Southampton (H) | PL | Post-Match Thread

[OB1]

No you're right we dont attack as quick, but that's by design, we often end up on a counter and have 3 on 3 or 3 on 4 and we slow it down and build at a steady pace. Bernardo does it all the time. It's clear we are playing to the tactics Pep wants. It's probably not as exciting but Pep must believe it's the best way to win games.

We often see our wingers double marked, there was times today where Savinho got the ball and had 3 players in front of him, bringing the ball out with defence means we have an extra attacker in a forward position and brings extra defensive players out to meet our defender with the ball, we just need our forwards to find the space or drag players out of position and leave the defenders in space (Gvardial as a good example)

Someone sat near me yesterday said take your man on when one ball went to one of our wingers and I bemoaned but it’s two men.

Almost every team we play doubles up on our wingers the moment they get the ball, and so they often pass inside to the full back (or…). This is where City need to move the ball laterally very quickly to try and find a space caused by the opponents going two on one but they move across quickly. Eventually, City often tire teams out and get more goals simply through attrition but yesterday, Southampton kept the ball well and our overworked players were very tired by the end. Haaland was visibly knackered and Duracell Bernie was sat on the pitch after the game.

 

[Damanino]

So taking Haaland out of the equation, we've scored 9 goals in 9 games. What's the problem?

thats 38 goals over a season then. add Haalands 25-30 so thats 70 goals top... we havent scored less than 80 in any of Pep's seasons:)
usually its 90+, with tw times going above 100...

 

[M23 Citizen]

See the perfect goal vs Sparta for an example of what City can do and why teams go out of their way not to allow us the space to do that.

We’ve been facing packed defences since Mancini’s time with us and I don’t really think we’re seeing it more than we used to in say 2018-19 to the treble season under Pep.

We simply had more players to unlock those defences with more runners and movement that would move defenders around and create space, first time through balls before defenders are set, one-twos, pull back crosses from the byline, those chips over the top, trivelas etc… we had much more creativity and variety.

Last season our defensive midfielder was our second top assister in the whole squad behind de Bruyne who only played half a season. What were the rest up to?

And we had more goal scorers previously as well. Take the 2020-21 season as one example: Gundo (scored 17 goals), Foden (16), Jesus (14), Sterling (14), Mahrez (14), Torres (13), de Bruyne (10), Agüero (6), BSilva (5), Stones (5)… and for some of those players that is half of what they scored in some other seasons (Mahrez, Sterling) and Agüero missed nearly all of the season yet scored more that season than some of forwards will all this season.

 

[lionheart]

In response to some idiot predicting a 9-0 thrashing, here was my comment on Friday..."I will be happy with a 1-0 and no more injuries, please." Happy this morning.

 

[vmsuhail]

Did you pay good money to travel to the ground and watch the game?

No. I pay very little money to watch at the comfort of my home, thousands of miles away.

 

[ancoats]

In response to some idiot predicting a 9-0 thrashing, here was my comment on Friday..."I will be happy with a 1-0 and no more injuries, please." Happy this morning.

Spot on.

We haven't been Champions 4 times in a row because we steamroller teams every week. Some people only come to see the glory and want rugby scores every week, The Win is the most important thing, then no injuries.

God helps us on Wednesday away to Spurs, Pep has already said we might have to play EDS team ?

 

[M23 Citizen]

Spot on.

We haven't been Champions 4 times in a row because we steamroller teams every week. Some people only come to see the glory and want rugby scores every week, The Win is the most important thing, then no injuries.

God helps us on Wednesday away to Spurs, Pep has already said we might have to play EDS team ?

Mad to think this and if I’d heard anyone said this twenty years ago I’d slap them with a wet fish across the chops… but with the injuries we have with our two best players out, and the season we have going on until July that will have an effect on next season, I wouldn’t mind a full EDS team and getting knocked out against Spurs.

The fewer games the better this season.

 

[OB1]

We’ve been facing packed defences since Mancini’s time with us and I don’t really think we’re seeing it more than we used to in say 2018-19 to the treble season under Pep.

We simply had more players to unlock those defences with more runners and movement that would move defenders around and create space, first time through balls before defenders are set, one-twos, pull back crosses from the byline, those chips over the top, trivelas etc… we had much more creativity and variety.

Last season our defensive midfielder was our second top assister in the whole squad behind de Bruyne who only played half a season. What were the rest up to?

And we had more goal scorers previously as well. Take the 2020-21 season as one example: Gundo (scored 17 goals), Foden (16), Jesus (14), Sterling (14), Mahrez (14), Torres (13), de Bruyne (10), Agüero (6), BSilva (5), Stones (5)… and for some of those players that is half of what they scored in some other seasons (Mahrez, Sterling) and Agüero missed nearly all of the season yet scored more that season than some of forwards will all this season.

I think it has got worse but I can’t prove it. I’m sure there is data out there that could be used to show one way or another if teams are sitting deeper etc. City certainly have more possession now than in Mancini’s or Pellegrini’s day and although it has gone up and won under Pep, I would think we have more in the opposing half now than we used to.

We do need more goal contributions from our wingers but they are mostly young and need will hopefully develop that. Sav needs his first goal. Jack might be a lost cause on goal scoring; I think he has the ability but somehow it just doesn’t seem to happen for him with City although that can change.

 

[citizen_maine]

thats 38 goals over a season then. add Haalands 25-30 so thats 70 goals top... we havent scored less than 80 in any of Pep's seasons:)
usually its 90+, with tw times going above 100...

Except, using that logic Haaland gets 46 :-)

 

[johnevans]

But did we win, YES

I wouldn't have cared if they scored an own goal to win us the game it's 3 points and a win, Sometimes you aim for the stars but hit the moon, I think we looked better and stronger in our defence today which was a plus and a clean sheet. Look I agree 100% it could have been better, but also it could have been 100% better and we lost, that's football

Spot on! Said before the game, I don't care if the winner goes in off Haaland's backside in the 98th minute, just get the three points!

Mind, your comment re 'the stars/moon' reminded me of the last line of 'Now, Voyager' when Bette Davis (as Charlotte) tells Paul Muni:

'Oh Jerry, let's not ask for the moon; we already have the stars..!'

But then again, it might've been 'Phoenix Nights' I was thinking of, when a spaced Jerry St Clair says 'Bring down the moon..' and Brian Potter said 'Garlic bread.. it's the future Jerry.. I've tasted it!'