Real Madrid (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

[mayo31]

Think it’s 140 corners in the league, no goals. Whoever the fuck our set piece coach is, is pulling wool over Pep’s eyes. I hope they don’t spend time on set pieces because I’d say they do fuck all.

We did score v Forest from a corner

 

[BlueMonkey79]

We used to pass teams to death until they were exhausted running after the ball, and then we would exploit those tired players and the gaps they were leaving, and score at will.

Now teams don't chase the ball. They drop back across the 18 yard line and pack the penalty area, whilst we pass the ball sideways and backwards aimlessly whilst hoping for the odd gap to open and to exploit.

Can't remember which player recently said it. But he said "when City have the ball, we rest".

And he's right. All they do is get set 25 yards from their own goal. Wait for our inevitable shit pass, then counter in numbers quickly.

We are the easiest team to set up against nowadays.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

The first 10 minutes were really telling when you could see what Savinho, Khusanov, Dias, Guehi and O'Reilly had been drilled to do. Doku was having fun and there were at least two tap ins there. The thin lines between labelled a genius and just mad arrogance. Courtois passed the ball over O'Reilly, they scored and then the game plan was thrown into disarray....

Then it happened again....and again.

I had no idea what was happening with three wingers getting in each other’s way. They all looked totally confused to me. There was no control or balance.

 

[Cellarite]

not heard anything since i switched off immediately after the final whistle

horrific

3 wingers away at madrid??? moving o'reilly back to left back when ait nori had being doing so well?

dont blame haaland had absolutely nothing to work with

rodri all on his own getting overrun, the amount of times they passed through the lines was embarrassing

no idea what pep has said pretty much irrelevant.

feel sorry for those who spent hard earned moolah to go and support that

do i go next tuesday hmm a debate in my head for sure

I wouldn't blame Haaland but there was more than one cross screwed across the 6 yard box. Lineker, Shearer, Andy Cole, Kane would've been breaking their necks to get a touch on them but Haaland doesn't seem to have that killer instinct at the moment.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Can't remember which player recently said it. But he said "when City have the ball, we rest".

And he's right. All they do is get set 25 yards from their own goal. Wait for our inevitable shit pass, then counter in numbers quickly.

We are the easiest team to set up against nowadays.

Harsh but true.

 

[D'Silva]

I had wished that maybe we could scam our way to at least a semi appearance this year but damn despite my low expectations even this result wasn't on my radar. We are no longer a top team, that is pretty obvious.

 

[KS55]

Call me crazy but I still think we can go through

Yeah, those Etihad tripwires are deadly.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Honest question does anyone want to play against the German rags?

I hope Vinny wins the CL with Bayern and believe he will.

 

[GazM]

Feel sorry for Marmoush, Cherki, Pep seems to have his favourites and these two arent them.
Seen nothing that has impressed me from Semenyo, scored a few goals but not much wing play.

tbf he hasn't been playing him on the wing...which is puzzling as that's what I thought his position was at Bournemouth.

 

[Digsy's Dinner]

Don't like all this talk of giving away tickets and stuff already. We had a bad game, it wasn't too unexpected. We've beat them 4-0 at the Etihad before, why can't we do it again? Come on, I know it's negative after yesterday but we need to be behind the lads.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

That’s the thing that blows my mind. It might have been a good risk to take in fourth round of the FA Cup against Chester away, but in the Bernabéu int first leg of a CL knockout round - that is sabotage.

I think I need to sleep on it to get it round my head.

I think he puts Khus in to deal with Vini, so needs two proper wingers to create width, but I still don't know why he doesn't just put an extra body in midfield. I guess he thinks the game isn't going to be played there and hope we can grab an early goal. But just play conservatively, I don't care if they're weakened.

 

[Dodge]

They seemed to a plan for limiting Doku's impact, which effectively meant leaving our least skilful player (Khusanov) in acres of space

Time and time again, Doku would beat Arnold and sprint through the gap between the covering defenders
However, rather than shooting, he'd pass inside to Rodri who would then open his body and slide the ball to Khusanov, only for the ball to end up back on the halfway line.

Which is the acres of space where Nunes should've been...

