Monaco - Post Match thread.

[blueonblue]

Only disappointment was the first half, for me a mixture of Pep getting the tactics and team selection wrong, but knowing that we could have beat them had we played up to normal standards is no real help when Pep changes nothing until half time.

 

[Leto]

Criminal first half. Thay was when the match was lost.

 

[Len Rum]

We got beat by a better team over 2 legs and did anybody out there really expect us to win the CL with this defense, surely not?
Pep is indeed hamstrung this year by not spending, or not being able to spend what was necessary on the defense
Next season will be different and he should/will be judged accordingly
Huge summer transfer window for us
Expecting a massive clear out as Tolmie alludes to

Yes he will be judged accordingly next season, but that does should not absolve him from blame for last night's team selection and performance.
Worth remembering that with twenty minutes left we were actually winning that tie. Where was the in game management to shore things up at the back just a little ( maybe by bringing on Ya Ya, hey he could have been in the line defending that free kick) whilst still retaining plenty of attacking options?
But there was no change made and we threw away a winning position again just like other games this season.
That is down to the Manager.

 

[BAB.DAB]

Yes he will be judged accordingly next season, but that does should not absolve him from blame for last night's team selection and performance.
Worth remembering that with twenty minutes left we were actually winning that tie. Where was the in game management to shore things up at the back just a little ( maybe by bringing on Ya Ya, hey he could have been in the line defending that free kick) whilst still retaining plenty of attacking options?
But there was no change made and we threw away a winning position again just like other games this season.
That is down to the Manager.

Bang on mate every time a manager makes a mistake we should sack them

 

[blue62]

What's Denayer's story? Do you expect him to come back?

Seen a lot of him this season, nearly all PL games live here in Canada. Honestly - he's just a 'bits and pieces' player. Not a true CB or RB. Reasonable pace but not really quick. Ok on the ball but no range of passing. Moyes uses him in a holding midfield role, not sure anyone knows his best position. Pep will discard him, not good enough for us. Moot is way better.

 

[Elbow beards]

Yes he will be judged accordingly next season, but that does should not absolve him from blame for last night's team selection and performance.
Worth remembering that with twenty minutes left we were actually winning that tie. Where was the in game management to shore things up at the back just a little ( maybe by bringing on Ya Ya, hey he could have been in the line defending that free kick) whilst still retaining plenty of attacking options?
But there was no change made and we threw away a winning position again just like other games this season.
That is down to the Manager.

If yaya would have come on there wouldn't be a free kick to defend cos kdb would have been off

 

[york away to this!]

Only disappointment was the first half, for me a mixture of Pep getting the tactics and team selection wrong, but knowing that we could have beat them had we played up to normal standards is no real help when Pep changes nothing until half time.

...please see the preceding 116 pages...

 

[GaudBlessYa]

In defence of Pep, other than debating whether it was right or wrong to pick Yaya I’m not sure many of us were overly complaining when we saw the team sheet. It was quite obvious from the home leg that whatever they could throw at us we could throw back and then some and the second half last night kind of demonstrated that again, albeit we didn’t take our chances. If we are going to hold him responsible for the first half performance then we should equally praise him for the second when dropping KDB deeper seemed to be a catalyst for getting on top especially as Monaco began to tire.

You could have installed the undisputed greatest ever football tactician as manager last night and we’d have lost the game the way the players applied themselves during that first half. Too slow and too sloppy.

Also just to play devil’s advocate on our defence (thought Stones played well last night) – you could stick the world’s best 4 defenders into our back 4 and they would still get exposed by the midfielders we have and the system we play. For those saying we shouldn’t ever have lost this tie scoring 6 goals – perhaps not but I bet wouldn’t have scored 6 (not to mention the other missed chances) playing another way.

