Spurs (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

[Briggs1969]

5 straight losses, including 2 absolutely embarrassing beatings we have been laughing at the rags deliver on a monthly basis for years now. I expect to see some consequences from that in both tactics and player selections going forward.
Ederson/Gvardiol/Akanji/Lewis/Bernardo/Savinho/Foden/Haaland have all started in 2 humiliating results in just 3 games. Some other names could/should be mentioned as well, but I expect at least a few of these names to be benched a while going forward, otherwise we are basically just telling the players they can perform at an unacceptable level repeatedly and still getting rewarded with starts as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened. This season is unfortunately most likely gone anyway so now it's time to make some statements and even play youth players ahead of them if thats whats needed to get the message through.

Results like these must have consequences or sooner or later results like these become acceptable within the group of players.

Vester, I salute you.

 

[Semper aggressus]

What is Pep's reluctance to start O'reilly or Mcatee in a prem game. He's scared stiff of one or both having a poor game, yet is still fine with the underperforming Gundo, Bernardo etc failing week after week. Time to freshen things up a bit Pep

He sees them daily in training and knows they’re not good enough.

 

[ancoats]

Obviously not but the players we have currently simply are not good enough. Some have been superstars and are legends imho but they’re not that level now. Some just aren’t the level we need. That squad is bereft of pace and power.

Pep Said that the over 30 players are still good enough to keep playing at this level, But the thing for me is they can not guarantee they can be injury-free all season, We need a new spine for the squad of 4 or 5 world-class players at the age of around 23 to 25 again.

Walker is the Key replacement with his age a major problem, Stones can never stay fit long enough, Ake is a good squad player, same with Akanji, Silva is always available for a move and maybe this summer he leaves, Ederson is looking for a big money move and if one comes again he's off, KDB well he can leave with our blessing and full honours and a statue.

But back to what Pep thinks and we should all listen to, He thinks they are still good enough and they have got something to offer

 

[chaddblue]

He sees them daily in training and knows they’re not good enough.

Exactly. The same people will be maoning when these kids start a PL game, ghost for 60 minutes and are subbed when we're 2-0 down

They will play when Pep knows they're ready to play

 

[OaklandBlue]

We’ve seen worse days

 

[coolcity]

What is Pep's reluctance to start O'reilly or Mcatee in a prem game. He's scared stiff of one or both having a poor game, yet is still fine with the underperforming Gundo, Bernardo etc failing week after week. Time to freshen things up a bit Pep

I think the fact that Lewis is struggling answers that question. If you could expect kids to come in and take over from the players that have brought you 4 titles and a treble and perform to the same level week in week out, everybody would be doing it.

Always saw you as being a bit more clued up than that.

 

[coolcity]

A succession of transfer windows where we’ve shit the bed or been too unambitious has bitten us on the arse now with so many injuries.

Now Pep has committed to two more years we need to back him to the hilt in January and again in summer or this will be our first season outside top 4 for years.

Nowhere near good enough.

You have to remember, it's not a bottomless pit. We are tied to the constraints of the PL rules and the players we have. injured or not, are on multi-million pound salaries which still need to be paid. There's also no guarantee that any new player would come in and make a difference, history is full of potential world beaters who have come into the PL and couldn't cope with the demands, and that's not even into a team challenging for the title.

All of you who are expecting a team to play with the core ripped out of it, and players playing who are not fully fit and themselves need to be rested, and still challenge for the title are deluded. If it worked you wouldn't need those key players in the first place. Why is that so difficult for people to understand? THIS is the reality, what happens when players are playing 60+ matches a season non-stop and you get a host of injuries, so you'd better all get used to the idea because NO manager is ever going to be able to change it.

 

[coolcity]

The next five don’t look promising either, does el stubborno have enough credit in the bank to ride out 10 in a row?

He has the bottle to ride it out, do you?

 

[manimanc]

5 straight losses, including 2 absolutely embarrassing beatings we have been laughing at the rags deliver on a monthly basis for years now. I expect to see some consequences from that in both tactics and player selections going forward.
Ederson/Gvardiol/Akanji/Lewis/Bernardo/Savinho/Foden/Haaland have all started in 2 humiliating results in just 3 games. Some other names could/should be mentioned as well, but I expect at least a few of these names to be benched a while going forward, otherwise we are basically just telling the players they can perform at an unacceptable level repeatedly and still getting rewarded with starts as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened. This season is unfortunately most likely gone anyway so now it's time to make some statements and even play youth players ahead of them if thats whats needed to get the message through.

Results like these must have consequences or sooner or later results like these become acceptable within the group of players.

Bench the players?
And we replace them with who?
Other half fit players?

Your post is both ill thought and done without looking at the bigger picture.
This group of players have delivered us the treble and four in a row and in the process of doing that have ran themselves into the ground, they are all running on empty.

What the rags have got to do with anything going on at city baffles me, unless you are on the wind up.

Ridiculous kneejerk post, you sound like an entitled rag who thinks we should sweep everything aside.

P.s. it looks like you're another "fan" who only posts if we lose. You wasn't even excited about Pep extending.

 

[Keeper!]

Bench the players?
And we replace them with who?
Other half fit players?

Your post is both ill thought and done without looking at the bigger picture.
This group of players have delivered us the treble and four in a row and in the process of doing that have ran themselves into the ground, they are all running on empty.

What the rags have got to do with anything going on at city baffles me, unless you are on the wind up.

