Is there a way back ??

[Bear60]

Don’t post much these days , personally I think we have dropped too many points stalwart players from last season not replaced , well if they have it will take them a long time to cotton on to the way Pep wants them to play . Hate to say it but Liverpool dippers horrible cunts what ever you want to call them are looking good so are Arsenal Gooners . Aston Villa . Them three are the ones that worry me . I just don’t think we have got enough this time round hope I am wrong but this is my gut feeling at this moment in time . if we do it can someone please remind of this post . December 18th 2023 ffs didn’t think I would live till now .

[london blue 2]

5 points isn’t an awful lot to claw back and I still dont think anyone has peaked.

Liverpool and Arsenals ability to win games late on is what worries me. We don’t have that at the moment.

Just need to stay in touch at the moment.

[nottsblue]

5 points isn’t an awful lot to claw back and I still dont think anyone has peaked.

Liverpool and Arsenals ability to win games late on is what worries me. We don’t have that at the moment.

Just need to stay in touch at the moment.

What is more worrying is we are the opposite, we are throwing points away conceding late goals

[london blue 2]

5 points isn’t an awful lot to claw back and I still dont think anyone has peaked.

Liverpool and Arsenals ability to win games late on is what worries me. We don’t have that at the moment.

Just need to stay in touch at the moment.

What is more worrying is we are the opposite, we are throwing points away conceding late goals

Yes didn’t want to mention that.

[patrickblue]

I'd agree that five points is no big deal at this stage of the season, and we're used to having to wait for the later parts of the season to get our act together. We've also got KDB to come back as much as people like to slag Kovacic and Nunes, they have been thrown in at the deep end with the KDB injury and departure of Gundo.
Hopefully we'll end up with a settled team with Jack moving more central, where he looks ten times better, and KDB directing the midfield.
Defence does look worrying at the moment, ability wise they're all good enough, but for some reason, Ruben and Akanji in particular seem a bit error prone.
I'm not too worried about the present blip, and pretty confident we'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

[Harry Dowd scored]

I'd agree that five points is no big deal at this stage of the season, and we're used to having to wait for the later parts of the season to get our act together. We've also got KDB to come back as much as people like to slag Kovacic and Nunes, they have been thrown in at the deep end with the KDB injury and departure of Gundo.
Hopefully we'll end up with a settled team with Jack moving more central, where he looks ten times better, and KDB directing the midfield.
Defence does look worrying at the moment, ability wise they're all good enough, but for some reason, Ruben and Akanji in particular seem a bit error prone.
I'm not too worried about the present blip, and pretty confident we'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

I would like to agree with this, however as the OP states we have lost some quality/experience and seemingly not replaced them.
Because of this I am not as confident we will prevail like we have in the past, the scoring of goals does not appear to be the issue, it is the defending, in particular towards the end of games. This indicates lack of effective game management from the coaching team. Anyway let’s hope things improve and we can return to something like a consistent defence and midfield.

[Mase]

I'd agree that five points is no big deal at this stage of the season, and we're used to having to wait for the later parts of the season to get our act together. We've also got KDB to come back as much as people like to slag Kovacic and Nunes, they have been thrown in at the deep end with the KDB injury and departure of Gundo.
Hopefully we'll end up with a settled team with Jack moving more central, where he looks ten times better, and KDB directing the midfield.
Defence does look worrying at the moment, ability wise they're all good enough, but for some reason, Ruben and Akanji in particular seem a bit error prone.
I'm not too worried about the present blip, and pretty confident we'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

Kovacic comes from years of being in the Prem and has won the CL. Hardly been thrown in at the deep end for his level. Nunes has come on as sub and been played against crap teams and has looked average every time. Hardly thrown in at the deep end.

The only players that have been thrown in are Doku - done great for a 21 year old with zero Prem experience. And Josko being played every game out of position.

[patrickblue]

Going into Pep's system is different, nearly all new players have said it, and most on here have said it. It's deep end because they've no on pitch mentors.

[Mase]

Going into Pep's system is different, nearly all new players have said it, and most on here have said it. It's deep end because they've no on pitch mentors.

This myth again. Still being reeled out for players who join and play crap.

[carolina-blue]

TBH the way we are shipping in Goals I don’t see it
Top 4 and ChUmps league final would be a good season at this point , Would love to defend FA cup but can’t see it

[Plain Speaking]

I assume we will ship out Philips in the January window. If we can strengthen with a decent replacement and Haaland, Kev and Doku come back and stay fit we could have a chance? The small squad and injuries could undo us, we desperately miss Gundogan and without Rodri we're not the same side. A draw between Liverpool and Arsenal this weekend would be good.

