Sporting CP (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

Again, we weren't as bad as the result implies. Moreover, the first 30 minutes were among the best this season, up there with Chelsea and W Ham away.

Once the injured players are back, we can beat anyone.

Of course, we will miss Rodri for he was the backbone of the team, linking defence and attack, stopping counters, contributing goals and assists. We can't replace him and I doubt we can win the CL or the PL without him.

But Pep and the players may prove me/us wrong. For this to happen, 1-2 players have to play like potential Ballon d'Or winners, the likes of Foden, Haaland, Gvardiol... They are young and can get better. Other young players have to step up too.
 
Nobody had done 4 in a row and 6 of 7 before we just did it, which automatically made us favorites and a target. Five was always going to be very difficult, especially as Pep has already mentioned, the middle of the table teams are so much better than in the past.

6 out of 8 is nothing to sneeze at, but if we are going to maintain standards and be a perennial Top 4 team with a shout at the title, a serious overhaul is needed and Pep may have to broaden his preference for a small squad. It’s all well and good having players slide into a secondary role every now and then, with a world class team on the field to support them, but when faced with numerous injuries to key players or in key positions, it weakens the squad considerably to do wholesale shuffling, which also happens inside games with subs.

We need a large investment and to graduate EDS players into the rotation.

In short, this game was, hopefully, an inexpensive wake up call to the club and Pep. Whether they’re listening remains to be seen, but Brighton might do it if this game didn’t!
 
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It might be a useful wake-up call, we are still in a decent position in the major competitions, and some of our absentees are getting back to full fitness. We need to get them fit again because the next run of fixtures look difficult, but form is temporary, class is longer term
 
GoatersLeftShin said:
It was a peculiar game that as we looked like we could thrash them 5-0 at one point and end up getting thrashed ourselves.

I don't know why but Pep saves this "fuckin hell" moments for the CL - Liverpool, Real, Lyon, Monaco, Chelsea and now Spotting Lisbon. It seems that if you can get under our skin for a couple of minutes we will absolutely, totally and utterly capitulate. I don't know how or why but it's pathetic.

I know we have a LOT of players out injured and we're missing Ridri but surely we should have some players coming up who can play roughly a DM position? It's not like Pep has just rocked up we've been playing his way for nearly 10 years now. In all honesty if there's no one in our U21 etc team who can't step up what's the point of keeping them?

Our penalty should never have been given and it summed the night up when it slapped the bar. The ones we gave away were utterly pathetic and showed our brittle we were. Nunes is absolutely nowhere near good enough for us and needs to go.

Overall a bad night and normally once we hit "rock bottom" in a season then Pep seems to wake up and does the necessary. I think we will go on a monster winning streak now!
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Last para. I wish I had your confidence. In the recent seasons, this time of year would have agreed, but this time something very off with the team/ style of play and I am not hopeful. Squad too small, too many injuries and not enough players available who can regularly impact a game. I do envy the Dips with their workhorses who seem to be able to score at will, and are solid defensively.

So for me, I want to be hopeful but am seeing no signs. I'm watching Arse / Inter and enjoying, yes enjoying free flowing, FAST forward running footy. Like City used to be....!!
 
69FACUPfinal said:
Last para. I wish I had your confidence. In the recent seasons, this time of year would have agreed, but this time something very off with the team/ style of play and I am not hopeful. Squad too small, too many injuries and not enough players available who can regularly impact a game. I do envy the Dips with their workhorses who seem to be able to score at will, and are solid defensively.

So for me, I want to be hopeful but am seeing no signs. I'm watching Arse / Inter and enjoying, yes enjoying free flowing, FAST forward running footy. Like City used to be....!!
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Still a lot of football to be played yet mate and we've had these moments before! :)

I think Pep is the best manager in the world and he will know more than anyone what the problem is, what the solution is. We've rarely started a season in full flow and I think this season is more of an anomaly compared to the others.

Once we're in the New Year, let's see how we get on. We have too many players who've pulled out huge results for us in the past and we'll have a fair few back from the hospital as well :)

Chin up and trust in Pep! :)
 
69FACUPfinal said:
Last para. I wish I had your confidence. In the recent seasons, this time of year would have agreed, but this time something very off with the team/ style of play and I am not hopeful. Squad too small, too many injuries and not enough players available who can regularly impact a game. I do envy the Dips with their workhorses who seem to be able to score at will, and are solid defensively.

So for me, I want to be hopeful but am seeing no signs. I'm watching Arse / Inter and enjoying, yes enjoying free flowing, FAST forward running footy. Like City used to be....!!
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The game at Anfield in a few weeks time could be horrible if we've not shaken ourselves out of this slump by then
 
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