Ridiculous kneejerk post, you sound like an entitled rag who thinks we should sweep everything aside.

He's misspelt his username

 

[coolcity]

Oh yer the crowd tonight was true fans
It’s just so many young lads on this forum saying they are going to support other team now. How fragile are they

We used to loose to Middlesbrough 8-1
anyone here remember ?

No, I only remember a one-off end of season result which I understand was a result of players protesting at the sacking of the manager, so otherwise totally meaningless.

Anybody who wants to support anybody else, please just go now because you're not City fans.

 

[Damanino]

what a shit weekend, Arse, Chelsea, dippers all delivering 3 points. I really worried Pep spent two weeks thinking of this Spurs game and this was all what we served up. now he has to win the CL game and then prepare properly for the dipper away game unlike for this Spurs game.

 

[ste.sully]

1. Lack of pace and aging players. We are playing a high line but lack of pressing on offensive third just doesn't work.
2. A series of poor transfer windows is now starting to cost us - Savinho, Doku, Nunes, Philips etc. All too slow and not good enough.
3. Rodri is a big miss but sadly don't have a Plan B and Kovacic/Gundogan are not that sort of player. The whole system is built with him as the engine. Even yesterday the front 5 were playing as if he was there and Spurs had acres of space. Pep needs to go back to the drawing board and abandon 'pivot' system to something that can half work while Rodri is not in the team.
4. After winning 4 in a row there was always going to be a blip and lack of motivation. I only hope that this run and hitting rock bottom galvanises the team.

 

[coolcity]

The problem that is killing us is Peps loyalty to some of these players. Walkers legs have gone but Pep convinced him to stay. Gundo is to slow but Pep won’t drop him. Bernardo is having an awful season. Stone can’t stay fit.

It’s earned loyalty from what they’ve done for Pep , titles etc but age and the amount of games they’ve played has caught up. They are not the players they used to be

I'd rather have this City than one that just uses and dumps players like a commodity when they have done with them.

The only concern for me is why so many of you have the delusional attitude that we should still be out in front with the core of the team ripped out of us and the non-stop schedule, with internationals, for players. Some haven't had a proper break for over 18 months and this is the consequence. What clubs need to do is double down and refuse to release ANY players for tin pot competitions like the Nations League, unless we all want to get used to watching exhausted, half-fit players twice a week every week.

In the meantime I'll accept the reality for what it is without slating the greatest manager we have ever seen and the best players we have ever had. You cannot just throw them out and replace them like an old washing machine, and but for the injuries I'd have no doubt we would still be in the lead or thereabouts. We're STILL not far off, and I'm typing this as I'm watching Liverpool scrape to a lucky win against bottom club Southampton, and another 18 teams are still below us.

 

[Invisible Man's Bandage]

I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist but I'm beginning to wonder if this is all planned by the club to get us primed for how shit the football will be in the North West Counties League.

 

[bondsman]

Pep Said that the over 30 players are still good enough to keep playing at this level, But the thing for me is they can not guarantee they can be injury-free all season, We need a new spine for the squad of 4 or 5 world-class players at the age of around 23 to 25 again.

Walker is the Key replacement with his age a major problem, Stones can never stay fit long enough, Ake is a good squad player, same with Akanji, Silva is always available for a move and maybe this summer he leaves, Ederson is looking for a big money move and if one comes again he's off, KDB well he can leave with our blessing and full honours and a statue.

But back to what Pep thinks and we should all listen to, He thinks they are still good enough and they have got something to offer

Agree with much of what you say. Imagine had we kept Palmer Lavia and Alvarez. Maybe even Harwood Bellis. Those players in this squad and I think we be in a totally different state. We let talent go and didn’t replace it with similar standard.

 

[Platt Lane 59]

1. Lack of pace and aging players. We are playing a high line but lack of pressing on offensive third just doesn't work.
2. A series of poor transfer windows is now starting to cost us - Savinho, Doku, Nunes, Philips etc. All too slow and not good enough.
3. Rodri is a big miss but sadly don't have a Plan B and Kovacic/Gundogan are not that sort of player. The whole system is built with him as the engine. Even yesterday the front 5 were playing as if he was there and Spurs had acres of space. Pep needs to go back to the drawing board and abandon 'pivot' system to something that can half work while Rodri is not in the team.
4. After winning 4 in a row there was always going to be a blip and lack of motivation. I only hope that this run and hitting rock bottom galvanises the team.

Agree with all your points.
I would add Pep's refusal to make early subs, or even utilise all 5 subs.
All 3 of City's subs (why not use all 5 when the result was known) are struggling either with fitness, form or are probably past their best.
Pep must play McAtee, Nunes, O'Reilly & Wright on Tuesday - if only to pick the splinters out of their arses...

 

[smithy extra]

Just recovering after yesterday after a media blackout and viewed the latest posts, will log off again

 

[levets]

Wonder if Gvardiol showed frustration at Haalands moon shots:-)

Josko also had a couple. Haaland one of just a few with any credit whatsoever yesterday. Thwarted by a good keeper on a few occasions.

 

[balotellishaircut]

what a shit weekend, Arse, Chelsea, dippers all delivering 3 points. I really worried Pep spent two weeks thinking of this Spurs game and this was all what we served up. now he has to win the CL game and then prepare properly for the dipper away game unlike for this Spurs game.

Don’t sweat it, we can’t do fuck all as fans, whatever happens happens.