Champions League 2016/2017 (54 Viewers)
- Thread starter GordoDeCentral
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After studying the standard of the Juventus vs Barcelona game last night, I really believe we have a good number of players at that level - plus a few who are nowhere near.
Comparing ourselves to Juventus in particular was interesting;
Bravo, Sagna and Clichy are nowhere near Buffon, Alves and Sandro. Pep has received some criticism this season, but he has clearly inferior players in certain positions.
I was so impressed with Bonucci and Chiellini.
Who have we got that could play at that level? I think a fully fit Kompany could. Stones is still two years away from that level in my opinion, Otamendi & Kolarov just aren't good enough.
The Juventus centre midfielders weren't anything special, but they were technically good, hard working and tactically very discipline. De Bruyne fits that for me, I don't think Fernandinho has the discipline, Delph and Fernando lack the technical ability and Yaya lacks the work ethic. Another area where we clearly have inferior players to the top sides.
Dybala as a number 10 was special. Silva and De Bruyne have both played well in that area, but lack the goal threat Dybala does.
Going forward is where it got very interesting, I think we are absolutely on par. The options of Sane, Sterling, Jesus and Aguero are on the level of the the striking options Juventus went through with, or at least very close. Sane/Jesus/Sterling can score on the counter attack against any team in the world.
So to compete at that top level we need;
- Top goalkeeper
- Two full backs
- Centre back
- Holding midfielder
I thought Pep would have improved those areas more in two transfer windows, but it's absolutely essential that he does in the summer. The quality of players in our defensive area is miles away from the standard required.
Comparing ourselves to Juventus in particular was interesting;
Bravo, Sagna and Clichy are nowhere near Buffon, Alves and Sandro. Pep has received some criticism this season, but he has clearly inferior players in certain positions.
I was so impressed with Bonucci and Chiellini.
Who have we got that could play at that level? I think a fully fit Kompany could. Stones is still two years away from that level in my opinion, Otamendi & Kolarov just aren't good enough.
The Juventus centre midfielders weren't anything special, but they were technically good, hard working and tactically very discipline. De Bruyne fits that for me, I don't think Fernandinho has the discipline, Delph and Fernando lack the technical ability and Yaya lacks the work ethic. Another area where we clearly have inferior players to the top sides.
Dybala as a number 10 was special. Silva and De Bruyne have both played well in that area, but lack the goal threat Dybala does.
Going forward is where it got very interesting, I think we are absolutely on par. The options of Sane, Sterling, Jesus and Aguero are on the level of the the striking options Juventus went through with, or at least very close. Sane/Jesus/Sterling can score on the counter attack against any team in the world.
So to compete at that top level we need;
- Top goalkeeper
- Two full backs
- Centre back
- Holding midfielder
I thought Pep would have improved those areas more in two transfer windows, but it's absolutely essential that he does in the summer. The quality of players in our defensive area is miles away from the standard required.
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The bit about their counter attackers is also true, assuming they are playing against tactically limited defenders who give lots of space. They easily have some of the fastest players for that sort of football, but PL fans always overrated pace. Pace is only good if you have space to play it into, and the other thing is that fast players far more often than not have very mixed end product. Sterling being a prime example.
Solid analysys tbh
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Little bit biased, but not too bad.
I mean he basically did say they need to buy half their team new to become as good as Juve
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Little bit biased, but not too bad.
I mean he basically did say they need to buy half their team new to become as good as Juve
In terms of players he gets it right, but the approach is still completely wrong. Juventus has built a squad. Every single one of our players knows what he needs to do. And they're all warriors. We need to avoid conceding at all costs in the last 10 minutes? Fine, we bring on Barzagli. And this man does what is probably one of the most difficult tasks in football, coming on with 10 minutes to play to defend. No questions asked. Mandzukic has to play left wing? No problem.
No, the reason we beat Barcelona, the reason we always beat City, is not just the individual quality of our players. It's that they know which part they have to play. And I don't mean that we're all team players or any mumbo jumbo like that. No, they all know which tactical part they have to play at any given time.
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Mourinho said he needed quality players to fix his broken squad. Somewhere around November-December I think.
After a summer in which his club broke the transfer record.
I somehow (not justifying) but somehow can understand Pep not winning the title in his first season even though he should have competed at least till these rounds, it's his first year in England, new to English system as a manager but again still not an excuse not to compete at least until Mid April.
But man, Mourinho, he fought so much to get Pogba, Mikh, Ibra and Bailey, he wanted these specific players and not anyone else, he's familiar with English football and how it works and yet you see him complaining endlessly about his squad, injuries, fixtures and blames his bad results on awkward things, he should upgrade himself and if he doesn't get United into CL he's in deep shit.
But man, Mourinho, he fought so much to get Pogba, Mikh, Ibra and Bailey, he wanted these specific players and not anyone else, he's familiar with English football and how it works and yet you see him complaining endlessly about his squad, injuries, fixtures and blames his bad results on awkward things, he should upgrade himself and if he doesn't get United into CL he's in deep shit.
Yeah I kind of feel the same way. Mourinho is just disgraceful at this point. I used to be fan of his, I won't deny that, but this season is ridiculous. His endless complaining, his weird as fuck answers during interviews, this look on his face as if he's always ready to explode.. And all of this after he got several high profile names.
I was a fan too, the way he used to handle pressure, media and his players was exceptional, now he's like a different man, can't accept defeat and the fact that he's being outplayed tactically sometimes or most of the times is bringing the worst out of him.
Indeed, he's got some of the weird as fuck face-reaction or answers during interviews
Indeed, he's got some of the weird as fuck face-reaction or answers during interviews
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