Technical ability of the squad isn't good enough.

As the OP of the thread, can I just say last night was miles better. I said it before the red card as well.

We weren't just rushing the ball forward ppontlessly, there was consideration with each pass and dribble. Some would call it boring but that's how we became dominant in the past.

Doku recycled the ball when he realised there was too much in front of him.

I think Doku's and Phil's improvement is a huge part behind the last 2 wins but I think Rodri's return is why we look technically better. I actually think O'Reilly tucking in beside him has helped as well.
 
MCFC1993 said:
As the OP of the thread, can I just say last night was miles better. I said it before the red card as well.

We weren't just rushing the ball forward ppontlessly, there was consideration with each pass and dribble. Some would call it boring but that's how we became dominant in the past.

Doku recycled the ball when he realised there was too much in front of him.

I think Doku's and Phil's improvement is a huge part behind the last 2 wins but I think Rodri's return is why we look technically better. I actually think O'Reilly tucking in beside him has helped as well.
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It's not boring for me at all to play like we did in the first 20 minutes. Being more direct offers chances for counters and costs more energy. That's why Liverpool under Klopp have struggled to have 2 good seasons in a row with one exception: 18/19 and 19/20.
 
I can’t agree with most critical sentiments here. We are in a two year rebuild so there are bound to be bumps in the road. Nobody can reproduce the team which won four in a row. It is unrealistic to expect brilliance of that order ever again.
I’m optimistic that we will do very well longer term. Have patience.
 
MCFC1993 said:
As the OP of the thread, can I just say last night was miles better. I said it before the red card as well.

We weren't just rushing the ball forward ppontlessly, there was consideration with each pass and dribble. Some would call it boring but that's how we became dominant in the past.

Doku recycled the ball when he realised there was too much in front of him.

I think Doku's and Phil's improvement is a huge part behind the last 2 wins but I think Rodri's return is why we look technically better. I actually think O'Reilly tucking in beside him has helped as well.
Click to expand...

even with some of our play last season, miles better than some of the shite offered out to other teams, or what we put up in the past.

Agree on the 4 players you mentioned here btw!
 
That half epitomises how bad the incoming and promoted players have been technically.

Cherki for me is the only one with world class passing and control in that XI.

In fact you see him and realise how bad the standard of some of the others is.
 
MCFC1993 said:
That half epitomises how bad the incoming and promoted players have been technically.

Cherki for me is the only one with world class passing and control in that XI.

In fact you see him and realise how bad the standard of some of the others is.
Click to expand...
Its how little goal threat the vast majority of the players in the squad has thats also a huge issue. No one but Haaland looks like scoring more than a few a season.
 
hertsblue said:
Its how little goal threat the vast majority of the players in the squad has thats also a huge issue. No one but Haaland looks like scoring more than a few a season.
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Agreed, some of that is technical ability too though.

If some of the attackers had a better first touch, they'd get more shots off.
 
MCFC1993 said:
That half epitomises how bad the incoming and promoted players have been technically.

Cherki for me is the only one with world class passing and control in that XI.

In fact you see him and realise how bad the standard of some of the others is.
Click to expand...
Lost count of the amount of time cherki pass never found its target tbf they were all forward progressive passes. Think you have been a bit harsh on gonzalez who I can't remember giving the ball away all night.
 
uwe rosler 28 said:
Lost count of the amount of time cherki pass never found its target tbf they were all forward progressive passes. Think you have been a bit harsh on gonzalez who I can't remember giving the ball away all night.
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I think Gonzalez was decent last night but I'm talking genuinely world class levels of passing and control.

What we've seen from Rodri, Silva, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Mahrez over the years.

I think Cherki has that, Nico still has a little bit to go.

Nico isnt my worry though, there are players in the squad much worse and nowhere near the level required on the ball.
 
Players are better when they are confident and have beaten the world. Give this lot a chance.

Those players that were seemingly technically better couldn't win a league for toffee in peps first season. And we had similar threats in here about if Kevin was worth his place etc.

Give time.
 
gordondaviesmoustache said:
It’s quite simple really. When you’ve had the absolute pleasure of watching the greatest set of players ever assembled on these shores then it is axiomatic that any other set of players will be inferior.
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Greatest so far does not preclude greater to come. I think Haaland, Rodri, Donnarumma & Cherki - maybe even a couple of others from the current crop - could join the list of City greats in time. Axioms are relative.
 
We aren’t doing too badly, compared to Liverpool. But we aren’t as good as we were two years ago. Some of the new guys beginning to show promise, give it time. Don’t think we will win the EPL or the UCL this time, but be patient, this is a transition and some good signings will deliver eventually
 
uwe rosler 28 said:
Lost count of the amount of time cherki pass never found its target tbf they were all forward progressive passes. Think you have been a bit harsh on gonzalez who I can't remember giving the ball away all night.
Click to expand...
Cherki had a pass completion of 80%.
Like Kev, we will need to accept that his less conservative passing will find its target less often, at least until colleagues become accustomed to his style.
I can't find Nico's stats for last night but his pass completion is 90% for the season. He has also made zero errors leading to a chance and zero leading to conceding a goal.
 
The squad has plenty of technically excellent players: from Nunes, Gvardiol and O'Reilly through Gonzalez and Cherki to Savinho and Bobb.

They are mostly very young, though. Comparing them to legends is a bit silly, as some of the said legends weren't that great when they were 21-23 yo. Mahrez played in Ligue 2 at Savinho's and Bobb's age, Kevin had to leave Chelsea, many on here doubted Gundogan and Rodri, and so on.

Some of the young players won't become big stars, but others will surpass our expectations. The idea that Pep would be happy to work with technically average players is daft.

The bigger problem is physicality: the likes of Foden, Cherki, Bobb, Savinho, Lewis, partly Reijnders, perhaps RAN, are not the physically strongest players in the PL. For example, Arsenal's counterparts look inferior technically wise but superior in physical terms.
 
Just watched Cancelo assist to Sterling against Everton at home 2021/22 season
That was insane

Nobody in this squad cant repeat that
 
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