***Champions v Madrid CL Official Match Thread***

[PeterParker]

We won the game last night, then fucked it up. Again.

The players can't be faulted for effort. But (yet) another brain fart by Ederson and then a complete nothing by two players, and it was gone.

I don't know how many times Vinisius went past Lewis - I've never seen anyone gain so much over 10 yards. And as for that last goal - at least Nunes would've knocked him over, which was what was required.

Some of these need to be hooked out. Lewis is 'ok', just, in midfield. But defence, hopeless. Too small, too slow, no positioning

Who fucking put him there ?
Sick and tired of the fucking manager putting players in positions where they just cannot cope -
Week in and week out.

But that's his position, right? As a right back?
He did a fine job there until Walker came back and fucked our game.

Go on then I will bite. Its really not his position nor is Josko a left back. Pep is infatuated with the brain-fuck of having his fullbacks create an extra man in midfield. As we have seen since October, this leads to more players being caught upfield ahead of the ball and the inevitable breakaway with an easy run in on goal. We cannot score 3 or more goals every game to mitigate this. Here's a radical thought, plug the big fuck off gap in the middle or alter the tactics. It really is that simple. No point in us all falling out about it, unless one of those 2 scenarios is adopted by Pep, zabba will continue to clean up at the bookies

No, mate, I am not contesting, I am just saying, he came on in the team as a right back, no? I mean, we were led to believe he is a right back and for me, at least at the start of the season, he did a good job.

I also think he is not good enough, but again, he is someone who is trying his best, wants to be here, wants to fight.

[Redna]

Most worrying thing was yesterday when Bellend made 2-3.
I didn´t react.
Had it been a couple of years ago I would´ve thrown the can on the wall.
Am I spoiled, have I no memory. We came from shit.

[Nick]

Re rico and position -

Its true that

1) he came as a right back
2) he waa better than walker in the treble run in and this season
3) pep then forced walker baxk in both times
4) now fuck knows what his position is

[nottsblue]

I think this is very unfair on the players. There were some very good performances from several players. Gvardiol was outstanding with an astonishing run and assist for the first goal and plenty of other big moments notably slowing down Mbappe when he was bearing down on goal. I had doubts about Stones as a DM but he was excellent there. Akanji is no RB but he’s the best we’ve got and he stuck to his task well. Grealish was good for the short time he was on the field. Haaland had a good game. Kevin and Bernie lacked inspiration but gave everything they had. Foden did well in the second half. A couple of self inflicted wounds from Ederson ( who made some good saves however) and Kovacic prevented us eking out a 2-1 victory against a side full of attacking threat. Ignoring the good last night seems unbalanced. À shit result is a shit result but it’s far from the whole story.

I agree

And on balance, although the next leg will be very tough and playing the odds will be difficult to progress from, in football you never know. While there is a solitary goal between us there is hope.

As it goes I think we will go out. But the unknown is what makes the game what it is

[sheblue]

I think this is very unfair on the players. There were some very good performances from several players. Gvardiol was outstanding with an astonishing run and assist for the first goal and plenty of other big moments notably slowing down Mbappe when he was bearing down on goal. I had doubts about Stones as a DM but he was excellent there. Akanji is no RB but he’s the best we’ve got and he stuck to his task well. Grealish was good for the short time he was on the field. Haaland had a good game. Kevin and Bernie lacked inspiration but gave everything they had. Foden did well in the second half. A couple of self inflicted wounds from Ederson ( who made some good saves however) and Kovacic prevented us eking out a 2-1 victory against a side full of attacking threat. Ignoring the good last night seems unbalanced. À shit result is a shit result but it’s far from the whole story.

I agree

And on balance, although the next leg will be very tough and playing the odds will be difficult to progress from, in football you never know. While there is a solitary goal between us there is hope.

As it goes I think we will go out. But the unknown is what makes the game what it is

It is done. Forget it. Apart from Madrid there are about 6 or 7 teams left that would have no problem knocking us out.
Just concentrate on the league top 4 and cup for now.

[Mase]

I think this is very unfair on the players. There were some very good performances from several players. Gvardiol was outstanding with an astonishing run and assist for the first goal and plenty of other big moments notably slowing down Mbappe when he was bearing down on goal. I had doubts about Stones as a DM but he was excellent there. Akanji is no RB but he’s the best we’ve got and he stuck to his task well. Grealish was good for the short time he was on the field. Haaland had a good game. Kevin and Bernie lacked inspiration but gave everything they had. Foden did well in the second half. A couple of self inflicted wounds from Ederson ( who made some good saves however) and Kovacic prevented us eking out a 2-1 victory against a side full of attacking threat. Ignoring the good last night seems unbalanced. À shit result is a shit result but it’s far from the whole story.

I agree

And on balance, although the next leg will be very tough and playing the odds will be difficult to progress from, in football you never know. While there is a solitary goal between us there is hope.

As it goes I think we will go out. But the unknown is what makes the game what it is

It is done. Forget it. Apart from Madrid there are about 6 or 7 teams left that would have no problem knocking us out.
Just concentrate on the league top 4 and cup for now.

This is it for me. I wish we’d not got through the other week. Every time this has happened this season we’ve thought, “ohh is this the kick up the arse? The turning point?” There won’t be a turning point for us this season. We got hammered by Arsenal and nothing has happened.

We need to get out of the CL asap and focus on top 4 and see what our second string can do in the FA Cup.

[Harry Dowd scored]

I remember many years ago reading that a football team represents the managers in many ways, this is true at the moment with City. Lacking in confidence, edgy & unstable & totally lacking energy & judgement. This comment off Pep confirms this.

