Man of the match - PSG (a)

[Phil1]

Noticing that so far Aguero & Silva have one vote between them.

That's the current 'elephant in the room' rather than the thread on Sterling imo.

I don't think it is. Aguero had an off night, Silva was not as bad as what I read in the joke of a match day thread. I wouldn't say not being voted as motm in an away game in Europe is a sign that there's an elephant in the room or not.
It's not a secret that Silva has had a rough few months. It's certainly being discussed and not brushed under the carpet.

 

[dannyboy29]

Ultimately it was Pellegrini's fault. As a goalie you should never pass upfield to a player facing his own goal. Watch Barca, they always play it from the back, the ball always goes to a player at the side as he can see what's in front of him. It's a fundamental, basic error and I am gobsmacked that professional footballers would make it.

I have done this. Stay behind the player receiving the ball and the goalie can't see you and the player with his back turned doesn't know you are there and you nip in and get the ball. If it's played to the side it can't happen.

This should have been drilled. A mention during a training session and it would never happen.

HAHAHAH the Pellegrini hate is embarrassing, going off your methodology Pellegrini should take credit for every goal we score because he 'drills' us how to shoot. Its a poor touch from Fernando end of, 9 times out of 10 he controls it and lays it off before ibra gets anywhere near him. its something that shouldn't happen at under 10 football. I would be astounded if any of our training sessions include how to control a ball that's rolled at you and pass it on. You either have some sort of vendetta against our manager or you're clueless, either way its most definitely wasn't Pellegrinis fault.

 

[Neville Kneville]

I don't think it is. Aguero had an off night, Silva was not as bad as what I read in the joke of a match day thread. I wouldn't say not being voted as motm in an away game in Europe is a sign that there's an elephant in the room or not.
It's not a secret that Silva has had a rough few months. It's certainly being discussed and not brushed under the carpet.

Imo an unfit DeBruyne showed the level both should be playing, at very least. You could swap both last night for 2 from West Ham or similar & PSG would have had a much tougher night.

Time the pair stood up & performed to their level imo. These are the games where the best are supposed to come through.

 

[Phil1]

Imo an unfit DeBruyne showed the level both should be playing, at very least. You could swap both last night for 2 from West Ham or similar & PSG would have had a much tougher night.

Time the pair stood up & performed to their level imo. These are the games where the best are supposed to come through.

Can't disagree with the last couple of lines.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I don't think it is. Aguero had an off night, Silva was not as bad as what I read in the joke of a match day thread. I wouldn't say not being voted as motm in an away game in Europe is a sign that there's an elephant in the room or not.
It's not a secret that Silva has had a rough few months. It's certainly being discussed and not brushed under the carpet.

Silva was just horrible, mate.

We played with a man short, as he just doesn't have the appetite to work hard and get back in.

Wasted a great chance with the header, and his shot in the second half, inside the penalty area, was so feeble, even if not blocked, a five year-old would have had a chance to catch it up.

 

[Blue Hefner]

Silva was just horrible, mate.

We played with a man short, as he just doesn't have the appetite to work hard and get back in.

Wasted a great chance with the header, and his shot in the second half, inside the penalty area, was so feeble, even if not blocked, a five year-old would have had a chance to catch it up.

He won the ball back to set up our second. The performance also dipped when Silva went off. Without being excellent, he had a good game

 

[lancs blue]

Silva was just horrible, mate.

We played with a man short, as he just doesn't have the appetite to work hard and get back in.

Wasted a great chance with the header, and his shot in the second half, inside the penalty area, was so feeble, even if not blocked, a five year-old would have had a chance to catch it up.

Nonsense, he did quite a bit of tracking back and tackling/fouling, he also won the ball to set up the move for the 2nd goal. Not back to his best certainly but far from being the worst player last night.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Nonsense, he did quite a bit of tracking back and tackling/fouling, he also won the ball to set up the move for the 2nd goal. Not back to his best certainly but far from being the worst player last night.

Can't agree. Yaya also runs about a lot, but not at the level or the areas we need him to be most effective as a team.

Silva is the not the type of player who can provide the intensity or physicality that this team needs, in that role, wide left of a three. He'll attempt the first press, but will give up and not come back anywhere near 25 yards from his own goal, when attacked down that flank.

Especially so, if, as it seems, De Bruyne is a much more effective No.10?

Let me be clear, I am simply saying Silva doesn't have that in his locker, not his game, but we are trying to accommodate it, simply because of what he does offer in terms of his brilliance on the ball.

 

[Silva_Spell]

Hart, Manga, Clichy, Fernandinho, Silva, KDB had decent games.

Fernandinho MOTM. We looked at our most dangerous when they had the ball and he was in close proximity. Like a homing missile with his tackling and interceptions. POTY imo

Fernando played pretty well too but that fuck up was ridiculous

 

[Neville Kneville]

Can't agree. Yaya also runs about a lot, but not at the level or the areas we need him to be most effective as a team.