 

[Asa's left peg]

It obviously doesn't happen often but Pep's obsession with sticking with something that obviously wasn't working is doing my head in. The CL final against Chelsea is the other standout. I know he is a football genius but to not see that something isn't working, a lot earlier (like 30 mins) and not revert to one of his now (after the Barcodes game) many options and the principle that has gotten us this far, is really strange.

He is right, of course, we could and should have scored 3 in that period early in the first half but with our long term disfunction in front of goal and from pull backs, the odds have been against us doing this for sometime. The inability to stop 3/4 players from filling the same space in the box and have at least one at the back and one one the edge, looks like he can't see it or can't be advised. Just seems obtuse for a genius not to see the the stats or what's clearly happening every game. That's not 'being who we are'.

Still, he's earned the right and I know FA. Maybe it's the pain of defeat but it feels like all 3 parties (club, fans and Pep) feel like the natural end is coming.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Players slipping all night .... most of them, ours!

Tbf that pitch looked the same sort of quality ( on my TV at least) as something you'd find down in League 1.

It had been watered, it was dreadful. They are used to it.

Doesn't excuse our dire performance though.

 

[robbieh]

Who is buying him with the wages he is on?

Either we find another way of playing him, he puts the work in or we stuck

He will score goals obviously but nights like last night at the elite level he absent and it is not the first time

Enrique would just not pick him and leave the ball in Haaland's court.
The contract given him was ridiculous. Prime Maradona maybe but a one dimensional allbeit incredibly prolific striker, madness.

It's a millstone round our neck. He was bought because he is an instantly recognisable superstar at a low transfer fee. But in terms of our playing style he was never a fit.

Madrid could afford him. And maybe Chelsea. Sadly Barca are broke. I'd take Valverde in a swap deal;)

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

On the basis of us playing so majestically??

We've just been humbled by Madrid, humbled by Forest a week ago but yet you still think we will turn over a bang in form Arsenal and edge past Liverpool who will be bang up for it as always against us.

Arsenal were terrible last night. They have not played well for months. I accept your broad point though. This team has potential for sure but are not CL-winning level. Last night was totally down to the wrong formation and that was obvious before the match.

 

[blue by birth]

They will, or not post at all until the next big defeat.

Doomsayers thrive on negativity as it makes them think they sound interesting. Problem is they expect others to join in. Poor performance tonight? Yes. Poor manager tactics and lineup? Yes. Cause for sacking him tonight and getting someone else in? Hell no! But not to a doomer! :)

It's amazing how many only post when we lose..
Why don't they post when we have a good result..
Yeah everyone is pissed off when we lose but slagging off the manager and players doesn't change anything.. Result is still the same.
If we can get an early goal next week then it will give us some hope..
As for the game last night.. I think NOR should have been in midfield and not full back.
I understand why he played Khus to combat the pace of Madrid but Nunes should have played in my opinion as he's no slouch either and has, been playing very well.
Big Erl needs to start working harder as he's adding nothing to the team at the moment.. Not sure if he's fully fit as he looks well off the pace.
Erl and Sem don't seem to gel so it has, to be one or the other.
Let's hope we beat Wet So amazing on Saturday and things will look brighter then.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

Arsenal were terrible last night. They have not played well for months. I accept your broad point though. This team has potential for sure but are not CL-winning level. Last night was totally down to the wrong formation and that was obvious before the match.

And that's why Arsenal dont have to play that well (domestically). As long as Pep keeps playing out of form players at the sacrifice of in form players we will continue to throw games away.

In the CL Arsenal will get their arses handed them when they meet a true European pedigree in the KO phases.

 

[JH City]

Game of two halves. Went to bed early, didn’t sleep.

 

[ArniArason]

Can we open the home leg pre-match thread early? We need to just put this thread to bed now. Last night was truly awful and we played abysmal, we all agree on that. However, Real played the game of their season and a player not known for his goal scoring prowess had the game of his life doing just that.

It's highly unlikely that Real will play as good or we will play as bad at our place. If the atmosphere is there from the off, we go at them and get an early goal, who knows what could happen.

It's in these sorts of circumstances that big teams show they are big teams, so the negativity has been done, now we have to be positive minded.