Match Day Thread Vs Burnley (H)

Fabinho has discipline. Hes the one guy you know will cover say matip if he runs off on one

Henderson even playing cb was forgetting he's not a midfielder on a few occasions v utd.

I would get fabinho back where he belongs asap personally as it will allow others do what they do.

Henderson can press up. Thiago can go play and creat.

 

I'm a youngster

(Just )

 

asap? When is ASAP? I don’t think any of us disagree we want him back in midfield even though he’s been immense at CB. But ASAP to me means when we have 2 senior defenders available which will likely be last month of this season if not next tbh

 

If Matip is fit, then partner him with a youngster so Fabinho can move into midfield. He is the best DM in the team (and also the world) and it then unlocks others to do what they do best.

But you're right, it's unlikely Matip will stay fit and Fabinho will have to move back into CB. However, whenever the opportunity presents itself, we should play Fab in midfield.

 

Fabinho isn't moving from CB until we have two senior CBs available.

 

I feel like we do have to remember that when city lost 1 CB and decided to play Fernandinho at CB ahead of Stones/Otamendi/Garcia they were almost given a pass not to win the title as they are missing such an important player who if they had had all season they would have been far closer to us in the title race.

so given we’ve lost our 2 main CBs and our third for sustained period we should end the season about 20 points behind the leaders. At the moment we’re only 4 behind with a game in hand so things are looking good

 

And until about four games ago, we were top and looking good for it

 

Unfortunately, I think you're right. I'm still hopeful that we will sign a CB this window so that should hopefully increase the chance of seeing Fab in midfield (even if it's in a few select gameS).

 

Yep - there will be more ups and downs this season. We just need to get a run together, even it's just 2-3 wins on the bounce and the table will change again.

 

And despite not hitting the net in the last 3 games, we're still the top scorers in the league.
We're definitely in a mini-crisis, but it's not the full-blown disaster that some are making it out to be.
Not yet, anyway - we do need to start firing again pretty quickly.

 

Matip back in full training. Tbh wouldn’t risk him in this game. Sort of game that Phillips would be suited to as going to add aerial presence defending crosses and set pieces.

 

If he is fit, play him. We need to win.

Rest him and everyone else for the FA cup

 

4 games ago?

Wouldn't go that far mate.

Every looked sort of the same level but we were still inconsistent.

 

To get hammered a way by utd by 5 or 6????

 

I agree. If he's fit and the manager is comfortable playing him, then we need to get as many minutes from him as possible.

Because there's every chance we choose to rest him vs Burnely so that we can use him for Spurs but then he gets injured during training lol.

Not sure if it's directly linked but ever since he went off vs WBA, we have struggled to win games. Getting him back helps to give us as a better base and platform to attack from.

 

I'm very much of the opinion that our defense is still doing well because our midfielders are fully aware that they need to be extra cautious; sitting deeper and providing extra cover. We played United without a single CB, it's obviousy something they have to do.

Whilst that might excuse our midfield for not pushing up so high or being as adventurous (I know we also miss Hendo in there who ranks very high in the PL for passes into the final third), there's no excuses for our forwards being so unbelievable poor with the service they do get. They're messing up relatively easy chances, not passing to each other as often, being more selfish with the chances they get, making poor decisions and running down blind alleys...you name it, it's going wrong. I know they're getting less opportunities now and have to make more themselves, but they're still massively underperforming.

Time to start Minamino surely. He can't do worse than Firmino and it at least mixes things up. Even get Shaq on in a 4-2-3-1 system. Basically, mix it up in any way that doesn't include Origi.

 

Fair points - few thoughts:

1) Hendo plays a high volume of balls in to the final 3rd - on par with the likes of KDB and Bruno. However the difference is that their passes are creating better quality chances (based on xA and chances created). Hendo has the volume but he's not actually creating anything - which makes sense when you look at the crosses he keeps putting into the boxes which have no hope. Hopefully this will now be eradicated with Thiago in the team as he should be the one who gets on the ball more. With that said, moving Hendo in midfield gives us that steel and work rate which we still need.

2) All of the front 3 are going through a slump - which is fair and they have a lot of credit in the bank given then they have been consistent for 3-4 years. The annoying thing is that they're all going through the slump at the same time. They will come good though (not sure about Bobby but certainly Mane and Salah will get back to scoring ways). Looking at the stats, bobby is the one who is taking more shots and getting more chances than the other two - that's the concern because he's our worst finisher. We need to get Mane and Salah on the ball more, in the right areas, and they need to take more shots. Their shot volume has decreased which implies that they're not being as selfish as they previously were. We need them to take risks and get the shots on.

3) Agree with Taki. Bobby's lack of goals and chance creation isn't down to form. This is a regression which started from 17-18 season, where he was immense. He needs upgrading.

 

I’d like to see something a little different too

 

I am disappointed with the lack of goals from our strikers but surely they can change a few things to help each other. Mo gets the ball with his back to goal, defenders are double marking him because he can turn well and create space. But now the second defender steps in and he looks like he is running into defenders. A lot of teams are packing the defence and allowing us lots of possession but when it gets to the final third, it is congested and difficult to create chances. Slower build up play makes this worse. Getting the full backs in behind defences and whipping in early balls in front of our strikers was what worked so well in the last two seasons but for reasons that have been well described by many on here, the disruption from injuries has not really allowed this. So tonight, absolutely play Matip if he is fit. Absolutely start with Minamino, Salah and Mane and leave Firmino on the bench. We need to win this, a draw is no good, especially after last night’s results

 

I don't think think it's a quality issue, he puts dinne very good balls in at times. It's more a predictability issue imo, he doesn't mix it up, he puts that ball in every time meaning teams are expecting it.