City have at least 10 players on their current roster that rank in the top 10 in the world at their position. Several in the top 5. Please don't tell me we're now going with the narrative that Pep has had to make do with lesser players?David Silva
What’s your point, don’t think there has been a season since 2012 when we haven’t dropped points to teams we were expected to beat, and we always will. We are just as likely maybe more likely to drop points to Palace , Everton, Southampton than we are to a top 6 side.You can't be serious? They are two heavyweights with not much separating one from the other. You can't actually be comparing that to us playing Everton at the Etihad? How the fuck do you actually ask that question?
Hey, some common ground...I agree with a lot of this but the big problem with two up front is we relinquish midfield dominance in the harder games. We had a similar spell to this about 2(maybe 3) years ago where we went to 4231 and the full backs were being asked to push right on. I remember Peo saying after we won the league that year that they had a bit of a showdown and you could see it. He changed it back to one holding midfielder and the full backs let the wide men take up that space and we suddenly started winning game. I sense we are at that sort of watershed now and I expect him to put it right but I’m not convinced it will be with two out and out strikers.
I think he needs to abandon Grealish and/or Mahrez.
I asked because you were making out that this was exactly what Pep should be doing, or more specifically that he shouldn't be doing anything but play his best 11 and formation every week. I was just pointing out that it doesn't always work out like that, and part of the reason we win so many games is because Pep doesn't just do the same thing every week, but tries to gain an edge in every game we play by tweaking 11 and formation. The downside of course, is that it doesn't always workYou can't be serious? They are two heavyweights with not much separating one from the other. You can't actually be comparing that to us playing Everton at the Etihad? How the fuck do you actually ask that question?
My point? Comparing Arsenal and Newcastle playing to a draw to our drawing with Everton, at home no less, is fucking idiotic. That was my point. Nothing more, nothing less. I hope that clarifies it.What’s your point, don’t think there has been a season since 2012 when we haven’t dropped points to teams we were expected to beat, and we always will. We are just as likely maybe more likely to drop points to Palace , Everton, Southampton than we are to a top 6 side.
Don’t really understand why is surprises anyone when it happens.
I understand what you are saying. Maybe I'm not doing a good job communicating. I'm simply saying when we have the massive upperhand like in the last match, save the theatrics. Keep it simple, no need for any gimmicks. Save the "genius" stuff for when we may actually need it.I asked because you were making out that this was exactly what Pep should be doing, or more specifically that he shouldn't be doing anything but play his best 11 and formation every week. I was just pointing out that it doesn't always work out like that, and part of the reason we win so many games is because Pep doesn't just do the same thing every week, but tries to gain an edge in every game we play by tweaking 11 and formation. The downside of course, is that it doesn't always work
Not really.My point? Comparing Arsenal and Newcastle playing to a draw to our drawing with Everton, at home no less, is fucking idiotic. That was my point. Nothing more, nothing less. I hope that clarifies it.
In the words of the legendary Vinny Barbarino...Okay fine...Not really.
and this is where we are diverging. I don't consider Pep trying to win a game to be a gimmickI understand what you are saying. Maybe I'm not doing a good job communicating. I'm simply saying when we have the massive upperhand like in the last match, save the theatrics. Keep it simple, no need for any gimmicks. Save the "genius" stuff for when we may actually need it.
I also totally agree that he should have introduced subs earlier at the weekend but I trust that he had his reasons. Saying that he “overthinks” or is “stubborn” is too simplistic and “gimmick”’is just nonsense.Hey, some common ground...
Inverted FB v Everton = nonsense.I also totally agree that he should have introduced subs earlier at the weekend but I trust that he had his reasons. Saying that he “overthinks” or is “stubborn” is too simplistic and “gimmick”’is just nonsense.
How is it nonsense we’ve been playing inverted fullbacks pretty much the last 5 years, why would he suddenly change it against Everton at home, how is that a gimmick, certainly not the reason we drew the game.Inverted FB v Everton = nonsense.
Up your nose with a rubber hose.In the words of the legendary Vinny Barbarino...Okay fine...
So let me understand. You are annoyed because we lost a UCL semifinal where we were miles ahead the best team, and because we won the PL with the 4th highest points ever with a record streak? I don't even know what to say.
We are 7 points behind (with 1 match less) from a team that has played really well so far, and we udually start playing at our best from January. We have eliminated Chelsea and Liverpool from the Carabao cup, comfortably qualified in our UCL group. All of this in our historical worst months of every season.
Abd we have done that without Walker (our most important defensive player), and with no LB. If there is one thing that football fans are not, is reasonable, so I am not that surprised, but still.
No it’s not. Lewis has been playing basically the same role that Walker plays in every game. What was a bad idea in my opinion was leaving Ake at full back where he could have had the cutting edge of Cancelo.Inverted FB v Everton = nonsense.
Pretty well agree with that Colin, the main thing for me is to create width by playing wingers wide on their natural side rather than inverted which reduces the space for us to work in and makes it easier for our opponents to defend.Been thinking about how we seem to be so out of sorts this season (although our 'out of sorts' is still a lot better than most other teams' 'decent'). I think you can tie it into the debate around Grealish.
It seems to me that Pep's tryimg to play the same 4-3-3 (or more precisely a 3-2-2-3) we played with Sané and Sterling. But we don't have those two players so he's tried to shoehorn Grealish and (to a lesser degree) Mahrez & Foden into a system that simply doesn't make best use of their abilities.
It's alright saying Grealish is a 'failure' but he's not being played in the same role he played at Villa, where he operated more centrally just behind the front players, be that as an 8 or 10. He wasn't a wide player. You could probably find posts of mine on here that praised Grealish as a perfect Pep player when he was at Villa. He used the so-called half-spaces brilliantly so I wasn't surprised when we signed him.
But Pep's used him (and others) as square pegs in round holes in this system we play. It's like trying to play a guitar with a violin bow. You'll get a tune out of it but it won't sound right.
We need to go to a 4-1-3-2 (or 3-2-3-2 in possession) with Haaland and Alvarez (or Mahrez) up front, with KDB, Foden and Grealish (or Bernardo, Gundogan, Palmer) as the three behind them.
For me, that formation maximises our strengths. It would surprise me if Foden, Cancelo and Walker aren't being played because they're unhappy with what they're being asked to do, and it's showing.
I know Yaya had accused him of racism, but hadn't heard that Milton Keynes had tooGuys sorry I dont know where write this.
I read in England there is racism with Milton Keynes people wich is a city or whatever.
Thats true?
How is it nonsense we’ve been playing inverted fullbacks pretty much the last 5 years, why would he suddenly change it against Everton at home, how is that a gimmick, certainly not the reason we drew the game.
The Silva in the centurions season was prime short memories my friendThe Silva that Pep had was past his orime and not close to a top 10 in the world. I wouldn't be sure he was top 10 even in his prime, but he was close if not.