ono
Well-Known Member
The margin between good and great is very small and is probably highlighted about 5 times per season. Today and Tuesday have been back to back occasions where this margin has come to light.
We have, and have had an issue for some time with certain players within the squad, who are all very good players in their own right, but cause us game-breaking issues. This will be uncomfortable reading for many on here and i'm polishing my tin hat as I am typing this out but here goes..
The first issue is with Otamendi and Fernandinho. They can be talked about in the same breath because there has been a problem for some time here (there's a thread on here from Pellegrini's second season where I put up several videos of Fernandinho making bad decisions to close down space without communicating to those around him, and the impact that this then had on Otamendi, who is similarly emotionally lead and reactionary - http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threads/so-easy-to-play-through.320639/).
This specific action didn't happen today and Pep has worked well with Fernandinho to stop him from doing this so much, although he still did it today, luckily without punishment. The lessening of this kind of action has also helped Otamendi as he has less situations to react to. What has also helped is the tremendous amount of control we normally have in games. So in that sense, both are protected more. However, there is a small percentage of games or moments in games where we have less control, or worse, lose all control. When we lose control against good sides, we seem to capitulate for a short spell. Below is a list of games where we have conceded quick fire goals in games over the last 2-3 seasons...
Spurs away - 4-1 loss - quick fire goals - 45, 50, 61
Liverpool - 4-1 loss - quick fire goals - 7, 23, 32
Liverpool - 3-0 loss - quick fire goals - 34, 41, 57
Leicester - 3-1 loss - quick fire goals - 48, 59
Southampton - 4-2 loss - quick fire goals 25, 28 & 57 and 68
Chelsea - 3-1 loss - quick fire goals - 60, 70, 90
Leicester 4- 2 loss - quick fire goals - 3, 5, 20
Everton - 4-0 loss - quick fire goals - 34, 47 & 80 and 90
Liverpool - 4-3 loss - quick fire goals - 59, 61, 68
Liverpool - 3-0 loss - quick fire goals - 11, 20, 31
United - 3-2 loss - quick fire goals - 53, 55, 68
Fernandinho and Otamendi have played key defensive positions in 8 of those losses. Clearly, it would be silly to lay the blame at their feet, but it is also worth exploring the reasoning behind sudden collapses in games off the back of one goal going in. When there is a momentum shift in a game, Fernandinho and Otamendi are not the type of personalities you want in the centre of your defensive third of the pitch. Both lack the composure and discipline on and off the ball during these periods. At this point is probably worth drawing attention to Fernandinho's role in Brazil's 7-1 loss to Germany where 5 goals were scored in the first 29 minutes - he was subsequently hooked off at half time. You could also point to Spain's 6-1 win over Argentina recently where Otamendi lead a defence which conceded 4 goals in a 20 minute spell. Again, while both have had very good seasons and (Fernandinho especially) have plenty of credit in the bank, when it comes to the meat and bones of top tier competition it is absolutely vital that the players positioned centrally on the pitch, in defensive positions, can ride out a storm. Time and time again,both Otamendi and Fernandinho have struggled to get a grip on a momentum shift.
At the other end of the pitch, there are also problems which people are not allowed to talk about without opening themselves up to vitriol. Certain players are simply not clinical enough, either in the final third with a final pass, or with their finish. The main culprit of this stood out like a sore thumb today unfortunately, missing 4 very good chances, which ultimately did cost us the game. We have reached a bit of a paradox with Sterling where we are criticising a young player who has contributed to 30 goals this season. The situation is made more complicated by the protective feelings we all have towards him given the amount of hatred launched at him from opposition fans and the media. However, there comes a point where (probably after next season) where we make a decision on what we do as a club. In terms of the type of chances Sterling has scored and missed this season, I can think of at least a dozen very straight forward chances missed, but am struggling to think of many goals where I have been wowed by he quality of his finishing (Southampton aside, maybe Newcastle away). True, his movement is exceptional, but being realistic, a ruthless player is scoring 35 goals a season with these kind of chances and you have to ask yourself, would Bayern, Barcelona or Real Madrid persevere with a forward who seems to have such troubles with striking the ball cleanly. Whilst that may sound incredibly harsh, top tier football is harsh.
As for the rest of of our attacking unit, it is often breath-taking, but it is also fairly frustrating at times. It is less clinical than the previously mentioned European giants and was much less clinical than that of our neighbours today. Not just in terms of chances missed, but also in terms of final passess. While Silva and De Bruyne are exceptionally reliable, players like Sane, Sterling, Gundogan, Jesus and Aguero have a tendency to either over hit or under-hit very simple passes. Again, not usually too much of an issue as their brilliance has often seen us kill games before they've even begun. However, every season, there will be a very critical game where the margins are razor, razor fine, and fielding a team with the tendency to make the difficult look easy but the easy look difficult, can open us up to big problems. Today was one of those games, as was Wednesday. We have the foundations of being an exceptional team. We are already very good 90% of the time. Unfortunately we are trying to dine at a table where the other eaters can maintain their excellence under the most tense and difficult circumstances. Our next step in our evolution under Pep is to reach that level and for me, that might mean saying good bye to some very good and very well liked players.
