Juventus (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
For all those who personally don't care a lot about the CL — and up to a point, I am one of them — this simply cannot be said often enough. The sheik cares about the CL; the chairman cares about the CL; the manager cares, very much, about the CL; the players care about the CL. And above all, any player of real quality in Europe or further afield that we would like to bring to the Etihad cares very much about competing in the CL. (And also, there are quite a lot of supporters who care about it, whatever is said on here). Does anybody really think that Erling Haaland would have come to us if year on year we had not been competing in that competition?
We really do have to aim for top four. Better, top three. It's not a given, but it can be done. I still believe that we'll improve in the second half of the season. United didn't get it last year, nor did Chelsea. It's not the first time, for either of those clubs, that they've been out of it over the last ten years. We now have the proud tradition of the longest consecutive participation in the CL of any English club. Let's keep that proud tradition going. It makes sense.
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If they care so much they need to get the damn cheque books out because the team as it is this season is not likely to get CL next season, and is certainly not winning it this year.

You can’t compete on past glories, or worry about saving money. If we want to get back to the level of legitimate CL favourites then we need new players with pace, power, aggression and most of all a bloody goal threat.
 
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argyle said:
It's mostly people unable to cope with a bad period by the team.

It's been two months of problems.

Two months out of a near a decade of dominance for the wet wipes to air their 'legitimate concerns.'
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Bounce of the ball in the opposition box may help, every deflection/block went safe last night,Ricos block straight back perfect to tee up their second. Add to that Gundo s save,post against Palace. We obviously need defenders and legs in midfield but some good old fashioned luck wouldn't go amiss.
 
The big problem for me is that the signs were showing last season, and four in a row papered over some obvious cracks.
We were ahead three times at Stamford Bridge but drew 4-4, we were twice ahead against Spurs but drew 3-3, and we were two up v Palace and only drew 2-2. Other examples of poor results are available.
Conceding the lead so often was unheard of for most of the previous 12 seasons, so what was going on and why wasn't it addressed? The only decent chance we created in the cup final was the cock-up that led to the rags first goal, but our players were pissed and it kept Ten Bob in place so ho, ho, ho. We aren't laughing now.
We're over-reliant on Haaland for goals as we Grealish, Savinho, Nunes and Doku generate few goals and assists. Sane and Sterling may have been frustrating at times but offered much more than their replacements.
This isn't entirely a 2024-25 problem, it's been brewing for a while, and a major component of the problem is that the academy is producing too many players Pep won't use.
 
paulchapo said:
I don't see it. We can't defend, are wide open to just a simple ball over the top. Ederson had turned into Margetson ( Sulking about not getting the Saudi move? ) and even Ortega is looking shaky, but prime Gordon Banks would be behind that defence. The midfield is slow and ponderous and we are toothless in attack barring Haaland. It appears the shit show we put in against the rags at Wembley wasn't us hungover, taking our foot off the ball or a one off it, it was the start of our decline. We are so bad I might put a punt on Salford City to beat us in the cup.
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It's just leading everyone into a false sense of security, us fans included, it's all part of the master plan, we will go on an unbeaten run now for the rest of the season, win the league, FA Cup, CL, and the club world cup.

We just wanted to give everyone a chance, but it stops now, starting Sunday......honest
 
So performance-wise it was ok, a lot of control and Juve barely in the game. But a lot like the Sporting game the game was hinged on moments again. To the players credit they tried to rally after Juve scored and we looked likely to score, some actual good play in and around the box but you can see the confidence just isn't there. I know we can't blame one guy but i just can't see past Walker's role in the club and how the poor mentality is just filtering everywhere. You have seen how Ruben handles it on and off the pitch, it needs someone to bring some self-respect into the play and it just isn't Walker i'm afraid.

I can't understand why Pep makes such late subs but also complains about tiredness in the squad. Very surprised we didn't give any minutes to Kova or Foden, going into the derby we are going to need Kova at the very least and if they're nowhere near being able to play any minutes then just don't take them?

Gundo mentioned the turnovers and the space given during those turnovers being huge, you can see he can't make up the space and as much as we have bashed him he's NEVER been that player to make up ground. But this is a lack of leadership and a lack of organisation, something that Rodri would do constantly throughout the game. Some mf in that team needs to step up, Ruben has been doing it in the backline (and it's worked to some effect) but in the middle of the park its completely lacking. They can't just say Rodri isn't there so we can't, step up and start talking ffs.
 
