I actually give upI think today Pep was poor. I understand from our past performance not wanting to change anything and settle for the draw, but bith Bernardo and Gundogan were awful. I think some of the players were intimidated, but thankfully we got a draw and at home we are brilliant. Reminded me a little bit the Leipzig game
what happened to our set pieces? I think it was last year when we scored way more from set pieces then normally (especially corners) but this season we are horrendous. you would think with 3-4 cbs on the pitch we would have the height but weve been woeful.
I can’t believe people on here think he should have made a change.
Nobody on that bench would have been an improvement unless Grealish was knackered and we brought on Foden or Gundo’s was knackered and we brought on Alvarez.
No way we’re bringing on Mahrez in that situation.
what happened to our set pieces? I think it was last year when we scored way more from set pieces then normally (especially corners) but this season we are horrendous. you would think with 3-4 cbs on the pitch we would have the height but weve been woeful.
Last nights setup and tactics was a direct, pragmatic response to what happened in Madrid last season.Bit cautious from him tonight. Felt like he set us up not to lose the ball as the priority rather than try and create chances and the lack of subs for the last 20 minutes when there were minimum a couple of easy subs to be made that would have helped us really was him settling for a point.
I understand it given the situation and if we go through next week it will be a masterstroke but i know just how good we are, i truly believe we are comfortably the best team in europe and I'll never not want to see us going out to win even if his approach tonight seems sensible.
I think today Pep was poor. I understand from our past performance not wanting to change anything and settle for the draw, but bith Bernardo and Gundogan were awful. I think some of the players were intimidated, but thankfully we got a draw and at home we are brilliant. Reminded me a little bit the Leipzig game
I think today Pep was poor. I understand from our past performance not wanting to change anything and settle for the draw, but bith Bernardo and Gundogan were awful. I think some of the players were intimidated, but thankfully we got a draw and at home we are brilliant. Reminded me a little bit the Leipzig game
Agree with that. The only midfielder we have who is capable of shuttling up and down the pitch like that is Foden, but he’s also more likely to give the ball away than the others who were on, which would then put increased pressure on the others as they would all have to chase back more.Last nights setup and tactics was a direct, pragmatic response to what happened in Madrid last season.
We’re finally collectively learning what is required to stop the “chosen team” in the CL.
If we had again gone out to attack, and just score more than them, we would have lost, as we weren’t just playing the RM players: we were up against the crowd, the heat, and especially the officials.
Pep learned that if a basketball game breaks out at the Bernabeu, we lose. It is as simple as that. And he wasn’t going to have us shuffling back to the Etihad down a goal or two.
Now we can return to Manchester, take care of Everton, and then build a plan for the home leg to force Real to play our game.
We’re the best team in Europe at home and I have every confidence we will do the job next week.
Well, to be fair, we in some ways started the trend of coaching midfielders to play fullback. ;-)Agree with that. The only midfielder we have who is capable of shuttling up and down the pitch like that is Foden, but he’s also more likely to give the ball away than the others who were on, which would then put increased pressure on the others as they would all have to chase back more.
Looking beyond this season, it’s one of the things we arguably need to address: the lack of pace in midfield. That caught us out last year in Madrid and did for us in their goal last night.
I’d also like to see us learn another lesson from Madrid and sign/develop midfielders so that they can occasionally slot in at fullback. We seem to work the other way round and coach fullbacks and central defenders to slot into midfield, or have central defenders operate as fullbacks, but we could maybe try it the other way round.
True, but I suppose that’s part of the problem with converting the other way. Genuine midfielders will always consider themselves ‘too good‘ to play fullback on a permanent basis, so while they might be comfortable deputising, they’ll likely be tempted elsewhere.Well, to be fair, we in some ways started the trend of coaching midfielders to play fullback. ;-)
I’d like to think Ancelotti drilled Camavinga with YouTube footage of Fabian Delph 2017/18 in the build-up to that gameWell, to be fair, we in some ways started the trend of coaching midfielders to play fullback. ;-)
“It’s about the fundamentals!” — Ancelotti, during the halftime team talk last nightI’d like to think Ancelotti drilled Camavinga with YouTube footage of Fabian Delph 2017/18 in the build-up to that game
I’d also like to see us learn another lesson from Madrid and sign/develop midfielders so that they can occasionally slot in at fullback. We seem to work the other way round and coach fullbacks and central defenders to slot into midfield, or have central defenders operate as fullbacks, but we could maybe try it the other way round.

Ha ha. Likeable lad but he’s way off getting into the first-team in either position. Good technically, but, like Zinchenko, neither the pace nor physique to be a top left-back.