Mistake, After Mistake, After mistake! Why Can't We See Games Out?

Marvin. said:
We did what Pep often does in Europe and play low-risk football but in making individual errors we lost control of the game. And as the original poster has identified this has become a theme in our season.

Pep said in his press conference that he can't explain this. And doesn't know how to turn it around.

City are a dysfunctional side at the moment. Playing on auto-pilot in game management mode requires a player at the fulcrum of your side to recycle possession smoothly. Rodri isn't there. KDB is too slow. Last night John Stones was playing that role and did really well. I think he went into defence at the end of the game. I haven't watched the game back so I am not sure but if we did that, it would part explain the late errors in this game. It's not bad luck. It's a lack of self-belief and quality.
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It's his job to find solutions.
 
It's quite a simple issue in my opinion. We used to be so ruthless at seeing games out. That late collapse at the Bernabeu in the CL was one of the few times we let a lead slip late on in a game. We control the ball, keep it comfortably and take it to the corner. The opposition rarely get the ball let alone a chance to equalise/win a game.

But we don't have that control anymore. What we should be doing to see games out, given our issues, is a similar thing to what we saw Plymouth do against the dippers. Fucking hoof it as far away from your goal as possible. If under pressure then stick it in row Z. Stay compact, defend deep and just get rid of the ball.

It goes against everything Pep stands for, and quite rightly. In the short term it's the most effective way of us seeing games out. Similarly, playing more compact and looking to be more direct to Haaland and using the pace/skill of our attacking options would be more effective for our defence. But long term, when players are fit, when new arrivals settle and more are added in the summer - and critically when Rodders is back - we'll want to play the way we are now. And Pep is willing to suffer the short term pain for the long term good it will bring.
 
supercity88 said:
It's quite a simple issue in my opinion. We used to be so ruthless at seeing games out. That late collapse at the Bernabeu in the CL was one of the few times we let a lead slip late on in a game. We control the ball, keep it comfortably and take it to the corner. The opposition rarely get the ball let alone a chance to equalise/win a game.

But we don't have that control anymore. What we should be doing to see games out, given our issues, is a similar thing to what we saw Plymouth do against the dippers. Fucking hoof it as far away from your goal as possible. If under pressure then stick it in row Z. Stay compact, defend deep and just get rid of the ball.

It goes against everything Pep stands for, and quite rightly. In the short term it's the most effective way of us seeing games out. Similarly, playing more compact and looking to be more direct to Haaland and using the pace/skill of our attacking options would be more effective for our defence. But long term, when players are fit, when new arrivals settle and more are added in the summer - and critically when Rodders is back - we'll want to play the way we are now. And Pep is willing to suffer the short term pain for the long term good it will bring.
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This is 100 per cent right. We are making blunder after blunder in the dying minutes, sometimes in games we have been in control. Literally gifting goals to the opposition. It can only be a combination of mental fragility or the wrong tactics. Yesterday was a killer because we looked solid with Akanji and as soon as Rico came on we started to struggle, especially on that side of the pitch. We never seem to shut up shop yet we used to be brilliant at this.
 
bobbyowenquiff said:
This is 100 per cent right. We are making blunder after blunder in the dying minutes, sometimes in games we have been in control. Literally gifting goals to the opposition. It can only be a combination of mental fragility or the wrong tactics. Yesterday was a killer because we looked solid with Akanji and as soon as Rico came on we started to struggle, especially on that side of the pitch. We never seem to shut up shop yet we used to be brilliant at this.
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We shut up shop against port vale..
 
Marvin. said:
Last night John Stones was playing that role and did really well. I think he went into defence at the end of the game. I haven't watched the game back so I am not sure but if we did that, it would part explain the late errors in this game. It's not bad luck. It's a lack of self-belief and quality.
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He did and it does, but we're also operating with a frazzled squad and operating a system now where we turn possession over far more cheaply.
 
Some are past it .
Some maybe gone has far has they can with Pg's methods .
Are the fitness levels not up to certain high standard that are causing repeated injuries esp in defence.
We have won every trophy going & enthusiasm is waning for some .
Replacement of players not been good enough for a couple of seasons .
Pg's personal issue of marriage breakdown could be effecting his judgement this season.
Pg will not change tactics or principles when things are not going to plan , same issues in quite a lot of games this season.
Get the likes of Zabba & dinho on to the coaching staff for next season with fresh enthusiasm who know the traditions & high standards of playing for city .
We are not a good team this season ,but we have had a brilliant ride .
 
For me it‘s fitness level as big part of poor run.
Pep gave the players extra time in the summer. They arrived late and didn’t have proper pre-season. You can see how hard their legs are after 40mins. Especially in the second half.
 
argyle said:
100 points, a treble, 4 titles in a row.... and one 'bad' season and you want rid of the greatest manager in the world.
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Haha. No you're absolutely right. He's earned the right over and over to take us down a couple of divisions, if he wants to extend again (not that I believe he would). I got an up close view of the last time our greatest coach did it and no one benefits. After all he's done for us, I don't like to see him suffer that's all. We were born to.
 
ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN said:
As soon as I saw Rico warming up my heart fell

He’s just not good enough
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Suppose it was either him or Nunes and he isn’t either.

The new lad would have been a gamble I think. I would have preferred we signed one ready made experienced defender than two with potential but hopefully they will come good. We desperately need a right back next season and at least 2 more midfielders with pace.
 
Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
Suppose it was either him or Nunes and he isn’t either.

The new lad would have been a gamble I think. I would have preferred we signed one ready made experienced defender than two with potential but hopefully they will come good. We desperately need a right back next season and at least 2 more midfielders with pace.
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A £33M gamble?
 
RayCTID said:
Mental and Physical fatigue chasing that elusive 4 in a row title. We are slowly regaining our mojo.
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How? By capitulating… yet again? We’ve beat two half decent teams in 4 months in Chelsea and Forrest and continue to throw games and concede multiples of goals at will…. Am I watching something different to you?
 
Gabriel said:
He did and it does, but we're also operating with a frazzled squad and operating a system now where we turn possession over far more cheaply.
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We have bought the new players and we have 1-2 young players from the academy. Now we have to play them and develop them. Pep has been trying to eke out KDB and Gundogan but we need to pack that in.

John Stones is a massive plus for us because he is a Rodri substitute imo. He might work where Gundogan failed.
 
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