 

[zabisgod]

My only issue with last night is how we let them overrun us like that in the first half. Pep 100 percent would have warned the players what to expect it's not as if we have players who aren't used to such occasions. I can accept teams playing better than us but not being able to keep the ball more than 3/4 passes or showing no desire to win the ball back isn't acceptable. Second half showed what were about but the damage was done. Reading the comments on here and how disappointed everybody is about not qualifying is a massive compliment to the job pep has done so far let's not forget the majority of this team is the same team that only just scraped 4th place last season more through luck than anything else. A squad that has been on the decline for a few seasons. Pep has come in and added some brilliantly talented young stars to the team and before kick off last night we were still in the champs league, semi final on the horizon in the fa and joint 2nd in the league. He knows what needs to be done and he will do it! Of that I have no doubt.

 

[ancoats]

people have to get real we was never in a month of Sunday's going to win the champions league with this squad even if we won tonight you think the big teams like barca or mardid would lose any sleep over play city and this squad

it hurts like mad to lose but you don't need to be told its right in front of our eyes we are weak and only the front line of sterling sane jesus and stones can book a place for next season squad we have to many dead beats and the clean out will or should be a cull 10 to 15 places need to be took by new signings and youth and last night game was the last straw the full backs stocking the keeper was shocking the one midfield player we had lost the ball every time he looked for a pass what was i watching last night is this what we have come too

so the season is still not over and in a way could be a good thing we went out now and after the international break and we get the liverpool game out of the way we will still be in the top 4 in the next 2 weeks know matter how the others do this weekend lets just get this week over and regroup in 2 weeks

 

[pavelsrnicek]

We do have some youngsters who might be ready to supplement?

More quality than quantity is what's now needed.

New first-choice keeper.

Two new full-backs.

Two central defenders (one who can cover the left hand side.)

One central midfielder to replace Yaya.

One attacker/wide man to replace Nolito/Navas/Aguero.

Mbappe would be my preference for the last requirement.

We've known for a while that due to the 7 players being out of contract this summer we are going to have to spend big and wisely this summer.

Keeper obviously (maybe two if Willy goes)

We need 3 full backs Fabinho and Mendy plus one who can play both sides would be ideal. Fabinho would also replace Fernando in a sense.

Laporte will be looked at plus a replacement if Kompany leaves.

The Yaya replacement is our most important buy this summer.

If Sergio, Navas and Nolito leave then we need probably 2 more one out and out and one like Jesus who can play middle or wide.

That could easily be 15 players out 10 in. Which would be almost an entirely new start.

 

[St.Pauli support]

In defence of Pep, other than debating whether it was right or wrong to pick Yaya I’m not sure many of us were overly complaining when we saw the team sheet. It was quite obvious from the home leg that whatever they could throw at us we could throw back and then some and the second half last night kind of demonstrated that again, albeit we didn’t take our chances. If we are going to hold him responsible for the first half performance then we should equally praise him for the second when dropping KDB deeper seemed to be a catalyst for getting on top especially as Monaco began to tire.

You could have installed the undisputed greatest ever football tactician as manager last night and we’d have lost the game the way the players applied themselves during that first half. Too slow and too sloppy.

Also just to play devil’s advocate on our defence (thought Stones played well last night) – you could stick the world’s best 4 defenders into our back 4 and they would still get exposed by the midfielders we have and the system we play. For those saying we shouldn’t ever have lost this tie scoring 6 goals – perhaps not but I bet wouldn’t have scored 6 (not to mention the other missed chances) playing another way.

I have seen too many football matches not to know sometimes teams don't start at 100% in important games. That's acceptable.
But Pep made changes, the team did perform 2nd half and we were through after we scored!
20 min left to play, Monaco already tiring as you said.

That was the moment to get Yaya on (for Sterling, shift KDB out right) and control the match.
Also Zab on for Sagna like we did in the 1st leg and because we know we always can rely on his spirit.
Those changes would have been a strong shout for the Blues and for Monaco as well.

Well, hindsight. Would be interesting to know, why Pep didn't make those changes.

 

[CelesteItis]

Just arrived in here without reading 118 pages of most likely flapping and doom.
Come on blues! shit happens, it happened before, it'll happen again.
Now bring on the candlewanks!

