Sporting CP (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

[skillman]

Defence is unstable. Midfield is lacking creativity and legs. Attack is waiting for the midfield to help out.

All just poor.

 

[ysmsa]

Another game where we played well for 35 minutes then fell apart like a cheap suit.

As soon as we get put under any sustained pressure we collapse spectacularly.

We lack pace at the back. Josko and Akanji looked like they were running with lead lined boots on. Pusey was hung out to dry by the 2 of them.

Rico is very limited as a footballer. Love his energy but he is not the answer in defence or midfield.

Kovacic is either a solid 9 out of 10 or barely deserves a 5 rating, which is more often than a 9.

Bernardo looks absolutely lost at the minute, and Gundogan has been awful since his return.

We have got zero end product on the wings. Doku and Sav really need to start creating more and actually trying to find men with their crosses.

Nunes has been a highlight the last half dozen games but shows he's capable of throwing in shitshows as well.

And then you have Erl up top missing chance after chance and blazing penalties over the bar.

Add that to the mix of all the injuries and you can see why winning any silverware this season is going to be very very hard.

The squad has been neglected over the last few years. As a club the execs have rested on its laurels.

Football evolves and we as a club need to evolve to keep our grip on the trophies we have fought so hard to win!!!

I fear it's going to be long hard season for us. I just hope that someone like Villa or even Chelsea can surmount a challenge to keep those red shirted bastards off our trophy.!!!

The last way I would describe Rico is limited.
He amazes me every week with some of his play, touches and control in tight spaces. He links well with Phil which can't be easy when Phil is on a different level technically to everyone else.
I think he is having to cover for others at present and is pulled all over.

 

[dobingsdobber]

The Sporting players definitely knew their rag was leaving... they looked ok

Good point,well made.

 

[daztrueblue91]

Where do people rate this squad in relation to previous incarnations ? For me, it's the worst since very early in the takeover period.

There was a time we had a peak Gundogan on the bench. Now we’re starting a past it Gundogan in most games.

What I cannot understand is how our midfield has been so neglected. We all know that the midfield is the engine of a Pep team, yet our current midfield without Rodri is distinctly average.

De Bruyne was here before Pep, Pep’s been here 9 years, and De Bruyne remains out most creative player by some distance. Don’t get me wrong, Kev is an elite player, but he’s way beyond his peak.

We’ve also replaced efficient players like Mahrez and Sterling who would chip in with huge goals, with Doku, Grealish and Savinho who offer very little stats wise.

 

[Twisted-wheel]

Haha

Haha love it, quality post

 

[nellyonthewing]

I think our owners have done okay from that investment - isn’t it 17 trophies now? This was my one game

It is a given we are a superbly run club with the smartest people at the helm. That re-assured us we will buy the best players we can get and this collective wisdom will be brought to bear when eventually we replace Pep with the best in the business. In other words we will continue to dominate. Let's hope so .

 

[B\connellblue]

Peps biggest challenge this week may not be injuries but to lift the players heads to perform against Brighton. The players who are fit and need to go again after playing the recent games are probably shell shocked they are not used to losing like this in this team.

Well it's time they did something about it then. I can't get my head around footballers at the top of their profession yet they cannot strike a ball cleanly at the goals. Our finishing is woeful. There no point in raving about players who have no end product when they never had it to begin with. The pigeons have come well and truly home to roost.

 

[Damien10]

Nah don’t mind it actually, atleast someone has a bit of an ego about him and demand better.

Not for me. Especially when he does it after stinking the place out.

He is a legend but all good things come to an end. It’s time to get hungry, it’s time for some change.

 

[Semper aggressus]

Who would you sign in January and why ?

Mitoma, Livramento, Zubimendi, Gyokeres.

Two quick full backs that can also attack, a dynamic ball-winning midfielder and a forward that can score goals and take the pressure off Haaland or play on the wing.

 

[Tolmie scores]

Sam Lee has tweeted a confrontation between Kev and coaching staff

I don't know if this is true - but as much as i love the player when on form..his demeanor worries me, looks genuinely depressed!!!