Why Are We So Much Better Than Last Year?

[SebastianBlue]

 

[Tanzeylee]

Because I’ve got new lucky underpants, obvs really

 

[Aytoun]

Getting shut of kola the klown opens up many, many options. Shame it was not done years ago.

 

[KDBtojesus]

Getting used to the system and knowing what pep wants

 

[foggy1974]

for me its the improvement of Stones, and De Bruynes defensive improvement, last season in the big games he was letting runners go past him. Think that was one of the reasons he played Navas at right back. Kevin is now so pro-active, just look at the fourth against Stoke. Everyone goes on about the pass, just look at the closing down and tackle be fore the pass

 

[Sir peace frog]

the op asks the question "why are we better than last season"

put this into YouTube ,unless there's a whiz kid who can put the video up,

The Most Tactical Game Of The Season | Manchester City-Napoli Tactical Analysis

it takes time to perfect what pep asks of the team,we are getting there though.

 

[Davro]

At first blush, it's our signings.
New goalie - Ederson
Two new backs, and backup - Walker, Mendy, Danilo
Another quality attacking midfielder/winger - B. Silva
==========
Yet...
Mendy is injured.
Danilo doesn't play that often.
B. Silva doesn't play that often and has not adapted to the P/L yet.
===========
So why are we so much better? It can't be just down to new signings as 3/5 of them don't start regularly.

I think it's down to a combination of factors.
1) Delph has filled in at LB far better than could be expected, a major upgrade over Clichy/Kolarov (Kolo better going forward but cannot press as Pep would like and due to lack of pace is often a liability on defense);
2) Ederson is so much better than an out-of-form Bravo offering excellent shot stopping skills, better distribution and confidence/command at the back;
3) Improvement of players under Pep - Stones and Sterling are vastly improved this year;
4) System buy-in - our players now buy into Pep's system more than they did last year, pressing much better than last year (Sane and Aguero in particular are now pressing much more aggressively);
5) Our squad rotation is much better - gone are Fernando, Navas, Nolito, Clichy, Zabbaleta and Kolarov; in their place are Gundogan, B. Silva, Danilo. It seems to me that our rotation isn't as deep but it's of far higher quality and consists of players that much better fit Pep's system.

What do you think?

Suggest point 5 above all else.
That massive summer 'shakeout' of players has left a smaller squad on the training pitch so each individual gets more coaching and also a stronger comradery develops.

 

[TheBlueDune]

Would like to think that Pep has replaced the clear weaknesses (RB, LB, CH,....) with newer and better players (Walker especially) and improved last year's weak players (Raheem, Leroy, Stones, Otter,....) by seeing their weaknesses and getting the coaches to work on them under his overall game planning.
The likes of Fern, KDB, Silva, Jesus, Sergio,... end up with the other half of the team being capable of doing their part and more besides.
Ederson, enough said.
And Delphinio stepping up at LB is that little 1% between almost and success.
But with half a dozen waiting in the wings to play their part in December January February March things looking pretty damn good.

 

[B\connellblue]

Because pep has got his finger out and the players have followed suit. We are still starting the same players for the most part, with the exception of the goalkeeping and right back positions. The goalkeeping fiasco was peps own doing at least we have an exceptional one now. For me the real difference is the speed that we are moving the ball. That is key and as long as we keep doing that we will keep winning. If there is a problem it's the left side where sane is not helping delph an awful lot, even Sunday we were so open there , luckily arsenal weren't. Able to exploit it.

 

[Carver]

1. Pep worked out how to overcome the bus parkers- which is by keeping the opposition guessing. Big example is KDB vs Arsenal, they expected a pass into ‘the pocket’, he took a step to the side and shot for a change. Previously they would go for what had been working and stuck at it, Pep Pellers n Bobby were all the same. Now, each attack can be totally different.

2. We are winning the ball back quicker in all games except arsenal as they were knackered from midweek. We aren’t diving in and giving fouls away.

3. If you fuck up in defence you’ve got a goalie that is full of confidence behind you. This in turn gives you confidence.

4. When it gets to 60-70 mins and Pep is bringing a striker off, he’s usually making a positive substitution (he’s not bringing fernando on to shore the defence up to hold on for a win- except for bringing Yaya on to control game once) This has led to more goals near the end, particularly with the opposition trying to get back into the game. This has led to the next side absolutely crapping it and being beaten before they play us- psychological warfare.

To help achieve this we have players that can slot into one or more role comfortably.