robsblubot

There are quite a few clubs which are well-run and don't really compete for anything substantial. City have little to show for all that good business until Pep changed their mentality and the way to play football. Pep is also very particular in what he wants from the players they sign in terms of characteristics. Their defenders are all very comfortable going past the midfield line for example--that's very particular to that style Pep uses. No-one is saying the club isn't well-run (not to mention filthy rich), but not acknowledging Pep's success is bit a strange tbh.

From a hard-working player at City to this. 😞

Present in every team of the season selection too.

Another underrated thing is Mount's contribution in the CL run: an important goal in the semis against Real Madrid, and an assist in the final... not to mention the hard work mentioned above. He's also an underrated passer--better than Conor in that regard IMO. Of course, all of that is past tense: not at the club and struggling with fitness elsewhere (maybe the club knew something?). I think Conor still has a lot to prove, so while I'd like him to stay, I understand if the club decides otherwise; it might end up being a cost/benefit decision with FFP in the mix.

That's the part I'm most curious about: how the long contracts will pan out in the world of football.

nah watch a game here and there, but don't follow the news. My cousin is a massive LA fan tho. That's a massive assumption, and American sports are fairer in that regard. It's also much easier to rebuild a Basketball team for obvious (Maths) reasons. City does not "rebuild." What does rebuilding even mean exactly here? You lost too many of your important players and had to go to the market? We had to rebuild because we fucked up as a club. Do you mean that we are rebuilding a young squad with potential to "dominate" in the future? Why do you think that? Players don't progress linearly; some of these players have already reached, or are close to, their peaks... we just don't know it yet. This idea that if a player is good at 22 he will be a monster at 26 does not reflect reality. 🤷‍♂️ Reminder that we did NOT have Europe last season, so fresh legs and time to prep for each game. Things will be more interesting now. To emphasize, that not being 100% does not really mean tired--players just don't fully recover from match to match. I think Poch did a good job considering the new squad situation, but not the money spent. To get from where we are to where we want to be is much much harder than to get to where we are now, especially considering the amount spent.

Agreed, but think he's a bit too young for a big change in that regard. It needs to be a slow process, and my understanding is that players may lose some in the short term (agility and quickness).

What's impressive about being 6th spending as much as the club did? That's the part I have a little bit of trouble grasping. Presumably we bought all good players, overpriced ones, perhaps most never WC ones, but still good players given the amount spent. So, what is so fucking impressive being done by Chelsea FC? Regarding the players you mention, I'm really glad football isn't that simple. As an example, is United Mount closer to CL winning Mount or last season with us Mount?

It's like taking a an F1 race car, then you change the suspension, the engine, tires, chassis, and the pilot. Then after finishing in better positions all season, someone comes in and says the pilot must be better because the results are better. 😉 Note that I'm not saying that Poch wasn't an improvement; only that's it's impossible to attribute causality with so many variables in the mix.

Indeed, after watching the game late and already knowing the result, I thought the reaction was more like "get away from me" than anything about hurting the Brighton player. Unfortunately, the kick (more like a push) movement looked pretty bad on slo-mo, so he got red carded. VAR is WAY overused everywhere. Refs have become over reliant on it. It should only be used for obvious blatant error and nothing else really.

When all players click and the team plays better you have to give the manager some credit otherwise no manager will get any ever. The team is clicking, is running really well, and most, if not all players have, improved some. Everything happened a bit late in the season, and I frankly don't expect to start from this level next season, but I understand that the amount of changes in the roster certainly make things more difficult for the coaches at the club, esp fitness wise. I'm not sure we can get anywhere near silverware next season from what I hear. Unless it's just club talk trying not to raise expectations.

and then we go and sign Disasi. 🤷‍♂️

Comment from someone who hasn't been following the game for very long. I know tactics and organization affect this, but just looking at our players running and it's clear to me they are at their physical peak--can think only Gallagher has run more earlier the season. Which begs the question why we are reaching the physical peak so late in the season. Perhaps another drawback from having so many new players in the roster, so the club did not know how handle each group correctly? Europe (likely) next season, so the freshness will be gone. I expect we have people at the club who understand that next season will be tougher and we need strength in depth. It explains a lot actually.

