ChrisC

Didn’t look good at all did it, my first thought was MCL, could even be worse

I get it, but they mostly did. Trent was off and known very early on, Robbo poor for two previous seasons let’s be honest and nobody would have considered Nunez or Jota anywhere near good enough starting quality. Diaz aside it’s for the most part the same team, formation and setup. There’s every right to expect better.

4-3-3 is nothing new in this league by now, the lack of graft, press and slow motion football is though least of all from a title winning side. First halves were slow last year but this is 90 mins worth now.

City have consistently played with creative, attacking midfielders even centrally who don’t run forward five yards and s*** the bed only to pass sideways. Watching them earlier this week was frightening just how much quicker they can move the ball, make runs to crate space and overlaps and work off the ball. We look so passive and timid it’s hard to believe this side walked the league at all, so passive and weak in key areas.

Mac is a real worry, looks a total shadow of the player he was and seems to have totally lost what little pace he had.

Reversion to the mean

He doesn’t even glance before he just hits it in to nobody, it’s so poor.

It really, really is. So toothless out there, it’s pathetic.

Walking football again, starting to really hate this setup.

Moronic tackle.

Kherkez doesn’t even look and Bradley just can’t. It’s crap.

Crossing horrendous again

Lot of that s*** among that generation of footy pundits isn’t there, real ‘Keysie & Graysie’ top bantzzz ledges.

Don't think I've ever seen a team manipulate the "head injury" rule more than those c****. Should have some sort of minimum time off for it. 5 mins on the touchline while you get checked out or you can be subbed immediately if someones available to come on.

I’d take Semenyo regardless, good attacking player who’s strong with both feet. We aren’t paying big money for Olise or anyone around that level based on this seasons showing. Even if Mo stays we need some form of competition for his place rather than forcing our best midfielder out of position to also be our best RB & RW.

Huge win that. Get in.

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The best way would be to produce wins, which we pissed right up the wall on what should be our ‘easy’ run of games. Something stinks, how can you dominate Real Madrid for 90 mins and produce this crap in the league?

Yep, ball is 100% in his court. On his day he can be immense. A regular starter for many years, if he fancies himself at PSG or Real then fine.

I’ve been ranting stupidly about that on here all day,what do you think? Coaching, Mo, Wirtz? Top of the league to mid table in seven weeks after good results despite not being at our best, what gives?

Naturally, but when you’ve refused a new contract at the league champions so you can leave on a free then be prepared for increased scrutiny right? Would also help if he didn’t make brain-dead decisions that cost needless goals too frequently.

He’s every chance to play his way into a contract extension and years ahead at the club. f*** me he’s in one of the most privileged positions in world football playing next to VVD with Alisson behind the pair. If you can’t step up and learn from that then get to f***.

He’s one goal behind our top scorer with one games less played, that doesn’t signify that we’ve changed how we play or accommodate him, we were top of the league seven games ago. We had slow first halves last year but exploded in second halves and destroyed teams, now we capitulate being 2-0 up time and again. What’s changed?

I think your first sentence is the key here, why does it feel or play out like we are dropping twenty yards deeper this season and not pressing, despite having the players to do so?

Appreciated, but Salah was 32 last year and had a fantastic season even by his standards, we still play largely the same team and the same setup in 4-3-3. Whatever is being coached out of this team surely isn’t isolating your best player to give him a chance of being 1 vs 1 on a full back?