Pep's Press Conferences - Watford (A) Post Match (Page 129)

[NorCalBlue]

Does he remind anyone else of Gael Garcia Bernal in "Mozart in the Jungle"?

 

[cibaman]

We need a major overhaul. I feel for Pep I really do, he's inherited a squad that's had its best years. He's trying to integrate youngsters whilst changing the philosophy of the club. Yesterday shown how thin we are on the ground. This season I think is going to an eye opener for Pep and us, he'll learn this season what the prem is all about. It happened with klopp at the mickeys. Great start, tailed off and sort of levelled out. Last night I was absolutely livid. But after getting over myself and stepping back I realised the squad we got ain't exactly ripping up trees. One thing I will say is that Pep is very gracious in defeat. He is calm, maybe too calm sometimes after a defeat, never gets rattled and never points the blame at anyone or anything else. These next few games are important. I've resigned myself to just getting top 4 this season. Maybe a cup run.

I absolutely agree that there are weaknesses in the squad. What I found frustrating with the game was that the way we were set up seemed to emphasise those weaknesses rather than mask them. For example, we all know that Kolarov has defensive shortcomings, so why was he played on the left of a 3 with no defensive help in a set up which gave Mahrez acres of space? I just think that Pep is beginning to make his job harder for himself by stubbornly refusing to compromise his style one iota to take account of the weaknesses in the squad. It seems as if he's asking players to play in a way that he must realise many of them aren't up to. I'm not saying he should completely ditch his principles, just adapt them a touch until we strengthen the squad.

 

[onceabluealways]

Any team that goes out with a back 3 of Sagna, Kolorov and Stones with Fernando in front of them would struggle. The issues we have are mainly down to transfer strategy - We needed quality at the back, centre and full backs.

My worries are that Pep seems to rely on Kolorov who is one of the worst defenders in the prem, and as shown if fernandinho is missing we do not have a ball winner.

Was said last summer Kante was an absolute bargain who we should have been all over.

I think its time to give Angelino / Tosin run out , they can't be any worse than what is playing now, or they aren't good enough

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I agree what a stupid notion that we shouldn't tackle,the players are used to doing it and should just do it when it needs doing,biazarre

He didn't say we shouldn't tackle, he said he doesn't coach tackling. Like he won't coach how to pass or shoot, that sort of stuff is coached at 9 years old.

The one thing that surprised me is that he said "the second ball is a concept here in England"...it's one of the most important things in the game IMO. Like rebounding in basketball, it's a huge part of the game. And our players for about two years now fall asleep when there is a second ball opportunity and we barely ever work to get that second ball (tackle or simply running to get the ball) - other than Fernandinho. We have a bunch of players who do not concentrate enough and they lose out in this area through lack of concentration and awareness.

The most important thing in football is concentrating.

 

[MCFC1993]

Watford (H) Pre-Match:


A couple of difficult questions but he handles them well. Good analysis around 8-9mins in regards to controlling the 2nd ball and when he references the Swansea-Palace game a couple of weeks ago.

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

He didn't say we shouldn't tackle, he said he doesn't coach tackling. Like he won't coach how to pass or shoot, that sort of stuff is coached at 9 years old.

The one thing that surprised me is that he said "the second ball is a concept here in England"...it's one of the most important things in the game IMO. Like rebounding in basketball, it's a huge part of the game. And our players for about two years now fall asleep when there is a second ball opportunity and we barely ever work to get that second ball (tackle or simply running to get the ball) - other than Fernandinho. We have a bunch of players who do not concentrate enough and they lose out in this area through lack of concentration and awareness.

The most important thing in football is concentrating.

Spot on but some pundits actually mis-read what he actually meant, these are the ones who want him to fail, so they can all laud it over him with the conception that Pep failed in England and couldn't adapt....they are ingnorant wankers

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Any team that goes out with a back 3 of Sagna, Kolorov and Stones with Fernando in front of them would struggle. The issues we have are mainly down to transfer strategy - We needed quality at the back, centre and full backs.

My worries are that Pep seems to rely on Kolorov who is one of the worst defenders in the prem, and as shown if fernandinho is missing we do not have a ball winner.

Was said last summer Kante was an absolute bargain who we should have been all over.

I think its time to give Angelino / Tosin run out , they can't be any worse than what is playing now, or they aren't good enough

Whoscored.com have Kolorov down in their team of the week.

https://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/England-Premier-League (bottom of the page)

Interestingly, they have our defenders in order (best to worst) as follows;
Otamendi
Kolorov
Sanga
Zabaleta
Stones
Clichy
Bravo
(not including Vinny, who is rock bottom)

 

[1961_vintage]

Watford (H) Pre-Match:


A couple of difficult questions but he handles them well. Good analysis around 8-9mins in regards to controlling the 2nd ball and when he references the Swansea-Palace game a couple of weeks ago.

