Nottingham Forest (A) | Post Match Thread

[bobbyowenquiff]

Bernardo going walkabout caused it, Laporte doing standabout assisted it and Rodri doing fallabout contributed to it. The initial error was Bernardo

Like most goals we concede it started down our dodgy left side. We have seen it all season and until we get a proper left back it will continue.

 

[Father Paul]

The other thing that I was thinking about why this keeps happening is analysis and coaches of opposition teams that are not mugs.

We've seen a number of teams focus on just staying afloat against us for 60-70 mins then launching a quite high intesity gear change as we tire.

Peps systems are pretty well understood now and there are a lot of very professional coaches and analysts trying to come up with ways to play against us. This is inevitable and for years now Pep has made tweaks that have moved the game on and we've stayed ahead.

This weakness is something I'm sure Pep and his team are working on and I have faith that we will move forward again.

I hope your right but I note you detect a plan to up intensity when "We tire". That is worrying because my understanding was that the team chasing the ball were the legs which are meant to tire.
Now I know we play more games than the likes of Forest and they should be fresher as a result but with little of the ball they should not be able to outrun us in the final quarter one would think.
Perhaps our legs in some key positions are starting to age and this is starting
G to cause problems. If so you would think it is imperative that we start to take advantage of the five sub rule to give a power boost in the final quarter..

 

[crystal_mais]

That was the best I've seen us play for a while. Phil looked like he was back to his aggressive self on the ball as was Grealish. Those chances we missed were scandalous - Pissed me off all weekend and as for Kev. I think we can play this 3 at the back in games where teams will sit back but have no major attacking threat. But Pep needs to change come last 20mins to shore up that back line.

We play like this and be more clinical the rest of the season, I still think we will be hard to beat.

 

[ShedDweller]

I hope your right but I note you detect a plan to up intensity when "We tire". That is worrying because my understanding was that the team chasing the ball were the legs which are meant to tire.
Now I know we play more games than the likes of Forest and they should be fresher as a result but with little of the ball they should not be able to outrun us in the final quarter one would think.
Perhaps our legs in some key positions are starting to age and this is starting
G to cause problems. If so you would think it is imperative that we start to take advantage of the five sub rule to give a power boost in the final quarter..

I agree, but what I'm seeing is teams conserving energy against us in the period that we used to run the legs off them.
The 5 sub rule works against us in that respect, we can't run the legs out of people then smash them in the last 20 minutes like we used to because they can stay compact, then bring fresh personel on at the point when we used to step it up.

Utd did it, Spurs did it and now Forest have done it. In fact Forest basically turned the tables on for the goal, they past it through us like we normally do.

We don't seem to be able to capitalise on the subs, it disrupts us more than the defending team.

I'm sure they are working on it!

Keep the faith.

 

[Platt Lane 59]

I agree, but what I'm seeing is teams conserving energy against us in the period that we used to run the legs off them.
The 5 sub rule works against us in that respect, we can't run the legs out of people then smash them in the last 20 minutes like we used to because they can stay compact, then bring fresh personel on at the point when we used to step it up.

Utd did it, Spurs did it and now Forest have done it. In fact Forest basically turned the tables on for the goal, they past it through us like we normally do.

We don't seem to be able to capitalise on the subs, it disrupts us more than the defending team.

I'm sure they are working on it!

Keep the faith.

A fair assessment.
Trouble is City can only "capitalise on the subs" if Pep decides to give the bench players a chance ?
Our starting team is starting to look a little leggy at times, which is not surprising when you consider the ages of Walker, Gundogan, Mahrez and KDB.
I bet that Alvarez, Kalvin and Cole Palmer must be thinking they will never get their chance ?
Our major rivals seem to have a younger average age of squad - even LFC are starting their new, younger signings and Milner, Henderson etc. will probably be sidelined...

 

[LongsightM13]

I hope your right but I note you detect a plan to up intensity when "We tire". That is worrying because my understanding was that the team chasing the ball were the legs which are meant to tire.
Now I know we play more games than the likes of Forest and they should be fresher as a result but with little of the ball they should not be able to outrun us in the final quarter one would think.
Perhaps our legs in some key positions are starting to age and this is starting
G to cause problems. If so you would think it is imperative that we start to take advantage of the five sub rule to give a power boost in the final quarter..

Doesn’t help when they make five subs and we don’t make a single one until the inevitable equaliser

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

One of those days, thought we were brilliant.

Would rather draw playing our way, than trying to suffocate a 1-0 win.

Told my lad it would probably end 1-1 the way it was panning out.

 

[Cityfan1977]

What is Cooper talking about clear foul before our goal

 

[HelloCity]

A fair assessment.
Trouble is City can only "capitalise on the subs" if Pep decides to give the bench players a chance ?
Our starting team is starting to look a little leggy at times, which is not surprising when you consider the ages of Walker, Gundogan, Mahrez and KDB.
I bet that Alvarez, Kalvin and Cole Palmer must be thinking they will never get their chance ?
Our major rivals seem to have a younger average age of squad - even LFC are starting their new, younger signings and Milner, Henderson etc. will probably be sidelined...

