PL 2021/22 Season

[little dave hedgehog]

agree. let's make sure we win our games and then see where we are.

[Fredo]

We need to sort our own form out and not worry about anyone else. We've had a decent run of 6 back to back wins recently, but before that we've not strung together more than 2 PL wins all season. We probably need a run of 10 or so. It's not impossible but something just doesn't seem right with us at the moment compared to how we had been in outlr successful seasons

We’re playing some of the best football I’ve seen us play this season. We control games better but we’ve also been sloppy out of transition a few times meaning we’ve lost a few points when we shouldn’t have compared to our title winning season when we were watertight. Today was an off day I feel but we should still have won.

[BobTheCharmer]

We need to sort our own form out and not worry about anyone else. We've had a decent run of 6 back to back wins recently, but before that we've not strung together more than 2 PL wins all season. We probably need a run of 10 or so. It's not impossible but something just doesn't seem right with us at the moment compared to how we had been in our successful seasons, we need to figure that out and get it sorted.

Get out, only 2 defeats in 36 games, scored in 700 consecutive games, the world's best player, it can't get any better. Yet I agree, it hasn't felt right despite the records. Mane and Bobby are way off the league winning form. As is Virgil.

[Exiled_red]

Get out, only 2 defeats in 36 games, scored in 700 consecutive games, the world's best player, it can't get any better. Yet I agree, it hasn't felt right despite the records. Mane and Bobby are way off the league winning form. As is Virgil.

I don't mean to complain, like I say something just doesn't feel quite right, we seem to play better football than before but we seem to have lost that clinical edge, and we've made hard work of a number of games recently despite dominating play and possession and all the records of scoring in consecutive games I've said for a while I am concerned about out lack of goals from anywhere other than the forwards, they get about 80% of our goals. It feels like those small things are missing

[little dave hedgehog]

it's the lasik.

[little dave hedgehog]

seriously tho, i think it might be time to break up this this team and shake up the midfield. and possibly the backroom staff. if it were me, i'd start entertaining some bids and i'd be looking at good fits for the way jurgen likes his players to play, like barella and lautario martinez from inter, jude bellingham would be a good fit, leon goretska, if he could manage another thiago there...there are less expensive players i'm sure, but looking at players with broad shoulders who are young enough for a new challenge but mature enough for the responsibility of starting for us...those are the names that stand out to me. maybe declan rice, i think he would make a decent heir to henderson.

[Liverpool]

Keeping pace with City is difficult, trying to outscore them and go to their place is pretty much impossible. Go big for CL, possibly the domestic cups, wrap up top 4.

Hopefully get Elliott back soon.

[ChesterDave]

...

[frank the tank]

I don't mean to complain, like I say something just doesn't feel quite right, we seem to play better football than before but we seem to have lost that clinical edge, and we've made hard work of a number of games recently despite dominating play and possession and all the records of scoring in consecutive games I've said for a while I am concerned about out lack of goals from anywhere other than the forwards, they get about 80% of our goals. It feels like those small things are missing

In my opinion, it's all on Mo up front. Watch the highlights of when we went to Leicester and tonked them 4 nil the year we won the league. Mo didn't score. Mane was unplayable, Bobby was unplayable. Both of them have fallen off a cliff in terms of form. I know Manes numbers are good but watching him is hard this season. His build up play isn't as quick or precise, decision making has gone a bit and his execution is gone to ****.

If we replaced both mane and Bobby it might be for the best because it feels they have peaked

[Exiled_red]

In my opinion, it's all on Mo up front. Watch the highlights of when we went to Leicester and tonked them 4 nil the year we won the league. Mo didn't score. Mane was unplayable, Bobby was unplayable. Both of them have fallen off a cliff in terms of form. I know Manes numbers are good but watching him is hard this season. His build up play isn't as quick or precise, decision making has gone a bit and his execution is gone to ****.

If we replaced both mane and Bobby it might be for the best because it feels they have peaked

Personally I feel Mane's drop in form is tied to Bobby's I feel all the little neat flicks tricks and clever play Bobby did brought the best out of Mane, combine that with defences playing deeper and look at the chances Mane gets now. A couple of years ago he was getting one on one's with the keeper, the one he missed last night was the first one of those I can remember him having in a long time.

