Gianluigi Donnarumma | Done deal according to Romano

[Big Dave Watson]

When's the window shut, Monday? Fuck all is gonna happen with incomings in my opinion

Pep told us this at the Club World Cup but people wouldn’t listen.

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

I still cant understand how we are letting go so easily.

Because he didn't want to be here last year and his performances shown that.

 

[simon23]

When's the window shut, Monday? Fuck all is gonna happen with incomings in my opinion

agreed - maybe baring Donarumma which for me is a transfer that doesnt need to happen

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Complacent

You're right, we should nuke them !

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

The way Spurs played was different. Brentford played lot of direct football for a start. I don't recall their central defenders following our forwards deep into our own half.

See this analysis by Sky Sports

Anyone can pick a section of play and then tell you exactly what has happened.

 

[SWP's back]

I still cant understand how we are letting go so easily.

Because it’s a football club rather than a prison.

 

[argyle]

So many teams rumbled us last year that we only finished 3rd after an injury ravaged season.

In 2023 Arsenal played a very high aggressive press against us twice. We varied and went long, funnily enough we won that match.

Spurs did really well against us, took risks and they paid off. They looked sharper having had a proper preseason. However we take any of our chances at 0-0 and it’s a different game. The media would still saying we’re back and spurs would’ve been criticised for being naive. Fine margins.

Every team that turns up to play us has a plan to beat us. The vast majority fail.

People on here think Pep's tactics have been sussed because we didn't win 5 titles in a row.

 

[Marvin.]

People on here think Pep's tactics have been sussed because we didn't win 5 titles in a row.

Some people. But there other more obvious explanations such as age and injury.

 

[Father Paul]

People on here think Pep's tactics have been sussed because we didn't win 5 titles in a row.

I think on the day we were sussed going on the very laboured second half performance. I feel certain that Pep and his team are themselves analysing what happened and will I assume devise a solution. For me it is an awful lot more than who plays in goal but rather how we defend and attack as a team. The old model needs refinment if we are to do well this season. Lets see if Pep comes up with something effective.

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

People on here think Pep's tactics have been sussed because we didn't win 5 titles in a row.

No they don't. They watch football matches with their eyes. See teams set up against us. Knowing a half decent shape will nullify our attacks and know a little bit of pace and quick countering will see them having an attempt at our goal in seconds. His tactics have been sussed which can happen, the probelm is he hasn't adapted or reacted to this. That is why we had such a poor season. He wasn't sussed because we didn't win the title, he was sussed because our season performances suggests he was. Look at Palace, came to the etihad all guns blazing. Got in front and got giddy. They lost because they carried on being expansive and we found holes to exploit. The cup final comes around, their manager completely changes their approach and finds the way to beat us, learning from the previous game. We are predictable and it is why lesser teams and lesser managers are having success over us. Nothing to do with wining a title

 

[HelloCity]

No they don't. They watch football matches with their eyes. See teams set up against us. Knowing a half decent shape will nullify our attacks and know a little bit of pace and quick countering will see them having an attempt at our goal in seconds. His tactics have been sussed which can happen, the probelm is he hasn't adapted or reacted to this. That is why we had such a poor season. He wasn't sussed because we didn't win the title, he was sussed because our season performances suggests he was. Look at Palace, came to the etihad all guns blazing. Got in front and got giddy. They lost because they carried on being expansive and we found holes to exploit. The cup final comes around, their manager completely changes their approach and finds the way to beat us, learning from the previous game. We are predictable and it is why lesser teams and lesser managers are having success over us. Nothing to do with wining a title

Tbh, Rodri’s injury, aged players, and poor signings have had a bigger impact on our form than any tactical approach.

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

Tbh, Rodri’s injury, aged players, and poor signings have had a bigger impact on our form than any tactical approach.

