Monaco - Post Match thread.

[BillyShears]

But it still has to be about the "here and now" also mate.

Regardless of him being a central plank to what we are trying to achieve, his form has been very poor since the turn of the year.

Just because we know Aguero scores 20 goals a season, shouldn't and doesn't make him a guaranteed starter.

I'm all for the vision, but we can't be blinded to the fact that he is falling way short of what we need and expect right now.

I'm not blinded by anything other than Kev's talent. Bad run of form. For sure. Poor last night. For sure. But he's not mentally weak and he's gonna remain central to what Pep wants to achieve IMO. Players around him need to improve too if he does. Silva and Ferna were equally awful.

 

[Uptop]

Not sure whats up with Kev, think back to early season performances playing as an 8, against the rags or chelsea, he was magnificent and had energy to burn. Now he is looking to hide and has no drive. Maybe exhausted playing a new role but expect better from him. Shouldnt really single him out, besides Stones and maybe Sane, nobody covered themselves in glory, all can do so much better.

People can blame pep for tactics but end of the day, we missed at least 3 clear chances to score yet again without changing any players from the abysmal first half, this tells me either Pep told them to play passively or the players thought the job was done (something which has been a very long standing issue with this side, players turning up and expecting to win) and were only motivated to try in the second half, once we scored we turned crap again.

Pep cant account for Aguero missing sitters, Silva / Kev/ Fern struggling to make a pass, Sterling avoiding taking his man on at all costs when hes been on fire all season, fullbacks who get a nosebleed when past the halfway line yet also can barely defend, this is on the players bottle for me. Desperately needed a Kompany or Zaba to get them fired up.

 

[i8rags]

I genuinely wonder how much of an impact having a baby has had.

I was one of those parents who had a child who did not sleep, and I know the look on Kev's face lately. I don't think it's a fitness thing, it's exhaustion.

Thought kdb had a good second half, one thing to take into account is the overwork were asking him to do, mainly down to the fact that our full backs are not doing their job as required, once these are replaced we should carry the ball correctly and less cover should be required,

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

We are very, very limited in terms of attack and it becomes very predictable. Silva, Sterling and Sane all have their qualities but when we have 2 fullbacks that offer nothing then we are always going to struggle against good teams - all other top sides have their fullbacks as attacking options, we do not

As for the game. The first half was a disaster and reminded of so many other games over the years that have gotten away from us early on. As for the 3rd goal, I called it before they free-kick was taken - line too high and keeper was too deep, well too deep

Although our missed chances are annoying, we are not the only team in the world that misses chances and tactics cannot be based on every chance going in. Especially at this level

Not sure why Yaya didn't get on, he must have been injured. But, if our options are to bring on Zabeleta and Yaya Toure then that tells you all you need to know about the state of our squad and the job Guardiola has on his hands

I didn't expect us to win the tournament, but I expected us to beat Monaco. That said, they look a lot better than PSG did when we played them last season

I do think Monaco could win it this year, they seem to have everyrthing with regards to attack. Jeez I hope Leicester get them, they will rip Leicester apart

 

[MaccBlueSS115]

John Stones second half was excellent, pushing forward and really driving the team from the back to go and create something. Disappointed in Aguero's finishing with the chances he had and can see Jesus being first choice striker next year.

Anyone else worried that Liverpool will take a lot of confidence in the way Monaco played in the first half and might adapt a similar style of play against us? With tired legs and our heads down after the result we need to be careful not to let Liverpool get at us.

 

[tonea2003]

And if he'd gone with a 3 of the 2 Ferns and Yaya he'd have been slaughtered at half time for allowing the most attacking side in Europe to do what they're good at, Attack while we do what we're shite at, defend.
The team was fine (apart from the back 5 no matter who are crap) they just froze in the first half and didn't take the chances in the second.

struggling with this froze angle these players have played on bigger occasions than this, some in world cup finals. there has got to be more than this, sagna's dissapearing act being one

 

[waspish]

Think bottom line we all know we had to score at least 2 goals to go through! The way Pep was speaking in the pre press conference he new it to! What was criminal with those experience players is how they bottled it first half.

 

[OB1]

I agree about the third goal.

I still think we need five or six new players, regardless of how this seasons pans out.

I'm still of the mind that Pep knew all of this, but couldn't change the entire starting eleven, from the off.

We need to hang in there, as I can envisage a huge drop off if we lose the semi-final, with some accepting their fate is sealed.

I don't fancy us to win anything at this stage and, as you say, the next three games could set a match to everything.

De Bruyne is being asked to work harder this season but I don't think he has the required fitness levels. He looks overweight.

We needed a huge change last summer but I really don't think it was possible to it. I think buying Stones, Sane and Jesus was a positive move and Gundogan is undoubtedly a fine player but we need to see how he recovers from injury. Unfortunately with Vinnie perma crocked and Hart not in favour, we pretty much need a whole new defence.

We also have to take a long hard look at midfield. KDB is showing no signs of achieving the level of consistency required and he and Silva just do not do the defensive side well enough often enough. We do not have a great holding midfield player in the squad. Yaya remains excellent on the ball but age is not on his side and we cannot build around him; although I would try and keep him.

 

[CTID1988]

Fake news.

Its Guardiola takes the blame for Man City exit

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39289638

Guardiola criticises players' approach

• 16 Mar 2017
• From the sectionFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola criticises the approach of his players during the first half of the 3-1 defeat to Monaco that saw Manchester City knocked out of the Champions League on away goals by Monaco after a 6-6 aggregate result on Wednesday.

 

[OB1]

I'm not blinded by anything other than Kev's talent. Bad run of form. For sure. Poor last night. For sure. But he's not mentally weak and he's gonna remain central to what Pep wants to achieve IMO. Players around him need to improve too if he does. Silva and Ferna were equally awful.

Sorry, my friend but I think it is fair to question Kev's mental strength. I think a lot of his inconsistency comes from the mental side of things. He has huge technical ability and he can tackle aggressively but too often he does not get pretty basic things right. Those two free kicks he failed that were woeful deliveries at a crucial time, getting both those wrong is for me a mental thing, a lack of composure.