LVG dealt with as bad if not a worse injury crisis last season and nobody made excuses for him. Also if you have injuries like that you should change your tactical approach to be more structurally sound and give your defenders more support even if it means you have to sit deeper, concede some possession and play less adventurously.You said he played them because he wanted to be clever when in reality he played them cause his other 3.5 Cm were unavailable. Should he really have expected 4 central midfielders to be out at the same time?
There's no denying lvg had injuries, Jose too was stuck for cbs for awhile but playing Toure at the bottom of a diamond was necessity not arrogance. Of course peps made mistakes but we played with a back 4 with Toure as dm and Zabaleta and kdb cm at Everton, easily our most defensive formation of the season the alternative was 451 formation or 5 4 1 with the 4 midfielders being attacking midfielders.LVG dealt with as bad if not a worse injury crisis last season and nobody made excuses for him. Also if you have injuries like that you should change your tactical approach to be more structurally sound and give your defenders more support even if it means you have to sit deeper, concede some possession and play less adventurously.
Sure Pep has had injuries, but based on his tactical approach you wouldn't think so and that's foolhardy at best and arrogant at worst.
It's not just the formation. It's also about the instructions for each player within that formation. I only watched the 2nd half, so maybe it was different because City was chasing the game by that point, but they seemed far too stretched for a team with Toure and Zabaleta in the midfield.There's no denying lvg had injuries, Jose too was stuck for cbs for awhile but playing Toure at the bottom of a diamond was necessity not arrogance. Of course peps made mistakes but we played with a back 4 with Toure as dm and Zabaleta and kdb cm at Everton, easily our most defensive formation of the season the alternative was 451 formation or 5 4 1 with the 4 midfielders being attacking midfielders.
Even thats arguable considering Yaya and the others have repeatedly failed in big games.This is an interesting one for me. When I think about it, I cant think of any decent players who have improved under him at City - which was supposed to be a big selling point. KDB you can argue, although he was already looking good last season. Some of the youngsters like Iheanacho have barely had a sniff though (he is the main one to be fair).
Other than that, he has managed to revitalise a few of the older players - Yaya, Kolarov etc, but those are not the players he should be building his side around.
Yes. He bought terribly with Gudogan and failed to pick up players to improve the squad at the base level. plus he had Fernandinho go mental picking up cards , a situation he failed to manage.You said he played them because he wanted to be clever when in reality he played them cause his other 3.5 Cm were unavailable. Should he really have expected 4 central midfielders to be out at the same time?
You can forgive him this as in sticky situations he would need his senior players to take charge and drive the team forward. Ironically he shipped one of the most influential players in Hart out, another foolish endeavour.Fernandinho has improved although he was one of our best last season but I agree none of our younger players have kicked on. He's also far more reluctant to give youth a chance, in the efl cup against United Alex garcia was our best player. Hard to fathom why he's not getting a look in and Iheanacho has regressed massively.
Ah I see I think most will say we were unlucky to go behind first half even on here going by the match week thread. Lots of people said was just a matter of time till we scored. 2nd half we got desperate and Koeman had our lack of midfield cover sussed and they simply picked us apart.It's not just the formation. It's also about the instructions for each player within that formation. I only watched the 2nd half, so maybe it was different because City was chasing the game by that point, but they seemed far too stretched for a team with Toure and Zabaleta in the midfield.
Whatever the case their reality is somewhere between the amazing stretch they had to start the season and their poor run of form now. Long-term the squad clearly needs a major overhaul and players brought in with an eye on improving the starting XI and squad immediately and with an eye on the long-term future of the club. I was very surprised by City's transfer dealings this past summer.
I think we can definitely make a case for Sterling. Well, compared to last season anyway.Fernandinho has improved although he was one of our best last season but I agree none of our younger players have kicked on. He's also far more reluctant to give youth a chance, in the efl cup against United Alex garcia was our best player. Hard to fathom why he's not getting a look in and Iheanacho has regressed massively.
I really don't think he asked Fernandinho to go mental. He bought what he could people say he didn't bother with defence but our pursuit of Laporte and bonnuci were well known. Maybe the required players weren't available or at the right price. Why we dropped our interest in pogba was strange but I'd say we knew he was United or Madrid bound. So he bought what he could.Yes. He bought terribly with Gudogan and failed to pick up players to improve the squad at the base level. plus he had Fernandinho go mental picking up cards , a situation he failed to manage.
You can forgive him this as in sticky situations he would need his senior players to take charge and drive the team forward. Ironically he shipped one of the most influential players in Hart out, another foolish endeavour.
