QF 1st Leg Post Match Thread

[kaz7]

You never answered the question, can you assure us that we would have won if we lined up as you purport?

Marvin is making a perfectly reasonable point,we changed not only a winning team but changed tactics to ones that the team are not used to playing,we stand a much better chance of winning games with kev and sane than not

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Sane and KDB don't need rest. Sane has not played much football recently whilst KDB has just recovered from injury. City could have won last night but what we did was pick a team that would contain and not get caught out on the counter attack. It's like he picked that side with last season's Champions League tie in mind.

I am not against pragmatic football. If you play a stronger side, it is in your interest to close the game down. If you have technically better players, then you open the game up.

I think what Pep did was give in to fear. It was an irrational team selection. What was the rationale of playing Mahrez who for me has shown himself to be no more than a squad player?

Sane plays much higher up the pitch than Mahrez in the attacking sense, who likes to drive inside with the ball and pass into midfield (don't get me started).

However, Sane's game is much more prone to turnover of the ball because he plays high percentage football, which we all love him for but the risk/rewards are greater when it comes to quality teams transitioning against us on the break, those are the margins.

Mahrez also played well against Spurs earlier this season and was trusted to cover his full-back at Anfield.

I am Sane's biggest fan but Christ on a bike, he's a fucker still for not getting back in when countered.

Add to the fact Mahrez delivers a whipped cross from far deeper than Sane generally would, it is easy to see why, with Bernado's industry also missing, Pep decided to start Mahrez.

Incidentally, I am not a fan of Mahrez but did suggest in the pre-match thread that it wouldn't surprise me if he started.

 

[mosssideblue]

You should at the very least be puzzled at what Pep was trying to do when players like Sterling, Sane, Jesus, and Aguero have been tearing up the Premier League for the last two seasons. There was absolutely no reason for the caution.

I hope he has learned from the experience.

It's not a question of knowing more than Pep, it's a question of a coach making a mistake and City fans being able to discuss the game

 

[kaz7]

A 2 legged tie with a must win PL game sandwiched in between, i would suggest Pep was looking at more than just last night and again, if Aguero didn't back pass to Lloris, it would have worked as Spuds didn't look like creating much

Can you prove it would have worked?

 

[Marvin]

Unfortunately we have a number of fans who believe we should steam roller everyone.
If we don’t score within 5 minutes then the team’s shit, and now we’ve taken it to a new level by also saying Pep hasn’t a clue.

He tried a tactical solution to a problem that didn't exist because I believe the Champions League is the one area of his management where he has been continually criticised.

In fact many people have said that City are unlikely to win the Champions League because Pep wont compromise on his football and when we come up against a Barcelona we'll just attack them and get beat. Pragmatism at City may have it place but he got it wrong yesterday. That does not translate to 'he hasn't a clue'. It means he got it wrong.

 

[mosssideblue]

Marvin is making a perfectly reasonable point,we changed not only a winning team but changed tactics to ones that the team are not used to playing,we stand a much better chance of winning games with kev and sane than not

The question is still unanswered because it cannot be answered. That team pep put out should have won
If you are looking at one game in isolation, then I would agree but I certainly don't believe Pep is.

 

[mosssideblue]

Can you prove it would have worked?

No, but many seem to be able to predict playing the stars would - what's the difference?

 

[kaz7]

No, but many seem to be able to predict playing the stars would - what's the difference?

You ask lots of people to prove things that can't be proved so i thought i would ask you,all any of us have is an opinion

 

[squirtyflower]

He tried a tactical solution to a problem that didn't exist because I believe the Champions League is the one area of his management where he has been continually criticised.

In fact many people have said that City are unlikely to win the Champions League because Pep wont compromise on his football and when we come up against a Barcelona we'll just attack them and get beat. Pragmatism at City may have it place but he got it wrong yesterday. That does not translate to 'he hasn't a clue'. It means he got it wrong.

I’m pretty sure I wasn’t responding to you or referring to you either.
But you crack on.

I have absolutely no desire in engaging you to counter your continually increasing pile of horse manure.

 

[mosssideblue]

You ask lots of people to prove things that can't be proved so i thought i would ask you,all any of us have is an opinion

There are opinions and people posting vociferously as fact, Im sure you can spot the difference. If Aguero has scored it is fact we would have an away goal :)

Anyway, I am preparing to watch Manure tear Barca a new one :)