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Positives:

The defensive set-up with Fern dropping deep and the fullbacks moving into central midfield positions in build up worked really well and had me totally baffled for the first five minutes.

Stones looked very good. I think he will be the first player om the team sheet week in week out during the Pep era.

The gamble with Kola as CB worked. Pep knows more about football than I.

Fern was immense. Clichy and Sagna are both good and versatile footballers enough to work under Pep.

Sterling got his mojo back and was even better on the left.



Negatives:

Still too static and lacklustre up front.

I had expected a higher work rate and more urgency closing the opposition down in their half.

Passing was way off at times.

Key players like Silva, Kun and KDB seem out of form.

I know it was his first game, but Nolito didn't do anything Angelino couldn't have done.

We lacked creativity. I know they parked the bus but we weren't doing our usual probing, we were passing it around the middle of the park and backwards instead. I found that very frustrating and really boring at times. Lots of positives though, as already noted.

I felt we were so busy playing a system that we forgot that it's meant to have an end product.
I was unimpressed with Nolito's first effort, it was better with Navas.
Stones was excellent. The passing from the back was clearly insisted upon and I couldn't help thinking Joe couldn't do what Willy did. Then again though, I'd never seen Willy do that either. All very interesting, but we still ended just bombing on, Prem style, in search of a salvage job.
Sunderland looked like a Moyes team.

It'll take a bit of time to get fully used to the system - for both the players and the fans to watch!

I think we had something like 77% possession. If we can keep that up throughout the season some teams won't be able to cope with the constant chasing and more gaps will open up.

However some teams will attack us more than Sunderland did and there were gaps to be exploited in our defence. Hopefully we'll be able to cope with that.

Kev and Serg were quiet yesterday. I think once they're up to speed we'll be perfectly fine.

Did not see the game due to a wedding. My hopes are judge it after half a dozen games or V the scum if we are settled. Great times ahead.

Mase wrote:It'll take a bit of time to get fully used to the system - for both the players and the fans to watch!

I think we had something like 77% possession. If we can keep that up throughout the season some teams won't be able to cope with the constant chasing and more gaps will open up.

However some teams will attack us more than Sunderland did and there were gaps to be exploited in our defence. Hopefully we'll be able to cope with that.

Kev and Sergwere quiet yesterday. I think once they're up to speed we'll be perfectly fine.

But will he ever be up to speed? Judging by the second half of last season, he seems to have lost a yard or two. Don't know. I'm a huge fan so I hope that my fears are exaggerated.

Cocacolajojo wrote:

Mase wrote:It'll take a bit of time to get fully used to the system - for both the players and the fans to watch!

I think we had something like 77% possession. If we can keep that up throughout the season some teams won't be able to cope with the constant chasing and more gaps will open up.

However some teams will attack us more than Sunderland did and there were gaps to be exploited in our defence. Hopefully we'll be able to cope with that.

Kev and Sergwere quiet yesterday. I think once they're up to speed we'll be perfectly fine.

But will he ever be up to speed? Judging by the second half of last season, he seems to have lost a yard or two. Don't know. I'm a huge fan so I hope that my fears are exaggerated.

City could do with the Dortmund lad top draw competition for Kun.

Piccsnumberoneblue wrote:I felt we were so busy playing a system that we forgot that it's meant to have an end product.
I was unimpressed with Nolito's first effort, it was better with Navas.
Stones was excellent. The passing from the back was clearly insisted upon and I couldn't help thinking Joe couldn't do what Willy did. Then again though, I'd never seen Willy do that either. All very interesting, but we still ended just bombing on, Prem style, in search of a salvage job.
Sunderland looked like a Moyes team.

I think kolarov took the CB role of bringing the ball out from the back too far. He ran from our area to the edge of theirs. I bet pep wondered what the he'll was going on.

The Sunderland fans next to us on the 3rd tier were giving us loads of grief when they equalised and it was so sweet to give it back when MOM McNair popped in the winner.

Hazy2 wrote:Did not see the game due to a wedding. My hopes are judge it after half a dozen games or V the scum if we are settled. Great times ahead.

I think that's a bit soon. I'd say by Christmas we'll have a better idea of things, but that's me.

Passing and work rate on a different level to last season , it was sublime at times . We had glimpses of how we can attack on the break when Sunderland eventually decided to cross the half way line into our half very late onto the game . Pep will need to come up with something as most teams will put everyone behind the ball just like Sunderland did . Aguero very isolated at times although Sterling and Nolito did well when they got the ball . Peps system will take at least another 6 weeks or so before the players get used to it plus another 2 or 3 additions to the squad to tweak one or two areas . We really need another top class striker , Aguero will be fucked or injured playing the role he is every week that is for sure !

let's also not underestimate the effect of playing a Moyes-lead Sunderland had on 77% possession without lots of attacking opportunities. Except for a brief moment, they lived off of 10 behind the ball with Defoe feeding on scraps.

kinkylola wrote:let's also not underestimate the effect of playing a Moyes-lead Sunderland had on 77% possession without lots of attacking opportunities. Except for a brief moment, they lived off of 10 behind the ball with Defoe feeding on scraps.

Saw a stat that said Defoe had 13 touches of the football. Sums up a Moyes outfit

I have to say that although it wasn't exciting I was absolutely fascinated by what was going on on the pitch. This season is going to be an education.

Control. We had it. They scored. We regained it and got the winning goal. Not perfect but very good.

Hazy2 wrote:

Cocacolajojo wrote:

Mase wrote:It'll take a bit of time to get fully used to the system - for both the players and the fans to watch!

I think we had something like 77% possession. If we can keep that up throughout the season some teams won't be able to cope with the constant chasing and more gaps will open up.

However some teams will attack us more than Sunderland did and there were gaps to be exploited in our defence. Hopefully we'll be able to cope with that.

Kev and Sergwere quiet yesterday. I think once they're up to speed we'll be perfectly fine.

But will he ever be up to speed? Judging by the second half of last season, he seems to have lost a yard or two. Don't know. I'm a huge fan so I hope that my fears are exaggerated.

City could do with the Dortmund lad top draw competition for Kun.

Apparently he's not leaving Dortmund so no point speculating.