Sterling is more confident and I really do like him but he's still got the same major flaw, he can't put his foot through a ball 9 out of the 10 times he needs to.I think we can definitely make a case for Sterling. Well, compared to last season anyway.
What I mean is he should have managed the situation with Fernandinho as to tell his player to bloody stop getting sent off. The defense was strengthened just with the wrong player and really he should have known. There is a reason we didnt go in for him. Also my point about hart is to do with his leadership winning titles with City where as Pep wanted a keeper to play from the back. A regular tactic teams have exploited this year. All in all its been a bit of a mess.I really don't think he asked Fernandinho to go mental. He bought what he could people say he didn't bother with defence but our pursuit of Laporte and bonnuci were well known. Maybe the required players weren't available or at the right price. Why we dropped our interest in pogba was strange but I'd say we knew he was United or Madrid bound. So he bought what he could.
Before bravo arrived most people on here said he'd be a huge upgrade on hart, not pep, Jose nor fortune teller could have foreseen him falling off a cliff like he has.
Hart is far from the answer and his weaknesses are well known. Even with all that it was known he was second choice because Barca wouldn't sell ter Stegen.
I'm sure he told him and aguero but for whatever reason we are City and we are always prone to brain farts.What I mean is he should have managed the situation with Fernandinho as to tell his player to bloody stop getting sent off. The defense was strengthened just with the wrong player and really he should have known. There is a reason we didnt go in for him. Also my point about hart is to do with his leadership winning titles with City where as Pep wanted a keeper to play from the back. A regular tactic teams have exploited this year. All in all its been a bit of a mess.
So is he using Zabaleta as a last resort then? It's probably fair to say you lot need a big investment i CM.Yeah. Well when he's not getting sent off. The other guy is the one who stands around doing feck all yet still is more useful defensively then Yaya.
They had big investment in the summerSo is he using Zabaleta as a last resort then? It's probably fair to say you lot need a big investment i CM.
Another one.They had big investment in the summer
Well need a replacement for Yaya and maybe another set of fresh legs to cover Gundo. Fern 1 (the good one) will be OK for another year or two and Fern 2 because he's content playing backup. It's just one if those things. 5 cms on the books and the only one available is fecking Yaya ToureSo is he using Zabaleta as a last resort then? It's probably fair to say you lot need a big investment i CM.
Yes dutch squad worked well and exceeded expectations but world cup is relatively small no. of matches. In the end, my point is, not that their way is wrong, it is just that their style is probably harder to adjust and execute in premier league than the other 2 big leagues. Both are smart enough to understand that but want/wanted to tackle it while remaining true to their principles and not changing approach.Perhaps it is because individualistic players are more common than players who can think as a team. The Dutch squad that got to 3rd place in 2014 was ordinary apart from 1 top class player and 2 former top class players. LvG was able to get the maximum out of that team because the players grew up learning this type of football. They weren't great players. They simply know how to work together as a unit better than a lot of other teams.
This was a general observation and I´m pretty sure there were better solutions than shifting Zabaleta. Play somebody from your academy. Pull back KdB, who has a high workrate and brilliant ball distribution skills and insert one of the front four bench players, who are much higher quality.You said he played them because he wanted to be clever when in reality he played them cause his other 3.5 Cm were unavailable. Should he really have expected 4 central midfielders to be out at the same time?
Didn't think we'd see Toure much if at all this season but yeah, I expect you to invest in midfield and defence.Well need a replacement for Yaya and maybe another set of fresh legs to cover Gundo. Fern 1 (the good one) will be OK for another year or two and Fern 2 because he's content playing backup. It's just one if those things. 5 cms on the books and the only one available is fecking Yaya Toure
He did pull back kdb who is useless defensively in that situation. For both the west ham and Everton game we lined up with a diamond. I think he should have played Alex garcia there for what it's worth but someone on bm said he's not fit either.This was a general observation and I´m pretty sure there were better solutions than shifting Zabaleta. Play somebody from your academy. Pull back KdB, who has a high workrate and brilliant ball distribution skills and insert one of the front four bench players, who are much higher quality.
