Discuss Pellegrini (Pt 4)

[supercity88]

At 3-0 up you would expect the game to be won. And it was. Yes we conceded twice because players switched off but taking Aguero off was the right thing to do. Games come thick and fast. We started him, he did his job and then we took him off. Arsenal had to gamble on saving Giroud and that paid off. At least we can rotate because we have quality in the side. I am happy Aguero was annoyed at coming off, he is desperate to play and desperate to score, he was shooting from everywhere at the weekend to try and get on the score sheet. That is what we want. He is professional and will now be fit and ready for the Southampton game. There are opinions in football and then there are facts. The fact is, we shouldn't even be discussing this pointless comment from SHB because it is idiotic to even mention it. Seeing as you go to the games, maybe open your eyes some more when you are there.

 

[cleavers]

Anyone who doesn't think giving Sergio (Nasri and Yaya too) a break when the game is over, so that he's fit for the next game, is either on the WUM, or plain daft. That our defence can't defend properly for 6 out of 90 minutes is not the fault of the substitutions, and those that say otherwise must have had their eyes shut. We should have been 4 or 5-0 by half time anyway, and he could have rested him (them) for 45 minutes if we'd put our chances away.

 

[Anonymous]

Anyione who doesn't think giving Sergio (Nasri and Yaya too) a break when the game is over, so that he's fit for the next game, is either on the WUM, or plain daft. That our defence can't defend properly for 6 out of 90 minutes is not the fault of the substitutions, and those that say otherwise must have had their eyes shut. We should have been 4 or 5-0 by half time anyway, and he could have rested him (them) for 45 minutes if we'd put our chances away.

For those of us who were so enamoured by Pellegrini's Villareal team last night was a pleasure to watch but not unexpected. The passing and movement, the team goals. There was an intuitiveness about our best players, and also an overall intuitiveness from back to front about positioning in the defensive phase. We limited West Brom, a dangerous team, to absolutely nothing for 80 plus minutes. This whilst playing the dreaded 442.

Here's what i feel like. We're a juggernaut that is finally beginning to gather momentum. The manager deserves fucking oodles of praise considering some of the comments which have been aimed in his direction by people in the last few months. That's not about starting a tit for tat argument, it's just a fact. He's been called the "chilean David Moyes", out of his depth, clueless, etc.

What he is is a top drawer manager and we're lucky to have him.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

Anyione who doesn't think giving Sergio (Nasri and Yaya too) a break when the game is over, so that he's fit for the next game, is either on the WUM, or plain daft. That our defence can't defend properly for 6 out of 90 minutes is not the fault of the substitutions, and those that say otherwise must have had their eyes shut. We should have been 4 or 5-0 by half time anyway, and he could have rested him (them) for 45 minutes if we'd put our chances away.

For those of us who were so enamoured by Pellegrini's Villareal team last night was a pleasure to watch but not unexpected. The passing and movement, the team goals. There was an intuitiveness about our best players, and also an overall intuitiveness from back to front about positioning in the defensive phase. We limited West Brom, a dangerous team, to absolutely nothing for 80 plus minutes. This whilst playing the dreaded 442.

Here's what i feel like. We're a juggernaut that is finally beginning to gather momentum. The manager deserves fucking oodles of praise considering some of the comments which have been aimed in his direction by people in the last few months. That's not about starting a tit for tat argument, it's just a fact. He's been called the "chilean David Moyes", out of his depth, clueless, etc.

What he is is a top drawer manager and we're lucky to have him.

I think you're getting slightly carried away with yourself.

Last night was a game of three lots of 30 minutes:
1. 30min spell was sublime, arguably as good as we'd played all season; 2. then next 30min spell was casual, we started allowing them to get into our box and it was a few last ditch tackles or poor control by them which saw us get away with it, with us gaining some control over the game in spells; and 3. saw us being sloppy, making poor choices, taking our players off who were keeping the ball and us losing the control we had over the game right through to the end.

Overall we were good, not great. Overall Pellegrini even criticised himself. I think we all know we'd get punished if we do that against better sides. But overall it is a very big step forward from other away games.

We must improve a hell of a lot more though.

 

[cleavers]

We must improve a hell of a lot more though.

No we just need to cut out the sloppyness, its a slight improvement that's required not a "hell of a lot".

Resting our best players when a game is effectively done is a good manager tactic, its employed by all top managers, especially in the midst of a run of games like we currently have.

None of the subs made one bit of difference to the defending that caused the goals, they may have prevented us from scoring more, but we can't score 4, 5, 6, or 7 in every game, and some credit needs to be given to WBA for not just collapsing like some other teams we've played recently.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

I'll say it, 4-4-2 works. But only when the everyone plays well and the vast majority play at their best.

This isn't a formation really that you can play poorly and really get a result, as proven by our either "we win or we lose" results this season. Thus issues such as switching off just aren't affordable because they cost us results, there is very little margin for error but the plus points are enormous when we play well.

It's high risk for high reward, but big falls if it doesn't work. Pelle got away with it in the end last night, it wasn't his fault as you could tell he was deeply unimpressed by the players switching off, but it's an issue that needs to be resolved, because it's become noticeable that against all but the top teams away and possession teams home and away that the tactics work, but only when everyone is absolutely on it.

No margin for error, and he HAS to drill it into every single member of the squad.

 

[supercity88]

It is simply a case of concentration. We were 3-0 up and we don't need to then waste energy making it 6 or 7. But we do need to keep the ball and just kill the game. We took our foot off the gas and got sloppy and the result in the end is the right one, but the two goals conceded are disappointing. Against the top teams we wil need to work hard and concentrate for the full 90+ mins. In this game we were able to win the game despite being sloppy at times. But still, the right result and I am happy we made those mistakes so that we go into the Southampton game concentrating fully. They will pass and move and press and we often come unstuck against those kinds of sides away from home so we need to concentrate and hit them hard on the break. If we win that we are looking at some sort of consistency finally.

 

[waspish]

3-0 up against a better team I feel that sloppy last 10 mins wouldn't of happened.. Beat Southampton and Arsenal and I'll start to believe we are on track to win the league

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

The football is the best it has ever been.

This team can cut you to ribbons, pass you to death or simply bide its time.

It's been a few years in coming but the arrogance and desire required to dominate is coming on stream.

Most importantly of all, we are cultivating an identity.

 

[St Helens Blue (Exiled)]

SHB you really are an unhealthy presence on the board at times.

Bit ironic calling me unhealthy mate,from the Steroid boy himself.:-)