Sporting CP (A) | CL | Post Match Thread

[alexmcity]

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.

 

[ayrshire_blue]

Foden the goalscorer - that guy?

Yeah. Are you trying to suggest that any player who ever scores a goal must have played well? The goalkeeper made a mess of it btw, and aside from a couple of flicks, Foden was anonymous, again.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

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!

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

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

 

[69FACUPfinal]

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!

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....!!

 

[mick10]

According to the rag cunts at the bbc City were thrashed

I’d be in agreement with both those facts.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

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....!!

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! :)

 

[Fordyboy46]

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....!!

The game at Anfield in a few weeks time could be horrible if we've not shaken ourselves out of this slump by then

 

[warringtonblue]

The game at Anfield in a few weeks time could be horrible if we've not shaken ourselves out of this slump by then

We've got Spurs before that who always seem to turn up against us

 

[Listerfiend]

Not even barely... they've not been on the pitch together for even 1 second

I don’t get the hate for him, think he’s very very good

 

[bluemoon32]

According to the rag cunts at the bbc City were thrashed

In fairness, we were

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

In fairness, we were

Who did the rags play, I must have missed their game.

 

[Shirley]

In fairness, we were

As I’ve said previously the score reflects that but watching the game I don’t reckon that was a thrashing, breakaways and dubious penalties.
The Bournemouth game perhaps was.

 

[East Level 2]

Who did the rags play, I must have missed their game.

Did you put back your calendar rather than your clock? Thursday League teams play today.

 

[Roachy]

As I’ve said previously the score reflects that but watching the game I don’t reckon that was a thrashing, breakaways and dubious penalties.
The Bournemouth game perhaps was.

Penalties were nailed on I'm afraid.

 

[Big Joe Corrigan]

Did you put back your calendar rather than your clock? Thursday League teams play today.

I think you may have missed my attempt at humour, I’ll get my coat ;)

 

[East Level 2]

I think you may have missed my attempt at humour, I’ll get my coat ;)

No, I recognised the humour and merely wished to extend the rag-baiting.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

The game at Anfield in a few weeks time could be horrible if we've not shaken ourselves out of this slump by then

Mate I am absolutely dreading that more than the usual sense of horror and foreboding..

Luckily I am going to a concert in town that night with one of my Blue mates, so it will take our mind off and with going out I can spare myself the agony of watching on TV.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

As I’ve said previously the score reflects that but watching the game I don’t reckon that was a thrashing, breakaways and dubious penalties.
The Bournemouth game perhaps was.

Whenever we get a dubious pk, we generally miss! Most opponents don't - step and dive forward Mo Salarrrrr.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

I don't think this was a freak result. Its actually a result that we have seen the past 3 games. Yes, the injuries are not helping. But we have the talent to have won these past three. The difference is: we now have no answer for the low block and we have zero counterattack.

We have been absolutely shambles when it comes to finishing. We cannot put a ball into the net on corner kicks to save our lives. Haaland is played by two men in the box and has hardly a chance to breathe.

And when teams do attack us, we offer no desire to counter fast. None. We would rather dial it back and move up into the midfield slowly. In my opinion, any attempt at a break with 3 or less players is likely forbidden by Pep because we would likely lose the ball. So players don't want to suffer the wrath of Pep, so they bring it up slowly.

Teams have caught up to us. You're correct. Rodri would have stopped those. But he's gone. Likely for 9 more months. These aren't freak results. Teams are studying us and adapting strategy accordingly.

I can't believe that any opposition is deliberately getting outplayed by us in the first 45 minutes of every game. Every game - loads of first half chances - second half of every game our performance runs out of gas and the cohesiveness goes. We're having to play players out of position. We're missing Alvarez as the support act striker to pop up with a goal, but he wanted to go.