 

[dave_blue12]

If yaya would have come on there wouldn't be a free kick to defend cos kdb would have been off

Yeah because Yaya never gives away stupid free kicks

This is the I'm a football genius after the event thread.

I'm out

 

[cibaman]

I have seen too many football matches not to know sometimes teams don't start at 100% in important games. That's acceptable.
But Pep made changes, the team did perform 2nd half and we were through after we scored!
20 min left to play, Monaco already tiring as you said.

That was the moment to get Yaya on (for Sterling, shift KDB out right) and control the match.
Also Zab on for Sagna like we did in the 1st leg and because we know we always can rely on his spirit.
Those changes would have been a strong shout for the Blues and for Monaco as well.

Well, hindsight. Would be interesting to know, why Pep didn't make those changes.

It did seem that many of the players froze in the first half. Must admit I was bemused that Pep didnt make exactly those changes that you suggest.

 

[Sir peace frog]

shit first half, was rectified at half time , had Monaco by the bollox, and we didn't defend the free kick correctly

 

[BillyShears]

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.

Just because in this run of form Kev's struggled in clutch moments that for me isn't a sign of mental weakness. He's shown the kind of "big game" mentality previously that only Toure in our squad has had in an attacking sense.

Inconsistency has been in his game since he was a youngster and although you could argue that this is about composure, or even about concentration, what it doesn't signify is a weak mentality. Mentally weak players rarely if ever show up in big games.

 

[super_city_si]

Just because in this run of form Kev's struggled in clutch moments that for me isn't a sign of mental weakness. He's shown the kind of "big game" mentality previously that only Toure in our squad has had in an attacking sense.

Inconsistency has been in his game since he was a youngster and although you could argue that this is about composure, or even about concentration, what it doesn't signify is a weak mentality. Mentally weak players rarely if ever show up in big games.

I tend to agree. Its not like he goes hiding or gives up, he tries but for some reason his from drops off a cliff after xmas.

 

[Blue Hefner]

I have seen too many football matches not to know sometimes teams don't start at 100% in important games. That's acceptable.
But Pep made changes, the team did perform 2nd half and we were through after we scored!
20 min left to play, Monaco already tiring as you said.

That was the moment to get Yaya on (for Sterling, shift KDB out right) and control the match.
Also Zab on for Sagna like we did in the 1st leg and because we know we always can rely on his spirit.
Those changes would have been a strong shout for the Blues and for Monaco as well.

Well, hindsight. Would be interesting to know, why Pep didn't make those changes.

Whilst watching the game I was shouting from Zab and Yaya on. Then it dawned on me, it isn't 2012 anymore!! That is is crux of the problem(s). We just haven't got the balance right of the squad. We can pick 7 subs, but only Yaya was likely to change the game - that is fucking criminal at this level

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

We've known for a while that due to the 7 players being out of contract this summer we are going to have to spend big and wisely this summer.

Keeper obviously (maybe two if Willy goes)

We need 3 full backs Fabinho and Mendy plus one who can play both sides would be ideal. Fabinho would also replace Fernando in a sense.

Laporte will be looked at plus a replacement if Kompany leaves.

The Yaya replacement is our most important buy this summer.

If Sergio, Navas and Nolito leave then we need probably 2 more one out and out and one like Jesus who can play middle or wide.

That could easily be 15 players out 10 in. Which would be almost an entirely new start.

Don't know if there is any truth to it - but I read somewhere that Chelsea are offering Matic to Barcelona. Matic isn't exactly the Yaya kind of player but it wouldnt be a bad signing for us, Another alternative could be Nzonzi.

Sergio wouldn't be leaving. Navas and Nolito would definitely be thrown out the door. Isco would be a good player to bring in to replace these two.

10 players in is unrealistic tbh, I would say about 5players in (2 full backs, a goalie, a DM and 1 attacking midfielder that can play across the front line either on the wings or behind Kun/ Jesus) and then 5 EDS /loaned out players bumped up to complete the set up.