[threeps]

Nil, don’t think Maguire is made to look good by anyone for his club 😂

England players are always hyped up but in truth there are some very good players. Kane, Sterling, Foden, Trent, James, Rice, Saka, most international teams would love those players.

Southgate plays slow boring safe football that limits creativity. Very average manager who only has the job because he is minimal maintenance for the FA and meets their low expectations.

Didn’t he get the job based on only a not very successful time with Middlesboro?

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Bissouma still has the charge over his head right? Big risk for anyone to buy him. Not sure on the details of his case but even if he avoids jail time there could be sponsor repercussions if found guilty.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

I don’t think anyone has been disrespectful to City in any way on here. I think Haaland will score loads but there may be questions if he at this moment fits exactly to Pep’s philosophy.

For the record I’ve questioned Nunez also, as he is more of a tradional no 9 than we’ve played with for some time so does that signal a change? Or has the player got more to his game than I know? It’s not disrespectful to discuss if a players style compliments a managers tactic.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Fine to disagree. Please take a read of this however. I just found it and hadn’t used it to form my own opinions but a lot of what’s said I already mentioned.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/may/10/erling-haaland-to-manchester-city-is-a-tactical-gamble-that-might-just-pay-off

This sums it up

The point here is simply that one side of this equation will have to change. Either Haaland adapts to fit the style, and there is no reason to assume he can’t (or indeed, as yet, no reason to suggest he can either). Or City successfully adapt a system that, while it lacks a pure finisher, is based almost entirely on working that overload of passing players in midfield and attack.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Jota still moved about a lot but yes it did affect our play. His link up is poor and it showed, it was like playing with 10 men. He had a purple patch then went ineffective to the point I don’t think he is good enough for an elite team. There is a reason he wasn’t trusted when everyone else is fit.

Yes Haaland will get a lot of goals but you’re missing my point. Pep has all his players working very hard in the build up and that is not his game at all. So what will change?

Everyone thought Grealish would be a superb signing but his style differed to what Pep told him to do and he suffered. Whether he comes good or not for City remains to be seen.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Not sure I’d agree Brian, Aguero and Tevez would come deep and link play. Haaland doesn’t do that so effectively your build up play is with one less man. Those two also had bags of skill which meant they could easily operate in tight spaces. Against low block, lesser quality teams which for City is about 95% of Worlds footbal it probably isn’t an issue and now they will have someone whose sole purpose is to finish off the move. Dzeko was before Pep wasn’t he? But still he could come deep and hold the ball up well.

I don’t mean the player forces these managers to change, I mean is buying them a signal of change. Pep and Klopp are not stupid, they won’t just buy someone for the sake of it without having a plan for them. Is that to change the player or is it they are looking for something different that this player can provide?

Klopp was always a 4231 manager at Dortmund with a no 9 up top like Auba or Lewandowski, with players behind them like Kagawa, Götze or that ex Man utd Armenian player. (Why did Dortmund have players with such difficult to spell names!). His time so far at Liverpool has been almost exclusively 433 and to obvious success. Will the Nunez signing be a change in that?

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Haaland is completely different to what City have had in the past and to be honest I’m not sure how he’s going to fit in. He plays on the shoulder of the last defender with the sole purpose of getting onto the end of something to score. He rarely gets involved in build up play. His touch and passing ability are not the standard you’d expect from a Pep player. He is however a lethal finisher with superb off the ball movement.

The situation is similar to Liverpool and Nunez and I tried to discuss on the other site why I have my reservations. I don’t know as much about Nunez as Haaland but I’m sure he played as a no 9 high up the pitch with Ramos doing the link up play behind him. A traditional no 9 in a Klopp 433 gives far too large a gap between him and the midfield.

