QF 1st Leg Post Match Thread

[Dave S]

This is not the Church of Pep you know. If he gets it wrong he should be criticised for doing so.
His judgement in the Champions league appears flawed to me. I didn't follow it last night.

If others were questioning, I'd stay silent but I want to know what on Earth was in his mind when he chose to be so cautious in what was a relatively easy tie (as CL quarter Finals go). Is this what we can expect now in every big game, Pep losing his nerve?

I think it’s you who’ve lost your nerve. Chill out FFS.

 

[Marvin]

Its fairly obvious what was in his mind,our congested fixture list and his best chance of spreading his increasingly overburdened squad across the three competitions we are attempting to win.

Well OK that may have been on his mind but the solution was to play rested players like Sane and KDB who had the capacity to take that game away from SPurs and kill the 2nd leg. We've made it more difficult now.

I very much doubt that Barcelona Pep would have played a game like that, and yes City are not that Barcelona side, but we are a much better side than Spurs. I think Pep overthought the game and dwelt on last season's quarter final defeat. I think uppermost in his mind was avoiding a heavy defeat and keeping us in the tie. It back-fired whatever it was he was trying to do.

Play your best players in the CL. If you don't then there's something wrong especially when you are playing Spurs.

 

[Phil1]

Fancy defending a manager that has us in this fantastic position - one that every other team on the planet would give their left bollock to be in. Madness I tell you.
Cos we’ve got Marvinola, we’ve got Marvinola..

 

[inchy14]

We know what was in his mind. His past caught up with us, and we paid the price for him losing his nerve.

No manager is perfect. I just hope we get away with it.

I would be very very embarrassed if I were him next time I appeared in front of the press. In a Champions League tie when you are the favourites and clearly the better side, you exploit that and do not cower before the game. Bottled it Pep. Good job you have a lot of credit in the bank.

The only person who should be embarrassed is you when you read this back.

Bottled it?
Cower?
Losing his nerve?

He's trying to keep the squad as fresh as possible and try to win an unprecedented quadruple!!

If Delph hadn't had a brain fart and Sergio scored the penalty it'd have been perfect, as it was we go into a home tie one goal behind. We're head and shoulders above them as you'll see this time next week.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Well OK that may have been on his mind but the solution was to play rested players like Sane and KDB who had the capacity to take that game away from SPurs and kill the 2nd leg. We've made it more difficult now.

I very much doubt that Barcelona Pep would have played a game like that, and yes City are not that Barcelona side, but we are a much better side than Spurs. I think Pep overthought the game and dwelt on last season's quarter final defeat. I think uppermost in his mind was avoiding a heavy defeat and keeping us in the tie. It back-fired whatever it was he was trying to do.

Play your best players in the CL. If you don't then there's something wrong especially when you are playing Spurs.

And what if playing his best players last night would have impacted on his choices for Sunday? and Palace then turn us over?

 

[Whitty1001]

I wouldn't say Peps selection paid off at all, however KDB and Sane basically got rested last night, so theres no reason we cant control 90mins at palace this weekend and then grab a solid 3-0 win at the Etihad on Wednesday.

After last night I fully expect Pep to go full strength on Wednesday, injuries permitting, meaning 90 mins of Bernardo, Sane, KDB, Aguero, Sterling all seeing plenty of play time.

Last night we were below par especially defensively and for the final 15 we looked like it could have been 2-0 down. Will take the 1-0, means we have to attack and dominate possession and take our chances, something we are more than capable of doing, nothing we can do about it now apart from take them to the Etihad and dominate.

 

[HelloCity]

Aguero seemed due to miss a pen.

Vs Chelsea (under the keeper) and Swansea (in off the keeper) he was lucky to score, before what happened last night.

Never been quite as assertive as Mario or Yaya.

I’d sell him and bring Lukaku in.

 

[Mancity1980]

1-0 is a horrible scoreline to have to turn around at home in a second leg. Sure, on a good day we're capable of sticking 4 or 5 past spurs, but spurs aren't a shit team and we can't just assume we'll have it our own way. It's awful having to play out the last 10-15 mins if we only get 1-0 ahead. They nick one and you suddenly find yourself needing three. Unless we blow them out of the water in the first half it's going to be extremely nervy.

Whilst I agree, is it not better to play a weaker side in the first leg

Pep cocked this up plain and simple. And I'm not convinced we'll have the legs to turn it round. If we're brutally honest we've had 3 easy Cup campaigns so far so I'd EXPECT us to win them. The minute we come up against a half decent side with a little nous and we're playing at half pace we lose. We need to get back on track against Palace to remind people who we really are and show tonight was a blip. I just worry we're running out of steam as the intensity in our play has been missing for a few weeks. Yes we've won games but we've not been challenged. As soon as the challenge is there we're struggling. To say I'm feeling flat right now is an understatement......

cheer up pal. Pep is managing the season run-in, we are not running out of steam we are running through the gears and when we need to he will press the turbo boost (knight rider anyone?!) We have a great team and we are on for quad with little more than a few weeks to go! COME ON CITY!!

 

[omcfc]

Not the ideal away result. Can be turned around at ours mind. Would like to see the team pick up some verve and flow. We are not quite getting into gear at the moment.

 

[inchy14]

Well OK that may have been on his mind but the solution was to play rested players like Sane and KDB who had the capacity to take that game away from SPurs and kill the 2nd leg. We've made it more difficult now.

I very much doubt that Barcelona Pep would have played a game like that, and yes City are not that Barcelona side, but we are a much better side than Spurs. I think Pep overthought the game and dwelt on last season's quarter final defeat. I think uppermost in his mind was avoiding a heavy defeat and keeping us in the tie. It back-fired whatever it was he was trying to do.

Play your best players in the CL. If you don't then there's something wrong especially when you are playing Spurs.

KDB played on Saturday, he's only just back and needs nursing in. I agree Sane should have come on earlier, i personally would be starting him, however we're not privvy to what goes on behind the scenes.

And what if playing his best players last night would have impacted on his choices for Sunday? and Palace then turn us over?

Exactly.