What a joy it is to listen to him sharing his views in such a clear and honest way.

The reaction re Collymoron was a classic!

 

[simmo]

The journalists don't half ramble in the way the questions are asked.

The most useful question was by cheesy asking about opponents Watford. He openly spoke in his answer to that one. Any that sound long winded or not relevant he gives a short sharp answer.

 

[justsaying]

He is feeling the pressure, sad to see that.

 

[bluemonkey71]

Come on Pep chin up fella. Time to get back to winning ways

 

[GeekinGav]

turned it off after the first answer, 4 wins in 15 games and refuses to adapt. Shameless. Admits to making mistakes but doesn't admit to solving them. His willing to sacrifice our players, our club to satisfy his philosophy, his arrogance. Best manager the world ... Bollocks!!

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

turned it off after the first answer, 4 wins in 15 games and refuses to adapt. Shameless. Admits to making mistakes but doesn't admit to solving them. His willing to sacrifice our players, our club to satisfy his philosophy, his arrogance. Best manager the world ... Bollocks!!

His second answer was that you are a moron.

 

[bluemonkey71]

turned it off after the first answer, 4 wins in 15 games and refuses to adapt. Shameless. Admits to making mistakes but doesn't admit to solving them. His willing to sacrifice our players, our club to satisfy his philosophy, his arrogance. Best manager the world ... Bollocks!!

Red cafe is that way.--->

 

[MCFC1993]

He is feeling the pressure, sad to see that.

I wouldn't say so, he acknowledges that we're on a poor run and that he just needs time to implement the way he likes to play. I also think he knows he doesn't quite have all the players to do so either.

turned it off after the first answer, 4 wins in 15 games and refuses to adapt. Shameless. Admits to making mistakes but doesn't admit to solving them. His willing to sacrifice our players, our club to satisfy his philosophy, his arrogance. Best manager the world ... Bollocks!!

He's trying to imprint his style upon the club not sacrifice and whatever other bollocks you want to call it. If you watched on you would have seen that he recognises the team aren't performing the way they did in the first month and he recognises that the English style is different and such things like winning the 2nd ball are very important...which means he is adapting.

Imagine being an absolute fanny and flapping after 15 league games when we're in a good position in the league, the last 16 of the champions league and the FA Cup hasn't even started yet!

 

[Cityfan]

Admits to making mistakes but doesn't admit to solving them.!

I don't even vaguely understand what this means.

 

[ono]

He didn't say we shouldn't tackle, he said he doesn't coach tackling. Like he won't coach how to pass or shoot, that sort of stuff is coached at 9 years old.

The one thing that surprised me is that he said "the second ball is a concept here in England"...it's one of the most important things in the game IMO. Like rebounding in basketball, it's a huge part of the game. And our players for about two years now fall asleep when there is a second ball opportunity and we barely ever work to get that second ball (tackle or simply running to get the ball) - other than Fernandinho. We have a bunch of players who do not concentrate enough and they lose out in this area through lack of concentration and awareness.

The most important thing in football is concentrating.

To be fair I know what he means. Winning the second ball is often a total lottery and its difficult to plan a tactic around it. Teams do it against us because their philosophy is based on getting players behind the ball and getting our faces once we enter into a dangerous ares of the field, so by the virtue of having more men around our ball carrier they have a better chance of reacting to a loose ball. It is fairly similar to a rebound in basketball, and that's why teams average way more defensive rebounds than they do offensive rebounds....they simply have more players around the rim to cover all possible ricochets, or said players have boxed out and are closer to the rim.

I've often watched us in games where practically every clearance made by the opposition has gone straight to an opposition team mate. Ditto for every block or deflection. There's too much of a luck element to practice for it unless you are going to build your philosophy around getting men behind the ball and reacting/gambling on every first touch. We actually try and do this ourselves sometimes but because we are often being countered when we lose the ball, it creates problems because individual players (fernandinho and otamendi mainly) gamble when they don't need to...but that's for another thread I'm sure.

 

[Ezra]

turned it off after the first answer, 4 wins in 15 games and refuses to adapt. Shameless. Admits to making mistakes but doesn't admit to solving them. His willing to sacrifice our players, our club to satisfy his philosophy, his arrogance. Best manager the world ... Bollocks!!

But wasn't it his philosophy the reason we employed him?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

But wasn't it his philosophy the reason we employed him?

Some people feel compelled to project their mental weakness onto the wider world. I expect they find the process cathartic.

 

[SWP's back]

turned it off after the first answer, 4 wins in 15 games and refuses to adapt. Shameless. Admits to making mistakes but doesn't admit to solving them. His willing to sacrifice our players, our club to satisfy his philosophy, his arrogance. Best manager the world ... Bollocks!!

What a fucking pillock you are.