Liverpool flood into one on one attackin situations because of their style of play. They counter-press so Salah and Mane are one on one.
City are almost always attacking a massed defence so we don't get clear chances. However I think we need to upgrade Aguero and Silva now. They have been key parts of our attacking line-up since Mancini. David Silva is not the same player he was. Aguero is not sharp enough either. I am not certain about Aguero. I had my doubts a year or so ago and he kept on going. He gets goals, but I prefer City with electric forwards who can burst past a man into space. Sterling and Jesus are like that. I would play them.
We seem to be stuck between two stools at the moment. The squad has been refreshed in part but we still play the old players. we have to move on, and find out if the new players are good enough.
I totally agree about Liverpool’s style of play.
But I think it’s important to point out that the way we play - building up as a team and moving the defensive line gradually up the pitch in possession so that teams either press us and leave space, or drop back and we have the advantage of having better technical players in tight spaces.
There’s two ways this can fall down for us - if teams press us and we have no pace to run in behind, then we’re not nearly as effective. Missing Sané and Aguero losing a yard has really damaged us on this.
Bernado doesn’t have the pace to run in behind and Mahrez either can’t or won’t. Sterling is our only outlet with and pace and he invariably wants the ball to feet. For me, buying a winger / forward with really threatening pace is a must for us next season. Ironically enough, Sancho would be ideal.
The second thing is, by pushing up when we have possession, it’s absolutely essential that our front 6 press like mad men to win it back when we lose the ball. We’ve done that brilliantly in the past 2 seasons, and it’s a big reason we were so good.
This season, the intensity just isn’t there. Whether it’s will, fitness, age, or all 3, we’re not pressing with the same intensity. Gundogan simply cannot do it. Rodri simply cannot do it to the same degree as Ferna in that position. Dave hasn’t been able to do it with the same intensity. Nor has Bernado or DeBruyne.
By not pressing, it gives the opposition more time to pick out a long pass over the top, like they did for all 3 goals yesterday. The defence is vulnerable as it is, but playing that defence in a high line, with no pressure on the ball? It’s suicidal.
I understand your criticism of Dave, but if you look at the alternatives in that position this season - Bernado, DeBruyne, Gundogan, you’d have to say, Dave’s probably put in the best performances out of all of them. The former 2 have been in horrible form, and Gundogan has proven time and time again over 3 and a half years, he’s simply nowhere near good enough in that position.
I genuinely think this team needs a player in the middle of the park who has pace, can run all day, is hungry, will press the life out of teams, and can actually cause some damage when he has the ball. And Foden has all of those attributes.
Unfortunately, Pep doesn’t seem to trust him. I just really hope during the international break Pep takes stock and looks at what youth, pace and hunger has done for Chelsea. Fergurson’s teams were built on it. Liverpool have it.
Perhaps it’s not as important in Spain or Germany, but this season is starting to look more and more like Mancini and Pellegrini’s last seasons. A bit stale. Lacking spark. Injecting some youth and drive in to it could be our best way out.