We have allegedly got an outstanding academy. If most of our regular first team players are either exhausted or carrying injuries why can't we get more of our academy players involved? They would be fully fit and bursting with energy. Bacon Face did it in 92 and it was a turning point for the rag bastards.
 
argyle said:
It's mostly people unable to cope with a bad period by the team.

It's been two months of problems.

Two months out of a near a decade of dominance for the wet wipes to air their 'legitimate concerns.'
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Nailed it mate.
We got so many entitled wankers on here it's getting near impossible to enjoy coming on here.
I call them the social media society, what the mardarses on here say is exactly what you'll find on the socials, totally out of touch with reality.
But if that's how they want to view life let them.
 
Jonas.shaffer said:
What can be said that hasn’t been already said a million times over this season? I genuinely don’t know what to say. It’s just awful all around.

When are we going to have an honest discussion about Pep?

He’s been as abysmal as the players this season, if not worse. Yes, we have had many injuries, but even with those injuries, there’s no excuse for our current position in the UCL table. No one knows what they’re doing when we press. It takes one pass to bypass everyone. PSG will rip this defense apart with all their pace and quality. We’re in serious danger of not progressing. Although, given our league position, maybe that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
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he said after last nights game , " w e were incrediblle with our forward play, my t,v, must be on the blink. what the f is he watching.
 
This team delivered four in a row and a treble.
The boys have delivered trophies every season.
Unfortunately, time catches up with all players.
Let's support the boys that's brought so much success to City in recent years.

Even if we are 4-0 down against United on Sunday, let's continue to give the boys our full support.

Rival fans are hoping for a meltdown. But we are City and we will stand with the team both in good times and in bad times.
 
argyle said:
The team has run themselves into the ground to achieve what they have.

Many hardly had any break between seasons.

With injuries they've been unable to rest.

They're clearly fucked, mentally and physically.
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And you obviously stated all this in the summer as it was inevitable we'd get injuries mainly due to our exertions but just like other teams as well.
 
Roachy said:
And you obviously stated all this in the summer as it was inevitable we'd get injuries mainly due to our exertions but just like other teams as well.
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Inevitable we'd get injuries, the club can't forsee a season ending injury to the world's best player and that player being the key to everything in the side.
 
RayCTID said:
Got manage his fitness carefully.
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He wouldn't have to play every three days if Foden was fit. Then we would see the best of him. He is still the only one who creates in the team. Yes he takes chances but is the only way we score. If we miss those chances it's not his fault.
 
It's a tough one for Pep now - for years we played to a certain way - ball retention possession based, playing short passes looking for the exact moment to play forward. Switching wide from one side to the other by playing our wide men right on the touchline. Above all never waste possession. This is also why when the keeper or defenders have the ball they often stop and wait for a press. It worked because we had key players in the two most important positions. Kev to find ridiculous through balls that no-one saw and Rodri to pick up the space and nullify any possible counter. We also had a very athletic back four. In this latest run we are still trying to stick to these principles - sadly we have a perfect storm of the key players being injured or at best trying to play injured, fringe players coming in not at the same level and several players losing their athleticism at the same time.

Until new blood arrives maybe last night is the turning point to play more dynamically. I believe despite his crazy scoring feats we have not really used Erling to his best. You rarely see him get a pass early and burst through with pace and power. In fact last night showed he too is a little lost and is now unsure of which run to make. Pep needs to tell him to not overthink and just do what he does naturally. That includes not having players like Rico having so much of the ball and failing to pass forward. I was screaming at the TV when Gundo and Lewis were playing to me to you passes when we were 2-0 down. It was all so slow.

Confidence is very low but if you watch closely last night there were players who would rather pass the ball on than try to create something. It was like they were scared to make a mistake. Italian defenders love that - they hate pace and speed of play. In other words we played right into their hands. That game has gone and possibly our CL campaign for 24/25 so we need to move on.

Will Pep temporarily change his philosophy? I honestly don't know but one thing I do know is this can't go on with the group of players we have available because they are not good enough as a unit to play as we always have done.
 
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