No we didn't. Unless you're on about Yangel Herrera?
We were trying all Summer to buy a central defender - the deals fell through. I don;t think you can replace a whole team. If we 'd have bought a central defender and full backs we'd have spent £200m and it would have taken a long time to get the team going.Regardless of management or player performance, City have deep team structural and recruitment problems behind the scenes. Indeed, quite how our full backs haven't been upgraded over the last 3 seasons is simply beyond me.
Agree with all that but why, why were we so abject in the first half? Why did we do the opposite of what pep said we needed - intensity, fight, energy, wanting it more? Thats the bit I really really struggle with. Twice this season, I really thought we had turned the corner and were consistently getting better under Pep. Now I don't know. Sunday is a huge test for our mentality - we may win lose or draw but whichever I want to see a mentally strong team.First half was a shambles, so many key players completely off the boil, and we were lucky to be only 2-0 down at half time.
I agree with your sentiment about making them look better than what they were, certainly with the number of misplaced passes, KDB and Silva two prime suspects here, and the lack of energy in trying to retrieve possession (as we saw in the second half) it made Monaco look dominant.
We had enough chances to put the game away in the second half and didn't, as we've struggled to do all season. My mind tells me "we lack a clinical striker", but my heart tells me "we have Kun Aguero". I don't really know what Pep will do there, but at least the defensive problems will be tackled this coming Summer for sure.
Bought him in summer but he joined us in Jan. If you're going to criticise get your facts right
Having had chance to think about last night - we can't defend and don't have the personnel to try and defend. Monaco remind of that Liverpool side with Sterling, Suarez etc start like a house on fire then fizzle out! Pep made a slight tweak at half time and we had 5 gilt edge chances to put the tie to bed second half, we took one! Our finishing 2nd half put us out that tie. You can not miss that number of good chances and hope to go through!
A very bad day at the office.
The point I am trying to make is that you cannot win at this level when several players are below par.
If I had to criticise , what the fuck was Sagna trying to do positionally first half.
He had no idea of where he was supposed to be.
Your point about defensive midfield is the bottom line for me. Pep is as much to blame as the players for last night. All stank the place out.No need for over analysis however likely it is to do it after a game like that.
Simply if yaya starts or kdb drops deeper from the beginning like he has when we've steamrollered teams, their first goal never happens and the Grand Canyon between dinho and the front 5 disappears.
I don't blame the team so much because ultimately Pep shouldn't have tinkered especially when it's been clear as day that dinho has been off form with his passing for weeks.