Monaco - Post Match thread.

[BigJoe#1]

This isn't a go specifically at Pep. But it's symptomatic of our club and several others.

Sadly it is symptomatic of football per sé.

One of the reasons why I've lost some of my passion for the game.

 

[simon23]

It's not just about attack being the best form of defence although he might point to the fact that in the premier league City are currently the team that allows their opponents the fewest shots on goal (which is a potential step towards conceding the fewest goals). Last nights stats show that we only allowed Monaco, Europe's top scorers, 8 goal attempts (basically our league average) and 28 dangerous attacks. Meanwhile we had 45 dangerous attacks but only produced 6 goal attempts from that.

The story of our whole season has been not being clinical enough at either end of the pitch - and it was a problem last season. You can choose whether you think the defending or attacking is a bigger problem for us but we need to improve both. However, the way the team is set up to defend is not for me the biggest problem and Pep isn't going to change it but he will change the players so that his game plans can be executed more effectively because getting his way of playing to work is a better route to success than compromising it by retaining players who are not good enough.

Our attacking wasn't great last night so we may have had a lot of attacks (got into attacking positions) bt the vast majority of the time nothing came of it due to a lack of a final ball (sterling being a case in point at one point)....being clinical isn't just about finishing a move. ....ita about making the most of being in great positions and we don't do well at that even when we are winning...

However the basics are there for all to see.....a team doesn't have to attack us that often cause even if they only attack a few times they are more than not going to be successful......that is down to poor defending whether it be by individuals or as a team (often both)

If Kompany is fit he should be playing...no excuses ..he is by far a superior defender to ANY other player we have in ALL aspects.

If we had improved our defending last night we DEFINITELY would have won....improve the attacking we MAY have won if the defending was still as poor.

 

[paulchapo]

This thread is testament to how footballing values have become totally warped by silly money.

Strip out the verbiage and we're saying we need another £200m/£300m to outdo ragged-arsed teams like Monaco (and Leicester City).

And then we say "let's raid the fcukers of their talent". Why? Because we're minted and can't bring on our own youngsters or motivate our own millionaires or organise a defence. Don't blame the boss though. It's not "his" team until he's spent hundreds of millions.

Then finally we win a trophy (hopefully) and pay homage to the best shopper manager in the world.

This isn't a go specifically at Pep. But it's symptomatic of our club and several others.

I am hoping we are implementing a style and system throughout all the teams at the club so that when we get injuries a player can step into the first team and slot straight in, so lessening the impact. Given how bad our full backs have been this season I am mystified our reserve ones, who have shown some promise haven't been given the chance.

 

[Chi-town blues]

I posted typical city coming up and i had just pressed post and they scored,we had no composure at all,i was shouting forv kev off and yaya on and try and keep the ball and calm it all down,really annoyed by the whole thing

Winning Lottery numbers ?thanks

 

[Blue Hefner]

This thread is testament to how footballing values have become totally warped by silly money.

Strip out the verbiage and we're saying we need another £200m/£300m to outdo ragged-arsed teams like Monaco (and Leicester City).

And then we say "let's raid the fcukers of their talent". Why? Because we're minted and can't bring on our own youngsters or motivate our own millionaires or organise a defence. Don't blame the boss though. It's not "his" team until he's spent hundreds of millions.

Then finally we win a trophy (hopefully) and pay homage to the best shopper manager in the world.

This isn't a go specifically at Pep. But it's symptomatic of our club and several others.

This is probably for another thead but never mind. Clubs and supporters are always banging on about the next transfer window and who they should buy next as soon as one window closes - whatever happened to making the players you have better?

Then you've got people e.g saying Leicester will 'struggle next season' weeks before they were about to be champions

Not many people in football concerntate on the here and now. They are all constantly trying to deflect, no wonder with the money they are earning!

 

[Marvin]

Our attacking wasn't great last night so we may have had a lot of attacks (got into attacking positions) bt the vast majority of the time nothing came of it due to a lack of a final ball (sterling being a case in point at one point)....being clinical isn't just about finishing a move. ....ita about making the most of being in great positions and we don't do well at that even when we are winning...

However the basics are there for all to see.....a team doesn't have to attack us that often cause even if they only attack a few times they are more than not going to be successful......that is down to poor defending whether it be by individuals or as a team (often both)

If Kompany is fit he should be playing...no excuses ..he is by far a superior defender to ANY other player we have in ALL aspects.

If we had improved our defending last night we DEFINITELY would have won....improve the attacking we MAY have won if the defending was still as poor.

Evidently Kompany is struggling

We had some great attacking opportunities last night and would have won had we been more efficient in both areas. That is the point. Guardiola is not going to compromise the way we play. If the players can't adapt, they will be changed.

 

[hilts]

Without turning this into the transfer thread - How are we going to replace that lot? We are very short as it is an unless the loan players come back and get a look in, this time next season we will still be saying we are 5 players short

It's like Arsenal they always appear to be a couple of players short of competing for the title every year

 

[CrownPointBlue]

The trouble is, Pep is trying to implement his style. We are going to play that way win, lose or draw.
He won't do pragmatism. He will keep with his same way of working until the players get it. If they
don't, they go and he gets players that do. You just can't say this is the way we are going to play,
but if it doesn't work sometimes, we'll have a go at this way. It's a bit disappointing and sometimes annoying,
but i'm sure with new and younger players in there is a bright future. That's why Pep likes to work with young
players, they're not so set in their ways.

