It's Quiet thread 14 - 'do one' edition

[GBrannan]

We managed 198 points in 2 seasons without a leftback. Pep won everything at Barca with a CB playing LB.

Its not the issue. Never has been, its just not that important a position.

When the rest of the team is sorted the LB position won't be an issue.

It’s the cumulative deterioration in the team though that’s making these wider deficiencies more apparent. Today was an extreme example where the team fell off a cliff but the warning signs have been there for a while.

Our left back options have been poor for a while and will get exploited more and more because our defensive midfielders can’t do what Fern used to do.

 

[leo_city]

Rodri may have single handedly ruined Pep's expected balance to the side. He's a great passer, very physical, but if you leave him alone in counters it's just too easy for opposition, then you end up having to play someone alongside him for it to work, and that takes away the creativity of our midfield as KDB the only one left.

Lack of press is a secondary issue, but it's alarming how bad the tackling was as well.

 

[manimanc]

lol this aged well

Enjoying yourself are we?

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

3 pens, 5 goals conceded. Maybe the issue isn't just centre halves.

Do we need a 50st keeper that makes the net look small when we concede a pen?

 

[leo_city]

Do we need a 50st keeper that makes the net look small when we concede a pen?

Ederson just isn't as good a shot stopper, the best in business at distribution and when on the ball, but yeah, whenever the opposition attack and get a decent chance it's almost guaranteed to go in unless they miss it themselves

 

[Semper aggressus]

We have to hope the board can see that not just from one game but others like vs Lyon and two derbies last season, etc that we need more pace and aggression in midfield.

Why are we so reticent to address this glaring weakness? Just spend what we need to get this fixed or the whole season will become a shitshow. Pep won't feel he 'deserves' to extend if these performances become more common.

I think we need a change in playing style a bit; after the two great seasons where teams couldn't cope with Pep's style, loss of players like Vinny, David and Sané, plus Fern's decline due to age mean it's not working so well now. Teams have got used to it, sussed it out in many ways, and we need to add a bit more pace and power which is basically the standard PL way of playing.

 

[TheBlueCat]

If I was writing a list of our issues today those wouldnt be up there to be honest.

#1 was the lack of striker, we had no shape when we had all the possession and couldn't attack effectively all game.

#2 Garcia. Directly to blame for 3/5 goals. Naive against Vardy and got taught a lesson.

#3 Lack of press from the top of the pitch. Mahrez didn't bother, Foden was lost, KDB looked tired, Fern wasn't as effective as vs. Wolves.

#4 Walker. Brainless.

#5 Mendy.

This is spot on. I feared the worst when I saw Garcia starting. V Vardy? a complete mismatch. I don’t get the Garcia hype. He’s only ever looked average to me. If we land Diaz it will be a good step forward. So much more needs sorting out in this team though.. LB, CM and Striker. That will take time to sort out...

 

[kaz7]

Enjoying yourself are we?

Yes he and his mates are

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Ederson just isn't as good a shot stopper, the best in business at distribution and when on the ball, but yeah, whenever the opposition attack and get a decent chance it's almost guaranteed to go in unless they miss it themselves

He's been a good shot stopper plenty of times. Not as good as Willy or Bravo at saving pens but I wouldn't be looking to ship Eddie out anytime soon. He will learn from his mistakes, but a keeper who's nuts and brave as a lion will make the odd howler and Eddie is and does.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Its simply not the problem. You can spend 80m on a lb and feel better, have one less scapegoat on the pitch, but we'd still lose today, nothing would be different.

Or we could spend it on fixing the midfield and walk the league with Mendy or Zinchenko at LB.

80M what you on about Dom? And it's not a 1 off game he's consistently wank, I'm not saying other area's also don't need fixing.