I beleive the playing style itself is the problem. I believe he's a manager who knows his job very well, he makes players play his difficult style extremely quickly. But that style is about perfection, players have to do everything with full control and composure. They're not allow to take risks with their technique, everything they do they really have to master, get every touch right, 10 out of 10. But players can do a lot more when they're allowed to try things at the max of their ability and risk loss of posession. With Messi and Iniesta he got away with it, allthough he probably should have won more with that group of players. With Bayern he didn't, and in the PL with it's high pace it's even more difficult.Its not that he needs the best players in the world to be successful, he needs players that fit his playing style. i.e Banega would be great under him but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be in anyone's top 10 midfielder list. Trying to play the way he does, without certain types of players is suicidal. As they say in holland, when it works its beautiful, when it fails, its a disaster. It really is all or nothing tactics. His playing style doesn't legislate for his team losing the ball in midfield cause of how he wants the team's defensive unit to position itself during the build up phase, unlike a more pragmatic side i.e us or chelsea.
Jesus, Roberts and possibly stones but I'd expect about 12 new players in our 22 by than.People talk about us and our problems - but I see much bigger problems at City.
Goalkeeper: One of the worst in the Premier League
Defense: seriously, how many of City's defenders would you want in your side ? They are either old : Zabaleta, Sagna and Kolarov - injured: Kompany - not good enough: Stone, Clichy. Otamendi is ok
Midfield: De Bruyne is brilliant, Sterling is also more than good enough - and the right age. But then it's the age-problem again: Fernando 29, Silva 31, Toure 33, Navas 31, Fernandinho 31 (and always sent off).Delph is not good enough and Sane might be a talent - but he is nowhere near that class yet.
Attack; Aguero is of course brilliant, but he is almost 29 and you sense that he could be looking elsewhere for his final big contract. Iheanacho is really good
So basically City have 11 players around or over 30
In my opinion - I only see a future after the 17/18 season for maybe 5-6 of the City-players (Sterling, de Bruyne, Otamendi, Iheanacho and Sane. Aguero is good enough but I think he will go soon.
Tbh i think you were robbed by eveton with stones. He just doesn't look like he'll ever be much of a defender.Jesus, Roberts and possibly stones but I'd expect about 12 new players in our 22 by than.
Good to see a bit of honesty, although pretty much all top level football is a bit like that now. You can't have a local, passionate, tribal fanbase at the same time as having big ticket day trippers and executive boxes. This was a good post though.It's a poor show from all involved, and the fact that we're not trying to sign anybody in January despite having the worst defence in the top seven is laughable. We haven't kept up with the developments of our immediate competition and we're going to pay for it royally when we finish 6th in May. Add in the fact that the club has grown incredibly sterile, cold and corporate since late 2012 and there's really no point in investing the time and effort required just to watch games from the living room armchair. While Begiristain and Ferran Soriano have been in charge we've founded as many football teams as we've won trophies, and two of those were League Cups. We're building a glass tunnel for some reason, season ticket prices have increased once again (as much as 50% in some areas of the ground), and the half-time entertainment now consists of parading robots about because they've been built by some company we have a sponsorship deal with. On a board room level we've become everything we hated and on the pitch we sacked an incredibly popular manager to stand still for six years. Even if Pep does turn it around we'll still be the joke of a club we've become since those two frauds took the reigns.
This was a better post.Too early to celebrate Pep and City's demise but by god do I hope it happens. The prick
Sure you do Zlatan.Too early to celebrate Pep and City's demise but by god do I hope it happens. The prick
Just so you know, calling someone Zlatan is not really an insult.Sure you do Zlatan.
Thanks for the tip.Just so you know, calling someone Zlatan is not really an insult.
Besides, any bertie worth their salt would give their third nipple for Zlatan to be in city's squad.
Well said! The part about De Bruyne and Aguero is spot on, only reason they're anywhere near the top. The kicker is, none of them seems to be "Pep players".Two of the biggest problems with his squad are players who he has signed, and in the case of Stones continues to play despite his age and lack of reliability.
The main flaw in City's game this season is also the poor tactical use of their players. Teams can beat them by just sitting back and basically kicking the ball semi aimlessly up the pitch. It's happened a large number of times in games they've ended up either not winning or losing. They have players who are capable, if used correctly, of not losing 4-0 to Everton.
It's LVG all over again. The main difference I see between City this season and United last, is that City have Aguero and De Bruyne to win them games, while United had 18 year old Rashford (for half a season) and Martial. If anything Pep should be grateful he has players up top who can often bail him out when he makes his team so open to being countered.
I don't know what a Pep player is. It's a load of nonsense. He's manager of a football team so his job is to MANAGE the players.Well said! The part about De Bruyne and Aguero is spot on, only reason they're anywhere near the top. The kicker is, none of them seems to be "Pep players".
