United (H) - Sun 2nd Oct, 14:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[asahartford1]

As with all our players, notwithstanding fitness issues, Pep starts Mahrez whenever he’s the right players for the system to be deployed to deal with the strengths & weaknesses of the opposition.
If Pep wants to keep the field very wide to stretch their defence, to create space, then there’s a good chance that Mahrez starts because we don’t have another player who can play tight on the line, receive incredibly difficult long balls with panache and keep possession the way he can.

He gets a lot of unfair grief on here for constantly controlling, holding up and then recycling the ball sideways or back, but he does that because that’s exactly what Pep wants him to do.
It keeps the oppositions defensive lines stretched wide and controls the tempo of the game, it creates space for us and stops us from getting dragged into a heater skelter game that’d suit their counter acting ambitions. And they can’t stand off him because he cuts in well and has a good left peg.

I think that there’s a fair chance that he will start, if he’s fully fit and looking good in training, because, in my pretty damn clueless opinion, Mahrez is exactly the type of player that they’ll struggle to deal with.

A very good summation of how Pep thinks in contrast to what some posters crave.
In the past I would say definitely, this season it be be less certain.

 

[Tangled up in blue.]

This is a derby and form goes out of the window. United have beaten us many times at the Etihad in recent years even when they're not playing well.
It would be naive to think we'll just turn up and pick up the three points.
And I feel very uncomfortable every time i read some posters on here predicting 3-0, 4-0 or even 5-0. Seems like these people never learn their lesson.

I'll be happy with a 1-0 and 3 points

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

Well, Adrian Holmes is the VAR assistant on Sunday. He’s been a linesman in 30+ premier league games.

To be a linesman, you need to be a qualified referee, therefore he understands the laws of the game.

He’s gaining experience all the time is highly unlikely to be involved on Sunday.

He isnt a ref, simples. Never has reffed a PL game, hasnt got any experience of refereeing a PL game... Doesnt understand the high pressure as much, (because he hasnt reffed a PL game) doesnt get the death threats that PL refs under the spotlight get, (because he hasnt been a PL ref).

"He's been a linesman therefore knows the rules"... Whatever - He doesn't know what it feels like to come up with a decisions on the field with the spotlight on him and the VAR team giving him shit decisions. (Because he's never done it). Just that understanding would promote better decision making. Seems basic to me. We all get that sort of cross training.

Referees with experience should be in the VAR room. Accepting anything less is just amateurish shit. And what we're getting is amateurish.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

He isnt a ref, simples. Never has reffed a PL game, hasnt got any experience of refereeing a PL game... Doesnt understand the high pressure as much, (because he hasnt reffed a PL game) doesnt get the death threats that PL refs under the spotlight get, (because he hasnt been a PL ref).

"He's been a linesman therefore knows the rules"... Whatever - He doesn't know what it feels like to come up with a decisions on the field with the spotlight on him and the VAR team giving him shit decisions. (Because he's never done it). Just that understanding would promote better decision making. Seems basic to me. We all get that sort of cross training.

Referees with experience should be in the VAR room. Accepting anything less is just amateurish shit. And what we're getting is amateurish.

How do referees gain experience? When the current lot go, who takes over? None will have the experience you require.

All assistant referees are qualified referees. All. Of. Them.

Why are you even bleating on about assistant VAR officials?

How many death threats do they need to qualify? What kind of criteria is that?!

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

What kind of criteria is that?!

Criterion. Sorry, AHT, feeling pedantic this evening.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Criterion. Sorry, AHT, feeling pedantic this evening.

Second declension neuter.

Fair point, well made.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

How do referees gain experience? When the current lot go, who takes over? None will have the experience you require.

All assistant referees are qualified referees. All. Of. Them.

Why are you even bleating on about assistant VAR officials?

How many death threats do they need to qualify? What kind of criteria is that?!

VAR team should be experienced refs. That VAR room should be full of ex PL refs who have actually experienced the matchday on the field. That is basic.

It should NEVER be people who are "learning"! Not at this level. Basic entry point for any VAR "Assistant" should be having experienced refereeing on matchday on the field.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

VAR team should be experienced refs. That VAR room should be full of ex PL refs who have actually experienced the matchday on the field. That is basic.

It should NEVER be people who are "learning"! Not at this level. Basic entry point for any VAR "Assistant" should be having experienced refereeing on matchday on the field.

A nonsensical argument given they do have match day experience.

Can they fake their own death threats, or do they need to be verified by the police?

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

A propos of nothing (but there's no thread for it and no reason to start one). Just looking back at the 2013-14 team, and re-watched, for the umpteenth time, the epic win against Hull.
Now I loved that team. I loved watching it, and at the time, I said several times as I was walking out of the stadium that I'd never seen better football from City.
It's not easy for me to admit this…
But actually, going through it, man for man, there are almost no areas on the pitch where this current team isn't palpably superior. By some distance. A fully fit Vin would definitely get into this team. Zab would be pushing. He'd definitely be a squad player. But actually, although Fern was very, very good that season, I don't at all see that he'd be a shoo-in over Rodri, and the only area of the field where I will accept that that team rivals this one, and is just possibly, better — just possibly — is that midfield of the Spanish wizard; Touré, who had a final, glorious season; and Nasri, who excelled that year.
Yes of course, Kun was wonderful. But we've got Haaland now. Prime Kun would be alternated with Haaland, but he wouldn't keep him out match after match.
Back on thread? I'm going through acrobatics to get up to Manchester and back down south for the game. The railway companies are in fucking chaos. Smash this lot for me, blues.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

A nonsensical argument given they do have match day experience.

Can they fake their own death threats, or do they need to be verified by the police?

Nonsensical? LOL




What is nonsensical is you're actually advocating that the VAR team dont need experience. Crazy talk when we're getting the shitshow they serve us.