Match Thread FA Cup: Man City v Liverpool

[justme]

Our new keeper doesn't look all too flash hot either.. he made numerous errors at the end of his Valencia career. that should have been enough to say. we've had second thoughts. But i believe we had already bought him. so that was off the table

[toshin]

Our squad is threadbare, when you are forced to play Wirzt and Jones in midfield..I dunno which one is supposed to be on the left?? We probably tried to play in numbers in midfield. but have no width and Salah offers nothing on the other side

This is the fault of fsg and slot.

Said many times in the off season, we are not legitimately rich like city or chelsea, or even arsenal and utd.
I genuinely believe the isak saga was at least partly because fsg didnt want to lose "face" again like with caicedo and lavia.

We should absolutely not be buying 100m players (esp more than one) when our squad is lacking in depth. Our peak buys should be 50-80m.

We really needed some quality depth.
Even if isak was fit we are getting smashed in this game because we are weak (and i also mean physically) in so many places.

The teams above us are much stronger in the above.

[eggy81]

Our new keeper doesn't look all too flash hot either.. he made numerous errors at the end of his Valencia career. that should have been enough to say. we've had second thoughts. But i believe we had already bought him. so that was off the table

The goal where he got chipped. That was poor. If he stays or fully comes he makes that finish more difficult. But he only half came. Alli would have teen out at his feet.

[justme]

The goal where he got chipped. That was poor. If he stays or fully comes he makes that finish more difficult. But he only half came. Alli would have teen out at his feet.

Yep, reminds me Mignolet in a game against Man-city where he came out and was chipped and the game against Chelsea, where Gerrard slipped. If Mignolet had closed the space a bit he may have caused the Chelsea attacker to go wide of the goal.The Chelsea player may have still scored. But at least try and do something.

[justme]

This is the fault of fsg and slot.

Said many times in the off season, we are not legitimately rich like city or chelsea, or even arsenal and utd.
I genuinely believe the isak saga was at least partly because fsg didnt want to lose "face" again like with caicedo and lavia.

We should absolutely not be buying 100m players (esp more than one) when our squad is lacking in depth. Our peak buys should be 50-80m.

We really needed some quality depth.
Even if isak was fit we are getting smashed in this game because we are weak (and i also mean physically) in so many places.

The teams above us are much stronger in the above.

They tried to buy the best of the best, with huge investments. I think we got it right with Kerkez he looks a decent signing and Ekitike was an excellent purchase. But we got rid of back of a lot of players and left us very short

[miller0863]

£116m on Wirtz is absolutely insane when we are desperate for a wide forward, a 6 and a CB. Absolutely nuts.

[Insidious]

We should absolutely not be buying 100m players (esp more than one) when our squad is lacking in depth. Our peak buys should be 50-80m.

We really needed some quality depth.

The depth issue sticks out all the more when your big buys that are meant to revolutionise the side don't end up playing together enough, or performing to the desired degree when available.

Our three "big buys" this time around were Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike.

I know today is a League Cup game, but the number of minutes the above lads have apparently played together in the League is lower than you'd want, especially if having them on the pitch simultaneously was the plan (was it?) - so you definitely need depth to cover.

Here's a breakdown - bear in mind it's been 31 League games now and these are League minutes only (I may need to check these figures for errors at some point*) -

Wirtz and Ekitike together - 1,303 minutes
Wirtz and Isak together - 305 minutes
Isak and Ekitike together - 50 minutes
All three together - 0 minutes

Not enough time together and certainly not enough quality of cover for those lads.

Quite the "oooof" to add to our other issues.

[miller0863]

After 80 minutes with no Harry Kane in the squad
Freiburg 2-0 Bayern

F/T
Freiburg 2-3 Bayern

Can you imagine us under Slot winning that?

Jeez.

[Insidious]

After 80 minutes with no Harry Kane in the squad
Freiburg 2-0 Bayern

F/T
Freiburg 2-3 Bayern

Can you imagine us under Slot winning that?

Jeez.

Their output this season has been mad - think they had scored 97 when I glanced at the table during the week so they'll have got their 100th League goal today and haven't conceded 30 yet.

Whereas we have scored half the League goals.

Speaks volumes about our conversion this season.

[Steveo]

After 80 minutes with no Harry Kane in the squad
Freiburg 2-0 Bayern

F/T
Freiburg 2-3 Bayern

Can you imagine us under Slot winning that?

Jeez.

https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/freiburg-2-3-bayern-munich-match-report-highlights-comeback-karl-bischof-36742

MAN OF THE MATCH: LUIS DÍAZ

While Bischof and Karl grabbed the headlines with their goals, Luis Díaz was a constant threat throughout for Bayern.

The Colombian winger won an impressive 16 challenges - more than any other player on the pitch - and was at the heart of Bayern's attacking play.

His spectacular overhead kick attempt in the first half showcased his confidence and technical ability, while his direct running consistently troubled the Freiburg defence.

Indeed, Díaz's pressure on the Freiburg backline in the closing stages helped create the space for Bischof and Karl to complete the comeback.


Same data Anal'ists who wanted to cash in on this monster of a player - lowballed Palace and were instrumental on us missing out on Guehi.

[miller0863]

They made a complete mess of things in the summer.

[Lenouis]

After almost of the season gone, Slot finally sees ‘Defending is not good enough’. He’s a genius this bloke. A complete FRAUD but a genius all the same.

[Jenson78]

This is a tragedy. only positive is we can't be worse v PSG.. This lot owe the fans a performance

I’m so glad I was working today and missed the game. Not seen anything but the score & Salah missing another penalty, pretty much paints the picture. Think it’s obvious the players will put all their energy into the PSG game then lose the following league game. Finishing 5 th will be difficult with this bunch of bottlers.

[Insidious]

Finishing 5 th will be difficult with this bunch of bottlers.

The Fulham weekend will tell us a lot.

Chelsea face Man City, whilst Everton and Brentford play each other.

If everything fell the way we wanted it, ie -

- we win against Fulham
- Chelsea lose to Man City
- Brentford and Everton draw

- then we could have a 4-point gap over Chelsea and a 5-point gap over both Brentford and Everton, with just 6 left to go.

You'd probably think we could just about see it out over the last 6 League games of the season if it panned out as above, though "it's the hope that kills you" and all that.

If however it goes the worst way possible, ie -

- we lose to Fulham
- Chelsea beat Man City and thus overtake us
- one of Brentford or Everton WIN and become level with us on points

- then you would have to say that we are probably cooked for the rest of the season and will have to endure horror shows against Everton and Man United before the season is out, with fans walking out early.

A massive weekend that - absolutely massive. If ever there was a time for a late winner at Anfield, whether it was a dodgy deflection, a returning Isak or Gomez finally getting his first goal for the club, then the Fulham game is where you'd want it this season.

[redgold]

Having just seen the post match interviews, I'd forgotten that that little blister Ljinders was at city.