We have youngsters, Foden, Doku and Savinho who could press high but what we don't have is a midfield that can do the same when the first press is beaten. I personally think that we must purchase a defensive and attacking midfielder next month to save our season. Then we will see the best of Kevin, Phil Gundo and of course Haaland. Again, just my opinion.Great post that. Peps teams have always been based on winning the ball back quickly. This season due to age, injuries and fitness levels the players can't quite do it for long periods and Pep seems to be at a loss at how to change it. We just have to get through this season, try to get CL Q and look to get in 1-2 younger energetic midfielders who can carry out the press effectively. Would love us to develop a 4-3-3 system that can interchange to a 3-4-3 when needed.
I generally agree, but im also sure we gonna get better over next few weeks. Fitness wise we always been worse first half of the season than second, pretty much by design. We need players back and we gonna be back. Exactly as Pep said. Maybe not to our prime, but closer to that than people think todayGreat post that. Peps teams have always been based on winning the ball back quickly. This season due to age, injuries and fitness levels the players can't quite do it for long periods and Pep seems to be at a loss at how to change it. We just have to get through this season, try to get CL Q and look to get in 1-2 younger energetic midfielders who can carry out the press effectively. Would love us to develop a 4-3-3 system that can interchange to a 3-4-3 when needed.
I hope so.I generally agree, but im also sure we gonna get better over next few weeks. Fitness wise we always been worse first half of the season than second, pretty much by design. We need players back and we gonna be back. Exactly as Pep said. Maybe not to our prime, but closer to that than people think today
Maybe Pep felt he didn't deserve us singing his praises? He has such high standards about himself that winning 2 games in 13 isn't something to be happy about. He wants to win every game he's involved in.I have to say I did wonder if the senior players had had a word with Guardiola to change things around a bit to help an under- staffed, unfit, out of confidence squad get through this tough patch. Guardiola is a stubborn fucker and maybe a little kick from the senior players was needed.
Squad morale still seems fine, and Haaland physically pushing Guardiola to acknowledge the away fans to take credit was noteworthy as well, I thought. Maybe the players are helping my him through this tough patch as well ....
The last game, I saw him make a pass, without looking into central midfield, and there was no one there. It was meant for Rodri. It was where he would have been. Reflex action.His job is to make 1 choice out of the 4 offered:
1) Keeper
2) Down the line
3) Inside to the midfielder
4) Square to a CB
His decision making has let him down, because in the absence of a couple of those options, he has rushed a poor decision.
It’s amazing the trickle down/knock on effects of team selection and how the positions taken up by the replacements can affect a team regular.
Exactly!The last game, I saw him make a pass, without looking into central midfield, and there was no one there. It was meant for Rodri. It was where he would have been. Reflex action.
Lucky you :)dint watch the game was my dads surprise 70th birthday meal and had no tb showing the game.
That was exactly as I saw it, but it's not an excuse it was a terrible pass.The last game, I saw him make a pass, without looking into central midfield, and there was no one there. It was meant for Rodri. It was where he would have been. Reflex action.
I mean why isn’t Pep willing to play with double pivot? I feel like Akanji and Kovacic could play there. Stones can play there as well in combination with Kova or Akanji, and I get that he isn’t healthy most of the time but he can definitely fill the role. Doesn’t help that the CB’s are never healthy and always in and out as well, so anytime Stones is healthy he has to play as a CB.The area where all the other problems are stemming from is the fact we don’t have a single DM in the squad to cover the role Rodders does.
Yesterday it was Kovacic but it was crystal clear he isn’t anywhere near defensively aware enough. I counted about 15 times in the game where he was either out of position or not switched on to the opposition player/movement into space he should’ve been covering.
When Rodders is there that only happens once or twice per game as he is incredible at the role.
It leaves us woefully exposed. I think that then impacts us going forward as we’re too scared to take risks (hence the side to side nonsense) due to the fact we’ll get countered very easily.
Get a good DM in and the improvement will be enormous.
It is absolutely mindblowing that the club has allowed there to be no player in the squad that can cover that role.