We are just not stable enough. I've been here for many years and we've been an extraordinary team, a machine every three days.
"This year, I accept when the opponent is better but at the moment I'm not good enough to give composure to the team to manage these situations. It's the truth.
"The accountability belongs to all of us, not just the players. For me, it would be easy to blame a specific player but that is ridiculous and doesn't work. It is me first and the players as well.
"The truth is that we are not stable enough in those moments. Today is not an exception, it happened many times. Today is what it is, tomorrow you have to continue and have fresh legs and fresh minds."


Significant he mentions “every three days” he is obsessed with player fatigue & it reflects with the team, I have said many times it is a self fulfilling prophecy, keep telling the players they are fatigued & they will be. Pep needs to go on gardening leave asap.

[PeterParker]

Significant he mentions “every three days” he is obsessed with player fatigue & it reflects with the team, I have said many times it is a self fulfilling prophecy, keep telling the players they are fatigued & they will be. Pep needs to go on gardening leave asap.

Didn't Rodri have the injury exactly in the week he was talking about player's strike because of fatigue?

[Nick]

Yep and agree

Wooney etc was pointing out ancelotti said f all about his injuries

[Sparklehorse]

Can anyone tell me what positive contribution Kev made for us last night?
I really think his time is up, and I say this with a heavy heart, his pace has gone and he just doesn’t seem up for it anymore. Yes, when he’s on the pitch he will score the odd goal and provide the odd assist, but his overall contribution and influence on games is in rapid decline. Surely Pep can see this and should manage him accordingly.

[Hazy2]

Can anyone tell me what positive contribution Kev made for us last night?
I really think his time is up, and I say this with a heavy heart, his pace has gone and he just doesn’t seem up for it anymore. Yes, when he’s on the pitch he will score the odd goal and provide the odd assist, but his overall contribution and influence on games is in rapid decline. Surely Pep can see this and should manage him accordingly.

How about the reverse pass to start the move for our first first goal. He was for me very good for an hour. Yes Kevs coming to the end, he’s been amazing, enjoy his last season.

[sniffer]

Top four and FA cup agree should be out targets. For me next week play the new players that are eligible, youth and energy see what happens.

[sheblue]

Can anyone tell me what positive contribution Kev made for us last night?
I really think his time is up, and I say this with a heavy heart, his pace has gone and he just doesn’t seem up for it anymore. Yes, when he’s on the pitch he will score the odd goal and provide the odd assist, but his overall contribution and influence on games is in rapid decline. Surely Pep can see this and should manage him accordingly.

How about the reverse pass to start the move for our first first goal. He was for me very good for an hour. Yes Kevs coming to the end, he’s been amazing, enjoy his last season.

For me this has to be his last season. Probably the best midfielder I have seen play for us, but time waits for no man and its nearly up for him. There is no room for sentiment. He needs to move on and free up wages and a place for younger midfielder in the summer.

[Mase]

Can anyone tell me what positive contribution Kev made for us last night?
I really think his time is up, and I say this with a heavy heart, his pace has gone and he just doesn’t seem up for it anymore. Yes, when he’s on the pitch he will score the odd goal and provide the odd assist, but his overall contribution and influence on games is in rapid decline. Surely Pep can see this and should manage him accordingly.

How about the reverse pass to start the move for our first first goal. He was for me very good for an hour. Yes Kevs coming to the end, he’s been amazing, enjoy his last season.

For me this has to be his last season. Probably the best midfielder I have seen play for us, but time waits for no man and its nearly up for him. There is no room for sentiment. He needs to move on and free up wages and a place for younger midfielder in the summer.

Preferably Wirtz

[PeterParker]

How the actual fuck UEFA gave the Diaz assist to Vinicius?

[Mase]

If we’d been 2-0 down and brought it back to 2-2 and then lost I don’t think it would have been taken as bad. It’s the fact we’re always winning and that’s when we collapse.

[carolina-blue]

If we’d been 2-0 down and brought it back to 2-2 and then lost I don’t think it would have been taken as bad. It’s the fact we’re always winning and that’s when we collapse.

This all day , I believe their heads have gone We used to be mentality monsters ,Could take anyone to the last minutes and score /win Now they feel like they are going to concede lose imo

[Sparklehorse]

Can anyone tell me what positive contribution Kev made for us last night?
I really think his time is up, and I say this with a heavy heart, his pace has gone and he just doesn’t seem up for it anymore. Yes, when he’s on the pitch he will score the odd goal and provide the odd assist, but his overall contribution and influence on games is in rapid decline. Surely Pep can see this and should manage him accordingly.

How about the reverse pass to start the move for our first first goal. He was for me very good for an hour. Yes Kevs coming to the end, he’s been amazing, enjoy his last season.

That was about half an hour before the goal, good pass, Gvardiol’s and his run and assist was top notch.

[sheblue]

Can anyone tell me what positive contribution Kev made for us last night?
I really think his time is up, and I say this with a heavy heart, his pace has gone and he just doesn’t seem up for it anymore. Yes, when he’s on the pitch he will score the odd goal and provide the odd assist, but his overall contribution and influence on games is in rapid decline. Surely Pep can see this and should manage him accordingly.

How about the reverse pass to start the move for our first first goal. He was for me very good for an hour. Yes Kevs coming to the end, he’s been amazing, enjoy his last season.

For me this has to be his last season. Probably the best midfielder I have seen play for us, but time waits for no man and its nearly up for him. There is no room for sentiment. He needs to move on and free up wages and a place for younger midfielder in the summer.

Preferably Wirtz

Amen.