***Dippers v Treble Winners Official Match Thread***

[PeterParker]

Ederson I’ll be out for up to 4 weeks. I think it was only a matter of time before this happened, the amount of time he has lunged out & got away without injury & giving away penalties. I hope he learns from this.

To be honest, he won't be missed. Ortega is more up to it to do the job.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I see Haaland escaped any criticism in this match thread as that was directed at Alvarez - The reality was that Haaland was a waste of fucking space in this game , he did sweet fuckall and its not the first time hes been a waste of space against a top team.

I think Pep should drop him for certain top games as hes just not doing enough in them IMO....PeP needs to come up with a different game plan as its been copy and paste time for a while now.

[Outcast]

I didn't see the point dropping Dias, his form is irrelevant, we needed his leadership. Akanji can't lead and he sucks at centre back. Akanji should only cover right or even left back positions. Just a weird decision from Pep.
You don't see Klopp dropping Van dick whatever form he's in. You play your best centre back into form. The amount of partnerships Dias had throughout the season, no wonder he's been all over the place. If the defence is shambles, it effects the whole balance of the team.

[Outcast]

Doesn’t help that we don’t really have a leader(s). Walker shouldn’t be anywhere the captaincy. Kev is kicking off with the manager when he’s taken off so it’s the same for him.

We’re missing a Fern/Gundo. A proper leader.

We have a natural leader in Dias, Pep doesn't have the balls to make him captain and get the best out of him, instead he went with this pathetic holistic voting. Not only that, he benched his only natural leader at the back

[Indianablue]

My biggest worry is that Haaland doesn’t look arsed in some games, usually the big ones. Also dropping Dias to play alongside Stones was in explicable.

Akanji must have something on Pep

[Indianablue]

I see Haaland escaped any criticism in this match thread as that was directed at Alvarez - The reality was that Haaland was a waste of fucking space in this game , he did sweet fuckall and its not the first time hes been a waste of space against a top team.

I think Pep should drop him for certain top games as hes just not doing enough in them IMO....PeP needs to come up with a different game plan as its been copy and paste time for a while now.

Say what you like about Alavarez, even in his off games and he's had more recently because of the way Pep is using him, he always runs for the team, always looks interested, always looks as though he does give a fuck. With Haaland, unless he scores early on he mopes around the fucking pitch with a face like a slapped arse. The longer in the game he goes, the more pissed off he looks and the better the opposition feel. Granted he may pop up and get on at any time but this season is a definite drop in performance levels. Quite a few City fans i've spoken to after the weekend have suggested Haaland should have been tugged and Alvarez played as a centre forward

[Harry Dowd scored]

I see Haaland escaped any criticism in this match thread as that was directed at Alvarez - The reality was that Haaland was a waste of fucking space in this game , he did sweet fuckall and its not the first time hes been a waste of space against a top team.

I think Pep should drop him for certain top games as hes just not doing enough in them IMO....PeP needs to come up with a different game plan as its been copy and paste time for a while now.

Say what you like about Alavarez, even in his off games and he's had more recently because of the way Pep is using him, he always runs for the team, always looks interested, always looks as though he does give a fuck. With Haaland, unless he scores early on he mopes around the fucking pitch with a face like a slapped arse. The longer in the game he goes, the more pissed off he looks and the better the opposition feel. Granted he may pop up and get on at any time but this season is a definite drop in performance levels. Quite a few City fans i've spoken to after the weekend have suggested Haaland should have been tugged and Alvarez played as a centre forward

The Alvarez switch you suggest sounds a good idea now. However had Pep done that I suspect the aficionados on the match thread may not have concurred with this tactical masterclass

[sheblue]

I see Haaland escaped any criticism in this match thread as that was directed at Alvarez - The reality was that Haaland was a waste of fucking space in this game , he did sweet fuckall and its not the first time hes been a waste of space against a top team.

I think Pep should drop him for certain top games as hes just not doing enough in them IMO....PeP needs to come up with a different game plan as its been copy and paste time for a while now.