If you want to win the league, we won’t do it starting Palmer and Phillips.

 

[John Wayne]

What is Cooper talking about clear foul before our goal

He always looks pissed for a reason ;)

 

[LongsightM13]

I agree, but what I'm seeing is teams conserving energy against us in the period that we used to run the legs off them.
The 5 sub rule works against us in that respect, we can't run the legs out of people then smash them in the last 20 minutes like we used to because they can stay compact, then bring fresh personel on at the point when we used to step it up.

Utd did it, Spurs did it and now Forest have done it. In fact Forest basically turned the tables on for the goal, they past it through us like we normally do.

We don't seem to be able to capitalise on the subs, it disrupts us more than the defending team.

I'm sure they are working on it!

Keep the faith.

Said this all along, the media narrative was that 5 subs helps those with deeper squads. But in fact it helps defensive low block outfits to bring on fresh legs to run around when their starting jobbers are tired from chasing the ball for an hour

 

[Pezzer2]

Woke up this morning and that result is still grating on me. So frustrating after our win at Arsenal .
Apart from the finishing we was superb and gives me a lot of hope for the latter stages of the season. A lot of blame on here is at Laporte door but I thought him and Dias complimented each other well and we look a lot more aggressive with Dias leadership with Laporte looking dangerous coming out with the ball.
No more silly results now or else it’s game over .

 

[Platt Lane 59]

If you want to win the league, we won’t do it starting Palmer and Phillips.

I didn't say that Palmer & Phillips should start every game, I was highlighting the fact that Pep seldom makes early subs or even uses all 5 subs.
Appreciate that Phillips has been injured, but how can a perfectly able, English International not get more than odd minutes, usually when a game is already won ?
Rodri needs a break or he will be burnt out.
Palmer can be used to give Mahrez a rest, with Phil being used inside (instead of on the flanks) to give KDB & Gundo recovery time.
Haven't looked at the stats, but I'd imagine our usage of subs (i.e. minutes on pitch) is one of the lowest in the League ?
We all worship Pep, but surely this forum is for fans to comment on the manager, the team and the club in general ?

 

[Kinkys Left Foot]

Cooper the **** trying to make out they were hard done to with a reffing decision in the build up to our goal insinuating they should have won 1 - 0.
Normally that game should have ended about 5 or 6 for us and with him squirming in his seat trying to justify playing like a Conference side in the Cup at home, despite having Champions League players in his starting 11, with their goal being nothing more than a consolation for "having a go" in the last 10 minutes.
They didn't equalise because of either his tactics or his players resoluteness. They got a draw because of our utter profligacy in front of goal, its gauling as fuck and he should take his point and pray to the football gods with thanks they didn't get fucking mauled, again!

 

[Stephen230]

Cooper the **** trying to make out they were hard done to with a reffing decision in the build up to our goal insinuating they should have won 1 - 0.
Normally that game should have ended about 5 or 6 for us and with him squirming in his seat trying to justify playing like a Conference side in the Cup at home, despite having Champions League players in his starting 11, with their goal being nothing more than a consolation for "having a go" in the last 10 minutes.
They didn't win because of either his tactics or his players resoluteness. They won because of our utter profligacy in front of goal, its gauling as fuck and he should take his point and pray to the football gods with thanks they didn't get fucking mauled, again!

I suspect the other manager’s having seen how Arsenal’s decisions have gone since they spent a week loudly crying about the Brentford goal and thought that’s the way to go.

 

[dadnlad]

Yep if we haven’t killed teams off then they are quite happy to sit in deep, even with a 1-0 deficit, to try and make it a 15 minute game at the end.
Pep didn’t react to this obvious tactic until it was too late

10 minute football so poor from pep and team

 

[LongsightM13]

10 minute football so poor from pep and team

Villa did exactly the same

 

[hihosilva]

One of those days, thought we were brilliant.

Would rather draw playing our way, than trying to suffocate a 1-0 win.

Told my lad it would probably end 1-1 the way it was panning out.

Totally agree, i thought our performance was one of the best iv'e seen in months. Just finishing let us down.

 

[Matt Diablo]

Totally agree, i thought our performance was one of the best iv'e seen in months. Just finishing let us down.

Get the being positive stuff but we were playing a shockingly shite team who couldnt hold onto the ball for longer than 5 seconds. So not buying that. Was poor and very irritating throw away of 2 points . . . again

 

[Father Paul]

Doesn’t help when they make five subs and we don’t make a single one until the inevitable equaliser

Precisely. But that is in keeping with Pep's normal behaviour since the introduction of the five sub rule.
He is normally slow to make changes unless forced and often will only change things late in a game which is already won. Surely following a tough game last Wednesday he must have had some sort of a plan to rest tired legs approaching 70 mins in the Forest game?