Southampton (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Yea I thought the new signings were OK. The new CM gave us our old system back.
I know it takes time to learn Peps ways but as you say we are back to KDB, Gundo and Bernie.

The options in midfield are that poor, that I’m actually gagging for Gundogan to start in the cup final!

 

[Blueknows]

I thought Soccer Aid was the other month? Yesterday was a worrying return to Pep placing too much faith in individuals who are no longer good enough or never will be.

It's really a mystery to me why Pep insists on sticking with players that quite plainly needed to move on last summer , some have fallen off a cliff , others way off form , PFA player of the year clearly struggling , just why is Pep selecting some players ? Everyone used to say "Pep always finds a way , always come up with different ways of playing " his loyalty to some could cost us , as others have said we spent 200m in Jan to try and solve our issues yet none of them started yesterday some didn't even make the bench , that was one of our worst performances this season which is saying something , a crucial game we needed to win against one of the poorest sides to ever be promoted to the prem , we obviously need a massive rebuild but can it be done in one summer and in Peps last season ?

 

[give it to gordon]

It's really a mystery to me why Pep insists on sticking with players that quite plainly needed to move on last summer , some have fallen off a cliff , others way off form , PFA player of the year clearly struggling , just why is Pep selecting some players ? Everyone used to say "Pep always finds a way , always come up with different ways of playing " his loyalty to some could cost us , as others have said we spent 200m in Jan to try and solve our issues yet none of them started yesterday some didn't even make the bench , that was one of our worst performances this season which is saying something , a crucial game we needed to win against one of the poorest sides to ever be promoted to the prem , we obviously need a massive rebuild but can it be done in one summer and in Peps last season ?

Don't forget that City haven't really got a pre season. At some point Pep is going to have to trust the younger players. It's the CWC than a few weeks later the pl starts. It's not idea

 

[skillman]

Watching Newcastle here is painful. Just everything we’re not right now. Energetic, fast, intense but quality in their attacking and passing.

Big, big Summer coming up.

 

[Bobby the blue]

Those wanting or calling for pep to leave will be in for a rude awakening if that does happen anytime soon.

Have faith in the guy.
I have a feeling he will turn it around.

 

[Ken92]

I didn't say they were superhuman I said they put a superhuman shift in and they did. Somehow they got away with it.

No they didnt.Average team parking the bus, nothing superhuman or special about their performance.We were just poor and thats it.

 

[citymad]

Rodri’s cover has disappeared. When Rdori is back Gonzalez won’t get a game. Another £50mill singing warming the padded subs seats.

True. Because it’s City we usually have to pay premium prices for players, even more reason to properly research and analyze players to see if they are the right fit. We’ve become so wasteful on the transfer market. It makes you wonder whether Pep is consulted at all.

 

[balotellishaircut]

Watching Newcastle here is painful. Just everything we’re not right now. Energetic, fast, intense but quality in their attacking and passing.

Big, big Summer coming up.

Yet Chelsea have had a couple of chances even down to 10 men.

 

[urban genie]

I didn't say they were superhuman I said they put a superhuman shift in and they did. Somehow they got away with it.

personally I thought the saints were average in every way, we were lethargic and also some negated responsibility to atempt to score due to haalands return

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

It's really a mystery to me why Pep insists on sticking with players that quite plainly needed to move on last summer , some have fallen off a cliff , others way off form , PFA player of the year clearly struggling , just why is Pep selecting some players ? Everyone used to say "Pep always finds a way , always come up with different ways of playing " his loyalty to some could cost us , as others have said we spent 200m in Jan to try and solve our issues yet none of them started yesterday some didn't even make the bench , that was one of our worst performances this season which is saying something , a crucial game we needed to win against one of the poorest sides to ever be promoted to the prem , we obviously need a massive rebuild but can it be done in one summer and in Peps last season ?

Without inviting a pile-on, my personal feelings are Pep is burnt out and his messaging isn't inspiring total belief from sections of the squad?

To bring Akanji back yesterday was criminal, resulting in the entire back line being changed to afford it.

He compounded it by bringing Foden and McAtee into the starting eleven, losing the width and direct running of Doku and Marmoush.

City have fallen in to the trap which United and Arsenal have done, allowing incredibly successful managers to become bigger than the club.

Our executive are rightly in awe of what Pep has done for this club, but the lines have become blurred and there is zero threat of challenge to his authority because of what he has stored in the bank.

I'm starting to worry that some of the noises from sections of the fanbase remind me of what Liverpool and United fans have defaulted to when they cite previous trophy wins and some sort of defensive mechanism against failure?

The past is the past, means nothing all the records of recent years, if we are heading down a direction which is not the correct one.

There is a lot of pressure on Viana to deliver for Pep, but Pep also has to deliver for him. There has been too many instances of the obvious, certainly for a legendary coach on £20m a year, to have not seen them throughout this campaign.

I really don't expect or hear City to be signing any world class talents this summer, certainly not the ones which are needed to elevate us back to the quality we have previously displayed.

I don't know what the answer is, but we are merely kicking the can down the road if we think everything is going to be solved by Pep simply being here for another two years?

 

[red 2 hats]

Surely the set pieces coach has to be added to that list!!

He or she would be top of the list.

 

[Tbilisi]

True. Because it’s City we usually have to pay premium prices for players, even more reason to properly research and analyze players to see if they are the right fit. We’ve become so wasteful on the transfer market. It makes you wonder whether Pep is consulted at all.

