueparrot]

By that logic we should win every year then no matter how we play? Because we have in the past?

Very often this season then? Which is what I meant. It’s only this season we can’t control it anymore due to the legs or lack thereof in midfield and an injury to our key midfielder. So by selecting said lack of legs in midfield and setting up to play on the edge of the opposition box with little to no recovery pace for counters especially from the middle we are definitely asking for trouble and trouble this season is exactly what were getting. Can’t keep harping on about past seasons. Every season is different, teams adapt and we should to. Imo.

Don't be silly,nobody wins every year, no style of football wins all the time against everybody all the time. What indisputable is under Pep and his style of football we have won more leagues and games than anybody else,breaking numerous records in the process So to say very often the way we play plays ito oponents hands is simply wrong.
Obviously this season the team has run out of road and needs refreshing, not a reason to rip up the blueprint, just change the parts.

 

[Vic]

Where's this ambiguity about the Uefa rules on adding players to the squad?

We're already in the knockout phase.

19.01 Once the league phase has been completed, 24 clubs enter the knockout phase in predetermined positions based on their ranking at the end of the league phase, as illustrated in Annex B.

So this applies:

32.01 After the completion of the league phase and before the start of the knockout phase, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition. Such registrations must be completed by 6 February 2025 (24:00 CET) at the latest.

UEFA Documents

documents.uefa.com

 

[noseve]

I know that KDB & Gundogan are usually lumped together on here, as far as flak goes, but (moot point, this, cos the end result is the same) I feel that KDB is still thinking and trying like he used to - he just can't do it any more, other than the increasingly rare fleeting glimpse such as when he placed John Stones virtually on the goal-line with the ball on his head last night.
I can understand Pep thinking that he might come up with the goods, as a last-20 sub.
Gundogan is different - I see him like I see Nunes, just taking up a space but doing nothing that any other player couldn't do, and often not being able to do things that any other player would.
Academic though, because surely both Gundo and Kev are shot...

 

[noseve]

Foden on the left wing ! What the hell was Pep thinking about.? Given all the chat in recent times about Phil’s best position he does that. Bizzare.

It is strange that Phil is so often the one to take up any slack.
Personally, I'd rather start the team sheet with anybody on the goal run he's currently having in the position that has brought them the goals, then fidget the others around him. Irrespective of what you think about the individual concerned.
I wonder whether Pep just feels more confident upsetting through-and-through City men (like Phil) than he does buy-ins who are likely to think 'bugger this - I'm off!'

 

[spiny]

It just seemed the tactic was patient probing. If Phil and Kev had scored when put clear rather than blasting over the bar, it would have been hailed as a master class.

Brugge players had heavy legs in the second half so the fresh legs and pace of Savinho made a difference. In contrast, their breaks were less frequent and not as effective as in the first half. Maybe we should credit Pep after all.

 

[Marvin.]

By that logic we should win every year then no matter how we play? Because we have in the past?

Very often this season then? Which is what I meant. It’s only this season we can’t control it anymore due to the legs or lack thereof in midfield and an injury to our key midfielder. So by selecting said lack of legs in midfield and setting up to play on the edge of the opposition box with little to no recovery pace for counters especially from the middle we are definitely asking for trouble and trouble this season is exactly what were getting. Can’t keep harping on about past seasons. Every season is different, teams adapt and we should to. Imo.

Pep was asked in the press conference about how he feels about his team (15:30 mins) and said that his midfield is old and slow and name Kova, Gundogan and KDB but we are so grateful for what they have done. Yes we are but those days have gone.

There should have been a follow-up question...

'If your midfield is old and slow, why don't you play Macatee or Grealish? I might not work but KDB and Gundogan does not work any more.

 

[Keeper!]

Pep was asked in the press conference about how he feels about his team (15:30 mins) and said that his midfield is old and slow and name Kova, Gundogan and KDB but we are so grateful for what they have done. Yes we are but those days have gone.

There should have been a follow-up question...

'If your midfield is old and slow, why don't you play Macatee or Grealish? I might not work but KDB and Gundogan does not work any more.

And he clearly does not trust/rate either Grealish or McAtee and I would think both will leave in this or the next window.

 

[Marvin.]

And he clearly does not trust/rate either Grealish or McAtee and I would think both will leave in this or the next window.

I think Grealish played a great game centrally vs Forest a few weeks back. I thought we'd see it again. I agree with your prediction.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Bruges looked a decent team in transition - they moved the ball quickly and accurately. They are no dummies.
Moving Phil into the middle and Savinho changed the game and it was really good to see John Boy back to his calm best.
What to say about Nunes? He does a lot of good fetching and carrying and his stamina and pace are useful but he seems determined to gift a goal every second game. United, PSG and now Bruges. On balance is he an asset or a liability?

 

[noseve]

.hat to say about Nunes? He does a lot of good fetching and carrying and his stamina and pace are useful but he seems determined to gift a goal every second game. United, PSG and now Bruges. On balance is he an asset or a liability?

I'd rephrase that : is he a liability or a LIABILITY?

 

[noseve]

Think they will with our midfield and no RB this season

On the other hand - Vinicius Jr probably can't run so quickly with a hard-on...

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

Bruges looked a decent team in transition - they moved the ball quickly and accurately. They are no dummies.
Moving Phil into the middle and Savinho changed the game and it was really good to see John Boy back to his calm best.
What to say about Nunes? He does a lot of good fetching and carrying and his stamina and pace are useful but he seems determined to gift a goal every second game. United, PSG and now Bruges. On balance is he an asset or a liability?

It's about risk and reward with Nunes IMO. He has pace, one of the quickest now at the club, gets up and down and carries the ball forward well. However he isn't a defender and we are trying to do with him what we did with Zinny and Delph. So whilst he has contributed some assists and arguably adds more than Walker and Lewis do going forward, he can't defend very well playing out of position. If everyone was fit we would probably see Dias and Stones in the middle with Manu at right back so at the moment I think Nunes is the best option we have to play RB

 

[Norbert D]

It's about risk and reward with Nunes IMO. He has pace, one of the quickest now at the club, gets up and down and carries the ball forward well. However he isn't a defender and we are trying to do with him what we did with Zinny and Delph. So whilst he has contributed some assists and arguably adds more than Walker and Lewis do going forward, he can't defend very well playing out of position. If everyone was fit we would probably see Dias and Stones in the middle with Manu at right back so at the moment I think Nunes is the best option we have to play RB

If Nunes could cut out the brain farts he’d be a good option.

 

[Mike S]

Mission accomplished ! Simple as.....

 

[CC1]

We’ve got through a very tough period - caused mainly by a shocking continual injury list.
On the recovery route now - despite Skys negativity. They’re loving the fact we’ll have RM or BM but we can beat both of them even though we’re in a transition year

Come on you BLUES