Just an excuse and same goes with the injuries to a degree , we often had no fit striker during our last 2 title wins.Looking for a marked improvement over these next 6 games.
I dont get why some are going on about pre-season as being the issue. We are in the same boat as all the other teams, yes we played the CL but that was short lived anyway
My biggest concern is that our form so far is looking an exact carbon copy of last season...something i thought would not happenJust an excuse and same goes with the injuries to a degree , we often had no fit striker during our last 2 title wins.
Its who is injured and for how long that matters more.
We are just off the boil this season with no intensity and self belief combined with Pep well below his best as well and we are just a mid table side.
More so I think our lack of getting in real quality and players of the mentality of Vigil for example has long caught up with us.
The squad is just not good enough anymore , we need at least LB , a DM / CDM and a striker all better than we have in those positions now.
I hope we can get our mojo back but I doubt it.My biggest concern is that our form so far is looking an exact carbon copy of last season...something i thought would not happen
Myself and others sugar coated it saying it was down to 2 huge seasons going all the way for b2b titles, but it looks as though nothing has changed in that respect. The team look disjointed, there is a serious lack of pressing & intensity going on (amongst other issues) and both were evident last season
The teams who are top or around top 4 places have played friendlies along with playing their opening day fixtures.Looking for a marked improvement over these next 6 games.
I dont get why some are going on about pre-season as being the issue. We are in the same boat as all the other teams, yes we played the CL but that was short lived anyway
Thats true Ray but the players werent exactly taking a holiday they were still keeping fit....my concern is that our form and performance levels are looking similar to last seasonThe teams who are top or around top 4 places have played friendlies along with playing their opening day fixtures.
Still need that time on the training ground as a group.Thats true Ray but the players werent exactly taking a holiday they were still keeping fit....my concern is that our form and performance levels are looking similar to last season
Thats my worry
Your not getting paid £20m per year to worry, just chill out what will be will be.Thats true Ray but the players werent exactly taking a holiday they were still keeping fit....my concern is that our form and performance levels are looking similar to last season
Thats my worry
Look at the teams who were in the latter stages of the Champions League.This has nothing to do with us not having a pre season. It is all to do that most managers have so cottoned on to Pep's idea's. However Pep has not a clue how to change his tactics and help his team. The team will need Pep to come up with new ideas by the time we play our next home game against Arsenal. My guess is that Pep has no idea how to come up with new ideas to help the team improve the team.
Exactly. You can figure that out in our defeats. Before we used to lose by a margin of 1 or 2 but would have created major chances. The number of chances being created are decreasing so is the possession. The counter is still killing us and we are not able to penetrate the box that often. Ex- The fluke mahrez goal at Leicester or the solo effort of Sterling at LeedsThe problem is 2 fold.
1. Pep is carrying the same tactic book around for 10 years now. Didnt really need to update it because (by and large) that shit worked.
2. Other teams have taken those tactics and played (metaphorically) with them. Absorbed what they could and cast off what they couldn't. A new breed of tactics has now emerged. Superseding peps originals.
Basically, Evolution happened!! Either evolve or perish!!!
I think on the contrary, the problem isn't that pep isn't re-inventing himself, the problem is that he's changing too much. We're not doing the same things we used to do - we got beaten for possession vs leeds! We're not keeping the ball, and when we lose it we don't press for it back. Severely less tactical fouls when we do lose the ball and can't get it back. And on the attacking front it looks like a collection of individuals with almost no understanding of what they are supposed to do as a collective to create chances.
Not even mentioning the absolutely diabolical finishing.
I don't understand this.
Either Pep doesn't change or he's changing too much!
I think he's well aware that other managers have prepped there teams to play a certain way against us, so yes, change IS good!
It's early and there are slight fitness issues that will come in a few games. I would wait until game 10, before we see what's what with the team.I think his point has some merit.
Ultimately it's not that his original tactics don't work any more and we need to change, it's just that we aren't doing them any more and need to get back to playing that way. He has changed too much, rather than too little. Inverted FBs and classic wingers out and replaced by inverted wingers and overlapping FBs. The cohesive press has gone and been replaced by an infrequent press by individuals. Instead of constant keep ball waiting for the right opportunity, we're trying to forcing the opening more. Against Leeds we played a deeper defensive line than usual etc.
Perhaps it's instructions, perhaps it's fitness but we can't say that those tactics no longer work when we aren't even implementing them.
.
ThisI think his point has some merit.
Ultimately it's not that his original tactics don't work any more and we need to change, it's just that we aren't doing them any more and need to get back to playing that way. He has changed too much, rather than too little. Inverted FBs and classic wingers out and replaced by inverted wingers and overlapping FBs. The cohesive press has gone and been replaced by an infrequent press by individuals. Instead of constant keep ball waiting for the right opportunity, we're trying to forcing the opening more. Against Leeds we played a deeper defensive line than usual etc.
Perhaps it's instructions, perhaps it's fitness but we can't say that those tactics no longer work when we aren't even implementing them.
.