Of course that has had an impact, so then you adapt, you innovate. You find solutions to problems with the players you have. You don't continue a suicidal high line when you dont have the pace or defenders to play it. You don't play a slow boring passing build up game if you don't have the players to control a game like Rodri available. You don't continue to ask Rico to be an inverted full back when he isn't a very good footballer.

 

[Ghostofmerlin]

Pep told us this at the Club World Cup but people wouldn’t listen.

And he has, since that time, repeatedly said he wants a smaller squad. But the transfer forum is mayhem, so I guess it’s to be expected.

 

[citizen_maine]

No they don't. They watch football matches with their eyes. See teams set up against us. Knowing a half decent shape will nullify our attacks and know a little bit of pace and quick countering will see them having an attempt at our goal in seconds. His tactics have been sussed which can happen, the probelm is he hasn't adapted or reacted to this. That is why we had such a poor season. He wasn't sussed because we didn't win the title, he was sussed because our season performances suggests he was. Look at Palace, came to the etihad all guns blazing. Got in front and got giddy. They lost because they carried on being expansive and we found holes to exploit. The cup final comes around, their manager completely changes their approach and finds the way to beat us, learning from the previous game. We are predictable and it is why lesser teams and lesser managers are having success over us. Nothing to do with wining a title

People on here think Pep's tactics have been sussed because we didn't win 5 titles in a row.

Way to agree whilst disagreeing

 

[skillman]

I suspected this would go to deadline day and the latest reports seem to confirm it.

It’s a situation where 3 clubs are all trying to get the best deal and it has become a game of chicken.

Once we get to deadline day and times running out, someone will pull the trigger and it will get done.

I can’t see a situation in which donnarumour sits around waiting for us for 12 months.

The only issue with that is that Galatasary’s window closes after ours so the ball is in our court.

Let’s see if Viana is as stubborn as Txiki…!

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

Way to agree whilst disagreeing

Where am I agreeing to the nonsense he has been sussed because we didn't win the league? He was simply sussed due to the success many sides had against us. It wasn't because we didn't win a league at the end of it

 

[HelloCity]

Of course that has had an impact, so then you adapt, you innovate. You find solutions to problems with the players you have. You don't continue a suicidal high line when you dont have the pace or defenders to play it. You don't play a slow boring passing build up game if you don't have the players to control a game like Rodri available. You don't continue to ask Rico to be an inverted full back when he isn't a very good footballer.

Pmsl.

Pep has done all that. That’s how we won 100 points, the domestic treble, the treble, 4 in a row.

You don’t just win forever without any dips. They’re part of the package of success and having to build back up again.

No manager in history can do what you’re asking for - constant success and constant great performances. It’s not possible.

 

[GOULDYBOBS]

Hopefully we dont mess it up haggling over 5M. Seriously we're the new Tottenham with transfers, I get the need for sensible transfers but let's not be complete tight asses. We're now short on left and right back options because we can't find someone for $25 so let's get a f*cking keeper.

Can you keep the Americanisms out of this forum.
Enough of it creeping into the sport as it is

 

[BlueMonkey79]

People on here think Pep's tactics have been sussed because we didn't win 5 titles in a row.

People think Peps tactics have been sussed, as last season was our worst (performance wise) since the first one he took over.

No way are we playing anywhere near as good as the treble side or the centurions side.

Got fuck all to to do with going potless last season. We still lost games in the treble season and the centurions season. But we were probably the best team by far in the vast majority of the matches we dropped points - i bet!

Nowadays when we get beat, we usually deserve to get beat. Even some of our wins haven't been a good watch.

Even now with new personnel thrown in the mix, our performances are still miles away from what we are used to seeing.

That in itself make me think Peps tactics have been "sussed"....

This inverted fullback malarkey needs binning IMO. It's so easy to exploit. We give the ball away in the final third, the opposition get a runner in the vacant full back position. Cross in the box and its a decent chance for them.

 

[skillman]

He has literally made the exact same mistake against Spurs...

And a month ago against Juventus!