Marseille (H) - CL | Post-Match Thread

[FantasyIreland]

Maybe write to Pep, tell him what you want :)

Top reply.

 

[Marvin]

Have to weigh up the benefits:

• momentum and confidence
• £2m win bonus
• Game time for important squad players

versus

• experience for young players

I, for example, am beginning to feel more positive about City now, largely because of the defence. Our record in the Champions League and Premier League defensively is really good, and the team probably feel this too.

Big test at the weekend for Utd are exactly the type of fast counter-attacking side that have caused us problems.

 

[shemnel]

i think Sterling missed it, the defender got back to it and attempted to clear, hence OG

 

[johnevans]

Fernandinho has barely played this season and is captain. Why not play your captain a full game when you are going to need him? Any minute on the pitch counts when you have been out for many weeks. We are playing 2 games per week now and we need any of the senior players in as good form as possible. Fernandinho is one of the players we will rely on over the next few months. It's not like Pep doesn't want to play youngsters. The rules of professional football, especially at top top level, are different.

Youngsters Pep has played this season: THB, Doyle, Palmer, Delap, Bernabe, Nmecha. Plus U20 players like Foden, Garcia and Torres.

That's 9 very young players. 9!

Note the players Klopp subbed in yesterday: Robertson, Henderson, Mane, Firmino...Why? Because results (in the CL) matter and mean money.

You make several valid points, particularly regarding Pep's use of younger players so far this season. Most of the media-johnnies who have a pop at us for being a team composed solely of 'oil money' players at the expense of youth development never actually look at the facts of the matter, including

(a) the actual numbers of young players Pep (and previous managers) have picked over time (far greater than we're ever given credit for)

(b) this is a game currently being played by elite level athletes, probably at the highest level of physiological and technical demands ever asked of footballers

(c) young players need even more time than ever to develop sufficiently to play at this highest of levels

(d) this compressed season has exacerbated all of the above issues for young players; Pep's strategy, based on the performance data that is carried out on every player throughout the club on a daily basis, is the correct one in managing the development of younger players (if only for their own well-being), while doing the best for the team and the results needed for the club's continuing success and development, as you say

At best, we're probably only likely to see 2, maybe 3 of our younger players make it as regular first teamers. To force younger players at a pace that burns them out would be counter-productive. What Pep is doing in giving them a steady introduction to football at the very highest level is about right, for them and for the team.

 

[Burtonblue]

Too many young players have been ruined by being played too early in elite fixtures.
I predict the likes of Rashford and Greenwood will not have long lasting careers. They are already showing physical and psychological stresses as a result of being thrown in at the deep end.
What Pep is doing is safeguarding the future of our young players by easing them into first team involvement. They train with the first team and get to be involved in match day squads which is the thing of dreams for them. They will also get occasional outings but relying on youth puts massive pressure on them at too early a time in their physical and mental development.
Pep has a lifetime of experience and has come through arguably the finest youth system himself.
I trust he knows what he’s doing more than some on this forum...

 

[Bill Walker]

Top reply.

I feel a bit sorry for Pep.
He turns in a nearly 100% result/achievement in the group stage and still fans find something to complain about.

I understand your frustration about the kids, I feel it a bit too, but Pep is our manager and we have to believe in him.
He knows a million times more than us about managing a club.

 

[FantasyIreland]

I feel a bit sorry for Pep.
He turns in a nearly 100% result/achievement in the group stage and still fans find something to complain about.

I understand your frustration about the kids, I feel it a bit too, but Pep is our manager and we have to believe in him.
He knows a million times more than us about managing a club.

Of course he does,hes the best manager we could ever wish for,however,that doesn't always make him right and I will never buy into that thinking.

 

[KS55]

Bit catch 22? You can't earn it if you don't play.

True, but you earn it originally in training performance.

 

[KS55]

Had the game on whilst doing some work so only had one eye on it but some of the passing and movement was reminiscent of City of old. Some neat triangles and runners into the box.

I'm fully on board the John Stones hype train. Loved it when he spun around in our box and strode into midfield like a boss. The sliding block he made in the second half and then also the covering he did when Laporte and Ake both got sucked into the same ball. He is some player when fit and firing.

Yes. Concentration seemed to be his problem. I guess his marital issues weighed heavily. Transformed this year. That sliding block just brilliant.

 

[ancoats]

i think it was a good win last night. big changes and a new defence ake at left back and a 3.0 win aguero on the score sheet what more can you ask for ? you have to respect every team in champions league and home or away its hard going even with the best 11

we got the job done with very little danger to our goal and our keeper had little to do other than trying to keep warm
its a good job we don't have fans like united or arsenal on a youtude channel ? moaning after winning on here is crazy and sometimes you wonder what it would be like going back 20 odd years old city in league 2 if we had bluemoon back then ??