True. The front 3 are having to show for the ball before we even get near the penalty area. By the time Kev gets it in a promising position there’s no one there...not until they got in the box in the last ten minutes.He relys on movement. Not his fault the front three are statues at the moment.
If we stretch the play we get into the box more often and more possibilities of penalties accrue.We don't get penalties as we never try penetrating runs into the box we fanny around with it on the half way line. We never pressure a player that has been booked and every time we get a 5 on 3 break we end up passing back to the halfway line or if we are lucky we win a corner. Sorry dudes you know all this, just needed to vent. Going away to breathe slowly.
Great summary. Add a total reluctance for the management to change it and we have the full pictureThere were two passages of play which illustrated perfectly our problems.
Sterling fed the ball inside the fullback to Mendy, yet instead of crossing he pulled it back to De Bruyne, on the edge of the box, who then tried to recycle it (got intercepted) to the other flank, to a player in a worse position to cross the ball than Mendy was in initially.
We play with such a lack of intensity and desire to hurt sides, with the constant recycling of the ball from side to side its almost robotic now. There is so little fantasy in the side or Individuality of play to try something different.
The one time we had the overload KDB swept the ball out to Foden, who, by virtue of being on the wrong side, then had to cut inside resulting in the shot being blocked and the chance having gone.
In our pomp (2017/18) Silva and KDB would find the pockets of space, created by the wingers playing on the touchlines and so making the pitch big, play the pass inside the fullbacks and the winger then cross to Aguero or the opposite winger for a tap in. Alternatively if the play was condensed in the central areas, an overload out wide would result in a Sane ir Sterling shooting with their favoured foots. See sane goal v Liverpool 2-1 home win
Now the wingers Mahrez/Sterling by playing opposite flanks want the ball to their feet to cut inside as they do not feel comfortable running behind only to receive the ball on their weaker foot which they would have to cross with.
Consequently they do not run behind the fullbacks, the midfielders rarely have a forward pass and the opposition, retreats to the 18 yard box, where finally the wingers will receive the ball, but have the whole defence in front of them. Result the issue is perpetuated and the ball starts to get recycled infield once again.
We completely lose the advantage of the counter attack, and the wingers, by cutting inside, remove the space for the attacking midfielders.
I always think you need to average 2 points/match to guarantee top 4, or 76 points. That means we need 56 more from 26. Thats 2.2 per match; we’re on 1.7 now. If we only lose twice more, we still need 16 wins and 8 draws. Certainly doable but I don’t think we’ve shown we have the ability to put up a record like that yet this season. And we’re nearly 100 pct fit, and I think Pep said no January signings. Could be a tough ask IMO.It was a shite game but to say "the leagues gone" when there are 26 games left and other teams are struggling... I'd f'ing quit on the pitch too if this is the support I got. Keep that sort of rubbish in the pram.
I don't think its fear. Its possibly just carrying out the manager's orders.Not working and it hasn't done all season. We became alarmingly like a one man team last season and now he's not performing we're toothless.
The whole team is gripped by fear. No confidence at all. Bernardo has got a bit of grief lately, but he's a symptom. There is no belief in them. Any of them
Something like that. Tonight game was asking for Foden - Gundo - KdB in our MF, Gundo was more than capable playing centrally and dictating the game from there, he was our best player tonight. Rodri was really poor, I like him as a player, but he's struggled tonight.Kev cant drop back to receive it either because we have gundo and rodri there so we’re fucked
Well the fear comes from him thenI don't think its fear. Its possibly just carrying out the manager's orders.
Looks like we have a bunch of wannabe managers on this forum and a bunch of folks who want a scapegoat. Mahrez, Mendy, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundo, Sterling are the usual ones, along with Pep, a man that has won us more trophies than anyone. If any of those chances that hit the goalies legs had gone in, the same people would be singing a different tune and Pep would be back to being the messiah. Just be constructive, stop whining and get behind your team. That’s what supporters are supposed to do.......support, or shut up.
Same, I really like Rodri but if we’re dropping Laporte for a mistake or two then rodri needs to be droppedSomething like that. Tonight game was asking for Foden - Gundo - KdB in our MF, Gundo was more than capable playing centrally and dictating the game from there, he was our best player tonight. Rodri was really poor, I like him as a player, but he's struggled tonight.
Okay lets all plug our ears and clap when we’re shit. Got itLooks like we have a bunch of wannabe managers on this forum and a bunch of folks who want a scapegoat. Mahrez, Mendy, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundo, Sterling are the usual ones, along with Pep, a man that has won us more trophies than anyone. If any of those chances that hit the goalies legs had gone in, the same people would be singing a different tune and Pep would be back to being the messiah. Just be constructive, stop whining and get behind your team. That’s what supporters are supposed to do.......support, or shut up.
I miss feeling like that before City games!God I miss feeling happy & buzzing after city games.
Never ever going to happen...If anything Gundogan will be dropped for having a good game and replaced with an injured Eric Garcia to play centre midfield alongside Rodri...Same, I really like Rodri but if we’re dropping Laporte for a mistake or two then rodri needs to be dropped