Re: Seven and a half mins.
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:16 pm
I've tried to stay away since the game because I have certain thoughts on the game and the team in particular. Firstly I will say that I don't blame the manager or players, although they are attributable. What I would say is that they have all been let down by the board, and this is why.
Have you noticed how we get to these big televised games we always go back to our 4-4-2 (or equivalent)? It's as if we are trying to put a philosophy across rather than actual tactics; this is the City way, you could say. Also, have you noticed that more times than not these tactics don't work, especially this season?
The games against Barca & Liverpool had very similar feelings, the chance we could do something until the opposition decided to turn it on, which they did. And that's where this 7 & half minutes gumf really falls down for me, and here's why.
Why are we expecting this team to give it balls-out for any longer than 7 & half minutes?
Some people will look at our team, with it's class, and think we can press the oppo all the game, forcing them into mistakes and playing in their final 3rd. Well, here's the problem and something that the board should understand. A team like Barca could do this because they were brought up that way, or a team like Liverpool have the players to keep up the tempo, we DON'T. The whole point in pressing is that the whole team can do it, or at least in each dept, especially the midfield. We DON'T have those players.
Just look at the stats from Sunday's game. Liverpool's average age was 24 years old, a FULL 4 years younger than ours. And individual units, what were their stats? Apart from the keeper, who are similar, they were younger and more mobile in all depts, and that wasn't just stats, it showed. In defence they averaged 25 years old to our 28, in midfield they were 25 to our 29 and in attack they were 21 to our 27. Even from the bench, with Kolo coming on, they averaged 29 to our 30 (Lampard killed it at 36). With those stats is it any wonder we can't keep up the pace?
So, going back to the original 'I don't blame the manager or players, although they are attributable', these are my thoughts. The manager does take the can by and large but in this instance, and as we play this 'philosophy', it is a practice that is engrained through the club, one in which we will grow our brand on. The philosophy is that you have the players to win the game, regardless of how you defend - it's all about how many you score. Pellegrini is told how to play unless he has a player shortage and actually has a say on how we should do things and implement a pragmatic view and use tactics, as we seen when we had all our strikers out.
The players themselves don't buy into the philosophy, basically because they play the actual game and they know their limits. We've seen numerous changes to the team each match day and the dynamic you try not to change is the back 4, but we see it time and time again as Pellers tries to keep them fresh. We've been seriously let down at the back and near enough every one of them are shot, not being able to make the basic decision of 'Should I come or Should I hold', whic states to me that they've been told how to play, by getting a foot in or sticking close. How the hell can a 13 stone 28 year old do this against a 20 year old matchstick, you can never win!
But where does any blame lie then, the manager, the players, the board? Well, they all take responsibility as they are all professionals who should be voicing their opinions and getting it right. However, look closely at what our players are asked to do and what the board are providing to assist that order? We currently have an ageing squad who are asked to play a high pressing game against far younger or better opposition. We're asked to go 2 up front against one of the worlds best teams who have come off the back of a near record run of games and then onto another team on a real high and not even think about our players or tactics, but just how we will look on TV ........... if we win. Is that the right way to run a team or do you play to the teams strengths?
Over the last few seasons we've spent money on already ageing players or squad members that are a class or 2 lower than what we already had. Some of these players may enhance the squad in the short term but they aren't players we can use long term, apart from the bench. Now we are left with a first team that needs a good overhaul, needing youth or strong legs and heart to give us the tempo that we are being asked of. The powers that be aren't providing that, it's quite clear, and aren't giving us the team (players and manager/coaches) to prove ourselves on the pitch.
Sheikh Mansour's vision is to challenge the elite, not only in the PL, but in Europe,won't get that whilst his directors are bringing in players that don't actually upgrade on those that we've already got, even though they are getting older. We need players who can do the job asked of them, for at least the 7 or so seconds needed, before sprinting back to protect what we have.
Seven and half minutes, you complain, but trust me, that's probably more than what we've actually got.
Have you noticed how we get to these big televised games we always go back to our 4-4-2 (or equivalent)? It's as if we are trying to put a philosophy across rather than actual tactics; this is the City way, you could say. Also, have you noticed that more times than not these tactics don't work, especially this season?
The games against Barca & Liverpool had very similar feelings, the chance we could do something until the opposition decided to turn it on, which they did. And that's where this 7 & half minutes gumf really falls down for me, and here's why.
Why are we expecting this team to give it balls-out for any longer than 7 & half minutes?
Some people will look at our team, with it's class, and think we can press the oppo all the game, forcing them into mistakes and playing in their final 3rd. Well, here's the problem and something that the board should understand. A team like Barca could do this because they were brought up that way, or a team like Liverpool have the players to keep up the tempo, we DON'T. The whole point in pressing is that the whole team can do it, or at least in each dept, especially the midfield. We DON'T have those players.
Just look at the stats from Sunday's game. Liverpool's average age was 24 years old, a FULL 4 years younger than ours. And individual units, what were their stats? Apart from the keeper, who are similar, they were younger and more mobile in all depts, and that wasn't just stats, it showed. In defence they averaged 25 years old to our 28, in midfield they were 25 to our 29 and in attack they were 21 to our 27. Even from the bench, with Kolo coming on, they averaged 29 to our 30 (Lampard killed it at 36). With those stats is it any wonder we can't keep up the pace?
So, going back to the original 'I don't blame the manager or players, although they are attributable', these are my thoughts. The manager does take the can by and large but in this instance, and as we play this 'philosophy', it is a practice that is engrained through the club, one in which we will grow our brand on. The philosophy is that you have the players to win the game, regardless of how you defend - it's all about how many you score. Pellegrini is told how to play unless he has a player shortage and actually has a say on how we should do things and implement a pragmatic view and use tactics, as we seen when we had all our strikers out.
The players themselves don't buy into the philosophy, basically because they play the actual game and they know their limits. We've seen numerous changes to the team each match day and the dynamic you try not to change is the back 4, but we see it time and time again as Pellers tries to keep them fresh. We've been seriously let down at the back and near enough every one of them are shot, not being able to make the basic decision of 'Should I come or Should I hold', whic states to me that they've been told how to play, by getting a foot in or sticking close. How the hell can a 13 stone 28 year old do this against a 20 year old matchstick, you can never win!
But where does any blame lie then, the manager, the players, the board? Well, they all take responsibility as they are all professionals who should be voicing their opinions and getting it right. However, look closely at what our players are asked to do and what the board are providing to assist that order? We currently have an ageing squad who are asked to play a high pressing game against far younger or better opposition. We're asked to go 2 up front against one of the worlds best teams who have come off the back of a near record run of games and then onto another team on a real high and not even think about our players or tactics, but just how we will look on TV ........... if we win. Is that the right way to run a team or do you play to the teams strengths?
Over the last few seasons we've spent money on already ageing players or squad members that are a class or 2 lower than what we already had. Some of these players may enhance the squad in the short term but they aren't players we can use long term, apart from the bench. Now we are left with a first team that needs a good overhaul, needing youth or strong legs and heart to give us the tempo that we are being asked of. The powers that be aren't providing that, it's quite clear, and aren't giving us the team (players and manager/coaches) to prove ourselves on the pitch.
Sheikh Mansour's vision is to challenge the elite, not only in the PL, but in Europe,won't get that whilst his directors are bringing in players that don't actually upgrade on those that we've already got, even though they are getting older. We need players who can do the job asked of them, for at least the 7 or so seconds needed, before sprinting back to protect what we have.
Seven and half minutes, you complain, but trust me, that's probably more than what we've actually got.