Our attack - what's off?

[ctwrd]

Over reliance on de bruyne. Particularly late on in games we seem to struggle to sustain possession in final third as he tires.

lack of width. Sterling playing left and mahrez right. No overlapping left back (cancelo has been better last few games at providing some creativity) and Walker doesn’t seem to overlap on right either and tucking into midfield instead (those long runs apart - although how often does he do that to have to turn back).

on the full backs, the idea behind coming inside was to become an additional DM to support. That still seems to happen in games but there still seems to be an issue in midfield.

in many ways the midfield is the major issue and solve that issue and the attack probably solves itself.

most of all would like to see Bernardo feature more. Seems to play less than half minutes at moment rather than more than half.

sterling not hit form so far

 

[Holcombe bloo]

our midfield when it contains both Rodri and Gundogan together - completely nullifies our attack and slows it down

neither gundogan or Rodri (esp) are creative -lots of ball retention with sideways and backwards passes - Gundogan occasionally tries something but not often..

These two are now our biggest issue and they affect the team both creatively and defensively

Inverted wingers are an issue with no pace outside to stretch the pitch and make it wider....players always coming inside into heavy traffic and packed defences.

Liverpool played a front 4 against us - direct quick players all of them supported by Henderson and GW who are both extremely mobile and box to box players - compare that to the two we have.

This should be our starting 11/shape

Ederson

Back 4

Rodri or Gundogan (BUT NOT BOTH)

KDB plus one of B. Silva or Foden

front 3 (not B.sliva wide on the right and preferably not Mahrez). A front 3 containing any of the following :G. Jesus, Kun, Torres, Sterling

For me our best 11 (in a one off game) definitely contains the following

------------------Ederson----------------

Walker-------Dias---- ----Laporte--------- Ake/Cancello

--------------------Rodri/Ferna-------------------------------

------------KDB------------ B.Sliva/Foden----

Sterling/Torres -----Aguero/Jesus------- Jesus/Torres

Mahrez and Gundogan dont get anywhere near a best starting 11 imho especialy against eh likes of Liverpool, Spurs, Chelski, Utd, Leicester

I like you

 

[Roachy]

That's a good post. I agree that we have not seen the quick one touch play we are familiar with for all but the odd 45 minutes but I think we're capable of it providing we can get our best players fit and we can field Jesus / Aguero. If we don't have a striker then there is no focus and the play just goes round the houses.

I'm quite happy with our squad and their potential. I think it's a combination of injuries, and fatigue/fitness.

So will we get fitter or more fatigued as the season goes on?

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

The fixture schedule has been relentless for teams involved in europe , our forward pressing has not been at the same level as previous seasons and that has got to be down to fitness/energy levels. The first 60 minutes of games we appear to be OK and then we drop off , although we are showing signs of recovering our levels we were by far the better side than the Dippers for the last half hour, but created zilch
Our creativity really shouldnt be in question we have KDB,Foden,Bernardo,Gundo all capable of playing clever through balls , but apart from KDB they are all under performing this season , if we can get the other three back to form and fitness i think we will see a different team and the goals will start flowing

 

[Marvin]

The fixture schedule has been relentless for teams involved in europe , our forward pressing has not been at the same level as previous seasons and that has got to be down to fitness/energy levels. The first 60 minutes of games we appear to be OK and then we drop off , although we are showing signs of recovering our levels we were by far the better side than the Dippers for the last half hour, but created zilch
Our creativity really shouldnt be in question we have KDB,Foden,Bernardo,Gundo all capable of playing clever through balls , but apart from KDB they are all under performing this season , if we can get the other three back to form and fitness i think we will see a different team and the goals will start flowing

That's spot on. We're lacking the intensity in our game this season. You watch a Leeds, Southampton or Leicester or Villa this season and they are on it whereas we are off the pace. The demands over 2-3 seasons have taken their toll and add the absence of Jesus and Aguero and we've got some rather aimless football.

I think we will get better providing we don't have an endless succession of injuries. I thought Jesus was very good against Liverpool. A goal threat and super sharp. That goal he scored against Liverpool was the type of thing that mane does for Liverpool. Little touches out of nothing.

It's completely weird how in the Summer we fretted about how our defence would cope and yet City's defensive game has been excellent so far and the 100 goal team looks toothless. I think it's fitness and injuries. Whether it will resolve itself I don't know. The demands on our players aren't going to go away.

I am beginning to suspect that the title will go to a young fresh side. Liverpool have a mountain to climb to retain their title. One injury to their forwards and that will kill them. ANyone's title this season.

 

[Blue Til Death]

We need to sign another out and out striker in January, hope we do, Sergio and Jesus are not enough for all the completions we will play in...

 

[Ashleymcduff]

The midfield is full of slow plodders , kdb is run into the ground , both our forwards are/ were injured , are wingers don’t play as wingers no more .

 

[johnevans]

We need to sign another out and put striker in January, hope we do, Sergio and Jesus isn’t enough for all the completions we will play in...

And maybe we could sign, as the late, great Jimmy Armfield once said of Tony Morley (Aston Villa), ‘a down-and-out winger’ too..!

 

[Blue Til Death]

And maybe we could sign, as the late, great Jimmy Armfield once said of Tony Morley (Aston Villa), ‘a down-and-out winger’ too..!

Read that as down and out wanker, loads of them in my local :-)

 

[bugsyblue]

Same old issues rearing their ugly head again...