Southampton (A) - Carabao Cup | Post Match Thread

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

To everyone slagging off Phillip's

It was his first start for us, he has had an ongoing injury since he signed so hadn't really trained, let alone trained with his new team mates, he gets fit (not match fit) goes away with England and doesnt play, he then comes back and takes a bit of flak from his new manager. Then in his first start it's in a system that is new to him, with other players around him played out of position and having bad games themselves. - so yeah he didn't play well.

Well said. It's incredible how demanding (entitled?) this place has become. The guy's hardly played, and is obviously not match fit. Give him fifteen, twenty games. Then slag him off. Or otherwise.

 

[Blue Eyed Dick]

Let's not forget.... City provided more players to the world cup than any other club - to a world cup in the middle of our domestic season. Great yeah - well we're certainly paying for in on the pitch at present. Lethargic performances, one after another.

However, the main thing I cannot understand is...
Last season we won the league playing with a false 9. This season we have the most sought after striker in the world and we cannot buy a goal when we need it. When we are dominating and scoring 3 or 4, we can score a 5th, but when we desperately need 1, we currently seem clueless!

 

[JewelZee]

Even considering Europe, equitably: I'm not saying Pep will be satisfied with the record, nor the players. We shouldn't be either.
But the plain fact is that the vast majority of clubs who participate in the CL/European Cup every year have never won it. A fairly small handful of teams have ever won it. Only one French team (Marseille) has ever won it. Only three German teams, (one of which was Hamburg, a very long time ago). Only two, ever, from Spain. England has of course contributed the most winners: United, Liverpool, Forest, Villa, Chelsea. We should be in there, but it's not a complete aberration that we're not… as yet.

I get what you're saying. I'm just saying people keep touting Pep as infallible when in fact that's just not true. He's been a tremendous manager for us and brought us to great heights but he's stubbed his toe more than once in Europe so as great as he's been for City he hasn't been infallible. That would be a false narrative and some supporters try to ignore it because they claim not to give a crap about the CL. But whether they do or they don't is irrelevant to Pep being ALWAYS right.

 

[unicorn]

Just goes to show that utter bollocks is talked about City turning the PL into a farmer's league.

Spot on. Remember how good Brighton were against us, for one example.

 

[jimharri]

I wonder how many pages we'd have reached at this stage if we'd won. 50, maybe?

 

[Bill]

don't blame Pep, blame the schedule .bent as fuck.

 

[Paul1970]

This may sound daft, but I see Akanji as a future captain/leader. He has so many similar characteristics to Vinny, is super intelligent and for me, already has a real presence when he is playing.

Maybe . J think every team should have a Tony Adam’s like defender and a no nonsense midfield enforcer who can destroy any opposition possession.