I agree it was a much better watch, precisely because we moved the ball forward much quicker, got Haaland involved, got Savinho running at defenders and playing early crosses. I didnt see Peps interview but surely he can't think the glacial sideways passes and moronic edge of box tiki taka is better than yesterday.
I really enjoyed the amount of times we just booted it to Haaland rather than try playing suicide ball around our own penalty area. I've never liked this even in previous seasons. I felt we only did it to time waste with the ball and save our players legs for other matches.
I see this as being symptomatic of our current issues. The run we've been on has severely dented our confidence & induces panic. We've always made the odd mistake, but we usually get up, dust ourselves down, regroup & do what City do, but much better. Due to our loss of form which has led to a loss of confidence, even supreme ballers like KDB panicked yesterday, booting the ball clear of immediate danger but straight to the opposition. This isn't the Pep or City way.
Losing one player who knitted together everything we do has caused this, & it's 100% on City that with the hundreds of millions we've banked through recent transfers, that we've neglected to provide competition & cover for our most important player, Rodri.
We are where we are, & rather than trying to play the same system but without Rodders, I'd rather we accept the squad we have fit & available, & return to a 4-3-3 with a flat back 4 & build from there until we find a solution to the Rodri sized hole we've got.
I'll say it again, as well as a return to a 4-3-3 flat back 4, I'd also consider Jack as Rodri's replacement for now. He has the physicality to tackle, get around the pitch & the ability to hold onto the ball & launch attacks from deep. I'd rather see Grealish deployed there than receiving the ball out wide, feigning a take on, but then just playing the ball back or sideways.
It's painful watching an aged Gundog getting bullied at CDM, & Kova not having the defensive nous nor physicality to recover from an upfield raid, leaving us cruelly exposed in defence. We've tried half the team in Rodder's position, & none have come close for varying reasons. I think it's beyond time we try Jack centrally, play with overlapping FB's & allow our most effective wingers to do what they do.
We can't continue to play to Rodri's strengths, without Rodri. We're seeing where this is getting us & we're no longer the sum of our parts.
