QF 1st Leg Post Match Thread

[Skip Donoghue]

Not happy with not getting the away goal

They score one at ours and we have to score 3

Still think we will do it though

It’s all ifs but and maybes though, when I saw the team selection it was obvious Pep is thinking about the next few games, all this 1 game at a time is ok in theory but in reality that’s another thing, if Aguero scores the pen it finishes 1-1, like I said ifs buts and maybes

The game went as I expected, Spurs in new stadium, big crowd behind them etc etc, different ball game at our place and we will win by 3

Trust Pep, he’s the one who knows these players better than anyone and the task ahead of us

 

[chesterbells]

kept away last night,
strange team selection, really felt the 3-0 at anfield affected this, for us a conservative performance
the lack of an away goal could really hurt us next week, i hope not but its now on a knife edge

Why did you keep away? You missed a great night ;-)

 

[Josh_D]

Stray passes on the night. Pressing impetus and unpredictability from Bernardo was missing, and it was evident. Felt like a game for KDB’s laser guided passes. Spurs were there for the taking before the their goal.

It felt like a disjointed team. Nonetheless, If anyone can do it, it’s this team. I know people have their boo boys, and quite a few players had a stinker, however, one can only back the lads. Bring on the second leg. If any team can run rampant at home, it’s City.

 

[bluemoon32]

Yawn.

Sorry, i meant to say it was a superb performance and a fantastic result

 

[Sky Blue]

Sorry, i meant to say it was a superb performance and a fantastic result

Having read a number of your posts over the years you don't seem to get much pleasure out of being a City fan. Anyway, I'll leave you to it as I really can't be arsed today.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

We were dominating until Delph's brainfart. Not great but it really wasn't poor.

We had a decent 19 mins pressure before their goal. Hardly dominating.
Spuds - despite the BT party line swallowed by many - weren't great.

 

[Sky Blue]

We had a decent 19 mins pressure before their goal. Hardly dominating.
Spuds - despite the BT party line swallowed by many - weren't great.

Agree on Spurs.

 

[Mon Autre]

You see what Sam Lee said last night? Reason was because Mahrez offers more defensively, will track back etc, and his all round game in an away leg, was a better fit. Not saying I agree, as I’d say it’s even more important to score away than it is at home.

I really don't get this either though. It's a myth Sané doesn't track back. Maybe it's attitude in training or something. I dunno, wish whatever the problem is could be sorted though. Pep's man management of Sterling has been unbelievable so it'd be good to see the situation with Sané turned around.

 

[rm61]

Spurs didn't impress last night, if we'd have had more attacking intent we'd have won. I think we'll beat them 3 or 4 nil in second leg.

 

[mikemcfc123]

Really poor last night, a lot of pressure on us to keep a clean sheet in the second leg too. God I hope we up our game for Sunday as Palace won't take any prisoners.

 

[shemnel]

Spurs weren't great, City weren't great, but Spurs were marginally better.

This wasn't a game of quality, but the bluster and energy paid off for Spurs last night. On many occasions our more thoughtful approach would have prevailed but last night it didn't. Not scoring is a bit of a shit in Europe but at this stage it's far from over.

i have to agree i was a bit flummoxed to see Delph suddenly return, that one threw me.

 

[Mike N]

I just cant believe we didn't win that last night. The game was in our grasp and we were just waiting for the goal that would have made it a great night. Unfortunately, we contrive to give a shocking goal away and lose. Cant believe it.

Why did Pep leave it so long to bring the subs on?

 

[Sky Blue]

Ederson up front when we need a goal would be more productive than Jesus though....

You're getting on mine.

 

[BuryBlue1977]

I agree ... never thought i’d say it but how else can you explain his actions or rather inactions tonight?

To be honest I can’t explain it. Don’t know what he was thinking but to call him “a coward” is unacceptable.

 

[hello]

It’s all ifs but and maybes though, when I saw the team selection it was obvious Pep is thinking about the next few games, all this 1 game at a time is ok in theory but in reality that’s another thing, if Aguero scores the pen it finishes 1-1, like I said ifs buts and maybes

The game went as I expected, Spurs in new stadium, big crowd behind them etc etc, different ball game at our place and we will win by 3

Trust Pep, he’s the one who knows these players better than anyone and the task ahead of us

if we scored the penalty it would have be highly unlikely to have finished 1-1

 

[Mike N]

Spurs weren't great, City weren't great, but Spurs were marginally better.

This wasn't a game of quality, but the bluster and energy paid off for Spurs last night. On many occasions our more thoughtful approach would have prevailed but last night it didn't. Not scoring is a bit of a shit in Europe but at this stage it's far from over.

i have to agree i was a bit flummoxed to see Delph suddenly return, that one threw me.

Don't agree at all that Spurs were the better team.

 

[Skip Donoghue]

if we scored the penalty it would have be highly unlikely to have finished 1-1

Yep ifs buts and maybes

 

[chesterbells]

I really don't get this either though. It's a myth Sané doesn't track back. Maybe it's attitude in training or something. I dunno, wish whatever the problem is could be sorted though. Pep's man management of Sterling has been unbelievable so it'd be good to see the situation with Sané turned around.

I know what you mean. Sane does lose the ball, but so did Mahrez last night. And Sane is so much better in terms of risk vs reward.

 

[FCBarca]

Why is he willing to concede any defeats to them? They’re turd. No defending Pep tonight. Mahrez is wank and a coward to boot. Jesus offers sod all when we need him to and shows how badly we miss a fit Aguero. Delph doesn’t play for weeks then starts ahead of Danilo. Poor team selection and poor in game management.

I did not mean that the intention was for him to lose but that this might've been the only one of the 3 he was going to play conservatively and risk a narrow loss. I am sure the intention was to win if not at least do no worse than a draw but as he says in the post match he was happy with the play of his team

I also wasn't aware Bernardo got injured before the match, was this common knowledge or a well kept secret? Very surprising, any talk of how long out? Either way this clearly impacted his team selection as well as thinking/planning ahead

For me, it would appear Pep played it conservatively with team selection due to the April fixtures and how tight the margins are. If you consider it objectively, this is the one match in April they could potentially afford to lose and not impact the League title chase or odds for Semifinal qualification with his strongest lineup for the return at home. Seems a calculated risk, maybe even a bit pragmatic for someone like Pep tbh but with all the injuries this season reasonable?

I'm not sure I agree with this approach, just that there is a logic to it. I think what I fail to understand however are the 89th min subs - make the subs but why wait that late? Surely at 75 minutes it still could've mitigated any fears he might've had for more injuries in key players like KDB & Leroy but that's the only oddity that lingers for me

Not easy to do but you have to give Spurs credit, they did well and both Son & Winks were brilliant. We'll have to see if Pep's roll of the dice pays off in the return but he sounded quite confident that was going to happen in the post match

Some of you might be licking your wounds at the moment but have confidence in Pep's plan

 

[DTKOAG]

In the situation that we are in now if we do not progress next week then we have blown a great opportunity