Southampton (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[waspish]

That's how I see it, and I'm generally an optimistic person.

I'm not sure how posters can be so confident that this is a 'blip'. What possible logical reason is there for thinking that?

Taking off blue-tinted spectacles for a moment, we are probably at the standard of a typical mid-table team at the moment, painful though it is to admit. The only difference is that we can expect to attract bigger new signings, because of who we are.

Trouble is, these new signings will be forming a new team, not slotting into a winning machine as they've done before. They'll have to click from the start for next season to be any different to this.

There's only so much Rodri can do.

It reminds me of Liverpool fans reassuring themselves in the the early 90s that the season was a 'blip'. They didn't win the league for 30 years.

Yep and any other manager managing us this season we would be midtable!

 

[Keeper!]

Didn't say we will challenge for the league next season I said the season after and only pep leaves is if he quits' has never quit a contract so he will stick it out for the next 2 season.

I am not convinced he genuinely wants to be here, he just realises he and the execs have made huge errors of judgement and he does not want to leave the club in it's present condition.

With his personally life and just experiencing the worst season of his management career, he needs a complete break away from the club and football, the Club WC means that is impossible and that worries me and the same could be said of many of our players, several who will be a big part of this team next season (Foden, Gravidol & poss Silva).

 

[blubanjo]

The way I see it, Pep wanted to give Haaland minutes before the FA Cup Final and it backfired. If he started Marmoush we would have won.

Agreed

 

[TShed]

It's going to be a long list!

Some hurt more these two were the first reality check along with Halifax and Shrewsbury since I’d started going in 65
You couldn’t move for say they were the first symptoms of cityitis I’d suffered lol

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

You're writing next season off because of one down season in about eight seasons?

Would you be saying the same if we won yesterday? Because it seems the doom predictions have come out because of a draw.

Wait to see how the transfer window goes or wait until half the season goes next time before throwing in the towel?

If the performance was no better yesterday but we bundled one in for a scrappy 1-0 I don't think there would be anywhere near as much doom and negativity on here today. I think we allowed ourselves to get giddy about arsenal being a bit crap and the possibility of finishing second. As it is we still have a great chance of a CL place and an FA cup - both things that looked unlikely earlier in the year.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

15 corners yesterday too…..the less said about the quality of them the better. What are the set piece coaches doing all week. Foden hit one that didn’t even clear the man 15 yards away from him.

 

[Palerider]

Yes, it was disappointing, but how are City supposed to play fast attacking football against a team with eleven players, in and around their own area?

It's a good question BUT surely that is what top level sport is all about? You are set problems by your opponent that you are then supposed to solve. Many teams now set up against City the exact same way, crowd the penalty area and wait/hope for a fast break. All legitimate tactics, all pretty much predictable. What is missing is that City seem unable/unwilling to change our tactics which means we ourselves are totally predictable and easy to defend against. You need to innovate and evolve constantly to maintain any advantage but we seem to be playing the same game over and over and not learning or even coming up with a 'tactical shock' to confuse our opponent.

 

[Blue Maverick]

I am not convinced he genuinely want to be here, he just realises he and the execs have made huge errors of judgement and he does not want to leave the club in it's present condition.

With his personally life and just experiencing the worst season of his management career, he needs a complete break away from the club and football, the Club WC means that is impossible and that worries me and the same could be said of many of our players, several who will be a big part of this team next season (Foden, Gravidol & poss Silva).

I genuinely believe Amorim was going to be our next manager, with the Sporting director coming here he was going to get him for next season, once he went to the rags there was no one in the picture as Alonso was nailed on for Madrid. The extension only came after Amorim was no longer available and we looked shite, Pep didn’t want to leave us in a shit state like Ferguson did with United. If Alonso is available and willing I guarantee Pep will step aside, if not then he will do two years and possibly Vinny comes in, although I don’t want that as if he fails fans could turn on him.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Yes, it was disappointing, but how are City supposed to play fast attacking football against a team with eleven players, in and around their own area?

Overlapping full backs get to the fucking byline and cross or pull back to penalty spot. Oh and shoot from outside the box, you may lose possession but if opposition is all in their own box they ain’t breaking away.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

Maybe I was a bit too optimistic in the match day thread.

 

[dadnlad]

Are Southampton back in numbers and set yet right we can move forward now

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

I'm not sure what Pep expected Southampton to do. They were never going to go toe-to-toe with us and at best they would but back and try to counter.

I genuinely don't understand what Pep was expecting from the same tired old players who've done the same thing all season. Slow, boring, possession based football where we could've won it but didn't. You don't win games on stats.

The only thing I thought was we are gambling on a top 5 place as a given and saving energy for the final. Personally I'm not arsed about the CL and think it's not one we can win and we would have a better chance of the EL though

I also think some of the new players need to adapt to a new league and style of play which is why we're not seeing them yet.

Something has to be done with Haaland too. Unless he scores it's like playing with 10 men. He feels like a luxury player at times. I'm coming to the conclusion he's the best striker in the world, but in the wrong team - a team that can't play to his strengths - and I know that sounds nonsense given his record.