Silva is the not the type of player who can provide the intensity or physicality that this team needs, in that role, wide left of a three. He'll attempt the first press, but will give up and not come back anywhere near 25 yards from his own goal, when attacked down that flank.

Especially so, if, as it seems, De Bruyne is a much more effective No.10?

Let me be clear, I am simply saying Silva doesn't have that in his locker, not his game, but we are trying to accommodate it, simply because of what he does offer in terms of his brilliance on the ball.

I would like us just once, to try a 3 in midfield ie both Ferns & Yaya or even both Ferns & Delph. Then DeBruyne & Silva with Aguero like Messi & Neymar with Suarez. In theory we then have 7 behind the ball most of the time with a possiblity to quickly make it 9 or 10 but also the option of runners from midfield quickly joining Silva & DeBruyne.

This seems much more natural for all the players to me, than the ststem we constantly use & tbh if Silva can't play in that, I don't see where he can actually play.

 

[oddfellows]

Nonsense, he did quite a bit of tracking back and tackling/fouling, he also won the ball to set up the move for the 2nd goal. Not back to his best certainly but far from being the worst player last night.

Silva looked tired to me got knocked off the ball quite easily last night, yes, he was instrumental in nicking the ball that eventually found the back of the net, but, his header should have at least hit the target and his right footed shot was piss poor.
Navas worked hard, but, once again, final ball goes AWOL far too often for me.
Clichy was another who looked tired, cut have cost us in the last 15 mins gave the ball away too often and didn't do what a full back's first job is and stop the crosses coming in.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Silva looked tired to me got knocked off the ball quite easily last night, yes, he was instrumental in nicking the ball that eventually found the back of the net, but, his header should have at least hit the target and his right footed shot was piss poor.
Navas worked hard, but, once again, final ball goes AWOL far too often for me.
Clichy was another who looked tired, cut have cost us in the last 15 mins gave the ball away too often and didn't do what a full back's first job is and stop the crosses coming in.

They all worked hard imo & some tired a lot but so did PSG. But a couple of our best players were very below par in quality I thought.

 

[citymad]

Cant believe some of you knocking Merlin, while not at his very best thought he had a really good game and never stopped running and chasing down. Loved his energy late on when we broke into attack. Watch the game again and then you'll appreciate his performance.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Not a single vote for aguero! The game didn't suit him but that has to be a first!

 

[OB1]

Silva was just horrible, mate.

We played with a man short, as he just doesn't have the appetite to work hard and get back in.

Wasted a great chance with the header, and his shot in the second half, inside the penalty area, was so feeble, even if not blocked, a five year-old would have had a chance to catch it up.

He also got caught in possession too often.

 

[blueinsa]

Silva was just horrible, mate.

We played with a man short, as he just doesn't have the appetite to work hard and get back in.

Wasted a great chance with the header, and his shot in the second half, inside the penalty area, was so feeble, even if not blocked, a five year-old would have had a chance to catch it up.

Wont go down well on here but i fear for his future with us, such is the drop off in form this season.

 

[Phil1]

Silva was just horrible, mate.

We played with a man short, as he just doesn't have the appetite to work hard and get back in.

Wasted a great chance with the header, and his shot in the second half, inside the penalty area, was so feeble, even if not blocked, a five year-old would have had a chance to catch it up.

I think he was playing the way he'd been asked by the manager. That's where the problems start. There's such large spaces between our defence, midfield and attack we're horribly out of position when any move breaks down. It leaves Silva isolated on the left and gives the impression he's not working hard enough because he's nowhere near his man. When we've got a team working in tandem (jeez, I can't wait) the gaps will be smaller and Silva will be more effective.

That's not to say he's been anything but average for a while. He's still nowhere near his best. Hopefully we'll see him hit those heights again before its time to move on.

 

[Phil1]

Wont go down well on here but i fear for his future with us, such is the drop off in form this season.

It's not like it bothers you if it'll go down well or not - you must have repeated it a fair few times the last couple of months or so.
I disagree, I think he's got a future if he wants. The drop off in form, whilst concerning, isn't irreparable. It's hardly Fernado Torres, Falcoe, territory.

 

[blueinsa]

It's not like it bothers you if it'll go down well or not - you must have repeated it a fair few times the last couple of months or so.
I disagree, I think he's got a future if he wants. The drop off in form, whilst concerning, isn't irreparable. It's hardly Fernado Torres, Falcoe, territory.

It bothers me in so much as he is one of the greatest players I've ever had the pleasure of watching and to see him virtually non existent in games for us all of a sudden is a real worry.

 

[Marvin]

It was an extremely intense game. We shut their players down, and they did likewise.

It's not difficult to imagine Laurent Blanc telling his players the minute Silva gets the ball I want you to hit him and close him down. Don't give him space. they wont have given any instructions about Fernando and Fernandinho

You can say exactly the same thing about PSG's players. Who for you had a good game? The only player who impressed was Thiago Silva. He was brilliant. He should be. Best defender in the game. If you watch ITV they will tell you the defending was rubbish.