Pep's new approach

Amazing what a month can do for confidence, and it starts from the back. It feels like the team suddenly believe that we are back on track and it’s evident that the dressing room and Pep both have their mojo back. He looks like a different man on the touchline compared to a few weeks ago.

Dias proves the importance of a leader on the pitch, he’s the first name on the team sheet not just because of his ability but everything else.
 
Has been said many times before,a good House is built on solid foundations.

Bobby Manc took this aproach.

Pep on the other hand, had his own unique footballing philosophy where he would simply set out to score more goals than the opposition

And so it was,we played entertaining swashbuckling attacking football, we had 2 record breaking seasons,where we smashed records for fun.Some of them will never be surpassed.I think the 100 point ,100 goals season will never be beaten in our life times.It was that good..

Unfortunately Teams started setting up very negatively to play us last season.The goals dried up a bit.We started loosing games to solitary goals.It seemed every defensive error we made was punished.

Like all good managers Pep has had to rethink his game,tweak with his own football philosophy.Find a happy medium.

With Dias coming in,i think Pep might be on the road to the Champions League success he ,and we desire.

His impact has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Already he is valued as the best defender in World Football by many....he is that good.

When we bought Dias,it was like we signed 2 World class defenders.Reason being,Stones redfound the form that has alluded him since Vinny left.

Stones is one of those defenders that needs to have an understanding with his partner.I dont really like using the term " Baby sat",but that is how it is used within the game.Some players just play much better paired up with accomplished vocal players,it has always been this way.Stones had that with Vinny.When Vinny left so did John form .In comes Dias and John looks like he has rolled back the years.He looks class again.

I know it is early days,so i am not going to get too giddy.

I like the fact Pep has addressed our defensive issues.We carry on with the Clean sheets we are going to be in the mix right until the end.I also think a good defense is key to doing well in the Champions League.We have naively gone out to shit goals,and been the better side in in 3,out of the last 4 champions League campaigns.
 
The West Brom game has changed everything. The tempo, the movement, the fluidity, the desire. It's an incredible turnaround from the last 18 months and long may it continue. As well as getting goals and wins again we aren't half more fun to watch.
 
Beanhead said:
Dare I say that it looks a far more suitable approach for him to finally win what our owners ultimately want?

We look like a cultured European giant. Play like this deep into the competition and we would be a a nightmare against any side over two legs.

I honestly believe the hunger for CL glory has instigated this change in approach.. but it might just see us good in the PL too.

I’m excited about this season now. It seems fresh.
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We're finally fit. Hardly had a pre season and that impacted on our game. Now we're running at 100% and in our stride.
 
SWPISHOME said:
This is the approach that Pep thinks could win us a European Cup, I think he could be onto something here....
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I think it is the right approach. Defensively solid, well balanced but creative enough to go and win games. It ensures we will always be in the game.

They wanted to counter attack us but we didn't let them and ended up being able to play them at their own game.

A few chances went begging but we can improve on that. The one where Sterling kept going and was blocked by Shaw, when De Bruyne was in loads of space for a pass where he could have put the ball in the net stands out. In the CL you need to make the right decisions in those circumstances.

What is excellent to see is the passion and effort to protect that lead once we have it.
 
Whilst it still feels painful, the West Brom draw was probably a catalyst and a good lesson we needed which has contributed to current form and change in approach.

It feels like we have a completely new defence, Stones feels like a new signing, I am so glad we kept hold of Stones and he has improved immensely under Pep. Cancelo is superb and Zinchenko deserves to keep his place at LB.

Up the blues!
 
nimrod said:
I'm sorry to say it but I think the biggest culprit and the biggest failure at the moment is Raheem Sterling, when he gets in good positions he seems to either run into people , fall over or lose possession giving the opponent's a chance to break.
I just feel we could do with someone in that position who could turn those opportunities into goals.
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Yes, I agree. Said this last season. Even when he scores so many goals for us. Take that chance last night, why didn't he try snatching the ball from the keepers hands? It was there.
 
Do not underestimate the confidence the team will now have after beating Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd away from home. We are clicking again and every credit has to go to Pep as well as Khaldoon. He was right to give pep that extension and showed him he will back him in difficult times,
 
I said before, losing David Silva is not the end of the world for the team. We still have a squad of fantastic players, that can easily walk into Madrid/Barca sides. It's on Pep's hands to find a new way to play with the talent still in his disposal.

And find a new way he did. A slightly more counter-attacking approach made us looked unbeatable at the back, and the extra space afforded to our attackers greatly benefits them. Giving Cancelo the freedom to move from FB to AM, gives us an extra attacking edge in an otherwise defensive 4231.

If our finishing improves, we will be a very, very complete side.
 
Agree but cups games can change with a referee decision or a fluke but with the team now with how good we are defensively we have a far better chance of winning the champs league.
 
Agree , but maybe a little credit to Lilo too, after being accused as being little more than a seat warmer when blamed for our slow start.
 
vmsuhail said:
The last 3 away wins against Top opposition have all been tactical masterclass. Looks like Pep has turned it around.
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3 games without a parked bus to get through though. After Birmingham the double deckers turn up again. I’m curious to see how we use our newfound confidence in those games, will it make a difference or will we struggle to break them down. Only time will tell. Fingers crossed
 
Tricky_Trev said:
3 games without a parked bus to get through though. After Birmingham the double deckers turn up again. I’m curious to see how we use our newfound confidence in those games, will it make a difference or will we struggle to break them down. Only time will tell. Fingers crossed
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100% spot on. I am not suggesting our new approach will fail, but ultimately a slightly more safety first approach is great against relatively open teams. It was only 2 or 3 weeks ago we drew to West Brom 1-1 playing this way. The proof of this approach will be clear in the next 6 or 7 games against the majority of whipping boys in the league. Lets hope it still works
 
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