Is Pep a defensive genius?

[domalino]

Well put it this way, teams who attack us have a lot more joy than teams who sit back.

Again that's not true. Look at the teams who got points off us last season.

Everton -2
Palace - 2
Burnley- 2
Liverpool - 3
United- 3
Huddersfield- 2

Liverpool attacked us, being generous Palace did too which makes 5 points dropped when teams went after us, the rest (9 points) all just sat back and managed to hit us on the counter or at set pieces.

You've spent too much time listening to the media tell you we can be gotten at.

Truth is that trying to press us is usually suicidal, but in the very rare occasion it works, it looks great, so pundits say everyone should do it and/or we're weak to it.

 

[Drubas]

I think we have to look at defending with the ball and without the ball, separately.

With the ball, Pep is hands down the best coach in the world. It is extremely hard and demands top, top footballers that are intelligent enough to understand. Nobody can get the most out of world class players, like Pep does.

Without the ball starts with the ball. The moment Pep's team loses possession, they are almost always perfectly positioned to engage in recapturing the ball. It's kind of strange how this has become a thing with Klopp (gegenpressing) while nobody mention that Pep is probably the best at it.

If opponents play past the initial press, or if Pep is not allowed to establish his possession game (Liverpool last year) - that's when city can look 'weak at defending'. But it comes with the territory. It is a calculated risk with the way he plays.

 

[Tom_mcfc]

I think tonight proved my point a bit. On paper that goes down as a clean sheet zero conceded which is great. In reality and it’s ironic that a shit pitch probably stopped us from conceding. Walker and Mendy were awful and constantly being out of position or giving the ball away resulted in spurs chances. We can be got at, we aren’t as solid as a clean sheet suggests. We was a better pitch surface/ better Harry Kane touch away from conceding. Delighted with the win but like I said earlier today let’s not be so prescious when people say our defence can be got at because it can.

 

[cleavers]

I think tonight proved my point a bit. On paper that goes down as a clean sheet zero conceded which is great. In reality and it’s ironic that a shit pitch probably stopped us from conceding. Walker and Mendy were awful and constantly being out of position or giving the ball away resulted in spurs chances. We can be got at, we aren’t as solid as a clean sheet suggests. We was a better pitch surface/ better Harry Kane touch away from conceding. Delighted with the win but like I said earlier today let’s not be so prescious when people say our defence can be got at because it can.

Spurs had 4 goal attempts, 1 on target, so no it doesn't prove your point at all, despite Mendy and Walker not having great games tonight, we defended very well, in fact better than last year against Spurs away. A very good defensive display from Stones, Laporte, and Fernandhino, with both Silva's, Mahrez, and Sterling in front of them doing very well defensively also.

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

I think tonight proved my point a bit. On paper that goes down as a clean sheet zero conceded which is great. In reality and it’s ironic that a shit pitch probably stopped us from conceding. Walker and Mendy were awful and constantly being out of position or giving the ball away resulted in spurs chances. We can be got at, we aren’t as solid as a clean sheet suggests. We was a better pitch surface/ better Harry Kane touch away from conceding. Delighted with the win but like I said earlier today let’s not be so prescious when people say our defence can be got at because it can.

Im glad you countenanced that at the start by saying 'a bit'. The rest of us know that means 'not at all'. Have a day off mate. Your wumming is tiresome as fuck

 

[Cityfan]

Well put it this way, teams who attack us have a lot more joy than teams who sit back.

Thats probably a statistical illusion because its only good teams that really try to attack us and poor ones who defend so inevitably good teams are more likely to do well.

I think tonight proved my point a bit. On paper that goes down as a clean sheet zero conceded which is great. In reality and it’s ironic that a shit pitch probably stopped us from conceding. Walker and Mendy were awful and constantly being out of position or giving the ball away resulted in spurs chances. We can be got at, we aren’t as solid as a clean sheet suggests. We was a better pitch surface/ better Harry Kane touch away from conceding. Delighted with the win but like I said earlier today let’s not be so prescious when people say our defence can be got at because it can.

Saying our defense can be got at is a truism because every defense in the world can be got at. ours is less easily got at than most, on xg's we are miles better than anyone else on goals conceded we are better than anyone else. Our defense can be got at but its bloody difficult to do so. How many times have Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs & Shatkar failed to score at home this season?

 

[birchwoodgingerste]

He bought mendy so no!:))

 

[Cityfan]

How many times have Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs & Shatkar failed to score at home this season?

Actually, I have now just looked it up they have scored in all their home games apart from against us. Arsenal and Spurs have scored in every game home and away except against us, Liverpool have failed in only one away game and Shaktar in a couple.
We conceded fewer goals than anyone in the premier League last season and have conceded fewer goals per game and xg goals per game this season than last.
Doubtless at some point we will have a bad game but we are looking pretty good at the moment.

 

[Tom_mcfc]

Im glad you countenanced that at the start by saying 'a bit'. The rest of us know that means 'not at all'. Have a day off mate. Your wumming is tiresome as fuck

Wumming? So we wasn’t a bobble on a shit pitch (their own fault which makes it better) away from drawing that game? Kane one on one, heavy touch meant there was no chance, a better touch and it’s an easy chance. Free header from a corner poorly executed. Christ if you didn’t watch that thinking spurs were looking dangerous then you really are fucking deluded bastards. I’m buzzing with the win but my point it on paper that’s a clean sheet, in reality spurs should have scored two possibly more, we missed chances too and deserved to win but this thread is about our defence which on another day would have let in a few goals if they finished marginally better. Let’s be deluded though ey.

 

[cleavers]

Wumming? So we wasn’t a bobble on a shit pitch (their own fault which makes it better) away from drawing that game? Kane one on one, heavy touch meant there was no chance, a better touch and it’s an easy chance. Free header from a corner poorly executed. Christ if you didn’t watch that thinking spurs were looking dangerous then you really are fucking deluded bastards.

4 goal attempts, 1 on target, so with respect no. We missed numerous chances we should have done better with but you fail to mention them, so yes it appears you are a WUM (not for the first time).