Pre Match - Man City (a) - PL - Sun 1630
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I think Mané has been one of our best. He is showing for the ball and not giving up possession cheaply.
Please bring Diaz on
Lucky to be only down by one, let's hope City regret not being clinical. Needs Diaz to shake things up a bit.
Even the ref couldn't be arsed to continue anymore, calling for halftime with a minute left on the clock.
Hendo is perhaps weaker but he doesn't get on the ball as much Fabinho and Thiago is the most press resistant.
Keita
they look like they’ve been preparing for weeks, we look like we could be lining up against any premier league side
He didn't was 2 minutes added on.
If Trent wonders why he's not first choice for Ingerlund...that 45 was the reason.
Yeah, Pep has really hit a home run in the first half.
City look like a team that turned up with a well drilled plan to specifically beat us. We look like we turned up hoping for a draw. Yes they got lucky with the deflection on the 1st goal, but we've been mauled here. 2-1 completely flatters us
DeBruyne floating everywhere is what is killing us. He is the only midfielder doing damage. When we do get an effective press, we get chances.
If we slow down DeBruyne, we can still win. I think the problem is that Thiago has most of the responsibility. Maybe 4-4-2 with Mané and Jota in the middle with Fabs coming out.
We conceded far too many chances. I wonder about going 5 at the back or even Jones for Hendo and we go more 4-2-3-1
I take Hendo off before Thiago. His pass was key to break City's press before we scored.
Hendo isn't influencing the game either way
We're struggling with ball progression past the press, and I think the principal issue is Mane (and Trent's bad passing to a lesser extent).
Typically, we beat the press in 3-4 ways.
One is VVD's diagonal. That has mostly been cut off bar I think one occasion.
The other is Trent's quick ball playing down the channel, which too City are well drilled to cut off. Makes it worse that Trent has just not been sharp.
The other avenue we regularly used down the left was the Robertson-Wijnaldum-Mane axis.
Wijnaldum had elite strength and was fantastic on the turn. Robertson had (and still has great running power). But the key one was Mane - he was one of Europe's most elite ball progressors, capable of moving it 40-50 yards alone at times. He just can't do that anymore.
We need Diaz there. Also, Thiago plays differently from Wijnaldum. He likes to face the goal more, but I think he probably needs to play more instinctively (and take a few more risks) with his back to goal. He's technically elite. Yes, there's the chance the ball gets nicked on the turn, but if we want to win this, need to take that risk.
Yep all Hendo is doing is maintaining the high press. However we are losing the battle in midfield big time.
He has more influence than Fabs - in a positive way that is.
Every once in a while Fabs has a shit game that does not get better. I think this one.
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