It's not often I wake up still fuming about a football performance these days but last night has really irked me. I know some won't like this because we're seen as babies spitting dummies out etc, feel free to scroll past.
But there was something very different about last night. No energy, no spirit, no desire. I absolutely hate this word and the context it gets used in but we showed no real passion to go and get the win. I remember when Mancini was in charge and if we were drawing in the second half at some point we would throw the kitchen sink at the opposition. He would make subs, move players around and even have 3/4 strikers on the pitch. The desire, effort and quality would always get us over the line. In these past 18 months under Pep we don't have that. If we're drawing after an hour, or god forbid losing, no one has any confidence that we'll do enough to go force a win.
Now don't get me wrong we have lost a lot of quality from the squad. We are bare in positions we were once loaded.
But that doesn't excuse the lack of passion, will to win and all the other intangibles you inevetibly need to progress to get from our current level to the next.
So what's the reason? Well we've had all the excuses. If only we bench Mahrez. If only we had a competent centre back. Wait until our full backs are fit. It's the inverted wingers. It's Jesus. Bla bla bla we could go on forever but the reality is this has been a slow regression for 18 months culminating in performances that are so soulless we have to start looking beyond team selections. There are only so many variations of players and formations you can try.
So my conclusion is that we are crippled by control. The players look like they are worn down playing like they're robots where they are expected to keep possession and position 100% of the time. What happened to our fluidity? I was watching Foden play last night and after a shit first half he began to play well in the second. He was buzzing around, moving laterally and looking to play through balls in tight spaces. What happened? He was hooked off. Can't do that I'm afraid, Mr Foden. We must keep possession at all times. We have become a no risk low reward team. What happened to our intuition? What happened to our players fizzing around and creating chances through their genius? They look hamstrung to me. Devoid of ideas and playing without any fun. In fact they look pained. Pained by control and pained by what happens if they go against what they're told and god forbid give the ball away on the opposition's 18 yard line. They are playing without any expression.
The other side of crippled by control is covid. If we know one thing about Pep it's that he gasses players out after a few years. Covid must multiply this tenfold. Not only are the players controlled by government guidelines as to what they can and cannot do I can only imagine what the club are relaying to them about their responsibilities. Don't go out, don't go to a restaurant, don't take your kids to a park, don't go on holiday etc. I'm sure being a player for Pep there are times when you need a break, to get away and don't think about football. They obviously can't do that.
I know that we're all in the same position with the last part. Life is shit right now and we can't blame Pep or the club for that.
But Pep can help with the control on the field by allowing the players to express themselves. Trust them, they're half decent. Play De Bruyne deeper, lose the double pivot, get an extra attacker on the pitch and start showing the desire to go and win a game. Don't sit around after the game and say only one team wanted to win, we had 20 chances, we controlled the game etc. Trust your defence, this is the best one we've had for a long time with more options than ever. Allow your players to make mistakes in the search to unlocking doors.
Take the shackles off, we have nothing to lose.
