Monaco - Post Match thread.

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Been biting my tongue on De Bruyne for a while now. Going to continue to do so tonight, but not sure how much longer...

I'll say it for you, he's been off form for a while now and has been mainly bloody awful, away from home.

 

[Gordyola]

So baffling when I read experts on Bluemoon talking about Pep being more pragmatic. Laughable suggestions we should've started with loads of defenders to defend the tie out. These people are stuck in a time warp IMO and haven't come to terms with who Pep is.

Looking forward to them eating they ill considered words very soon

 

[Gray]

If you actually read his comments, I think he's making a pretty clear point - the players didn't do what he asked them to.

Because it's Pep, he says he blames himself for not convincing them, but the underlying message is pretty obvious - "If you'd trusted me and done what I said, we'd have won". The first time he's gotten close to criticising the players and a sign of how much this defeat hurt him IMO.

Well, well the players don't do what the manager asks of them.

Doesn't bode well for the rest of the season does it?

 

[inchy14]

So baffling when I read experts on Bluemoon talking about Pep being more pragmatic. Laughable suggestions we should've started with loads of defenders to defend the tie out. These people are stuck in a time warp IMO and haven't come to terms with who Pep is.

It's not just that, these people want Pep to suddenly turn the like s of Fernando and Delph into top players yet they're usually the same people screaming about how poor they are whenever they actually are in the team!
Our (w)hole back 5 needs a major overhaul, the fullbacks are the biggest problem with or without the ball, nothing to do if they're inverted at times just they both panic far too often and create chaos and confusion around them. Until this is addressed we'll continue to come unstuck. This summer can't come soon enough in that regards.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Agree with a lot of what you are saying. However, I do believe Pep himself has underestimated the size of the challenge and transitional period ahead.

His recruitment in some areas was piss poor last summer, albeit we are unaware if that is solely his fault. To only bring Stones in at the back was asking for it, injury to Kompany hasn't helped.

There were some surprising exits and players who stayed, it's as if he wasn't watching the last season or two, when he says he was. Our 5 or 6 worst players from that period have mostly been a part of his squad. Still believe he is the right man long term, but the transitional period is going to be longer than anticipated, with some more big names out the door this summer no doubt.

I disagree. He's not stupid. He knows exactly what he's got and i'm sure come the summer he will be asking for quite a lot.

 

[FCBarca]

I'll say it for you, he's been off form for a while now and has been mainly bloody awful, away from home.

I think it's more down to what is being asked of him due to injuries, he'll have help next season and suddenly will look brilliant again and the conclusion will be that he simply got better rather than benefitted from depth

 

[BillyShears]

It's not just that, these people want Pep to suddenly turn the like s of Fernando and Delph into top players yet they're usually the same people screaming about how poor they are whenever they actually are in the team!
Our (w)hole back 5 needs a major overhaul, the fullbacks are the biggest problem with or without the ball, nothing to do if they're inverted at times just they both panic far too often and create chaos and confusion around them. Until this is addressed we'll continue to come unstuck. This summer can't come soon enough in that regards.

I've made my peace with this season. Last night was bitterly disappointing for loads of reasons and for sir Pep carries the can for that as manager. But ultimately there's an element on here who are so predictable in their bellyaching that it makes it hard not to want to defend the manager.

 

[inchy14]

Absolutely nothing to blame the defence for, they all had their redeeming qualities last night.

Stones was a real leader in the second half, making crucial interceptions and breaking forward with the ball on numerous occasions.

Kolarov never stopped trying to get us going and both Clichy and Sagna showed the required levels of aggression.

It was the paucity of the front six that lost us that game last night, nothing more.

A first half in which they failed to break a sweat, failed to defend from the front and provided Monaco's own quality in the wide areas, exposing us for the first two goals.

It's been a bullshit narrative all season, that the defenders are the problem.

De Bruyne's form has been shocking for months and Pep made a stupid mistake of preferring that midfield set-up without the ball control of Yaya.

Aguero cost us. Sterling cost us. Silva cost us.

Kudos to Sane, who at least refuses to hide.

Said this earlier, it's the front players that has cost us in all the big games this season, if they don't take the chances there's nothing Pep can do about it, they all need to put in a shift first and foremost though, and last night too many didn't do that.

 

[B\connellblue]

He has said numerous time that he will not compromise his beliefs and principles and if that what his employers want he will go home I for one am 100% behind him He will not make his team play like Leicester / Stoke and if he did Bluemoan would be in total meltdown. Chelsea winning at WHU and our schedule of games was the reason for his team selection v Stoke

no ones asking him to do it all the time. When you already have a two goal lead then being solid whilst still carrying the threat of our pace up front would be the way to go.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Absolutely nothing to blame the defence for, they all had their redeeming qualities last night.

Stones was a real leader in the second half, making crucial interceptions and breaking forward with the ball on numerous occasions.

Kolarov never stopped trying to get us going and both Clichy and Sagna showed the required levels of aggression.

It was the paucity of the front six that lost us that game last night, nothing more.

A first half in which they failed to break a sweat, failed to defend from the front and provided Monaco's own quality in the wide areas, exposing us for the first two goals.

It's been a bullshit narrative all season, that the defenders are the problem.

De Bruyne's form has been shocking for months and Pep made a stupid mistake of preferring that midfield set-up without the ball control of Yaya.

Aguero cost us. Sterling cost us. Silva cost us.

Kudos to Sane, who at least refuses to hide.

I think the defence could have done better with that 3rd goal. Poor organisation that.

However you are right about the rest. De Bruyne was fucking useless, lacked effort at times with his half hearted tracking back, poor passing and pitiful attempts at tackling which ultimately cost us the game with his foul leading to the goal.

Pep should have subbed him. I don't know why he wasn't taken off after 25
Mins he was that bad.

He has been disappointing this season. Goes missing way too often. I would drop him now.

Sane did well second half and they were all better but the first half showing was pathetic from everyone bar the odd one. Not acceptable from the players or Manager.

I can't imagine the owners are happy with being knocked out at this stage again and pressure is on to do much better that this next season.

The next 3 games will tell us just how far we are away and what we need to do.

We should not be in a position where we possibly need 5/6 new players to have the side we need.