City have injuries and all that but I think too much is being made of it, more than is fair IMO. Even if Laporte and others had stayed fit City would still be behind Liverpool in the table. The gap would be smaller but still Liverpool would be setting the pace having only drawn one match. They had everyone fit when they got held to a 2-2 draw by Spurs and that was at the emptihad.
The problems were already there. Liverpool have established a pace this season and City just cant keep up, they're cracking under the pressure at the moment. What's wrong with that assertion?
We've had our fair share of injuries and currently winning games with a near second string side. This is where the manager shows his nous. This is in addition to a fixture list from hell and challenging on seven fronts this season.
Even with the injuries, all of City's team would be starting games for any other team. Still a better team than any other in the league (currently this is on paper because otherwise inferior players at Liverpool are performing at a higher level than their more highly rated counterparts at City)
They have fitness problems? well so does everybody else and they are the team that should best be able to deal with injuries in the world, plus they have the best manager in the world all.which cost over 4 billion to get to where it is now. Pep himself surely won't be relying on fitness excuses after spending so much money?
Another factor is that other teams in the league now employ more effective tactics against City. There's a bit of an element of City being sussed. Pep will eventually turn this around and use it to his advantage but at the moment everyone knows what City will do and the game plans against City are bearing more fruit. Nice to see teams not playing with 10 behind the ball too.
Not saying the fitness problems don't matter, just think too much is being made of it than is fair and it takes away not only from what Liverpool are managing to achieve but the achievements of other clubs in the league "You didn't beat City you got lucky because Laporte is injured"
Discuss!!!!
Man City injuries cop out.
posted on 8/12/19
Yes he showed that at United
He said we’d have two teams in the top four. Not that we had the two best teams. If he did, he’d be wrong. We’re fine in certain positions, others less so.
On United shouldn’t be winning, I had worries when I saw the team sheet. Tactically though I thought we did more than enough after the first thirty minutes to at least draw. Like I said, I’d be more worried if we weren’t creating chances rather than not finishing them. At the moment, he can’t fix all the defensive issues without making a change that will impact our attacking. I think he’s right not to and to wait it out.
posted on 8/12/19
*but, I think he’s got the player choices wrong.
posted on 8/12/19
I disagree. Waiting it out is what teams with a small squad would do.
He needs to employ tactics that will allow the superiority of his players to become evident IMO.
posted on 8/12/19
To be fair to Man-city they have missed LaPorte.. he got injured trying to cheat. But like Sane. he dived and got hurt.
posted on 8/12/19
Yeah we’ll have to agree to disagree. I do think we have a small squad. Mostly high quality but small is exactly how I’d describe our squad. That’s why we’ve got a 34 year old midfielder playing in defence. That hasn’t just been a choice, Stones hasn’t been available for most games and you could see why yesterday. I think he’s gone at the top level, too many demons.
He is more interested in long term, it’s why he always talks about performances rather than results. He’s not lying when he says he’s happier after some losses than some wins, that’s exactly what he’s like. He won’t make short term changes to negate the overall direction. I’m fine with that too. We’ve won two titles on the trot, it’s not a crisis or anything if we don’t win a third. I still think most of the performances haven’t been bad, yesterdays included.
I’ll reiterate though, I don’t think he needs to make changes to tactics, he just needs to put legs back into midfield and he can do it with a couple of personnel changes.
posted on 8/12/19
Fair enough.
posted on 9/12/19
The one I always find amusing is when pundits say "they lost Laporte and Kompany"
Ah hello Kompany has retired
They did not replace and spent 65m on a Kyle Walker backup.
posted on 9/12/19
For me, City are still a fantastic team. They’ve got problems at the back, but Sane going down injured for months was a huge blow to them as it would be for any club that had him on its books.
When is he due back?
posted on 9/12/19
comment by (kash) I'm the Mané - 6 Times Baby (U1108)
posted 3 hours ago
The one I always find amusing is when pundits say "they lost Laporte and Kompany"
Ah hello Kompany has retired
They did not replace and spent 65m on a Kyle Walker backup.
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Apparently Kompany played only about 50% of games under Pep. He was injured most of the rest of the time.
posted on 9/12/19
comment by JimmyTheRed (U1682)
posted 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
For me, City are still a fantastic team. They’ve got problems at the back, but Sane going down injured for months was a huge blow to them as it would be for any club that had him on its books.
When is he due back?
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Think he's back next month. I expect City to put together a blistering run second half of the season. Fingers crossed the gap is too big by then.