Pep is a very complicated fella who does not welcome or react well to close scrutiny or criticism.

After reading PC I became as worried as I was delighted by his delayed appointment.

There are very few shades of grey. It's pretty black & white. My way or the highway......then I'm offski.

I don't know any successful person in any way of life who doesn't deploy different strategies for different situations.

I wish him & us every success but I wish he wouldn't be so single minded with us. We're no where near ready yet or maybe ever.

Take care Josep & calm down.

 

[IcriedwhenTueartleft]

That first half, WTF.... I couldn't decide if we were shite or they were that good, it was like playing against 7 Thierry Henrys at times. They were berluddy good, fast as shit.

That was in the top 3 worst 1st halves of the season with Everton , Leicester away.

ALL of our major players were simply shite..... We came out as a team.....slow, lethargic, no enthusiasm, weren't we supposed to be on the front foot and get that crucial away goal?....I didn't get it, We'd slag off MP for exactly the same every other week. It's a quarter final of the CL ffs, I didn't think we'd get this from a Pep team.

KDB, Silva, Dinho.....all giving it away time after time, half a yard sloer to every other ball. The players you rely on for big games like this. We couldn't pass it 5 fkin yards. ....No sub to change it, for me , Yaya for Sterling on 30 mins, push KDB up.

Pep simply doesn't like an early sub, no subs at HT.....sheihks head.

Thankfully it wasn't Bravo in net as it would have been 3, 4 nil at HT and tie over.

Sterling, jeez, I hate to single him out but I think winston said it best , what a frustrating player. I think you can tell what game he's going to have in the first 15 mins of a game....either a world beater, unplayable on his day, or a donkey, their simply doesn't seem any in between with him. Tonight, pretty much a donkey.

2nd half, we at least made a game of it, had enough chances to actually win it BUT we didnt take our chances, the story of our season.

Aguero chance was probably a pen after he hit it, got clattered like Sevilla player did for there pen, butwe don't even attempt the "dark arts" so never an option the win at all costs approach.

THE most annoying part of the 2nd half was that winning goal freekick for them imo.

WHY OH WHY OH WHY do u set up a high line from a freekick??? The closer the defenders/attackers are to the keeper the best chance the keeper can come out n punch it or any contact on the keeper its a foul.

I'm in the fkin pub, and the first thing I yell out is " that line is too high"
Why would you give the crosser of the ball a massive gap to ping it into. It makes no sense.

If you sit deep it's an easier cross to deal with. The ball has to be in the air more, keeper has more time to deal with it.

The high line is a Pep thing and I don't get it......like the high pressing line when 2.1 v Chelsea and getting beat 3.2 at home.

It's fkin non sensical tactics for an apparent tactical master.

That's pretty much the ONLY FKIN ATTACK they basically had 2nd half and we laid it on a plate for them. We were battering them 2nd half till that freekick, Willy had nowt to do.

Good luck to them, no "dark arts" to win, they were impressive, I hope they win it. They are gonna get raided for 4, 5, 6, 7 players in the Summer.

What an academy, or scouting system they have. We will be wanking for our 100 million spent if Roberts, Diaz, Maffeo, Sancho etc etc make a sub appearance whilst these boys tonight are running rings around us for next to fuck all in front of 15k fans every other week.

It's now ALL about now lifting them up for the Liverpool game. It can still be a good season, but unless we win the league, highly unlikely now, a great season. ( assuming we can't catch Chelsea of course)

Top 3/4 and FA cup win will be a good season.

Let's deal in facts. We finished 4th last season and won the League cup, then spent 165 million to improve on that.

We've bent over backwards and parted our cheeks for Pep.

I haven't seen anything so far for the squad/money he's spent to separate him from Mancini/ MP.....so far.

Looks like it's gonna take another 150m for a new back 3/4 out of 5?

Thank god we're loaded, thank you Sheihk Mansour!

Excellent stuff, especially the free kick bit...I suspect it is Pep's brilliant idea

 

[Two Gun Bob]

If only we had taken our three or so chances. (no shit sherlock-mania so why didn't we)
A game of two halves so how can we kick off the block with the afforability of a two goal cushion and perform so pish poorly.
The answer is that no one really knows the answer because our Moon analists and all the options discussed over the last 120 plus pages could have produced so many different outcomes.We can deduce and summize till were sort of blue in the face but it's all in the past now so onwards and upwards for the cup and a top three slot.

Mr Sterling I admire you indefatigability and your desire to impress and impress me you have but when in a clear shooting position kick the ball at the net.Its worth a bash Raheem.Just saying like and am really enjoying your improving efforts on the field of play..oh yes indeed my good man.
Serge is godlike but I now have a penchant for Sterling Jesus and Sane performing as the holy trinity.
That is all.