Leverkusen (H) | CL | Post Match Thread

[Ajm1985]

That's our 1st half pass map. Aside from anything else (no left hand side at all eesh), Marmoush was starved

 

[Fordyboy46]

TEN changes was negligent, irresponsible, arrogant and fucking idiotic. Just back after 2.5 hrs sat freezing watching that performance. I’m fuming, it panned out exactly as I expected once I’d seen that line up. Nobody on the pitch looked like they had a clue in that first half, and it was only marginally better second half. We struggled to string a couple of passes together all night.
I hate to say it again, but I’m sorry, Oscar Bobb and Savinho are nowhere near good enough. Created nothing between them. Leverkusen have Echeverri and aren’t playing him; get him back in January and give him the minutes Savinho or Bobb has and I’m 100% sure he will produce more. Ait Nouri and Lewis were awful, as were Reijnders and Marmoush. Too many changes, creates a lack f cohesion and fluidity. Shocking tonight and it’s mainly down to the unnecessary, disrespectful and idiotic team selection. We could end up like last season, in the play offs. Our next game is likely to be a loss too, then we’re in the thick of it when we needn’t have been. On you this one Pep.

Let's try and get Vinny in mate especially if we end up potless again this season

 

[Marvin.]

I don't normally come on after a defeat because it's not the time but fuck me that was awful. One of the worst performances by a Guardiola side. And I'm still defrosting my bollocks off the side of my leg
The team selection was arrogance or delusion. This team were Bundesliga champions less than a year ago. But Pep puts out a second string.
Backward sideways turgid passing. Never looked like scoring in a million years. Ake and Stones looked like pensioners. Lewis wouldn't get in Oldham's team.
Savinho. Whoever chose to turn down whatever money Spurs offered, if it was more than five pounds should get sacked immediately

Stones was good. One of the few players who turned up. I thought that he and O'Reilly were one of very few players who tried to take some responsibility. Both made surging runs out of defence.

As for Savinho, I think he did more than Marmoush.

 

[Mifred]

If I'd have known that Pep was going to toss this game off with such a shit uninspiring line up i wouldn't have bothered travelling from Chesterfield tonight. Why does he do it, what was the reasoning for a 2nd string eleven in a champs league game against a strong opponent. All it's done now is put pressure on us when we could've virtually guaranteed a top 8 slot with victory tonight. We'll not win in Madrid then we could find ourselves nearer the bottom places than the top. So flat tonight and that's how I felt at the match, 100% on Pep this nothing else

It was arrogant

Why rest players when our next game is Leeds

 

[Fordyboy46]

Pep should reimburse many for that. Unacceptable wholesale changes that were always going to lose, and lose turgidly.

The arrogance of him really does my head in at times

 

[Marvin.]

Agree with every point you make.

Just back from the game after a long, freezing cold day, made worse by (a) that insult of a selection (as in, insulting both to us supporters who braved the elements tonight and to Bayer's standing as a team) and (b) that dreadul, aimless first half performance, probably the worst I've seen under Guardiola.

It needs sorting, starting with Pep choosing his eleven best players and, by and large, sticking with them over the next few months, come what may. And it needs sorting for Saturday against Leeds.

I don't mind playing and rotating small numbers at a time. 10 is unheard of for a CL tie (unless you have already qualified).

We have got idiots now rounding on our young players because of the performance but that's on Pep for not putting out a team in which they could excel.

 

[Zenmanc]

We were absent in midfield. All wings and neither did a damn thing. Bobb tiptoeing around Savi giving the ball away at every turn. Only intensity was when the game was out of reach.

We have another group of players this season who I wouldn't trust to walk with through a bad stretch of town. No fight, no grit, no bollocks.

Foden is still MIA, Reindeers is nowhere near what we thought he could be. Akes running speed is gone, Ait Nouri ain't nearly and never was good enough for this club and neither is Rico. Marmoush is invisible. I'd sell Savi for a few weeks of coaching by a set piece coach who can make our corner kicks more than a wasted effort. Bobb needs a season or two on loan at a team who will actually play him and if he doesn't develop- he needs to go. I'd take Echimess back at this point and never give Savi another touch. Stones was okay at times, hard to blame Traff for the goals. Gonzo seemed okay but basically lost at times given he had Lewis and Reindeer alongside him who offered nothing. The "Khus is our next RB" experiment needs binning. He needs to play in his natural position (Yes Pep, this actually is an option to consider). O'Reilly was just ok. Doku as well and Haaland simply had his boots on the wrong feet apparently.

