Our attack - what's off?

Blu3m00n91 said:
Surely a change of system is required now, a back 3 with two strikers? But what then do you do with the wingers we have. I remember Pep playing Leroy on the wing vs Everton and it didn’t work out well
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I’m not sure we need a change of formation but we certainly need a change of tact. When team’s sit deep we used to be patient and draw them out. Now we try to force the issue and get nowhere. Why is this? I have no idea. Devoid of confidence or leadership? Maybe both.

I’d also like us to stretch the play more and be more direct and intense in the final 3rd.
 
bugsyblue said:
I’m not sure we need a change of formation but we certainly need a change of tact. When team’s sit deep we used to be patient and draw them out. Now we try to force the issue and get nowhere. Why is this? I have no idea. Devoid of confidence or leadership? Maybe both.

I’d also like us to stretch the play more and be more direct and intense in the final 3rd.
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Our ball retention is what is troubling us vs deep defences, which makes David Silva leaving even more evident. We used too be so good at keeping the ball in the oppo half and eventually we would draw them out. It now seems that we just rush in the final 3rd and we either try and force it or overplay it
 
We are no longer creating the overload situations. We have all the possession still, same as the last few seasons but now when we get to the edge of the oppos box we simply move the ball from one wing to the other wing looking for a way in.
As others have mentioned playing with inverted wingers, especially when one is mahrez who never uses his right foot, only amplifies this.
We are missing fernandinho big time, his qualities in carrying the ball forwards when the opportunity arises is only really appreciated properly now we have rodri who very rarely does this. I actually do like rodri, I think technically he's exceptional, if only he had a touch of pace. His lack of pace, especially over the initial 15-20 yards really is a huge detriment to us both offensively and defensively.
In this position I prefer gundogan over rodri, as he's a bit more mobile.
The other thing I think we need to do is to start pulling the trigger when near goal. I lose count how many times a game I'm screaming SHOOT! but always wanting another touch, or pull back, and we lose the chance. Something for sure we are missing aguero, he like all top strikers only wants a glimpse of the goal to unleash one.
I know all the above has been repeated already, just adding in my own 2 penneth
 
Blu3m00n91 said:
Our ball retention is what is troubling us vs deep defences, which makes David Silva leaving even more evident. We used too be so good at keeping the ball in the oppo half and eventually we would draw them out. It now seems that we just rush in the final 3rd and we either try and force it or overplay it
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Absolutely this. Playing with your defence 60 yds in front of your goal is only a risky strategy if you don't have the ball.
 
feedmpenzaandhewillscore said:
Why have we got two players who cover the left flank who are right footed? Then the other winger on the other side coming in on his left, the split second to come inside give the defence a brief moment to shuffle everything over and cut off all options. We won the league with a 100 points with two wingers making the pitch massive and stretching teams.
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It’s becoming infuriating!

We played our best game tho season with Foden on the left and Sterling on the right against Marseille (granted, they were dreadful!) but we’ve not seen it since.
 
We are not pressing as well from the front nowadays. Because of this we are not turning the ball over in the right areas so we can catch the opposition on the hop.
We don't hunt players down with any sort of conviction like we used and seem slow to engage them. They break right through us these days. We used to turn the ball over as they were executing a break which allowed us to get more space nearer to goal.
Also even when we do get a chance to take the ball off a player, our midfield and forwards seem weak in the tackle, the opposition seem to win the 50/50's time after time. Think we are not fit enough to play this way anymore, plus we have one or two faint hearts in the team. If you don't press as a team, all together, then it won't work
 
Blu3m00n91 said:
First half yeah but remember the second half also. They ripped us open and missed a couple easy chances
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Tbf it didn’t help that the backline consisted of Mendy, Stones, and Ake making his first appearance. Also, I wonder how differently the match plays out if Pep has a full squad to substitute from. Bringing on Gundo could’ve helped control the game at 2-0. I like Fern and Rodri because it maximizes our players strengths. Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling etc are very good in space and in transitions. With Fern and Rodri we are forced to play a little more off the ball, and if the pressing game is working, we either win the ball up front or cut down attacks in the middle, creating transition opportunities our best attackers can exploit. Perfect example of this I think is the second goal against wolves. Rodri wins the ball back, get its to De Bruyne and they pick the ball out of the net.
 
2 strikers needed. Too easy for teams to just sit deep and two defenders look after 1 lone striker especially when the attack is too slow anyway !
 
bitterblue said:
We are not pressing as well from the front nowadays. Because of this we are not turning the ball over in the right areas so we can catch the opposition on the hop.
We don't hunt players down with any sort of conviction like we used and seem slow to engage them. They break right through us these days. We used to turn the ball over as they were executing a break which allowed us to get more space nearer to goal.
Also even when we do get a chance to take the ball off a player, our midfield and forwards seem weak in the tackle, the opposition seem to win the 50/50's time after time. Think we are not fit enough to play this way anymore, plus we have one or two faint hearts in the team. If you don't press as a team, all together, then it won't work
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I am sure it's true that we're not pressing as much as we used to. The intensity feels like its down and you can probably say similar for a lot of the Premier League sides.

However, it's Liverpool who excel at the counterpress. That is the essence of how Liverpool create chances for their forwards. It's not the main part of City's success.

There's more to it than de Bruyne but his game is very poor at the moment. He's one paced and putting the rest of our side under pressure. The attacking threat from our game has diminished because he is significantly diminished.

