Southampton (N) | FAC | Post Match Thread

It was bound to be a bit of a rusty performance given the amount of changes and lack of match fitness for those coming in. Second-half was much better though and we got the job done in the end. Four consecutive FA Cup finals is a remarkable achievement.
 
I thought Pep's strategy was, on the whole, pretty sound. Play a second string team with the exception of a couple of regulars, hope they do the job, if not bring on the big guns to get the job done. Doku was the game-changer, but even Savinho was refreshingly direct. I feel though we would have benefited from some width from the start, was surprised Savinho at least wasn't in the starting eleven. Everything was compressed through the middle and when you are playing against a low block that proves challenging. Nunes and RAN didn't really provide that width unfortunately. Southampton were dead on their feet for the last 10 minutes.
 
Ric said:
It was bound to be a bit of a rusty performance given the amount of changes and lack of match fitness for those coming in. Second-half was much better though and we got the job done in the end. Four consecutive FA Cup finals is a remarkable achievement.
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Four appearances on the run has only been done once, and it will happen this season.

Another unique record for our beloved Club.
 
Great result, ugly as fuck performance.

Two great goals in the game and a fortunate one that got us back in it.

Another final. Well done lads, eventually
 
Four in a row

Might be the last time we see some of those lads in a City shirt yesterday.
 
Ho Chi Man City said:
So sad, I went through a bit of trauma in 2019, (no different than most people experience in their lifetime), one thing I looked forward to was watching our Phil develop. He was such a prospect, he became such a great player, imposing himself on the opposition, that early goal against the Hammers last game of the 2024 season to win the league was a prime example of his influence.

He’s a shadow of that player at the moment, I hope a summer off and a reset will get him back to the Phil we all know and love, it can happen.
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It's so sad to see. It wouldn't be as bad if it was a player we'd bought, but it hits home harder when it's one of our own. I'm praying he turns it around.
 
Another cup final beckons, incredible.

We are on for a domestic treble which was unthinkable 16 months ago.

Most sides when they need a rebuild take years, sometimes decades (look at the rags, Arsenal and Liverpool). We could have been heading for the wilderness years but from the top down they’ve worked out the players and the pieces we need and we look like a team already. Fantastic work.

Loved seeing Nico grab the winner and what a screamer it was!
 
The first half performance reminded me of the Leverkusen game especially in the first half, but that was to be expected with the amount of changes Pep made.

Now the game is done and dusted, and we won the game, we might just benefit as a team collective, that most of the first eleven did receive a some rest yesterday.

I think Pep said the players had been given 3 days off as we don't play for another 8 days.

Well done you blue boys on getting to yet another final, we are coming into form just in time.
 
coolcity said:
The changes didn't prove Pep got it wrong at all.

Have any of you ever considered that when he makes changes for games like this he does so with the idea of resting players, while putting out a team that he expects will keep us in the tie at least, and if they can do that for an hour or more while others are rested, then he can bring in the first choice players to finish the job.

The alternative is you play your first choice XI for 60 games a season then end up struggling to finish in a Champions League spot because they're all knackered and/or injured.
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Another alternative is resting 3 or 4 when opportunity permits and blending in their replacements.

On this occasion, everybody was due a 9-day rest before the next game.
 
southamptonblue said:
Nobody wants City to lose.....but if your opinion is that we might (for whatever reason) then that's their perogative to say so. The changes we made today, proved Pep did get it wrong at the start.....or the starting 11 would have taken care of it, they didn't!
Equalising through an 80 something minute deflection, was a get out of jail card.....and means I can leave my house next week ;)
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so not just pep loads of managers get it wrong as you say. what did he get wrong ? run first eleven into ground watch doku at end he was bent double while playes clapping fans and he had great 20 or so minutes but by sounds you want him to do that week in week out he freshed it up and if took few chances in first half pep wouldve been genius plus loads of other teams wouldve been in semi final
 
southamptonblue said:
Nobody wants City to lose.....but if your opinion is that we might (for whatever reason) then that's their perogative to say so. The changes we made today, proved Pep did get it wrong at the start.....or the starting 11 would have taken care of it, they didn't!
Equalising through an 80 something minute deflection, was a get out of jail card.....and means I can leave my house next week ;)
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You and me both :-) !

No, I don't really think that more than a handful of posters would rather lose than have their prediction be proven wrong. I thought today's selection was poor, but that we'd have enough to go through in 90 - I posted as much.

Last season my two least favourite players were Doku and Nunes - but I was really happy when they combined for the Villa winner in what looked like being a crunch match at the time.

I had been moaning about the comedy defence all season, before it settled down with a predictable lineup - it just annoys me when the Pep groupies automatically assume that having doubts about a selection, or performance, means that I want City to fail. A moronic connection to make.
 
The Lightbowne Cowboy said:
It's so sad to see. It wouldn't be as bad if it was a player we'd bought, but it hits home harder when it's one of our own. I'm praying he turns it around.
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My sentiments exactly, he looks lost at the moment and it saddens me to see, think he’s carrying some kind of personal burden, hopefully sort it out with a summer off.
 
I have total understanding for fans who cannot afford the expense of the trip down to Wembley but know so many friends and work colleagues who ‘just couldn’t be bothered’ (their words not mine) to go for the semi final and hide behind various excuses…..a really poor turn out today although the ones that made it were superb.

I am not a Savinho hater but was sat on the right as we attacked the second half and watched him closely….although he gave us the required width along with Doku, his lack of bravery both with and without the ball really stood out and my heart sinks whenever a chance falls to him because we all know the inevitable outcome.

Overall I don’t think we’re as poor as some people are making out…..and even in the first half we still made chances.

it’s obvious why Cherki has to start because without him (And Doku when he came on) there is a real lack of creativity.

Marmoush was very poor and Reijnders, Ait Nouri and Foden all struggled to impact the match…..we also really miss what O’Reilly now gives us at left back.

Difference to when we won the treble was we were able to rotate with an in form Foden, Mahrez , Laporte, Walker and Alvarez and the drop off in quality wasn’t so noticeable.

Anyway happy days and another final to look forward to.
 
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