Say what you like about Alavarez, even in his off games and he's had more recently because of the way Pep is using him, he always runs for the team, always looks interested, always looks as though he does give a fuck. With Haaland, unless he scores early on he mopes around the fucking pitch with a face like a slapped arse. The longer in the game he goes, the more pissed off he looks and the better the opposition feel. Granted he may pop up and get on at any time but this season is a definite drop in performance levels. Quite a few City fans i've spoken to after the weekend have suggested Haaland should have been tugged and Alvarez played as a centre forward

The Alvarez switch you suggest sounds a good idea now. However had Pep done that I suspect the aficionados on the match thread may not have concurred with this tactical masterclass

Can we not just say that Pep isn't having the greatest of seasons tactically? Or will that blow a few too many fuses?

[carolina-blue]

Two pennith worth - We shit ourselves “again”
So delighted to get a point we didn’t deserve lmo
Downside not good to be without Ed I know we have Ortaga but if he takes a knock ouch .
Upside Love all the piss boiling re - the pen
Foooookin Awesome - onward & upward Blues

[blues2win]

Akanji has more pace than Dias and had been in good form. I suspect that was why he was picked given Liverpools forward pace. He played well. I don’t think his inclusion damaged us at all.

[Indianablue]

I see Haaland escaped any criticism in this match thread as that was directed at Alvarez - The reality was that Haaland was a waste of fucking space in this game , he did sweet fuckall and its not the first time hes been a waste of space against a top team.

I think Pep should drop him for certain top games as hes just not doing enough in them IMO....PeP needs to come up with a different game plan as its been copy and paste time for a while now.

Say what you like about Alavarez, even in his off games and he's had more recently because of the way Pep is using him, he always runs for the team, always looks interested, always looks as though he does give a fuck. With Haaland, unless he scores early on he mopes around the fucking pitch with a face like a slapped arse. The longer in the game he goes, the more pissed off he looks and the better the opposition feel. Granted he may pop up and get on at any time but this season is a definite drop in performance levels. Quite a few City fans i've spoken to after the weekend have suggested Haaland should have been tugged and Alvarez played as a centre forward

The Alvarez switch you suggest sounds a good idea now. However had Pep done that I suspect the aficionados on the match thread may not have concurred with this tactical masterclass

Half would agree with me, the other half are no nothing wankers

[Indianablue]

Akanji has more pace than Dias and had been in good form. I suspect that was why he was picked given Liverpools forward pace. He played well. I don’t think his inclusion damaged us at all.

In terms of pace i'd say it would be close. The difference is that Akanji having a good game is good for Akanji, Dias having a good game inspires others around him. He is a leader

[Mase]

Akanji has more pace than Dias and had been in good form. I suspect that was why he was picked given Liverpools forward pace. He played well. I don’t think his inclusion damaged us at all.

In terms of pace i'd say it would be close. The difference is that Akanji having a good game is good for Akanji, Dias having a good game inspires others around him. He is a leader

I can’t think of one example of Akanji showing better pace than Dias.

[zuricity]

So Rafa Benitez conveniently gets himself sacked so he can go back to scouse2

[stupot]

Haaland last season scored against Arsenal home and away, this season he scored against Liverpool at home. That's not a bad record against top teams.

[Harry Dowd scored]

So Rafa Benitez conveniently gets himself sacked so he can go back to scouse2

I think the fat guy may be Waiting a long time fo the call

[Dubciteh]

Akanje was fine. A non issue for me.

Haaland is a difficult one, in hindsight going with alvarez second half would have been better but pep would have been lynched for it. Where has haalands pace gone? When he first joined he was lightening! He hasnt show that burst of pace once….

[zuricity]

So Rafa Benitez conveniently gets himself sacked so he can go back to scouse2

I think the fat guy may be Waiting a long time fo the call

So as a possible replacement
You're not tipping him then

[Harry Dowd scored]

So Rafa Benitez conveniently gets himself sacked so he can go back to scouse2

I think the fat guy may be Waiting a long time fo the call

So as a possible replacement
You're not tipping him then

Just keeping the

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