Both situations will cause intrigue and questions. Does the player adapt to the team or the team adapt to the player? Pep and Klopp are going a little into the unknown.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

He’s made a little cameo appearance on the Liverpool TT page which I am sure is a good sign he is on the recovery.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

I think how the game goes depends on how Liverpool approach the game. Take the recent league game against City versus the cup semi final. In the league game we were too passive and let them dictate the play. In the cup we were aggressive and knocked them off the stride. Madrid have an extremely talent but aging midfield. Give them time and they will pass and play around you. Get in their faces, give them no time. Press, press and then press a little bit more, play to our strengths. This is key to bringing the trophy back to Anfield.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

I think last time we were separated by 1 point going into thr last game City actually went behind. Sadly it only lasted about 4 minutes and they scored twice in quick succession. But for those few minutes I remember the feeling of this could actually be happening!

I think if something similar happens this weekend I will be a lot more relaxed. I have a feeling we will score early and City will struggle but will get their win eventually.

In my mind the league is already gone but we can be very proud to push this City team all the way.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

I think Villa are a better side than Wokves but this is offset by the fact Villa will have had 2 days rest/preparation against City with a week off behind them and Liverpool face a well rested Wolves team. Also Liverpool players may be rested or not risked in the case of Salah and Virgil with the final coming soon.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Booing of the anthem from Liverpool fans has happened from the 80s since the Thatcher government literally gave up on the city. This resentment was further increased with the handling of the Hillsborough disaster by numerous governments since that tragic day. Maybe a little out of order booing William but I think the resentment is towards anyone and anything to do with either the government or the establishment. Can understand why others condone the booing but this is years built up resentment so try looking it at from their view.

Foe the record I don’t agree with the booing of our anthem. I don’t like the anthem and will never sing or stand for it but some take pride in it so let them be.

Not posting this for a political debate just as a few of you I guess didn’t know the reason.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Just because they could be risked doesn’t mean they are match fit. They could underperform because of their injuries or even worse go off early on. I can see Kante starting but not both, too high a risk.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Not just that Nil, the entire downfall of the footballing world. All on you 🤪

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Nil, you are to blame for such high wages. By you I mean we the football fans. We crave football so we are happy to pay for it, the TV companies are desperate to provide it so pay obscene amounts for the rights and charges us far too much. This is then passed onto the players who ignite our desire to watch even more. Its a vicious circle of greed and desire. If you don’t like it then the only thing to do is stop watching but the system knows many have done this only to be replaced by others. If football becomes too expensive to watch in the UK that millions don’t renew then fine sell the rights to the far East, Middle East or America.

One day football will implode and I fancy that will be when/if the Super League starts. Maybe not an implosion but a slow deflation as the fans lose all interest for the expensive it causes.

Until this happens the rich will get richer and the poor (us fans) will get shafted even more.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Utd will struggle with no champions league. Sure they can still throw money at players to get them to sign but this time they really need to throw it at the right players. I think it will be several seasons before they get back challenging if they are clever in the next few windows.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Jota should have started in place of whom? He pops up with the occasional goal but is a class down from the other 3 in my opinion. His link up and first touch is poor.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

Man City versus Real Madrid tonight in what could be an epic match. Just think that between these two European giants they have actually won the trophy a staggering 13 times 😉

I think this Madrid team will try and play some football compared to the other one City faced recently. Cannot see past an all English final again although Real certainly have goals in them.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

It’s all about getting a manager in with the right philosophy for the club and then giving him time. And he if doesn’t work out get someone with an equally suitable philosophy and continue to build towards an identity.

Utd are a mismatch of previous manager buys thrown together with no actual defined style. A collection of sometimes wonderful individually skillful players but not a team signed to work together. There’s zero synergy to the team.

The Utd performance last night was the worst I’ve seen by either team in this fixture during my 40 odd years watching football. People say they are in a bad place but if they get the next big decision wrong or don’t give enough time it could get a lot worse. Huge rebuilding job required which could take a few years.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[threeps]

For me it was the midfield where the game was won. Thiago was superb.

_____________________________

React below 👇

*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted

[Author]

Posts