The Title Race - 2024/25

[wolviedinho]

We need a solid defensive 4 now. Given Walker's decline and Lewis's weaknesses, the best back 4 for big games is Akanji at RB, Stones and Dias at CB, and Gvardiol.

Then we can go with Kova/Gundo plus Nunes in front of the back 4, with Foden behind Haaland and Grealish/Doku and Savinho on the wings. This team can defend and counter attack. It may cede possession to some extent, but without Rodri our possession play is too open and vulnerable. Of course, KDB and Bernardo may feature, too. Bernie may/will start at Anfield instead of Savinho.

Only problem with that defence mate is that most are injured and will pick up injuries throughout the season.

It is what it is. This was always on the cards.

Pep needs time to sort it out.

At some point things will turn again in our favour.

As I said yesterday, you can’t now start blaming the players and coach after what they have achieved. Neither can do anything about age/injury.

The clubs plan seems to be to let this current group of players dwindle out until the new sporting director arrives allowing him to get the players needed.

It’s easy supporting a club that wins, now we see the emotional crackpots out in force when the team struggle.

Fuck knows what pep is going to do to try and fix it but he will I have no doubt.

 

[alexmcity]

Only problem with that defence mate is that most are injured and will pick up injuries throughout the season.

It is what it is. This was always on the cards.

Pep needs time to sort it out.

At some point things will turn again in our favour.

As I said yesterday, you can’t now start blaming the players and coach after what they have achieved. Neither can do anything about age/injury.

The clubs plan seems to be to let this current group of players dwindle out until the new sporting director arrives allowing him to get the players needed.

It’s easy supporting a club that wins, now we see the emotional crackpots out in force when the team struggle.

Fuck knows what pep is going to do to try and fix it but he will I have no doubt.

Under 'now' I mean 'now that Rodri is out for the season'. If, and it's a big if, all our defenders are fit, I'd go with Akanji (who unfortunately has played too many games in the last 2 years), Stones, Dias and Gvardiol. That's a really solid back 4 (on paper). But defence depends on high pressing too, we need legs in midfield (Nunes and Foden) and legs on the wings too, Doku and Savinho, with all of KDB, Bernie, Grealish and hopefully Bobb ready to help and run for the cause. Without a lot of running and intensity, we can't solve the Rodri problem.

 

[wolviedinho]

Under 'now' I mean 'now that Rodri is out for the season'. If, and it's a big if, all our defenders are fit, I'd go with Akanji (who unfortunately has played too many games in the last 2 years), Stones, Dias and Gvardiol. That's a really solid back 4 (on paper). But defence depends on high pressing too, we need legs in midfield (Nunes and Foden) and legs on the wings too, Doku and Savinho, with all of KDB, Bernie, Grealish and hopefully Bobb ready to help and run for the cause. Without a lot of running and intensity, we can't solve the Rodri problem.

It’s going to take the whole team awhile to adjust not having Rodri.

Pep has already tried Gundo/kova and kova/bernie in the middle. Letting Lewis have a free role is not working. Yes he recycles the ball well but we don’t have the ball enough anymore.

City camp out on the edge of the opponents box. We would squeeze teams and run them ragged until we scored 1/2/3 goals.

Fast forward to now and we camp out but lose the ball after 1/2 passes in the opposition half leaving the defenders scrambling back to no avail.

Sort out the lack of passing and composure in the box and the Rodri issue dosent seem such a big problem. Wingers who take a man on and lose possession is also another issue. Feel like we are stuck between 2 systems and it shows. So either go direct and fast leaving the defence to drop or go for full on ball retention players and hope the camped out approach works.

The team is evolving but what is it evolving into? The old sane/sterling model or the pass pass pass to death system.

Pep needs to decide.

 

[alexmcity]

So either go direct and fast leaving the defence to drop or go for full on ball retention players and hope the camped out approach works.

Pep tried the latter at Newcastle, wasn't pretty or even productive. Maybe he will try it at Anfield too. A draw there wouldn't be the end of the world. Won't be easy.

We can put in great performances without Rodri, as we have top players across the board, but what we are likely to lack is consistency. Which means that top 4 should be likely, but the title will be difficult to win.

Much depends on the rivals. Guess we can win about 85 pts without Rodri. If that's enough, then great :)

 

[Damanino]

too many player out of form or way below their best. Foden had his best ever season and now 5-6 months later he looks way worse.
Gundogan aged 10 years but was only away for one season.
we cannot rely on KDB anymore, even if he start finally 2-3 games you think there is another injury right around the corner for him keeping him out for another 6-8 weeks.
Rodri off.

thats our whole midfield almost.

Wingers and their end product especially goals, Ederson might end up with higher goal tally than our wingers wtf...

Txiki massacred our transfer window and not sure for what reason given the net spend balance. a young talented but nowhere near game changer Savinho and a very past it Gundogan. add in Alvarez gone without replacement thats arrogant imo. and we were looking at some obscure Japanese guy from Celtic. wtf is that.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Pep tried the latter at Newcastle, wasn't pretty or even productive. Maybe he will try it at Anfield too. A draw there wouldn't be the end of the world. Won't be easy.

We can put in great performances without Rodri, as we have top players across the board, but what we are likely to lack is consistency. Which means that top 4 should be likely, but the title will be difficult to win.

Much depends on the rivals. Guess we can win about 85 pts without Rodri. If that's enough, then great :)

That’s assuming all other players get and stay fit though.

That’s a big ask. Some of this lot spend more time out and than in. De Bruyne/Stones and Ake are becoming almost permanent sick notes.

We may be able to drag ourselves to the ent of the season without Rodri but we won’t without both Rodri and De Bruyne. The latter unlocks doors that the others don’t seem capable of.

We just have to find a way to beat or at least not lose to Brighton and then regroup. If I see any of these players who have been injured joining up with their international teams I will be livid.

 

[alexmcity]

That’s assuming all other players get and stay fit though.

That’s a big ask. Some of this lot spend more time out and than in. De Bruyne/Stones and Ake are becoming almost permanent sick notes.

We may be able to drag ourselves to the ent of the season without Rodri but we won’t without both Rodri and De Bruyne. The latter unlocks doors that the others don’t seem capable of.

We just have to find a way to beat or at least not lose to Brighton and then regroup. If I see any of these players who have been injured joining up with their international teams I will be livid.

I think/hope some of the younger players will step up.

If they don't, we may win around 80 pts. Pep's worst campaign, hist first, ended with 78 pts.

Guess the worst case scenario is 76 pts, which is highly likely to be enough for a top 4 finish, and the best case scenario is 86 pts, which may be enough for the title. I'd be surprised if we could win, say, 88 pts without Rodri even with the likes of Savinho, Lewis and Nunes exceeding expectations.

In 19/20 when we had aging players and many injuries we won 81 pts. Our tally this season won't be dramatically better or worse.

 

[Blu3m00n91]

Pep better be withdrawing players from the international break