Why has this season been difficult?

[Citizen of Legoland]

Indeed they can, but not with the consistency that they have visited MCFC. And it is not just 'bad' decisions but decisions that cost points. Tottenham away - we had that game by the throat and they get TWO fuckin' lifelines to nick the game. Tottenham home - the most disgraceful decision you will probably find in the PL this season gifts Spurs the leg-up most often reserved for MANUre. Everton at home - the most blatant penalty in the PL this side of any of the last two thousand Christmases goin' beggin'. That's eight points in just three games that I don't recall the 'swings and roundabouts' method of awarding points ever repaying in any games I've watched.

I don't disagree that we have been unfortunate more than others. It's frustrating. However we are playing dismal football just like last year, and even adding on those points would leave us underperforming with the financial backing and resources we have.

I hope that the club have a plan in mind and that Pep has the magic touch, because I think he'll need it.

 

[meltonblue]

Injuries, tactical mistakes, an unbalanced squad with not enough goal scorers in it, an ageing squad in places that is at the end of its natural cycle and a director of football (and manager) that haven't realised the difference in players required in the premier league compared to La Liga.

 

[City_Sean]

Injures and also the fact that teams have closed the gap.

 

[Bozzie]

I think the signs were there last season when it was only a last gasp run of form that moved us into second spot and this seasons disappointment is the culmination of some poor planning off the field, some poor management, some poor play and some abysmal bad luck with injuries. We're still pretty much reliant on the same core players that won us the league in 2012 and 2014 - Hart, Kompany, Toure, Silva, Nasri and Aguero are still the spine of our team (I'd add KDB to that list) and, with the exception of Hart, they've all been injured at some point this season. For a club with such financial resources we've spent poorly and our 'squad players' have not been good enough to cope with the loss of our stars. We've never replaced players like Barry, De Jong, Dzeko and Lescott with players of comparable quality, nor have we improved the full-backs which was crazy. This seasons additions, Sterling, KDB and Delph I believe will come good but due to circumstance we haven't seen anything like the best of them, Fernandinho has been excellent, most of the others have been average at best. Lord knows how much we've spent on centre halves and yes, hopefully at least one if not both, will eventually prove their worth but that will be too late for this season. Add into the mix Pellegrini's determination to play the same players, in the same style, regardless of the opposition and we've become a very predictable team to play against.

 

[Goater=Legend]

The key moment imo happened early season, when we were looking pretty much invincible & got a fortunate lead v Juve.

Instead of shutting up shop, & tearing them a new arsehole on the break, the OC just plodded on with the same tactic, half pressing, half standing still, & they got in behind us twice with Otamendi showing up as a rank average centre back with no reactions or pace.

All the feeling of invincibility disappeared & it was evident that once again, we weren't anything special after all. Then he proceeded to run KDB, who was in amazing form when he arrived, into the ground, playing him over & over, without rest ,in new circumstances, as he has no management skills & was relying on DeBruyne to prevent us from losing/ drawing most games.

DeBruyne lost form, we picked up injuries, all the optimism & inspiration from early season, disappeared & we needed leadership.

Pretty much this. We can blame injuries all we want, but he's ran a lot of the players into the ground the first half of the season, like when Zab was injured and he kept playing Sagna every game even away at Sunderland in the cup.

 

[Hamann Pineapple]

Every club has massive transfer funds now, if they buy well they compete. Our lowest placed clubs are competing with Italy's best for players. Gone are the days of one team running away with this league.

 

[We're not really here]

Poor management.
Poor treatment of injuries.
Poor preparation to avoid injuries.
Poor coaching (who does the fucking set pieces?)
Poor signings over the past two years.
An aging squad.

 

[jus moochin]

Totally agree and I'd also add piss poor game management and substitutions....

 

[BerkshireBlue]

agree with most posters on here.

Ref,
injuries,
poor coaching

and I'd throw in the left back and right back issue that hasn't been solved for 3 years as a major issue as well. You need top full backs to break down teams and we don't even have one.

 

[taleofbluehalves]

Think VK's absence has made a huge difference

We'd won 5 without conceding hardly a chance, beating Juve then Kompany got injured. It all slipped from there and we lost that game.

After that sloppy defensive play, injuries, slow tempo, a lack of options up top, bizarre team selections. On 2013-14 we'd start games on fire this season we've rarely got going until the 2nd half.

For me though Kompany's absence has led to the biggest problem. He's a leader, drives the team organises the defence. Shadow of the team without him.
The elephant in the room is the failure to sign a quality midfielder. Maybe we were waiting for Pogba. Who knows but we've be awfully exposed there.