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zebedee
Player Valuation: £8m
I do prefer this back 3 with wingbacks operating, think it has a little more to offer and felt we shut them out more last night. After the tactical switch I was constantly pooping my pants from then on.
Thomasc
Formerly known as By God I'm Blue
The wing backs and back 3 looked awful against Stoke in the first half in a game where we are expected to make the running, so I suggest we tread carefully with it.
Jags and Williams are just defenders.
If they have too much time to think and try and play out from the back then we can get in a world of trouble.
They looked good last night as we were under the cosh and their job was to defend. Any more than that and I think it is beyond them both.
I thought Man City had the impetus already and that's why he changed from a back 3 to 4 with 2 more attacking midfielders on also to help us stop it. It didn't work that well but the back 3 was also showing strain. It was a positive move to try and give us the upper hand.
Foot Long Hot Dog
Player Valuation: A packet of pork scratchings
Yeah he explained it. Pep switched it and got the 2 'full backs' to tuck inside, which meant that our 2 wing backs had no-one to mark, and Pep had added another body to the central midfield area which meant they were controlling the centre of the pitch. So he reverted to a back 4 and added another midfielder to counter the change.
One of the reports i was reading said williams looked to be struggling with a sore back. Didnt really notice myself but if true could have been partly why opted for formation change.
Stuartisitc1878
Player Valuation: £30m
They didn't ask Koeman anything post match although they made comments about both manangers constantly changing systems. I think it was an attempt to try and wrestle back some control in the middle and with only one striker upfront for City it seemed sound logic. Them going down to 10 men probably worked against us in the end. It forced City to move it quicker and make the pitch wider. Something they weren't doing the first half. It's a shame we didn't have more pace that second half because we could have hit them on the counter and i think that was the plan but Rooney doesn't have that pace anymore and every time DCL got down the channels he had to check back in and wait for support.
zebedee
Player Valuation: £8m
Didn't get to see the Stoke game I'll admit, was away so couldn't make the trip. I see what you mean about Jags and Williams they adopted an old school rear guard approach last night which did work certainly Williams with time scares the hell out of me. Guess baby steps and all that.
Be interesting to see how gylfi pains out as we could switch the play a bit more we seem to be very right hand side atm.
kenada_blue
Welcome to Barcelonaton FC
1sf half he was bob on. Worked a treat.
But then what followed is how he should earn his money.
Tony Hibbert's 3rd leg
Banned as requested
There is a key issue why we are prone to having a poor second half against top opposition.
It isn't to do with our attacking players. It's the quality of balls played out from the back. Jags was brilliant defensively last night but now as a defender you have to be good on the ball in different situations.
A good ball upfield changes defence to attack in a moment. Keane is good but not outstanding on the ball. Baines isn't what he was. Holgate brilliant defensively not so much going forward. Look how much a good ball from Pickford can set up a goal scoring opportunity.
The modern defender has to be dynamic. Coleman is a player who has great balance to his play. For me this is why we struggle in the second half when some defenders first choice is to boot it aimlessly. All top teams have defenders across the line who can think going forward as well as defensively. I'm hoping Koeman might address this with new additions in the future (CB, LB).
It isn't to do with our attacking players. It's the quality of balls played out from the back. Jags was brilliant defensively last night but now as a defender you have to be good on the ball in different situations.
A good ball upfield changes defence to attack in a moment. Keane is good but not outstanding on the ball. Baines isn't what he was. Holgate brilliant defensively not so much going forward. Look how much a good ball from Pickford can set up a goal scoring opportunity.
The modern defender has to be dynamic. Coleman is a player who has great balance to his play. For me this is why we struggle in the second half when some defenders first choice is to boot it aimlessly. All top teams have defenders across the line who can think going forward as well as defensively. I'm hoping Koeman might address this with new additions in the future (CB, LB).
Not surprised he's got a sore back with his gut.
faddy the blue
Player Valuation: £35m
I'm surprised he hasn't looked to properly invest in pacy/athletic wing backs cos they really are key in this 3-5-2 system. Seamus is a proper WB but Baines is pushing 33 and is a quality LB but not exactly a WB.
a bell maul
Player Valuation: £30m
I guess he has in mind the eventual return of Coleman and Bolasie
Osamabindiesel
Player Valuation: £70m
Koeman's biggest mistake was trying to match City in the midfield rather than building on the counter attacking success we had built earlier. If he had brought on Mirallas or Lookman, we probably would have killed the game off. I think he realizes that now, and except for that he got the game plan completely right.
Exactly
The games against City , Chelsea Spurs and United won't define our season.
As I see it City Chelsea and United are practically nailed on top 3 , in what order depends on injuries and luck
Spurs at Wembley is their drawback
So us Spurs Arsenal and RS battling it out for the rest of the top 7
Again injuries and luck will have a lot to do with it
If we get 4th or 5th by one point we will look back at last night and say that's the point that done it.
Ron got most of it right last night
Siggy not being match fit and Klassen still settling were obvious drawbacks.
IMO Lookman is too inexperienced and not tactically aware enough to throw in to a game like last night and I think Kev may just have been a bit too wound up and hotheaded in the situation.
He has previous against Southampton for coming on as a sub and going he'll for leather and you can't give Silva free kicks around the area.
Tactics worked second half and then Pep changed it , he's no mug don't forget.
Add that to the quality of the City side and I'm happy with one point
PS how often have you heard managers and players say how hard it can be to play against 10 men.
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