Live Match Discussion: 2020/21

[PuntsWolf]

The contact is irrelevant (it’s bloody minimal anyway). The follow through isn’t dangerous so doesn’t matter. Otherwise every header is a foul. Every slide tackle is foul etc. There is literally always contact after a tackle in a “contact sport”.

 

[Lycan]

What are these pundits on? Do they actually know the rules of the game?

 

[YoungWolf]

Rodri is a real problem for this City team I think. Nowhere near the levels of a Busquets/Fernandinho in that role defensively in terms of reading the game. Lovely passer of the ball and may get there in time but it causes them all sorts of issues defending counter attacks

 

[jd1981]

They’re lacking intensity in the final 3rd can’t sustain any real pressure

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Kane has been incredible today. Superb all round performance.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

He was pretty special tbf

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Now time to enjoy the shit v Oles bunch of shit.

 

[YoungWolf]

They’re lacking intensity in the final 3rd can’t sustain any real pressure

Yeah this is also true. Think they have a similar issue to us. Really struggling to create big chances. Think it's a physical thing if I am honest.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Rodri is a real problem for this City team I think. Nowhere near the levels of a Busquets/Fernandinho in that role defensively in terms of reading the game. Lovely passer of the ball and may get there in time but it causes them all sorts of issues defending counter attacks

Missing Someone being able to foul people on the halfway line. For the second, no idea how city are 3 v 2 at the back and that doesn’t even account for Kane who doesn’t have anyone within 20 yards of him. Where is Rodri? What are you doing so high? Why are you pressing like that as the “defensive midfielder”. Doesn’t have the athleticism to recover either.

Think it’s a little bit of arrogance from Pep. You might get away with it with the best players against rubbish. But you don’t have the best players anymore and the oppositions front 3 are better than yours.

 

[YoungWolf]

Missing Someone being able to foul people on the halfway line. For the second, no idea how city are 3 v 2 at the back and that doesn’t even account for Kane who doesn’t have anyone within 20 yards of him. Where is Rodri? What are you doing so high? Why are you pressing like that as the “defensive midfielder”. Doesn’t have the athleticism to recover either.

Think it’s a little bit of arrogance from Pep. You might get away with it with the best players against rubbish. But you don’t have the best players anymore and the oppositions front 3 are better than yours.

The thing is, he's been playing Gundogan for this reason really. They've seen that Rodri on his own in there doesn't really work so they went to 4-2-3-1 quite often last season and this season. But it doesn't really suit them as a team at all.

I'm not sure he knows what way he wants to move forward with them at all really, all very muddled up. Very interested to see how he attempts to solve it.

 

[PuntsWolf]

The thing is, he's been playing Gundogan for this reason really. They've seen that Rodri on his own in there doesn't really work so they went to 4-2-3-1 quite often last season and this season. But it doesn't really suit them as a team at all.

I'm not sure he knows what way he wants to move forward with them at all really, all very muddled up. Very interested to see how he attempts to solve it.

Could sign someone like N’Didi, Kante or a deluxe Donck. I don’t play FM any more to know any worldwide athletic CDMs.

They let Douglas Luiz go and signed Rodri for silly money. Not sure he’s that much of an upgrade for what they need (not saying Luiz is a better player...)

 

[YoungWolf]

Could sign someone like N’Didi, Kante or a deluxe Donck. I don’t play FM any more to know any worldwide athletic CDMs.

They let Douglas Luiz go and signed Rodri for silly money. Not sure he’s that much of an upgrade for what they need (not saying Luiz is a better player...)

Ndidi is the obvious one I think for them. Someone who can cover ground and regain possession.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Partey would have been good for them and I imagine he'd readily have signed for City ahead of Arsenal.

Ironically he isn't really what Arsenal needed.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

For all that they're one of the richest clubs in the world and all that, so #firstworldproblems etc, I do understand that it's not that simple for them.

Kompany
Fernandinho
Silva
Agüero

Four absolute club legends there, all superb for years and years and years. Spine of a team. Two gone, two not got long left. It's not necessarily easy to just go out and find plug-and-play replacements, no matter how much money you've got.

Think about us, Boly is 30 in February. If he starts to drop off (doesn't look like it at the moment, but you never know) then it isn't like we can just pop down the centre half shop and buy another one. We aren't magicking up another Joao when he goes. Ditto Rui.

 

[PuntsWolf]

How is that overturned!?

 

[YoungWolf]

I didn't think it was a penalty tbf. But yeah you wouldn't say its 'clear and obvious'.

 

[PuntsWolf]

I didn't think it was a penalty tbf. But yeah you wouldn't say its 'clear and obvious'.

The argument is that he gets a toe on the ball. I didn’t see that at first, but even still it’s not exactly a clear tackle and then kicks him on the shin.

Is that enough for a penalty? No. But that’s how football been for 20 years and Salah has been getting them every week for being breathed on.

 

[YoungWolf]

Yeah it's weird that if the player throws themselves to the ground for something that doesn't actually impedes them gets you a penalty usually - but you are right they get given nowadays. Coote is a moron though

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Just showing now that there was a clear foul on Gallagher when United won the ball in the run up to their penalty as well.

 

[Jack Regan]

Didn't watch the game but watching the analysis now and it's a bit of a shambles. Who'd have thought a team of Bankes and Coote, the two worst officials when we were in the championship (apart from Steve Martin) would get things wrong, and in favour of Manchester Utd too?