10 changes IMO is what lost this game and I rarely criticize Pep. If we'd started Doku, O'Reilly, anyone else in midfield than Lewis. IDK. Just getting tired of being outplayed and outcoached and looking like we have no energy or drive to challenge. Where is the emotion? These guys are getting paid a fortune and they act like they could give a shit.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

If I'd have known that Pep was going to toss this game off with such a shit uninspiring line up i wouldn't have bothered travelling from Chesterfield tonight. Why does he do it, what was the reasoning for a 2nd string eleven in a champs league game against a strong opponent. All it's done now is put pressure on us when we could've virtually guaranteed a top 8 slot with victory tonight. We'll not win in Madrid then we could find ourselves nearer the bottom places than the top. So flat tonight and that's how I felt at the match, 100% on Pep this nothing else

Totally agree. Saw the line-up outside the stadium. We called it a shit show then. My only regret is staying for the match in the freezing cold. Baffling decision by Pep. It confirmed what we all know…that our squad depth is a myth,

 

[Corky]

It was still a 400m Euros starting 11.

 

[chaddblue]

Do we get a refund of at least 50% of the ticket price?

It wasn’t marketed as a half hearted reserve game

 

[TonyM]

Imo this hasn't totally to do with swapping out 10 players. This imo is a combination of...
1. Our system is toothless without Haaland.
2. Our players have no freedom in this system so lose confidence and belief as soon as they encounter a challenge
3. We have no plan B
4. Even our first XI players aren't really up for a proper physical battle so are generally not giving a true 100%
5. Our backup arent as bad as tgey appear but lack cohesion, consistency, belief, hope the most. (Like Nunes last year)

Pep is the problem essentially. And the answer (I hope). Last year revealed that he is far from infallible. I was hoping this year he'd figured out something fresh and effective. Hopefully he still will but I don't have much confidence (obviously there is no arguing about his past accomplishments and legendary status).

 

[Marvin.]

We were absent in midfield. All wings and neither did a damn thing. Bobb tiptoeing around Savi giving the ball away at every turn. Only intensity was when the game was out of reach.

We have another group of players this season who I wouldn't trust to walk with through a bad stretch of town. No fight, no grit, no bollocks.

Foden is still MIA, Reindeers is nowhere near what we thought he could be. Akes running speed is gone, Ait Nouri ain't nearly and never was good enough for this club and neither is Rico. Marmoush is invisible. I'd sell Savi for a few weeks of coaching by a set piece coach who can make our corner kicks more than a wasted effort. Bobb needs a season or two on loan at a team who will actually play him and if he doesn't develop- he needs to go. I'd take Echimess back at this point and never give Savi another touch. Stones was okay at times, hard to blame Traff for the goals. Gonzo seemed okay but basically lost at times given he had Lewis and Reindeer alongside him who offered nothing. The "Khus is our next RB" experiment needs binning. He needs to play in his natural position (Yes Pep, this actually is an option to consider). O'Reilly was just ok. Doku as well and Haaland simply had his boots on the wrong feet apparently.

10 changes IMO is what lost this game and I rarely criticize Pep. If we'd started Doku, O'Reilly, anyone else in midfield than Lewis. IDK. Just getting tired of being outplayed and outcoached and looking like we have no energy or drive to challenge. Where is the emotion? These guys are getting paid a fortune and they act like they could give a shit.

If we had Donnarumma, Rodri, Haaland in the spine, you could the play 2 or 3 young inexperienced players and the timidity would disappear.

The quality is there in the squad, we just made too many changes.

 

[Cigs&Alc]

That's fair. I am simply just not of those who think every good player who has won things here "deserves" to finish their careers at City on their terms.

Nor am I. I just don't think Stones is at that point of needing to go. Dias on the other hand.......

 

[Goater101]

Bodo Glimt away comes after United and then Galatasary comes before spurs and scousers away. Oh never mind the small matter of Madrid away. He’s proper fucked it tonight Pep. After the disaster of last season in this comp surely you’d take no risks until it’s safe.

 

[Franny 1234]

That’s another one on Pep and his Carabuo cup team selection

If he picks the same starting eleven as last night in our Carabao cup game against Brentford you can forget about another Wembley trip.
Savio,Bobb,Reijnders,Marmoush,Khusanov,Ait Nouri,Rico Lewis simply not good enough.
Its no surprise why peps using the same starting eleven in the premier each week.
Our squad is weak.
His players let him down last night although he's not blameless with ten changes. CTID

 

[eyalluvitt]

Bodo Glimt away comes after United and then Galatasary comes before spurs and scousers away. Oh never mind the small matter of Madrid away. He’s proper fucked it tonight Pep. After the disaster of last season in this comp surely you’d take no risks until it’s safe.

Very strange, he is always usually very respectful of the competition. The 2nd placed team in Germany ain’t no mugs. Made it much much harder than it had to be with a bizarre team selection that got what Pep deserved

 

[BolinCell]

View attachment 175907

That's our 1st half pass map. Aside from anything else (no left hand side at all eesh), Marmoush was starved

is that what the new stands going to look like.

 

[eyalluvitt]

It was arrogant

Why rest players when our next game is Leeds

“Leeeeeeeeeeeds is so so good in transitions, believe me”

 

[levets]

Fucking winds me up this.

Maybe gesture to their teammates to up the performance.

I said exactly the same in the stadium… I even screamed the same to Savinho

 

[BolinCell]

The thing is with Pep he does what he wants because he knows no one will say fuck all no matter how shit we are. Its called credit in the bank.