Hopes for the rest of the season

[blueparrot]

sam lee quoting at least 5 mate?

Yes, not much faith in what Sam Lee says. I suppose added to my 3 it could always be topped up with full backs if Cancelo or Angelino go.

 

[OB1]

Haha. I'm just sick of all the Monday-morning quarter-backing.

It's as if the last two years just happened by chance, with no planning whatsoever.

Mendy has had two bad knee injuries, Laporte has missed half a season, Stones has lost focus.

Silva and Fern have ripened quicker than anticipated, but absolutely earned the right to be given the benefit of the doubt.

We also can't legislate for some of the officiating or brain farts that happen to all players.

We have dominated for so long, people can't accept that even a five per cent drop in standards means a regression.

It makes our achievements of the last two seasons all the more incredible.

We are having to accept our medicine at present but we can count ourselves very lucky that unlike the majority of other clubs, we have an owner and a manager who can administer a cure and will NEVER settle for second best.

This season can still be incredible and some of our fanbase have been all too quick to write off Pep and this group of players.

Well said.

The squad needs some surgery in the summer but we still have more than enough quality to win more trophies this season. Actually being able to field our best team for a few games would really help with that. Even if it is only for a few more months in Leroy's case, getting Sane and Laporte back to fitness and form could transform the latter part of the season.

 

[Phil1]

Domestic double, CL and finish 2nd.
If we have a fully fit squad going into feb then I can see us going on a proper run of form.

*disclaimer* I’ve had a bottle of red and half way through my second.

 

[brummie blue]

Domestic double, CL and finish 2nd.
If we have a fully fit squad going into feb then I can see us going on a proper run of form.

*disclaimer* I’ve had a bottle of red and half way through my second.

This should be the aim, 2nd (or at least top four) go for 2 domestic cups and with injured players coming back a good crack at the champions league.

And sign a centre half in January and start getting integrated into the side and up to speed for next season, rather than cramming it into next summer.

 

[Delphinho]

Would like to see Garcia, THB, Doyle and Braaf get some gametime

 

[blueparrot]

Would like to see Garcia, THB, Doyle and Braaf get some gametime

Why, who are you going to leave out when we are going for top 4 and the 3 cups.Garcia will be the only one that gets any game time barring more injuries.

 

[carlosthejackal]

Finish second and cup double, will get dismantled in the champions league

 

[Delphinho]

Why, who are you going to leave out when we are going for top 4 and the 3 cups.Garcia will be the only one that gets any game time barring more injuries.

I don’t want them all to play at the same time of course. All of them could do a job against lower tier PL teams or in the cups. They’re that good. THB and Garcia are no worse than Otamendi at the moment, and we can’t play Sterling and Mahrez every single game left, and Braaf is the best winger in the academy. If we rotate and use one or even two of these youngsters in a strong team we should be fine IMO

 

[Father Paul]

Utter rubbish mate, a CB which is what most of us wanted in the summer anyway? Otamendi wanted out anyway so is his heart 100% in it? I understand there is an issue with the foreign quota but imo the club have to find a solution?

We have some very serious shortcomings all over the defensive unit for some time these were hidden by Vinny and Laporte in the run in part but also by the perfect execution of the Guadiola blueprint over an 18 month period. For a variety of known and some unknown reasons we are not executing the bluprint. to such an extent that we now look average and an increasingly disorganised defence is creaking. Consistency looks like a thing of the past for us as things stand but we can still beat any team in Europe on our day and if Laporte gets back in good nick we can still pinch a pot or two. Longer term I am not so sure unless we see some changes and that might include the man at the top.

 

[simon23]

who is our left back for the EDS - surely its worth giving him somegame timeat some point with all our options being absolue gash? Anyone watch the EDS regualrly to know whether here is anyone capable?