Whether Bernardo or Foden have got it in their locker to sub for him I don't know but we should rest KDB and get some serious training into him. So Foden for KDB and Bernardo in for Mahrez. Said it before but the topic I raised has mysteriously disappeared so I thought I'd say it again.
 
mikeyk07 said:
2 strikers needed. Too easy for teams to just sit deep and two defenders look after 1 lone striker especially when the attack is too slow anyway !
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Have to get the ball in to them first. I thought it would improve when Jesus came back, and I think he's played two good games back to back but the standard of our final ball was appalling vs Spurs. None of our players had it in them to run at the defence and play one twos. I remember when Yaya was in his pomp, the massed ranks of defenders would just be demolished by a trademark Yaya run. He ended up garbage and the same thing is happening again. Players have their golden eras. Kaka was one. De Bruyne seemingly may have had his. We can't just igniore this and carry on. Rest him. Get some training into him. If we carry on like this the season will be a complete shambles.

Liverpool playing in a bit. For about the first time in 3 years I shan't even watch it because there is no point. We are not in the race for the title. This season is a disaster. Covid is probably as the heart of it. The preparation but even so that doesn't make it easier to accept
 
benno74 said:
We are no longer creating the overload situations. We have all the possession still, same as the last few seasons but now when we get to the edge of the oppos box we simply move the ball from one wing to the other wing looking for a way in.
As others have mentioned playing with inverted wingers, especially when one is mahrez who never uses his right foot, only amplifies this.
We are missing fernandinho big time, his qualities in carrying the ball forwards when the opportunity arises is only really appreciated properly now we have rodri who very rarely does this. I actually do like rodri, I think technically he's exceptional, if only he had a touch of pace. His lack of pace, especially over the initial 15-20 yards really is a huge detriment to us both offensively and defensively.
In this position I prefer gundogan over rodri, as he's a bit more mobile.
The other thing I think we need to do is to start pulling the trigger when near goal. I lose count how many times a game I'm screaming SHOOT! but always wanting another touch, or pull back, and we lose the chance. Something for sure we are missing aguero, he like all top strikers only wants a glimpse of the goal to unleash one.
I know all the above has been repeated already, just adding in my own 2 penneth
Click to expand...
I agree with much of this. Can I add our seeming unwillingness to take anybody on to create 2 on 1's, and also the absence of El Mago whose ability to take the ball in seemingly impossible situations, retain possession and then unerringly pick out runners who got to the byline created so much. The absence of the tap ins resulting from the byline crosses are conspicuous by their absence, City goals as they are called in our house!!
The shooting issue does my head in particularly when you know that we have a number of players who can really strike the ball well from distance and also nearer to goal.
As someone who has watched for 60 years I know full well that what we have been watching these last few years has been exceptional, it has been a pleasure to see this team under Pep.
I guess we are in the transition phase and the circumstances of the times and the lack of pre season preparation has had an impact, not just on us of course.
It is evident that there are some deficiencies in the team and Ferdy is a big miss although I do believe that Rodri and Gundog are excellent footballers who sadly do lack pace.
Mahrez has now had enough opportunities to show us the player we saw at Leicester and has not taken them. Foden is undoubtedly a great talent who needs experience and Bernardo, remember the player we saw pre Mendygate, are both more than capable of taking his place and should do so IMO. Bernardo particularly is one of the few we have who maybe could fill some of the huge void left by David.
We need a left back for sure, Mendy's injuries have lost us the player we signed from Monaco.
I am not even going to mention the strikers, watching the kids this afternoon young Delap is sadly a way off.
KDB looks cream crackered and Ederson's decision making seems to have deserted him for the the moment.
So lots of easy issues for Pep to sort,haha, a few players to step up to the plate after looking in the mirror and we'll be away, he said hopefully.
 
We’ve stopped getting players into the box, and in and around the 6 yard box.
 
I want to throw out some ideas I've had on plausible factors behind our struggles I'm not sure has been said:
  1. Negative media coverage about the club across Europe and especially in the UK (not only though) for years in spite of incredible performances on the pitch might have sapped a lot of energy. When you're motivated to prove yourself, then do, and then still are received with "well but...state owned club, cheaters, human rights underminers, lawsuits, etc." in the context of coverage about Liverpool you can see how this may wear on ANYONE no matter how resolute and determined you are because you may start to doubt if you can convince regardless of performances.

  2. This is then further undermined by the CL performances and the manner in which we have been kicked out of the competition. I believe for most of our players, winning CL is their primary goal. The PL matters, but we won it twice in a row and with the most points ever. Yes, you need to keep winning the league but traditional English football/ culture other than what I gather are younger and less rigid fans, have not warmed to City's presence and performance (just look at the 5 sub issue as what I mean, even though Klopp wants it as well). This can affects the mentality of the players over time.

  3. Of course, you can also juxtapose this with the fact that MANY City fans (especially long term Mancs based on my observation, and is not meant as a criticism) openly detest CL, accepting it as a means to an end. To believe this attitude doesn't rub off on the players is rather naive IMHO. The fans love the players, (well some) but don't love the competition players love. I don't remotely hear anything like this from any other PL club at the top level. They want trophies period and don't verbalise such animosity, no matter how understandable it is, towards the most well regarded competition globally.

  4. The pandemic is making it so that Mourinho style football and those who use counter attacks and pace and top class finishers on the break will triumph over build up style and general straight out gegenpress because players worry about risking their careers. Liverpool are triumphant because they have a well oiled machine of the same players for years and what I think is much higher levels of belief than we possess now.

  5. The Messi rumours, Pep off and Ramos rumopurs as well I wonder have alienated some who may feel less trust from the manager and doubts about their futures and potential playing time given this. Messi was 100% the choice over the summer and players like Bernardo and Mahrez must have surely known that meant we were happy to put them to the side. Should they know how to persevere? Sure, but add all I've said above to the story and maybe it's a bridge too far when all combined. And now here we are.
 
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Not a surprise.

God, we do miss David Silva.

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