Southampton (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

Over the last few seasons we've seen pep trying to get to a point of perfect or complete football. Completely suffocating the opposition with possession, combined with quick, incisive passes in the final third to find gaps through the biggest of parked buses. And with players capable of shutting out counter attacks, meant we got pretty close to complete football during the treble season.
Since then with players leaving, poorer players replacing them, aging payers, lack of form players we're trying to play the same style, but the speed, the incisiveness, the quality is not the same.
It means finding those gaps now in the final third rarely happens, even against mediocre teams.
This system with the players we have right now is shockingly boring.
Even on the rare occasion we have a decent counter attack chance, we slow down, turn back, wait for the opposition to get set, then slowly try to probe for a gap through 10 men.
Next season if we don't get really decent quality in the summer window, pep needs to change from this style.
The genius things he's done as a coach, I herald him as the greatest ever, but I cannot fathom out how he cannot see that this style is not possible with the players we've got right now
 
There used to be a couple of adages in football. Never change a winning side and be wining the game before introducing players back from injury. Today validated both of those
 
I don't post much, head above the parapet and all that but I'm getting a bit pessimistic about next season already; this season has been poor when set against the high standards of the last 8 to 10 seasons, that's without doubt I can't really bring a satisfying performance to mind (hopefully next week). I'm not a season ticket holder but have followed this club since I was a seven year old (I'm 65 now) - they're 'my' team it's as simple as that. We've been lucky to have Pep, to have seen the trophies lifted in recent years, Centurions, Treble Winners and Four in a Row but performances this year have been abject, I don't think many can deny this. For some reason its like the whole club has taken its eye off the main prize, and what they were thinking over the pricing furore I'll never know. As my user name suggests I don't live in Manchester or the North West so don't get to measure the 'buzz' around the club or area but it all seems a bit lethargic, apathetic, at all levels within the club (apart from perhaps the travelling support who rarely seem to give less than 100%). But it's the CWC which really concerns me, our CL campaign was turgid, another tournament for tired legs and minds which mirrors the CL campaign may be a step too far and find us ill prepared for next season. Ever the optimist, I'll hope for the best and as a supporter of many years expect the worst *sigh*
 
Does anybody remember the chant in the Swales era “We’re shit and we know we are” ? OK it is not over yet but this season seems like City have gone back twenty or thirty years.
 
Eccles Blue said:
The Boys in Blue never give in……….I'm not sure I can go on because you’ll just laugh at me!

Thank you to the travelling fans, you did us proud.

That’s your lot I’m afraid. :-(
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Oh come on, EB…
I'll complete it for you: “We showed ’em, we showed ’em all!”

(Don't anyone enquire too closely as to exactly what we showed…)
 
benno74 said:
Next season if we don't get really decent quality in the summer window, pep needs to change from this style.
The genius things he's done as a coach, I herald him as the greatest ever, but I cannot fathom out how he cannot see that this style is not possible with the players we've got right now
Click to expand...
But he brought in these players.
5 bought in January and not one to be seen in the starting line up today.

I can understand the likes of O Reilly not starting today but if you are bringing them on, play them in the position they have been playing recently.
Gvardiol has excelled at CB role and nowhere near as effective at LB
 
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