Real Madrid (A) Post Match Thread

[LangleyBlue1970]

91 other clubs would swap places for our set-up in a heartbeat.

If you want certainty in football, then people need to find another hobby?

It's shocking, but hardly devastating, we lost in a European Cup semi-final away to Real Madrid.

First World problems.

Pep and the Club have worked wonders and a Fourth Premier League title in five seasons would be nothing short of phenomenal.

A lot of people are jumping the shark. We won't get better than Pep, unless we want to try and fluke a Roberto De Matteo for 12 months?

I have sensed with this competition that quite a few people now want to to win it just to shut up our detractors, but those critics will still be there, regardless.

The only thing we as fans need to concern ourselves with, is making sure we are right behind the lads over this next week and drag them over the line.

Perfectly put.

We’ll win the league and another successful season it will be.

 

[jonah62]

No point crying over spilt milk, Ferran Torres, would he have made a difference?
To let him go with no replacement, has that bitten us on our arse?

 

[argyle]

Just get Haaland and I won’t care what happens this season.

All problems won't be solved with just getting Haaland. Can't put it all on him to solve other players allergic to scoring.

Nor will it solve a goalkeeper that cant save.

 

[DMA's]

Hurts more this morning. Absolutely gutted. Players gonna need the fans on Sunday as they will be hurting. Amazing what football can do to you

 

[BrianW]

I can't help but think we are too 'nice' as a club, and as a team. We maybe need to sign two or three absolute cnuts, after the style of Rudiger. Even our fans are too nice. Our people with responsibility for defending the club's reputation from libel definitely are.

 

[PoorTom]

Look at our CL exits in the last 6 seasons and you will see that there have seen decisive periods in 5 out of those 6 seasons that were sudden defensive disasters -

2017 - 2 in 8
2018- 3 in 19
2019- 2 in 3
2020- 2 in 8
2021 - 1 in 90
2022- 3 in 6

The only exception is last season and I would put it down to the absolute heroic defensive partnership between Dias and Stones. Every other season, our defense has collapsed under the smallest bit of pressure when faced with a good counterattacking side. Monaco in '17, Liverpool in '18, Spurs in '19, Lyon in '20 and Madrid in '22. For some reason, that Dias and Stones partnership is the only thing that has worked in 6 seasons and we've probably had 20 different center back pairings during that time. The backroom staff needs to take a long, hard look at why that is the case.

It is not only a defensive problem. The whole team has to defend as a single unit. But City never plays that way and it shows in the most critical games. In CL and big games in PL. That's unfortunately the weakness of Pep's system.

 

[PistonBlue]

I respectfully disagree. We scored 5 goals over two legs. We score plenty of goals, or at least plenty enough. We lost the tie because we conceded more goals than the opposition. That is down to the fact that our defence is aging, fragile and sits in front of a keeper who is great with his feet, but has the hands and conventional goalkeeping prowess of Mary Berry.

And that’s fair comment, particularly on the keeper.

 

[wolviedinho]

Did last night happen? Footy can be cruel at times. I think it’s safe to say we are devastated with the result. It’s a another hard and painful lesson. Our team lack the know how to win this competition. The naivety from experienced players was shocking. This squad when up against it shy away. Pep is the reason why we are so good as a team but individual strength is lacking in the biggest occasions.

Time to bring in a few Egotistical players. Nice guys only finish last.

 

[bobom]

l like reading common sense.

Not much of that on here today. Just been into the performance threads. Some of the views on there are nuts.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

I know its only a game blah blah but this has absolutely knocked me sideways. To go out in the manner we have is just awful. Couldnt sleep last night and ive got up this morning feeling bereft

one minute sat there discussing how we are getting to paris…
The next im on my knees.

To me this is a culmination of a few years bad recruitment . Im repeating myself but we have had no left back for 3 years. No striker for 2/3 years (we knew sergio was finished). And if youre relying on a 37 year in a semi final then we are truly fucked.

Ill back grealish to the hilt because I truly think there is a player there but did we really need to spend £100m on him? Was he really needed?

i KNOW we are top of the league etc but the recruitment the last few years has at best been negligent but at worst heads should roll.

also pep not trusting the youth has heaped more burden on a very thin squad.

i dont know where we go from here. Sack pep? I feel like it right now if im honest but maybe ill feel better as the day goes on. And who would be the alternative?
Sack the barca boys at the top? Maybe but then are they the package with pep?

our scouting system/recruitment needs some sort of overhaul and players brought in who know how to get across this champs league line. Because no matter how much we hate it the club HAVE to win it. Pure and simple. Otherwise we stay at the level below those clubs who have.

rant over… happy fuckin birthday to me :(

Sacking the manager is a bit of an over reaction but I do know where you’re coming from and I agree with most of it.

Managers have been sacked for a lot less though and I don’t think it’s healthy that Guardiola is held up as a kind of god by the club and fans who is beyond criticism.