United (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

[Crypto lemming]

The collapse has been unexpected and has shocked us all.In my opinion Rodri is the main reason,he ran the show in midfield,he’s a leader and other players not only look upto him but knew their roles accordingly,the stats don’t lie.However we need to look at everything we have achieved under Pep,its been truly phenomenal,look at the records we broke in 2017/18.We’ve one the treble,the domestic treble and four in a row,every dynasty comes to an end.Lets hope that this isn’t the end,but come on we’ve lived the dream this last 15 years.We’re not a massive club like Utd,Liverpool and the London set and do you know what I’m so glad we’re not,we dared to dream and we did it,whatever they throw at us we did it.They can camouflage that we only did it because we cheated,anyone with any objective view knows that that is a load of bollocks,we won it on the pitch driven by a great manager.

 

[dom]

Big test for Pep. The game has moved on and just trying to recreate another version of this City will probably not work. Wenger tried that at Arsenal and he and they just went steadily downhill so it's certainly not easy for a 'great' to reinvent themselves and adapt their thinking to a blank sheet and start again. We will see.

Interestingly, Arsenal have three ex City players (Jesus, Sterling and Zinchenko) and all look to have regressed since leaving City. So maybe the way City play is just mentally and physically exhausting. Remember Rodri complaining about the number of games last year?

Maybe, as others have said, we need a much larger squad so that burn out is avoided. We have 16 players earning more than £100,000 a week with 9 earning more than £200,000 a week! Bournemouth, who could overtake us in the League tomorrow, have 1 player earning £150,000 and the rest less than £100,000! So maybe, now that we are pretty much established as a top team we could attract really good players on 'realistic' sustainable wages? For instance, Antonee Robinson, Fulhams left back is on £50,000! Brentford's Brian Mbeumo is on £50,000. Matheus Cunha of Wolves is on £50,000. Now of course they would expect more at City and transfer fees are needed but all tree are good enough to get into the City squad without paying elite level wages.

What about getting Tosin back from Chelsea as CB..not getting much game time there so may as well be back with his childhood club..City-supporting Chorlton lad ..at least he would fookin care

 

[Gumzy97]

It's not just Rodri and tbf any team would miss their best player; the best player in the world that is.

We've also had KDB out for nearly all of the season so far. He's clearly still not match fit.

We've also been without Foden, he's been injured or ill for the majority of it so far.

Many are also knackered after running themselves into the ground to achived the 4th title in a row, which has never been done before.

This was compounded by them hardly having a break between seasons and hardly no preseason.

They're knackered. And many can't be rested due to injuries to others.

We haven't had a settle back four all season. Stones and Ake can't stay fit. Dias is only just back from injury.

I just think many on here should see that context and give them a break rather than laying into them and calling them useless or worse.

Kevs finished , hurts to say that but that injury he's got is horrible, i didn't know what it was but looked up sports hernia, it's a nasty injury , how he can even play a little on the pitch is a miracle. Explains him not being in the team much this season

a chronic groin pain condition that affects athletes

" Sports hernias often cause immediate and severe pain in the lower abdomen and/or groin, especially during twisting movements. The pain may improve with rest but return when you resume activity.

A sports hernia won't heal on its own, but surgery may not be required. Because the injury doesn't involve herniation, it can sometimes heal with rest, physical therapy, and the use of anti-inflammatory medications. That's not always the case, though, and surgery may be necessary to fully resolve the injury."

 

[steviemc]

Whichever players he’s lost, get rid of.

How do you win 4 in a row and a treble and lose confidence in that? Turning on Ten Haag, sure, but Pep? Get out the fucking club then, Pep stays.

It's not just about the players that 'he's lost'. That's dressing room talk and could mean absolutely nothing. Players get older, become more injury prone etc. etc. It's about recruitment. You can have a winning side for a few years, but there comes a time when certain sales/purchases of players were bad moves. This isn't all on Pep, it's just the nature of the game. Pisscan, Mourinho, Klopp, Wenger et al can all vouch for that.

 

[stuart_kennedy_tache]

Been racking my brain trying to figure out what the fuck is going on with ithis City team right now. The past 4 transfer windows have been horrendous. Selling Julien Alvarez with no replacement, and then on top selling Liam Delap means Haaland has no competition for the striker role, and it shows. He looks totally lackadaisical and clumsy.

I have always said Kyle Walker, once he loses his speed, is a pretty average player. Sadly, that time has come. He should be made to give up the captain’s armband to Dias. De Bruyne is in his last season at the club also. Stones is made of glass, only fit for England games. If that’s his priority, he can piss off. Obviously Rodri’s presence in midfield was papering over cracks, which with his enforced absence are now huge chasms. Rico is, and never was, any good. Mind you I said the same for Cole Palmer, and look how accurate that turned out to be. Our best defenders are Dias and Ake, maybe Gvardiol. Akanji was also a safe pair but not this season

We really need to sign 6 top world class players in the next 2 transfer windows to get us competing for a top 4 place. We need altogether out of this season’s champions league asap and just concentrate on league games till end of season to maybe sneak into a champions league place in the league.

Sorry but this is a full-blown crisis.

 

[Palerider]

Interesting, but I've always thought that final 5% to get you from being a good team to winners is huge.

I reckon a good manager could get a decent team from any group of players in the league, but only having some of the top 5% players and them performing will win the league for you.

The problem with our small elite squad is the fact at least 3 of them are forever injured!
Ake, Stones, De Bruyne are not putting in a full season of appearances between them. That is a huge loss.

I agree. You probably need 3 or 4 elite level players backed up with high class teammates. However, high class players do not need to be on enormous wages which are only sustainable if matched with consistent success. Our wage bill is £213 Million for what is a small squad. That small squad has caused us problems and one solution would be to have one or two less elite players in return for 5 or 6 really good squad players on much less wages.

 

[ScottSinclair]

That's not the point. The point is that Bournemouth are competitive in the Premier League with many players earning an eighth of our top paid players. What I am saying is that we do not need every single squad player to be world class and on £200,000 a week plus. We can have a high class squad backed up with a backbone of worthy players. For instance Pablo Zabaleta was not world class but certainly did more than a good job for us.

I get your point but Zabaleta was the best right back in the league. Maybe not Cafu or Dani Alves but I think that makes him de facto world class. Prime Zabba walks into this team

 

[wolviedinho]

The buck stops with the players.

Each one to a man is playing fucking awful and need to get a grip.

How long can we use the fatigue or injuries or old line? I’m happy to do it but expect an end at some point.

Pep can maybe help by trying a new formation at least.

We need to bypass midfield. The players can’t build from the back and can’t get back quick enough to stop counters but then again why should he change approach because they can’t or won’t do what’s required?

Back to the players, players, players!!!
I would like them to discuss why they think it’s ok to play this badly for so long now?

No idea going forward, no real pattern of attack, set piece awful. Not pressing properly or stopping players running through midfield. No communication.

In short, yes we have problems, you are tired, injured and old but at some point you need to shake out of this rut. We all go through bad patches.

I will be patient but it’s starting to run thin I must admit. Grow a pair and sort it out. Stop hiding behind the manager.

 

[dom]

It was stupid, but players dive and feign injury all the time.

A player threw himself to the floor and got Rodri sent off last season but Walker has had more abuse on here tonight than him.

It still sucks and would be laughed out of court in many other sports

 

[Brendan110_0]

Having a pop at the right back is City tradition.