I'm pissed off that we lost and the way we lost but it's over now and we have to look forward not back
Out hustled everywhere on the park, except between the sticks! Thank goodness for Gigi, Rodri & Khus of that could easily have been worse than the Sick Swan!
We look like we are LITERALLY devoid of any attacking threat at the moment, and some of that is the fact that we have such a lightweight midfield with Lewis, Bernardo, Foden & Doku playing as a 4 ahead of Rodri.
Hard to know where we go from here, because Pep and the team look bereft of confidence, and the early nerves and scares at OT didn’t help.
It’s weird. We can look like world beaters given an inch of space, but when a team puts it up us, we are constantly backpedaling to find the open CB or Gigi.
If we are going to play a back three, we need someone to sit in alongside Rodri…and that can’t be Bernardo or Rico. Hugo needs to get on the blower to Forest and do his magic because it’s clear to every team, every pundit, every commentator and every fan that we are completely wide open at the back ANY TIME we are camped inside the opposition 30.
I’m all for having an attacking 5, and even a 6th as long as they have recovery pace, but the kamikaze tactics of having the right back crowding out your #10 on the edge of the box, then watching him give up on their break, is a bit galling.
Pep loves his “squad” of 16, but it’s killing us! We need 19 or 20 “first team players” because injuries have killed us for the second season straight, and much as I love seeing an Academy player get on the field, I’d prefer it be to play out a comfortable win, rather than come on to give a rest to Tuesday night starters by saying you have given up the game!
I’m sure the media will have a field day and I’m sure Carrick will be crowned the Second Coming of Baconface, while City will be deemed to have given up the title. Excellent journalism, I’m sure!
Pep & Pep need to get their head around who the Back Four will be (Nunes Khus Guehi NOR) for the next month or so, with Alleyne, Ait Nouri and Ake filling in only as needed. From there, we need to solidify the midfield by playing a double DM at times, sacrificing an attacker.
At present, the 3 and 1 look like Semenyo Cherki & Doku, with Haaland up top…or Foden as a false nine breaking out of the pack.
Gigi - 9
Lewis - 2
Khusanov - 7
Alleyne - 3
Ake - 4
Rodri - 8
Semenyo - 5
Bernardo - 6
Foden - 3
Doku - 6
Haaland - 3
O’Reilly - 4
Cherki - 7
Air Nouri - 3
Reijnders - 4
Mukasa - 3
Pep more or less saying the same as us but without the emotion we feel after a derby defeat. He has to remain level headed, he's the boss. He knows we are in the middle of a rebuild so there will be ups and downs while its happening. Obviously injuries played a big part in today's result too.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports: "The better team won. They were better. When a team is better you have to accept it. They had the energy we didn't have, so congratulations.
"They had the chances at the end and of course the goals we conceded were poorly. We didn't control but in general we can talk about this action or that action. We have the duty to analyse the game in general and they were better."
On the impact from the crowd: "They started really strong, we lost one or two balls. The crowd is normal, because it is a derby. In many years they have been behind them and also with the new manager it is normal these kind of things in the game.
"We never made a threat or a cross or a movement to try and win that. It is also part of the energy, win or lose it is about what we do with the ball as well, not just without.
"It is not about one player."
The late changes - including taking Haaland off - was that to save legs? "Part of that yes. We had new energy. At the end it is a question of how many moments you have."
On should Diogo Dalot have been sent off: "You could say that, you could say that red card, different game. Many, many situations happen. It is easy for me to come here and say it should be a red card. It is not about that, we will not grow up if that is the argument to win or lose a game. To do you have to do better and we didn't today."
On gap to Arsenal: "It is about how we grow up as a team. I have the feeling we have done very good things so far. To be better you may have to take a step back. The season is a long way and you have to continue to analyse."
We lost because our midfield gets overran and we play a suicide high line.. any counter team we always struggle. Anyone can see that it seems but pep. If we had 4 khuso type players with pace sure… but Lewis and ake no shot..
Haha so true.How anybody can think playing the highest line in the world with 2 kids, a little girl and Stephen Hawkins was a good idea is mindblowing.
Dias, Gvardiol, and Stones were injured. Nunes was ill. I didn't understand why Ake was at left back instead of NOR but we didn't have many options.
one poor free kick come off it mate.Yeah, that free kick to open up the game was great. Too bad it was for the wrong team.
That 3 for Haaland is vey very generous
Try and not let it ruin your weekend mateRuined my entire weekend.
Pep's weakness for Lewis is shameful at this point. Lovely lad, but not the required standard. If our manager sees otherwise, it's massively concerning. We had an international level full back on the bench, play him.
Phil is pissing his career away. One step forward, two steps back. It's been this way for a while. He won't be anywhere near that England starting 11 in the summer.
Haaland, what in the name of fuck has happened to him? He just looks uninterested.
Khusa and Alleyne looked good enough, there's a colossus in Khusa but he needs more experience and better players around him.
Rodri was pulling strings but had a bigger burden than Atlas, completely alone. Still not 100%.
Semenyo and Doku were poor. Both opposition fullbacks were cautioned from the tenth minute; use your fucking heads, lads.
Cherki was poor but he's our future. Wouldn't kill to see him start a game.
Donna. Immense. Best keeper in the league and he's owed ten drinks.
We're still a good distance from challenging, in my opinion. Pep isn't going to change his ways, he strives for perfection but so many variables need to fall in place for that to work; we won't see a Centurions level team again. So the question to ask is does he have the energy or time to build another league winning team, nevermind a dynasty? I don't think he does, not anymore.
Pep more or less saying the same as us but without the emotion we feel after a derby defeat. He has to remain level headed, he's the boss. He knows we are in the middle of a rebuild so there will be ups and downs while its happening. Obviously injuries played a big part in today's result too.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports: "The better team won. They were better. When a team is better you have to accept it. They had the energy we didn't have, so congratulations.
"They had the chances at the end and of course the goals we conceded were poorly. We didn't control but in general we can talk about this action or that action. We have the duty to analyse the game in general and they were better."
On the impact from the crowd: "They started really strong, we lost one or two balls. The crowd is normal, because it is a derby. In many years they have been behind them and also with the new manager it is normal these kind of things in the game.
"We never made a threat or a cross or a movement to try and win that. It is also part of the energy, win or lose it is about what we do with the ball as well, not just without.
"It is not about one player."
The late changes - including taking Haaland off - was that to save legs? "Part of that yes. We had new energy. At the end it is a question of how many moments you have."
On should Diogo Dalot have been sent off: "You could say that, you could say that red card, different game. Many, many situations happen. It is easy for me to come here and say it should be a red card. It is not about that, we will not grow up if that is the argument to win or lose a game. To do you have to do better and we didn't today."
On gap to Arsenal: "It is about how we grow up as a team. I have the feeling we have done very good things so far. To be better you may have to take a step back. The season is a long way and you have to continue to analyse."
We used to go there a grip the midfield, now we are outnumbered and overranWe lost because our midfield gets overran and we play a suicide high line.. any counter team we always struggle. Anyone can see that it seems but pep. If we had 4 khuso type players with pace sure… but Lewis and ake no shot..
I'm pissed off that we lost and the way we lost but it's over now and we have to look forward not back
But what if they carry on playing like that and twatting us every time we play them?Hopefully that performance gets Carrick the job ;P
Can only admire your hope and enthusiasm