Jota is a different player je is more selfish than Bobby, he gets goals for himself which are needed at the moment but he doesn't have the link up play of a peak Firmino. That said Firmino hasn't been at his peak do a couple of years. I can see why you say it's all on Salah. I think that is probably true of the creative force in the front 3, in terms of goals they are shared out a bit more. I feel we really need more of a goalscoring threat from midfield though and an improvement on set pieces. I know we are supposedly one of the top scorers of goals from set pieces but I imagine that is due to the sheer number we get rather than a high conversion rate. We had about 8 last night and I only think we had one or 2 half chances from them.

[BG1973]

Del

[BobTheCharmer]

If we look subjectively at our team now compared to the title winning season, the players just aren't consistently at the required level. Look, we're one of the top 3 teams in the league still, no doubt. But to topple City we need to be excelling and we've all seen that we aren't quite good enough despite what the records and results may suggest. Over a 38 game season, you will come up short if the short comings aren't rectified.

Here's my take on player form;

Becker - always has an error in him but I think his goalkeeping is actually the best since he's been here. He's in brilliant form.

Trent - he's better than last year. His crossing is superb although his form is still a little patchy. For me considering how clean he hits a ball, he should be getting 5 to 10 goals a season for me. Roughly same form as title winning season.

Robbo - signs he's getting back to it. But for me he's at 70% of title winning form. He's more hesitant and rarely uses his right foot to keep the ball moving quicker.

Matip - I think he's been at a fairly good level this season. Needs to do more at corners from an attacking point of view

Virgil - here's the biggest issue for me. He's still our best player but he's barely at 70% for me. He's very little threat at corners for us which is a big loss. He also hasn't got the pace back. He's dropping deeper and standing off players. He's been at fault for a lot of goals this season. Yesterday he should have blocked that shot. It's understandable considering the injury he suffered. But him not at 100% is massive for us.

Henderson - he still has the desire and drive but his body isn't allowing him to influence in the same way. He's also trying to be a creative force when he isn't. I think he's way off the form of 2 years ago.

Fabinho - best DM in the league. He's not an issue for me.

Thiago / Ox / Keita - none are playing regular enough and none are doing enough. Ginni was a better cog in our system although he peaked and last season was patchy. I don't think we're missing him we needed a better replacement.

Mane - was my favourite player - poor shadow of the player he was. Effort is same as previous but his effectiveness in the team is barely 20% of required level. Shooting is awful. Too many touches. He's ****ed and he ain't coming back. Time to be ruthless and replace him in January.

Bobby - there's glimpses but he's finished for me. You can accept the lack of goals if he's working hard and creating stuff. I don't think his body can do it anymore. Not at the level that our team needs. For this team to excel everyone needs to be at 100%. He's way off and the peak has been I'm afraid.

Salah - his all round play has been superb this season. Not just the goals. But he looks mentally and physically knackered. He is the sole creative force. He's unable to do it every game.

Our 70% is better than 17 other teams in this league. But it's not enough to challenge City.

The team is older and peaked perfectly 2 years ago. It's too big an ask to expect us to get back to that level.

Hopefully we win something. I'd take 3rd and a cup over 2nd and no trophy.

There's always hope that City implode, but I personally don't think we can take advantage. If I'm wrong I'll be delighted.

[Exiled_red]

I don't think that we have that edge, for me doing so well and coming so close to city the year we won the CL gave us the desire, drive and ruthlessness to push on and win the league. After winning the league for the first time in 30 years after having won the CL the year before I feel that that edge or desire has gone, which I think is understandable.

[Maxiedge]

Man City have been on a good run but have we not been f*cked over here by the fixtures?

They got to play massive under-strength Leeds while our fixture was cancelled. Then they play a Newcastle with very little rest and again with squad issues. They had 5 days rest when Newcastle had 3. As if they need a helping hand ffs.

They played Leicester at home who were basically psychologically throwing the game by not starting Vardy and then they get another 5 day break and play thursday (where we would have played 2 games in 3 days).

I understand the gap has widened but, f*ck me, they've had a good run of it last 2 weeks. Very few complaints from their camp about the fixtures.

[Norbs]

It's not like City to catch a lucky break

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59818457