We have, and have had an issue for some time with certain players within the squad, who are all very good players in their own right, but cause us game-breaking issues. This will be uncomfortable reading for many on here and i'm polishing my tin hat as I am typing this out but here goes..
The first issue is with Otamendi and Fernandinho. They can be talked about in the same breath because there has been a problem for some time here (there's a thread on here from Pellegrini's second season where I put up several videos of Fernandinho making bad decisions to close down space without communicating to those around him, and the impact that this then had on Otamendi, who is similarly emotionally lead and reactionary - http://forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/threads/so-easy-to-play-through.320639/).
This specific action didn't happen today and Pep has worked well with Fernandinho to stop him from doing this so much, although he still did it today, luckily without punishment. The lessening of this kind of action has also helped Otamendi as he has less situations to react to. What has also helped is the tremendous amount of control we normally have in games. So in that sense, both are protected more. However, there is a small percentage of games or moments in games where we have less control, or worse, lose all control. When we lose control against good sides, we seem to capitulate for a short spell. Below is a list of games where we have conceded quick fire goals in games over the last 2-3 seasons...
Spurs away - 4-1 loss - quick fire goals - 45, 50, 61
Liverpool - 4-1 loss - quick fire goals - 7, 23, 32
Liverpool - 3-0 loss - quick fire goals - 34, 41, 57
Leicester - 3-1 loss - quick fire goals - 48, 59
Southampton - 4-2 loss - quick fire goals 25, 28 & 57 and 68
Chelsea - 3-1 loss - quick fire goals - 60, 70, 90
Leicester 4- 2 loss - quick fire goals - 3, 5, 20
Everton - 4-0 loss - quick fire goals - 34, 47 & 80 and 90
Liverpool - 4-3 loss - quick fire goals - 59, 61, 68
Liverpool - 3-0 loss - quick fire goals - 11, 20, 31
United - 3-2 loss - quick fire goals - 53, 55, 68
Fernandinho and Otamendi have played key defensive positions in 8 of those losses. Clearly, it would be silly to lay the blame at their feet, but it is also worth exploring the reasoning behind sudden collapses in games off the back of one goal going in. When there is a momentum shift in a game, Fernandinho and Otamendi are not the type of personalities you want in the centre of your defensive third of the pitch. Both lack the composure and discipline on and off the ball during these periods. At this point is probably worth drawing attention to Fernandinho's role in Brazil's 7-1 loss to Germany where 5 goals were scored in the first 29 minutes - he was subsequently hooked off at half time. You could also point to Spain's 6-1 win over Argentina recently where Otamendi lead a defence which conceded 4 goals in a 20 minute spell. Again, while both have had very good seasons and (Fernandinho especially) have plenty of credit in the bank, when it comes to the meat and bones of top tier competition it is absolutely vital that the players positioned centrally on the pitch, in defensive positions, can ride out a storm. Time and time again,both Otamendi and Fernandinho have struggled to get a grip on a momentum shift.
At the other end of the pitch, there are also problems which people are not allowed to talk about without opening themselves up to vitriol. Certain players are simply not clinical enough, either in the final third with a final pass, or with their finish. The main culprit of this stood out like a sore thumb today unfortunately, missing 4 very good chances, which ultimately did cost us the game. We have reached a bit of a paradox with Sterling where we are criticising a young player who has contributed to 30 goals this season. The situation is made more complicated by the protective feelings we all have towards him given the amount of hatred launched at him from opposition fans and the media. However, there comes a point where (probably after next season) where we make a decision on what we do as a club. In terms of the type of chances Sterling has scored and missed this season, I can think of at least a dozen very straight forward chances missed, but am struggling to think of many goals where I have been wowed by he quality of his finishing (Southampton aside, maybe Newcastle away). True, his movement is exceptional, but being realistic, a ruthless player is scoring 35 goals a season with these kind of chances and you have to ask yourself, would Bayern, Barcelona or Real Madrid persevere with a forward who seems to have such troubles with striking the ball cleanly. Whilst that may sound incredibly harsh, top tier football is harsh.
As for the rest of of our attacking unit, it is often breath-taking, but it is also fairly frustrating at times. It is less clinical than the previously mentioned European giants and was much less clinical than that of our neighbours today. Not just in terms of chances missed, but also in terms of final passess. While Silva and De Bruyne are exceptionally reliable, players like Sane, Sterling, Gundogan, Jesus and Aguero have a tendency to either over hit or under-hit very simple passes. Again, not usually too much of an issue as their brilliance has often seen us kill games before they've even begun. However, every season, there will be a very critical game where the margins are razor, razor fine, and fielding a team with the tendency to make the difficult look easy but the easy look difficult, can open us up to big problems. Today was one of those games, as was Wednesday. We have the foundations of being an exceptional team. We are already very good 90% of the time. Unfortunately we are trying to dine at a table where the other eaters can maintain their excellence under the most tense and difficult circumstances. Our next step in our evolution under Pep is to reach that level and for me, that might mean saying good bye to some very good and very well liked players.
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