Positives and reality

[joellufcprice]

Gelhardt looked good again.

We've only got to play them once more.

Hopefully this will make them realise a lot of those players simply aren't at the level required anymore, hard workers but quality severly lacking and for some of them, just football intelligence lacking.


Reality (Starting 11 vs Ideal 11)


GK- Meslier. GK- Meslier
LB- Firpo. LB- Dallas
CB- Llorente. CB- Koch/Struijk
CB- Ayling CB- Llorente
RB- Shackleton. RB- Ayling

CDM- Forshaw. CDM- Phillips
CM- Dallas CM- Forshaw

LM- Harrison LM- James
CAM- Roberts CAM- Rodrigo
RM- Raphinha RM- Raphina

ST- James ST- Bamford

To my mind we had 2 players in the correct position against City when our best team is available to use. Having Bamford, Koch, Cooper, Struijk, Phillips, Rodrigo all out is crushing.

Performance was embarassing and pathetic and it shouldn't matter who we put out unless it was a team of kids we shouldn't have been outclassed that much but it is worth remembering just how depleted we are and as horrible as it sounds I don't even think some of those in our ideal 11 are good enough anymore for this level

[Ozwhites]

Just watched some highlights...or lowlights in this instance!...and it was really concerning how little we challenged for some of the goals. Particularly the aerial ones. 😕

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

As Joel says the gulf in class was obvious and we all know the limited small squad would struggle with the injuries we have.

Once this run is over at least we get to play teams where we have a chance.

To be fair MB didn’t hide what it was

[bathlad61]

Woeful, inept, embarassing it was, showed the huge gulf in squad size / quality ( yes i know its Man City ) but we seemed incapable of doing the football basics. We are decimated by injuries, another tonight with Shack, suspensions also looming for many, but all said and done, this was pathetic.
Why MB continues with James as striker, it has to be Gelhardt at present, the midfield appeared to be on its Xmas hols, and the defence sounded like my dear old Gran - toothless.
Jan window now even more *****, sure MB will stay, but as for next season, looking unlikely.

[BelfastAndy]

Llorente is so slow. Like the No.76 bus at Gilnahirk turning circle (means something to me).

[joellufcprice]

On the James front I'm hoping that was the last time we will see it, he is much better outwide where he can isolate a defender and his tracking back is the best out of any of our other attackers

[denver11]

After last season I thought we would strengthen with 2 or 3 quality players, but instead we got Firpo and Harrison, who I've never ever been a fan off, and gave Roberts a new contract. I thought we'd be getting rid of the dead wood. Not giving them new contracts. It amazes me how Roberts manages to lose possession when there's no-one near him. His 1st touch of the game last night in passing to Firpo set the tone for the whole team and they followed. Llorentes passing was attrocious. Hopefully goal diff won't matter and I expect us to get enough points to stay up given some good fortune on the injuries front. I love Bielsa, he's brought great times to ER, but I think he's on the spectrum which affects his decision making.

[Billyni]

Another disappointment for me was going in 3 down you'd have thought that perhaps 2nd half we'd have set our stall up to limit any further damage. Instead we were fu ckin worse and let in more.
Some tactics.

[cherrypie7]

The only positive is that the score could have been in double digits. The players should have been embarrassed to shake hands with opponents.

[Rev72]

You have to be on your game for games like this against top quality sides.
We weren't and got hammered/humiliated and are the piss take of the Premier League.

Not nice.