As soon as the whistle is blown on the last game, vwrite the season off and sort next season out. Unless we change something rapidly then Club World Cup could kill next season too and we will be easily picked off in it. Pep has to learn from other managers now to introduce some "risk" to his game.

I get we were always due a drip off but I can't think of anything we've learnt this season. We don't know our best 11, barely anyone has improved, it's boring, passionless and I think we will need to spend big to get anywhere near where we were.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I saw the 90 second highlights on the OS last night and it seemed that Soton had 90% of the season's luck in one game.

 

[spider blue]

It's a good question BUT surely that is what top level sport is all about? You are set problems by your opponent that you are then supposed to solve. Many teams now set up against City the exact same way, crowd the penalty area and wait/hope for a fast break. All legitimate tactics, all pretty much predictable. What is missing is that City seem unable/unwilling to change our tactics which means we ourselves are totally predictable and easy to defend against. You need to innovate and evolve constantly to maintain any advantage but we seem to be playing the same game over and over and not learning or even coming up with a 'tactical shock' to confuse our opponent.

Stop writing sense on a Sunday morning,well done good post.

 

[Palerider]

I saw the 90 second highlights on the OS last night and it seemed that Soton had 90% of the season's luck in one game.

The xG was Southampton 0.03 and City 0.67.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I'm not sure what Pep expected Southampton to do. They were never going to go toe-to-toe with us and at best they would but back and try to counter.

I genuinely don't understand what Pep was expecting from the same tired old players who've done the same thing all season. Slow, boring, possession based football where we could've won it but didn't. You don't win games on stats.

The only thing I thought was we are gambling on a top 5 place as a given and saving energy for the final. Personally I'm not arsed about the CL and think it's not one we can win and we would have a better chance of the EL though

I also think some of the new players need to adapt to a new league and style of play which is why we're not seeing them yet.

Something has to be done with Haaland too. Unless he scores it's like playing with 10 men. He feels like a luxury player at times. I'm coming to the conclusion he's the best striker in the world, but in the wrong team - a team that can't play to his strengths - and I know that sounds nonsense given his record.

As soon as the whistle is blown on the last game, vwrite the season off and sort next season out. Unless we change something rapidly then Club World Cup could kill next season too and we will be easily picked off in it. Pep has to learn from other managers now to introduce some "risk" to his game.

I get we were always due a drip off but I can't think of anything we've learnt this season. We don't know our best 11, barely anyone has improved, it's boring, passionless and I think we will need to spend big to get anywhere near where we were.

Player suitability. You make a good point tbh.

Who needs Haaland if you are compressed in the 20 yd box?
Exactly the same for Foden, KDB, or any playmaker.
Who needs a mobile and dynamic midfield (Nico) if it's static and camped outside the box?
Who needs rapid defenders (Kush) if we are not arsed about transitioning and want our defense to score more goals than the offence?

Such a weird season.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

I am not writing anything off, I am just a realish and this club needs a serious rebuild and that could take place without CL and it's finances.

If you think we are going to makes 4/6 signings and all is good and rosey and we challenge, I think your going to be in for a shock.

We are way off and I am starting to wonder if Pep is the right man to rebuild this team, genuinely do you think our players are still running through brick walls for him?

Exactly - even if we did make the necessary signings they'd need time to get up to speed.
Easy to say the club dropped a bollock after Istanbul - certainly looked that way but perhaps it was a deliberate hiatus - in which case they may realise it's not so easy to fix.

 

[City_Sean]

I don't understand Peps rationale at all yesterday. He changed the entire back four to accommodate Akanji in the XI.

The football is dire. Passing for the sake of passing without any real intent. Watching Bernardo, Kovacic and Kev pass the ball sideways isn't exciting it's fucking boring.

Doku on recent form should be in the team, Marmoush should be playing and I'd argue both Khusanov and O'Reilly should be starting. Why do we need to be giving guys a farewell tour? It should be about what's best for the team going forwards.

 

[SiMCFC]

Yep and any other manager managing us this season we would be midtable!

Rubbish. Any other Manager would have had to adapt the system a bit and played to our strengths, Pep hasn't done that for the best part of 2 years now.

Honestly some people are so blinded by what he has done in the past, he (and his coaches) have literally sleepwalked this team through a full season.

He still has a better starting 11 available than probably every other team except Liverpool, just doesn't want to/totally unwilling to gamble, see his previous with lack of use of youth players.

 

[Saddleworth2]

width was missing big time first half, every time the ball went to josko(player of the season for me) which was a lot he nearly always came back inside, its just not his position
this allowed them to set in a rigid back 8, despite what others have said it is difficult to break down
personally doku should of started for me to give the natural width
but hey ho what do i know
at least its still in our hands, also a bit odd as we feel we are stumbling over the line but its now only 3 defeats in 19 in the league

To break down a low defensive block you need either precision passes through the lines at speed or players that can beat a man. Why not play both from the start? There hasn't really been much evidence this season of us breaking down defensive blocks with precision. Doku made a difference when he came on and we looked more dangerous and created more chances. Quelle suprise.