[sheblue]

I assume we will ship out Philips in the January window. If we can strengthen with a decent replacement and Haaland, Kev and Doku come back and stay fit we could have a chance? The small squad and injuries could undo us, we desperately miss Gundogan and without Rodri we're not the same side. A draw between Liverpool and Arsenal this weekend would be good.

Very hard to sign good players in January. In my opinion we will never get another Rodri, or anyone who would provide suitable cover. It would be just impossible to get a player of similar caliber willing to sit on the bench and fight for his place.
So when Phillips goes i cant see any top quality replacements coming in.
We really do need to look at the left back berth. its only 6 year's now.

[patrickblue]

I assume we will ship out Philips in the January window. If we can strengthen with a decent replacement and Haaland, Kev and Doku come back and stay fit we could have a chance? The small squad and injuries could undo us, we desperately miss Gundogan and without Rodri we're not the same side. A draw between Liverpool and Arsenal this weekend would be good.

Very hard to sign good players in January. In my opinion we will never get another Rodri, or anyone who would provide suitable cover. It would be just impossible to get a player of similar caliber willing to sit on the bench and fight for his place.
So when Phillips goes i cant see any top quality replacements coming in.
We really do need to look at the left back berth. its only 6 year's now.

We all said that about Fern.
And Rodri got quite a slagging in his first season or two.

[Rob McKay]

Its easy to forget that we weren't looking amazing going into the World Cup last year and it wasn't until we came into the New Year that we started to look like ourselves.

There's still time to pick it up and I often think that when you play 60+ games a season it's easy for the players to lose their way or lose their motivation early on. The players we have want to play in the big games and to do that they have to play well when it matters. I think we'll be fine as long as we keep it close during the run in. We felt a lot further behind last year.

However, I think if there's ever a year in which Pep and the Barca men have got it wrong then this is the one that we can forgive them for.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Its easy to forget that we weren't looking amazing going into the World Cup last year and it wasn't until we came into the New Year that we started to look like ourselves.

There's still time to pick it up and I often think that when you play 60+ games a season it's easy for the players to lose their way or lose their motivation early on. The players we have want to play in the big games and to do that they have to play well when it matters. I think we'll be fine as long as we keep it close during the run in. We felt a lot further behind last year.

However, I think if there's ever a year in which Pep and the Barca men have got it wrong then this is the one that we can forgive them for.

I cannot forgive them for buying utter dross and it wasn't one player they fucked up on, they fucked up on all 3 IMO.
Last year we had Gundo who, arguably, was a main reason we won what we won so we just have to face up to the fact that we do not have adequate replacements to win the premiership this year.
The CL can be won as its rarely ever won by the best team anyway , its a cup comp and anything can happen.

I'm not confident at all.

[johnny crossan]

Its easy to forget that we weren't looking amazing going into the World Cup last year and it wasn't until we came into the New Year that we started to look like ourselves.

There's still time to pick it up and I often think that when you play 60+ games a season it's easy for the players to lose their way or lose their motivation early on. The players we have want to play in the big games and to do that they have to play well when it matters. I think we'll be fine as long as we keep it close during the run in. We felt a lot further behind last year.

However, I think if there's ever a year in which Pep and the Barca men have got it wrong then this is the one that we can forgive them for.

I cannot forgive them for buying utter dross and it wasn't one player they fucked up on, they fucked up on all 3 IMO.
Last year we had Gundo who, arguably, was a main reason we won what we won so we just have to face up to the fact that we do not have adequate replacements to win the premiership this year.
The CL can be won as its rarely ever won by the best team anyway , its a cup comp and anything can happen.

I'm not confident at all.

Doku is dross too?

[Mase]

Doku has less goals than Grealish in more starts, so judging by how bad everyone thinks Grealish is, Doku must be League 2 standard!

[johnny crossan]

Doku has less goals than Grealish in more starts, so judging by how bad everyone thinks Grealish is, Doku must be League 2 standard!

everyone?

[stupot]

Doku has less goals than Grealish in more starts, so judging by how bad everyone thinks Grealish is, Doku must be League 2 standard!

everyone?

Doku has a load more assists than Grealish.
Personally i like them both.

[Rob McKay]

I think we're a much bigger attacking threat when. Doku plays.

I also think it's worth being patient with each of the new signings. No one was worse than Rodri in his first season and whilst I'm not sure Nunes is a City calibre player but it's too soon to make a judgement.