Someone posted yesterday that with 3 of the Jan lads not even making the squad it suggests that he may not be fully on board with the signings.

It never entered my mind before but would explain a few things as thats a hell of a lot of money to spend and then not use the players.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Surely the set pieces coach has to be added to that list!!

oh definitely

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Someone posted yesterday that with 3 of the Jan lads not even making the squad it suggests that he may not be fully on board with the signings.

It never entered my mind before but would explain a few things as thats a hell of a lot of money to spend and then not use the players.

other than haaland, ederson & walker, dont really know many more of pep signings who weren't bit players at first (in and out of the squad)

 

[paulchapo]

personally I thought the saints were average in every way, we were lethargic and also some negated responsibility to atempt to score due to haalands return

They were as poor as a team in their position is expected to be but they stubbornly defended with their lives and got away with it. Peps clusterfuck of a lineup and stubborn refusal to change it until it was too late helped them considerably.

 

[Keeper!]

There was nothing superhuman about Southampton yesterday ,we just were not good enough and Pep thought passing the ball around with 7 midfielders will be enough to win.

We have become like the last years of Wenger's Arsenal, trying to score the perfect goal.

Watch our training videos, we have players pinging balls into the top corners from 25 yards with almost notulant ease, where is that ability on a match day?

And don't start me on set pieces, FFS they are a disgrace and if I see Foden and KDB taking a free kick, talking under their hands when it's quiet obvious that KDB takes it, hence wasting the presence of Foden inside or just outside the box.

We are playing one game a week, what preparation are we actually doing?

 

[blue61]

Without inviting a pile-on, my personal feelings are Pep is burnt out and his messaging isn't inspiring total belief from sections of the squad?

To bring Akanji back yesterday was criminal, resulting in the entire back line being changed to afford it.

He compounded it by bringing Foden and McAtee into the starting eleven, losing the width and direct running of Doku and Marmoush.

City have fallen in to the trap which United and Arsenal have done, allowing incredibly successful managers to become bigger than the club.

Our executive are rightly in awe of what Pep has done for this club, but the lines have become blurred and there is zero threat of challenge to his authority because of what he has stored in the bank.

I'm starting to worry that some of the noises from sections of the fanbase remind me of what Liverpool and United fans have defaulted to when they cite previous trophy wins and some sort of defensive mechanism against failure?

The past is the past, means nothing all the records of recent years, if we are heading down a direction which is not the correct one.

There is a lot of pressure on Viana to deliver for Pep, but Pep also has to deliver for him. There has been too many instances of the obvious, certainly for a legendary coach on £20m a year, to have not seen them throughout this campaign.

I really don't expect or hear City to be signing any world class talents this summer, certainly not the ones which are needed to elevate us back to the quality we have previously displayed.

I don't know what the answer is, but we are merely kicking the can down the road if we think everything is going to be solved by Pep simply being here for another two years?

I don’t think Pep would be happy to stay and watch the team decline anymore under his watch.

I would not be surprised if he feels he no longer can make that difference that the CWC becomes his swansong

If that is the case then I would fully expect his successor to be already informed and ready to take the role for the new season

I always thought he would go at the same time as Txixi

 

[tommy116]

Let's face it we are very lucky to be even the position we are now, Crystal Palace could easily have been 3 up against but for the thinnest of offsides, Everton hit the post when it was nil all and how Wolves not even getting one goal was bizzare. City really have to avoid going down the dippers, rags and ars route of clinging to past glories as some sign of guaranteed future success cause it isn't. Change is needed at City, first of all on the pitch but if next season shapes up like this has then they will have to look at the sidelines for the next big change.

 

[Marvin.]

Without inviting a pile-on, my personal feelings are Pep is burnt out and his messaging isn't inspiring total belief from sections of the squad?

To bring Akanji back yesterday was criminal, resulting in the entire back line being changed to afford it.

He compounded it by bringing Foden and McAtee into the starting eleven, losing the width and direct running of Doku and Marmoush.

City have fallen in to the trap which United and Arsenal have done, allowing incredibly successful managers to become bigger than the club.

Our executive are rightly in awe of what Pep has done for this club, but the lines have become blurred and there is zero threat of challenge to his authority because of what he has stored in the bank.

I'm starting to worry that some of the noises from sections of the fanbase remind me of what Liverpool and United fans have defaulted to when they cite previous trophy wins and some sort of defensive mechanism against failure?

The past is the past, means nothing all the records of recent years, if we are heading down a direction which is not the correct one.

There is a lot of pressure on Viana to deliver for Pep, but Pep also has to deliver for him. There has been too many instances of the obvious, certainly for a legendary coach on £20m a year, to have not seen them throughout this campaign.

I really don't expect or hear City to be signing any world class talents this summer, certainly not the ones which are needed to elevate us back to the quality we have previously displayed.

I don't know what the answer is, but we are merely kicking the can down the road if we think everything is going to be solved by Pep simply being here for another two years?

Akanji played to give him minutes after a long injury absence. Likewise Haaland. That's important for the games to come.

 

[IrishBloodEnglishHeart]

Akanji played to give him minutes after a long injury absence. Likewise Haaland. That's important for the games to come.

Is there any reason they couldn't come on once we're 2-3 up? Why start them?