Let's say that Nkunku remains fit and avail for the entire season, we will now have Europe, so strength in depth becomes far more important. Noni IMO is not starting material at this level, but can be a good option coming off the bench. There will be situations where he will be ineffective like when a physically strong and quick defender is marking him. The difference between a player like Nkunku and Mudryk is just too much for Mudryk to be an option; you just lose too much in all areas (some similarity only around pace). I think we need 2 wingers esp if Palmer will be used more centralized. I agree that Sterling seems like a bust and prob needs to go, unless there was something about his fitness we don't know about--have to wait until the season ends to find out. If he leaves, then I'd definitely go for 2 wingers and hope Mudryk moves on, which I find hard to believe. IMO Mudryk's attacking output is not nearly good enough considering how poor he is in all other areas.

He had a good game, but MotM is pushing it. He's really quick and energetic, but I don't see skill as his main attribute. 🤷‍♂️ Nkunku was impressive from the moment he came on until the very end. He hardly lost the ball without a foul at all. I think Cuccu picked MotM in most places, and rightfully so IMO. There were a lot of good performances in a team that is flying physically -- a bit late to reach a physical peak, but something Poch will have to work his fitness coaches.

Agreed. Play better and then you don't have to worry about refs and var. Had forgotten how good a player Nkunku is! Guy has everything in his toolbox... just...needs...to...stay...fit Lamptey's was a shoulder lunge which caught Mudryk in the face. The move wasn't strictly illegal in football, but James' kick, esp caught in slowmo, looked pretty intentional, hence the red. I have no qualms with either. To be fair to this crazy thread 😆I did initially think "James had scratched a man's" (balls), but the slowmo showed it was a pretty intentional "bitch" kick.

Haven't watched the game yet (recorded for later), but had a bit of a hard time knowing what James actually did when reading this thread. 😅

Agreed, on the other hand the sampling is a bit small esp because we have very few teams actually playing for things in the last rounds. I also have a hard time comparing a match against Brighton, or any of the teams we played lately, vs the away match against Arsenal when everyone pretty much stunk. Still, it's clear that Trevor is better than Disasi in both ball control (skill) as well as pace. Same way that Nkunku is better than Mudryk in, well, everything.

heh good luck with that https://www.transfermarkt.us/wesley-fofana/verletzungen/spieler/475411

Like Sterling, Son is an attacking player who relies on pace above all else, and is now past 30. Yes, Sterling isn't quite 30 yet, but that loss of pace can happen well before that.

Dunno Doku looks a bit stronger than Mudryk to me, but yeah speed wise for sure. Doku is superior at dribbling in tight spaces. most importantly, Mudryk lacks that aggression that Doku abundantly displays. That relentlessness regarding participating and getting to the ball is nowhere to be seen in mudryk, and I’m afraid that’s not something one can learn.

City does not have to play well to win matches, which is the reason they win. They often play well, or well enough to win, but they find a way to win a match even when they are not clicking. Most clubs get to that optimal point once in a while; City's magic, or perhaps Pep's magic, is that crazy consistency. From what I've seen from United lately, it would take a miracle for them to win the FA final. They will prob get some players back until then, but still... so many poor and/or disinterested players in that roster.

Well they knew all along what would take to win the league and they just could not deliver that consistency City is known for. Anything other than City winning the PL would look like a pretty unlikely upset.

Shouldn't they be taking it easy instead? 😅

That's some messed up logic there. 😃 I'd like to see this squad getting anywhere near top 4 playing twice a week with any Europe comps. We very much had a top4 squad before "the project" started. The complaint was that we did not compete in the league. What if we are solid 3rd, and once again nowhere near the top 2, in 2-3 years time? Will the project be considered a success then? why? With the amount of investment we are making top4 should be a given. The tricky part is to compete against the top2, esp against that especial one, for the league.