Lyon (H) - Post Match Thread

[kippaxchris]

When Gundogan & Jesus both start we struggle. Gundogan for me should be nowhere near the team & if he is selected he shouldn't be asked to create, we should have had Zinchenko left back & Delph in midfield ahead of Gundogan. Also Fernandinho is starting to show signs of aging, he constantly gets caught on the ball these days.

 

[balotellishaircut]

I suspect you’ll feel better in the morning mate ! Title winners don’t turn into fucking cowards in a few games.

it may happen again though in 3 weeks time, like I said last season, recognise your playing shit and don't concede or don't make it easy for the opposition to score. When we go to anfield I want to see some fucking backbone, for the team to fight, and if we have to kick it into row Z, kick it into row Z, better to do that than concede, footballs a simple game, made complicated by idiots, isn't that the saying.

 

[Thomas Hearns]

it may happen again though in 3 weeks time, like I said last season, recognise your playing shit and don't concede or don't make it easy for the opposition to score. When we go to anfield I want to see some fucking backbone, for the team to fight, and if we have to kick it into row Z, kick it into row Z, better to do that than concede, footballs a simple game, made complicated by idiots, isn't that the saying.

One bad result doesn’t make us a bad team or mean we have no backbone. Bottle isn’t just making stern challenges and being aggressive it’s sticking to your principles and trying to play the hard passes in tight areas in games where things aren’t going your way. Styles make fights and I believe that the way pep sets up is all wrong for us given the way klopp sets up and we’re likely to lose that battle. But the way pep plays means we’re likely to win the league again and I will happily sign up for losing to the dippers every year if we win the title.

 

[balotellishaircut]

One bad result doesn’t make us a bad team or mean we have no backbone. Bottle isn’t just making stern challenges and being aggressive it’s sticking to your principles and trying to play the hard passes in tight areas in games where things aren’t going your way. Styles make fights and I believe that the way pep sets up is all wrong for us given the way klopp sets up and we’re likely to lose that battle. But the way pep plays means we’re likely to win the league again and I will happily sign up for losing to the dippers every year if we win the title.

I understand what your saying mate, I know we're not a bad team but I also feel we are a team who sometimes can't ride out a storm during a game, and that's what I'm saying, if Liverpool are on top in 3 wks time I want the team to dig in, I don't think we put everybody behind the ball enough. I know Pep doesn't play that way but maybe he should consider it, let's be honest Arsenal could have scored 2/3 against us, so could Wolves, Newcastle scored with there only attack, we haven't woken up yet this season, and tonite game just highlighted it.

 

[Thomas Hearns]

I understand what your saying mate, I know we're not a bad team but I also feel we are a team who sometimes can't ride out a storm during a game, and that's what I'm saying, if Liverpool are on top in 3 wks time I want the team to dig in, I don't think we put everybody behind the ball enough. I know Pep doesn't play that way but maybe he should consider it, let's be honest Arsenal could have scored 2/3 against us, so could Wolves, Newcastle scored with there only attack, we haven't woken up yet this season, and tonite game just highlighted it.

I hear you man. In a one off game to save my life I’d pick Mancini’s team over this one any day cos that team was as tough as they come but over the course of a season we’re spectacularly better than enough teams to get the wins we need to win the title regardless of being bullied out of it in one or two really big games.

 

[TheThirdDeano]

Getting or blip out of the way early: genius management from pep!

In all seriousness though, the hardest thing this year will be managing the players mentality and keeping them hungry and up for it, and from that performance it looks like it’s not going well.

 

[mancity1]

Getting or blip out of the way early: genius management from pep!

In all seriousness though, the hardest thing this year will be managing the players mentality and keeping them hungry and up for it, and from that performance it looks like it’s not going well.

Agreed to hunger after a win and a world cup is missing and having it again after a year like last year for some reason is what will determine whether its another trophy winning year or not.

Notwithstanding Silva and Ferny are now in the twilight of their careers and we haven't replaced Yaya the side is still good enough to compete for the title this year and win games at home against sides like Lyon no matter who we start with.

Whether last night was a one off especially at home remains to be seen but again assuming we get through the group stage and that has become a bit harder after last nights poor performance I don't think this squad has what is required to go all the way.

Winning form is good from as such you don't want efforts and results like last night but again whether the hunger is there to compete to the death on a number of fronts remains very questionable IMO this season.

I certainly thought we needed at least two more quality players in the summer to freshen things up and to cover the inevitable injuries we suffer as we cannot rely on the likes of KDB etc week in week out to do the business year in year out we need players who can step up when the likes of KDB are unavailable.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

For me, we have had a few key players not playing anywhere near their best for a few games now. That said, the game revolves around two defensive mistakes that were punished...that’s what CL teams do against us! I remember Napoli at home years ago. 1-1. Think it was Cavani who broke and scored. No one doubted he would score. That’s just not the way it is for us, unfortunately. Even the stats for tonight make it look like we should have won 3-1.

We look stale, predictable and lacking a killer instinct. Last few games have been worst I’ve seen Fernandinho and Silva play in a long time, Mahrez looks lost, Jesus is battling for nothing, we look even shakier than usual on the counter against us. Too much space to slot the ball in to clinical finishers and only Ederson’s fingertips save that game from getting away from us completely.

Time to regroup and understand who we are and what we can do...and find a few different solutions with the squad we have. We have not lost it overnight, and I would pay to be at the training ground this week!

 

[vmsuhail]

It seems the only person connected with the club who wants to win the CL is the guy who provides the money.

I'm sure Pep wants to take the "you can only win the CL with Messi" tag away.

 

[vmsuhail]

Poor attitude
Poor selection
Poor midfield
All players having a poor game

Surely that won’t happen again this season!

Midfield is my biggest concern this season.
Top teams will run us all over the park.

DeBruyne will fix it. :)