United (A) - Sat 14th Jan, 12:30 | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction

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supercity88 said:
He'll leave! We will want to keep him, but he's always said once the players stop listening he knows it's time to go. And this season it looks like they have. In my opinion, he was "okay" with Sterling, Gabby and Zin all leaving because he knew mentality was crucial this season with a 3rd title in the row on the cards. Everyone had to be fully committed. We couldn't afford to have any drop in mentality. Unfortunately, with the World Cup some will have had an eye on that. That's done now, and I can count on one hand how many look arsed about fighting for the shirt. That's something we've not seen under Pep. Walker and Cancelo hooked at HT against Chelsea. Foden and Bernardo pulled off. He seems to be making a point that the attitude from these former starters isn't there in comparison to previous fringe players.

Lewis is getting so much game time partly because of performances but also because he wants to win. We need more of that. Stones, Rodri, Ake and then arguably Laporte are the only ones I'm seeing that from.
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I don’t think he will leave. Those behind the scenes at the club will see the changes in players attitudes. The only problem is how many need to be shown the door and getting their replacements spot on. Not all the players have downed tools but enough to see us play total crap football.
 
John Wayne said:
Cheers mate, I feel better after reading that.

The reality is that the League Cup is the lowest priority for the club and, like the FA Cup, if it comes at a time when big CL and PL fixtures collide, it will be devalued. I remember coming back from Atletico last April, we all knew we'd go weak in the FA Cup semi-final. With hindsight, can we say it was the wrong decision? We got over the line in the league.

City fans rightly like the traditions of the domestic cups, but unfortunately we live in a world whereby nobody outside of the finalists really cares who wins them. We know that they mean very little because Antonio Conte and Louis Van Gaal were both sacked after winning the FA Cup.

Looking at our very difficult next five weeks, I think two additional games against a very physical and motivated Newcastle would have added a big strain on the squad. So whilst I'm not happy with how we shaped last night, some good might come from it. It will be a vastly different side that starts at Old Trafford and, I believe, one that will be wounded by events last night.
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Yes, those 2,possible 3 less games may become a blessing in disguise.
 
butlerkb said:
Just frustrating that if we did have one eye on the derby, the players picked for this game should be up for it,having a chance to impress, put the club in the semis of the cup and proving they are trustworthy if needed.Most looked scared in possession or casual and slow with the ball.Missed a chance to promote themselves, should have run themselves ragged , not swan around like they were too good for Southampton.I’m sure our “first team” will be up for the rags
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I agree, and Pep will be furious at certain players not accepting the challenge. Just piss poor performance throughout the team. Riot act read, now kill the Rag filth !
 
wolviedinho said:
I don’t think he will leave. Those behind the scenes at the club will see the changes in players attitudes. The only problem is how many need to be shown the door and getting their replacements spot on. Not all the players have downed tools but enough to see us play total crap football.
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I don't either in truth. We rotated for Chelsea and the performance was good, albeit they're clearly absolutely dross at the minute.

Stones, Ake, Rodri and Laporte are probably the only ones showing any fight. I'd say Grealish wants to win, he's doing his best but that's putting to one side his overall effectiveness. Bernardo looked better in his performance against Chelsea too. But we need a lot more.

Last night Pep used the game to get minutes in legs. He said beforehand he wanted every player to be in a similar shape, ahead of a very busy run. It was the game to make that experiment in, one that we didn't want to lose, didn't expect to lose but could (if we had to lose one).

It's not all doom and gloom. That result and performance is the catalyst for what has been a very inconsistent season. But despite that, it's the first competition we're out of despite playing Liverpool and Chelsea in previous rounds. If it works how Pep intended we'll kick on now and be top of the league by next weekend. If we play well in the next three and win all of them, it will soon be forgotten. Not many will credit Pep in using the league cup to get us into a position to be better in the more important competitions! Or perhaps we'll continue to be up and down this season and win nowt. But we have the tools and manager to quickly address that in the summer.
 
supercity88 said:
I don't either in truth. We rotated for Chelsea and the performance was good, albeit they're clearly absolutely dross at the minute.

Stones, Ake, Rodri and Laporte are probably the only ones showing any fight. I'd say Grealish wants to win, he's doing his best but that's putting to one side his overall effectiveness. Bernardo looked better in his performance against Chelsea too. But we need a lot more.

Last night Pep used the game to get minutes in legs. He said beforehand he wanted every player to be in a similar shape, ahead of a very busy run. It was the game to make that experiment in, one that we didn't want to lose, didn't expect to lose but could (if we had to lose one).

It's not all doom and gloom. That result and performance is the catalyst for what has been a very inconsistent season. But despite that, it's the first competition we're out of despite playing Liverpool and Chelsea in previous rounds. If it works how Pep intended we'll kick on now and be top of the league by next weekend. If we play well in the next three and win all of them, it will soon be forgotten. Not many will credit Pep in using the league cup to get us into a position to be better in the more important competitions! Or perhaps we'll continue to be up and down this season and win nowt. But we have the tools and manager to quickly address that in the summer.
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Spot on mate. Riot gear assembled if we do continue to struggle. Pep won’t go down without a fight.
 
The Light Was Yellow Sir said:
Whilst I’m no doubt envious of all the posters on here for whom life seemingly has no down side and every day is one brilliant success after another, with no bad days whatsoever, I really struggle to understand the negativity about this man and this proven group of players. Last night they lost their THIRD game of the season, out of 27 games played thus far. There’s more than a whiff of entitlement on here, the thing above all else, the rags and others are relentlessly criticised for..

Personally, I think getting challenged and coming through it, or not, is what sport is all about. Seeing this group challenged is something we see almost every season and they usually not only rise to that challenge but find a way to overcome it.

I also think that, whilst the idea of P38 W38 GF 114 GA 19 PTS 114 sounds brilliant, it’d soon get pretty tiresome.

Finally, if he were to play the team any of you have ’picked’ and they lose, you’ll no doubt be back on here telling us all how shit he/they are!
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Its not entitlement, no one expects us to win every game, and I dont mind if we lose as long as we put effort in,and show a bit of passion, no effort or passion was on display last night
 
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