Should we prioritise Champions League now?

[chaddblue]

I think the decision has already been made to prioritise the CL

Apart from a dead rubber in Zagreb our next game will be in Feb, when hopefully Laporte and Sane will have been back for a few weeks and maybe a couple of new additions integrated into the team

A full strength squad going balls deep for the CL whilst doing enough domestically to make sure we finish in the top 4

 

[Marvin]

If you’re third in the premier league, topped your champions league group, and in the quarter finals of a cup competition then your not “shit”, “pathetic” or “a disgrace” as most on here are saying. Some can’t seem to accept that we’re not on top form. It’s just that. There’s no players slagging pep or anyone else off and no player mutiny or chairman/owners making knee jerk reactions and wanting to make drastic changes. A part of this season has been a tough watch, but that’s what being a fan is supposed to be about - getting being the team and not picking scape goats out to abuse. We’ve now got 2 months of a sort of per season to get sorted for the champs league. Best chance we’ve had to win it in my opinion. Laporte back, Sané back and others settled better or fully fit will make a huge difference. And if it doesn’t work out then we might have to slum it and make do with a domestic cup or 2. Sorry if that opinion doesn’t fit in with the “I want it all NOW” brigade

Sorry but I want to win every game.

I am fed up of watching City have 80% possession, eventually score, and then concede soft goals at the first time our defence is asked to do anything. It is a trait and it's not inevitable. Pep doesn't have to play Fernandinho in defence. That's his choice. No one has pointed it out but watch Fern in the goal highlights for the 1st goal. He just stands there. It was obvious where the ball was going to go and he never reacts.

We can defend better, but it will take different personnel. Either use Ota or play Garcia. The damage has been done.

 

[Marvin]

I think the decision has already been made to prioritise the CL

Apart from a dead rubber in Zagreb our next game will be in Feb, when hopefully Laporte and Sane will have been back for a few weeks and maybe a couple of new additions integrated into the team

A full strength squad going balls deep for the CL whilst doing enough domestically to make sure we finish in the top 4

Didn't look like that at home to Shakhtar

 

[franksinatra]

This team will not win fuck all this season that matters, the title or the CL.

Not good enough in all areas. Our best defensive midfielder playing at CB, the replacement we bought is too slow and we miss way too many chances. Yet give a chance and it taken no matter who we play.

Kdb being asked to run around like a blue arse fly, how deep did he have to go yesterday?

It can all be resolved if we buy a decent centre back but we wont because recently we have become cheap[/QUOTE]

@mayo31 Not sure why I cannot add my message as a response to yours.

However,

To be honest I think the exact opposite, where the answer always seems to be to chuck huge sums of money at the problem.

After what we have spent over the past couple of years and even last summer its crazy to suggest we have gone cheap. We had around 220 million of talent on the bench yesterday and to a man they all gave the same lethargic performance as the first 11 costing untold millions. Clubs like Leicester bought intelligently in the market picking up Soyunci, Tielmans etc while Chelsea brought Tomori through while we wanted Maguire, the player with the highest fee and then when we never signed him never signed anyone else.

Some of the players look like they have become entitled and bloated, not prepared to stick there foot in, play with any intensity, close players down and therefore need shipping out and a few hungrier players, maybe even from the academy need introducing before we lose the next Sancho etc.

 

[chaddblue]

Didn't look like that at home to Shakhtar

True. But we were (are) in the middle of a slump in form and both teams were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Neither knew whether to take a point or go for it

Turns out a point was a decent result for both teams

 

[wattle]

Sorry but I want to win every game.

I am fed up of watching City have 80% possession, eventually score, and then concede soft goals at the first time our defence is asked to do anything. It is a trait and it's not inevitable. Pep doesn't have to play Fernandinho in defence. That's his choice. No one has pointed it out but watch Fern in the goal highlights for the 1st goal. He just stands there. It was obvious where the ball was going to go and he never reacts.

We can defend better, but it will take different personnel. Either use Ota or play Garcia. The damage has been done.

We all want to win every game mate but it’s not really possible. The last two sessions has spoilt us rotten and is not normal. But each to their own opinion

 

[chesterbells]

Domestic cups (and CL) should take absolute priority. Absolute strongest 11 in every reamining cup game and rotate the weaker squad players in for the league games.

would you advocate continuing that if we fall out of the top 4 in the league?

 

[@BluePhil8]

would you advocate continuing that if we fall out of the top 4 in the league?

Yeah? We aren't Arsenal or United, I'd take a domestic cup double right now even if it meant finishing 5th. I'm not saying play a weak team in every league game, just the league games that precede the cup games - we won't be falling out of the top 4 regardless.

 

[mancityscot]

we'll be lucky to get past the quarters

 

[HelloCity]

Yeah? We aren't Arsenal or United, I'd take a domestic cup double right now even if it meant finishing 5th.

Would be a complete disaster financially and stop us bringing in the players we need to win the league next season.