United (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

[Jim Tolmie's Underpants]

Only just got back from the match, can anyone summarise this thread for me? Are we disappointed?

No, we're over the moon mate.

 

[city2]

Really? They've given a fucking good impression of being spineless the last few games. Not one player today showed any heart, any desire, any commitment. Not one.

Maybe you should start following the scousers see if they can cheer up.

 

[Matt Diablo]

Have we got a set piece coach?

Yeah he went with legoman

 

[Mon Autre]

He needs to pull his finger out and up his work rate. Today was shocking.

His work rate is the same as it always is, it's just he's playing in a failing team right now.

 

[ShedDweller]

Trying to think constructively I think the confidence is so badly shot in the defence that extreme measures are needed until reinforcements can be brought in... So how could we change the mood a bit with what we have now.

Half the problem is our slow predictability, so if nothing else, some change of structure might buy us time.

Thinking radically...

Goal Keeper - Ederson's skilset only works if we are controlling the possession. Ortega is a miles better 'basic' goalkeeper so I'd bring him in straight away. He'd be No 1 for the rest of the season for me.

Defence - I'd drop the entire defence apart from Dias, I'd play the EDS/U23 defence ( with Dias ). The should know each other and be full of running if nothing else.

Midfield - I'd play KDB out wide and be telling him to fire in as many diagonal passes as possible from just inside the half way line and try and connect with Haaland who is making runs but never recieves the ball. Kev can't be box to box any more, so let him use the ball (like we used to!).

I'd play Grealish/Gundo as a 10 up the middle supporting Haaland. (We could also look at bringing back Delap for this).

Kovatic/Stones should be in the conventional holding MF role.

Bernardo/Foden should be given the licence to play Kova and Grealish.

Doku or Savinho to fill the last MF spot but they need to be more direct.

Will this happen with Pep in charge... will it fuck...

 

[Cuban heels]

Pep has turned us into a walking football team

 

[Ethan23]

It's like accepting a relationship is over. Somewhat liberating. The hope is dead.

 

[awest]

Is it me or does any one else think Haaland will be gone he looks so miserable lately like he knows something is happening maybe it’s me but?

He sets the tone, body language all wrong. I'm 100% convinced Pep would rather set up without him and play the false 9. If Pep had the balls to do that against Villa you will see a completely different City.

 

[Bluearmy]

1. Definitely not sign Rodri cover it's just not needed.
2. Make sure the team only has 1 striker as Haaland scores goals.
3. Never under any circumstance sign a left back.

I'm assuming this was the strategy.

Its fuckin mind boggling

They must of had meetings following the Treble, setting the strategy moving forward. I’d love to know what was said in summer 23 and 24. It must be arrogance, what else is there…

 

[Palerider]

Spot on. I put a lot of this season's issues down to burnout. And, I wonder how 'mentally fatigued' Pep and his team must be from devising tactics and gameplans from all the fixtures over the past few years. Not easy.

Yep. The effort these players put in to win the League last year was phenomenal and quite frankly it seems to have wrecked them.

And Nunes, not Doku, should have been subbed.

I think both had made run after run in the game and surely that takes it's toll. Tired bodies make tired mistakes. For me, both should have been subbed off around the 60 minute mark. We started doing that keep the ball without going anywhere thing and the concentration levels drop. With 5 substitutes a game allowed we should be in a position to keep the energy levels high the whole game.