I really dont like that Stones in the midfield tweak..Just isn't effective. He is a better passer when he has more time, and he tends to have more time passing out of the CB positionPep needs to stop playing KDB as the second striker and play Omar there. KDB needs to play in the midfield, where he can float across the park picking passes and feeding the ball through. He made an entire fucking career out of this until Pep decided he was a second striker who should be wasting 90% of his energy chasing thin air in a half hearted press!
……………………Ederson
Khusanov Stones Dias Gvardiol
Savinho…Gonzales….Kovacic…KDB
………….Haaland……..Marmoush
In this formation, Stones can slide forward, with Khusanov stepping inside.
……………………Ederson
……Khusanov…Dias…Gvardiol
……Stones….Gonzales….Kovacic…
……………………..KDB
Savinho………….Haaland……..Marmoush
Conversely, we could play Foden or Bernardo in the Kovacic role, as all three of them can move forward.
Fair enough, if you think Pep is mad……and it’s beginning to look that way.Pep didn’t want a full back, he wanted a midfielder who could go a shift at full back.
I’m not saying I agree with that, I’m saying that was the thought process.
Possess the ball and he plays midfield.
He plays midfield, we possess the ball.
We’ve had as many seasons without a left back at all. Trying to fathom the unfathomable when it comes to us and full backs.We’ve just had 6 months to sign a right back and chose not to do it. What were we thinking?
Jep, definetly need a win or 2 out of these 3 league games.Question:
Does this result, both mentally and physically, mean we have fucked ourselves for the next 3 or 4 games?
We now play a confident, strong Newcastle team after another last minute bottle job.
Then, we travel and have to bust a hump chasing the game, getting frustrated by their tactics, shithousery and probably result.
Then, we come back to face Liverpool.
Then, we travel to Spurs never Spursy in their annual Cup Final.
This could be the start of a very, very painful few weeks that ruins our entire season, with the possible exception of an FA Cup run!
Without getting some decent points from NUFC, LFC & THFC, we could be in serious trouble for the Top 4 or even 5 going into the home stretch.
We NEED CL football next year or the needed rebuild is not going to go well at all given the FFP/PSR rules, not to mention what might happen with the 115!!!
Stones ran the game in midfield. Not saying Gonzalez shouldn’t start but Kovacic is turd him and rico for that third goal highlight that AGAIN. Stones in midfield protecting the back four was working to say it wasn’t is a crickI really dont like that Stones in the midfield tweak..Just isn't effective. He is a better passer when he has more time, and he tends to have more time passing out of the CB position
Personally i want Gonzo and one of Berny or Kova as the 2 mids ahead of the defense. Like Khusa at RB. I think its the good risky play.
Im not sure im sold on Marmoush starting either.
Want the pire wingers.
“Of course”???Khusanov is a CB by trade. Of course he can invert. And unlike Rico, he can win the ball.
Really good post and I agree with nearly all of it.Shit, that.
We were OK for the last 25 minutes of the first half but other than that, we were dominated. How they only scored 3 is beyond me.
A comedy of errors from so many players. Kovacic’s fucking back heeled flick - just clear the fucking thing! Lewis should be cleaning Vinicius out as soon as he knew he wasn’t getting there. Ederson with another error - just a shock this time it was with his feet. Should he be palming their second goal out into the danger area too? Not so sure, personally. Shame because he was mint up until the error for the second goal and saved our arses a few times.
It’s just a massive concern how weak we are mentally whenever we concede. When they got their second, you knew a third was coming. There’s no composure (again, fucking Kovacic) and game management to spot danger and know when to clear and when to play.
Stones, Gvardiol, Savinho, Haaland, Foden, Akanji and Dias all played alright. Stones and Akanji being the stand outs, but other than that. Too many passengers. Again. Namely Bernie (was he on?) and Kev, unfortunately. Same old story.
I wouldn’t have been comfortable with a 2 goal lead going to their place, never mind a 1 goal deficit.
Shame. Onto the FA Cup and top 4 in my eyes. Not good enough this season to win this competition, too many teams better than us.
“Who needs facts, your honour? My learned friend has forgotten that this is football. It is, as they say, a game of opinions.”“Of course”???
“Assumes facts not in evidence, your Honour!”
To “get a result” would require winning by 2 goals. But, 1 goal would get us extra time. Is that what we want with Liverpool on the weekend?Tbh the result was probably right, the way it happened wasn’t, you have just got to grab games when offered to you.
Decisions were awful again from many.
Just can’t see this group getting the result in Madrid especially if they have as many opportunities as last night.
But you never know.
It was but Ake was done and Stones was simply exhausted. When he went into the back line he played two uncharacteristically horrible passes. Having to play too much when not fully fit and he’ll probably have to play at the weekend, too, in what will be a physically bruising encounter.Stones ran the game in midfield. Not saying Gonzalez shouldn’t start but Kovacic is turd him and rico for that third goal highlight that AGAIN. Stones in midfield protecting the back four was working to say it wasn’t is a crick
Very good summary. Bang on the moneyShit, that.
We were OK for the last 25 minutes of the first half but other than that, we were dominated. How they only scored 3 is beyond me.
A comedy of errors from so many players. Kovacic’s fucking back heeled flick - just clear the fucking thing! Lewis should be cleaning Vinicius out as soon as he knew he wasn’t getting there. Ederson with another error - just a shock this time it was with his feet. Should he be palming their second goal out into the danger area too? Not so sure, personally. Shame because he was mint up until the error for the second goal and saved our arses a few times.
It’s just a massive concern how weak we are mentally whenever we concede. When they got their second, you knew a third was coming. There’s no composure (again, fucking Kovacic) and game management to spot danger and know when to clear and when to play.
Stones, Gvardiol, Savinho, Haaland, Foden, Akanji and Dias all played alright. Stones and Akanji being the stand outs, but other than that. Too many passengers. Again. Namely Bernie (was he on?) and Kev, unfortunately. Same old story.
I wouldn’t have been comfortable with a 2 goal lead going to their place, never mind a 1 goal deficit.
Shame. Onto the FA Cup and top 4 in my eyes. Not good enough this season to win this competition, too many teams better than us.
Maybe but that’s the embarrassing thing I think our squad is so fucked we have half of it who can’t do 90. Ake was excellent bar one loose touch first half. Akanji Excellent and Stones or Gvarsiol motm for me. That’s our best back 5 we had at first and sadly it can’t get through a game. Not sure our two new lads are ready to step in either.It was but Ake was done and Stones was simply exhausted. When he went into the back line he played two uncharacteristically horrible passes. Having to play too much when not fully fit and he’ll probably have to play at the weekend, too, in what will be a physically bruising encounter.
Talented lad no doubt, but Sterling at his peak was incredibly effectiveSavinho is a better footballer than Sterling hands down.