Just realised that statement has a capped range and only people of a certain age will understand the inference, so most itwill be polarised. ( just to keep a tenuous poker theme ;-)) Posted by HENDRIK62
Showing my age but yep I remember them not falling down.
Time a diary that has to be in the Top 20 on here was bumped. Do you think that now you have Pep. Champions league qualification should be easier this year? Posted by Jac35
Do you think that now you have Pearson, you'll be in a position not to bottle promotion again? That position is 11th.
On the surface, a 2-1 win at home to Sunderland courtesy of a penalty and a late OG is hardly setting the world alight. At times yesterday it did look frustratingly similar to last season; plenty of 'nice' football in the final 3rd but either poor decision making or a lack of cutting edge meant we couldn't turn dominance into goals. Feels pretty silly to say a lack of cutting edge when we had Aguero, KDB, Nolito, Sterling and Silva all playing together, but Sunderland weren't there to make up the numbers and gave us a decent game. Few of our key players looked a little rusty as well, a pre season that has been far from seamless won't have helped this.
Dig a little deeper though and there were many encouraging signs. Kolarov at centre half? Clichy and Sagna almost playing as centre midfielders? Fernandinho often the deepest outfield player? I'm not sure if Pep is mad or a genius and the reality is probably somewhere in the middle. He is certainly ruthless, with Hart dropped and Toure not even in the squad.
Getting glimpses of how Pep wants to play football was a joy to watch though. Stones fits his plan perfectly and he didn't put a foot wrong yesterday. Under Guardiola, the defence is essentially the midfield and the base of starting an attack. The movement and flexibility of the team was there to see. It's very much a work in progress, but to see it being implemented and the players taking it all on board was great to witness. Sterner tests lie ahead but a promising start and an intriguing future.
To think Nasri, Toure and Bony didn't make the squad yesterday, and we still have Kompany, Gundogan, Sane and then Jesus to come into the mix, its gonna be an interesting season.
On the surface, a 2-1 win at home to Sunderland courtesy of a penalty and a late OG is hardly setting the world alight. At times yesterday it did look frustratingly similar to last season; plenty of 'nice' football in the final 3rd but either poor decision making or a lack of cutting edge meant we couldn't turn dominance into goals. Feels pretty silly to say a lack of cutting edge when we had Aguero, KDB, Nolito, Sterling and Silva all playing together, but Sunderland weren't there to make up the numbers and gave us a decent game. Few of our key players looked a little rusty as well, a pre season that has been far from seamless won't have helped this. Dig a little deeper though and there were many encouraging signs. Kolarov at centre half? Clichy and Sagna almost playing as centre midfielders? Fernandinho often the deepest outfield player? I'm not sure if Pep is mad or a genius and the reality is probably somewhere in the middle. He is certainly ruthless, with Hart dropped and Toure not even in the squad. Getting glimpses of how Pep wants to play football was a joy to watch though. Stones fits his plan perfectly and he didn't put a foot wrong yesterday. Under Guardiola, the defence is essentially the midfield and the base of starting an attack. The movement and flexibility of the team was there to see. It's very much a work in progress, but to see it being implemented and the players taking it all on board was great to witness. Sterner tests lie ahead but a promising start and an intriguing future. To think Nasri, Toure and Bony didn't make the squad yesterday, and we still have Kompany, Gundogan, Sane and then Jesus to come into the mix, its gonna be an interesting season. Posted by hhyftrftdr
Apart from the goal you conceded.
According to what I have seen/read/heard, running out of defence to allow Defoe a nice big gap to run into and score is not a good idea.
In Response to Re: Harry's Harmony....the harmonious road to Kiev. : Apart from the goal you conceded. According to what I have seen/read/heard, running out of defence to allow Defoe a nice big gap to run into and score is not a good idea. Posted by dragon1964
tbf I haven't seen a replay so no idea who, if anyone, was at fault. Maybe it was a masterclass in passing from Sunderland?
With how Pep wants the defence to play, mistakes are inevitable, and at times yesterday I could hear myself thinking ''just **** hoof it upfield'', but I guess the advantages of playing from the back will outweigh the occasional negatives of conceding a silly goal.
In Response to Re: Harry's Harmony....the harmonious road to Kiev. : tbf I haven't seen a replay so no idea who, if anyone, was at fault. Maybe it was a masterclass in passing from Sunderland? With how Pep wants the defence to play, mistakes are inevitable, and at times yesterday I could hear myself thinking ''just **** hoof it upfield'', but I guess the advantages of playing from the back will outweigh the occasional negatives of conceding a sillygoal. Posted by hhyftrftdr
i wasn't sure about this when you wrote it.
In fairness It seems that you were right after all. Good season for you and it looks as though you will end up higher in the league than teams like Stoke and West Brom. So all in all a good season.
Comments
I think you boys are being a bit harsh here. Hhy is a proper bloke, the sort of man who rolls with the punches.
I'd go further - he is an all-round good guy.
All the more impressive, as he carries a heavy burden in life.
Just as well he is thick-skinned.