Didn't read all 79 pages, so forgive me if this has been mentioned...
The game hinged on multiple missed chances, no reaction from the bench when we pulled ahead, and a simple lack of desire to attack the ball from a free kick.
We had Sterling through in the keeper, whose legs are wide open, and he pulls it back to Sergio, who gets it poked away from him.
Sane clean through on the left pulls it back for Sergio, but instead of paying it on, leathers it at him off the ground, so he puts it over.
Sane clean through again, this time not going to give it to Sergio, but tries to go around the keeper instead of under him, through his wide open legs.
And, Sergio gets put through, one on one, on his right peg, and he needs all fucking day to get a shot off, when he could have lifted it so much easier. I think it was a penalty myself, and would have been a foul and yellow card anywhere else on the pitch for a late challenge taking the player out, but the refs in the CL are just as weak on the big decisions (but look strong as fuck in the easy ines, as they stride around, puff out their chest, and hold that yellow card to the heavens! Wankers!). Where was the liner from the first leg who gave the pen???
Anyway, I'm not quite sure when "zonal marking" came into vogue on corners and free kicks, but if you can't organize it, then you simply shouldn't fucking do it! How does the biggest player on the park get a free header with the QF of the CL on the line??? Riddle me that??
And, while I'm asking questions that seem too hard to answer, why are we playing a high line when EVERYONE knows the ball is going to the penalty spot and the keeper isn't going to come for it??? If we are going to play a high line, then a second before it is played in, all start running back towards our own goal, what the fûck is the point! HOLD THE FUCKING LINE, OR STEP UP...don't run back and give everyone but your own keeper a chance to get to the ball!!
There are som simple, back to basics things that need fixing. It is GREAT to have a fast attacking team, but when did we use ANY of those things today? Did we have a single counter attack? When we got the ball and started moving forward, we nearly always checked back, waited for Monaco to get organized, which took them about 1/3 the time it takes us to even get bodies behind the ball, let alone in some form of "organized defence," and started playing it around the back again.
Second leg of a CL game, up by 1 goal and losing on any draw, WITH 15 mins to go, it is IMPERATIVE that you SHORE UP A TIRING MIDFIELD.
Pep should have immediately put Yaya on alongside Fernandinho and told him to stop anything getting past and use his nous to keep the ball, spread it wide and knock it over the top.
He should have taken Aguero off and out Iheanacho on, telling him that if he stopped running in the last 15 minutes, he would get fined two weeks wages and fucked off next season! Oh, and get the ball, take it down the line and hold up play waiting for reinforcements and accept any fouls they are willing to give you.
And he should have brought on Otamendi and taken Clichy off, sliding Kolarov out to the left and adding TWO FUCKING BIG LADS WHO CAN HEAD THE BALL onto the park for the inevitable corners and free kicks.
15 minutes away from "winning" their biggest game of the season, and they STILL couldn't muster the team, the formation (4-5-1), or heart to stop the opposition from scoring on the only attack they seriously had in the last 15 minutes!!
The absolute ONLY thing that can possibly wipe away any of the disgust with the way the team folded is a win against Liverpool, and even that we not do it!
