**The official unofficial LUFC Man City away thread.**

I think Daniel’s analysis is quite right. I particularly agree regarding our slow passing game which to be fair is not the case in every game (Chelsea, Leicester). But we too often get ourselves into so many dangerous situations because things happen too slowly (receiving the ball, getting it under control, taking time to find someone to pass to, actually making the pass). Other teams’ pressing game is highly efficient against us because we’re in many games so predictably slow. Meslier’s distribution suffers from the same; too few options because the opposition gets too much time to organize their pressing game. Another, related thing is the danger we cause for ourselves when we have a throw-in in our own defense area - actually more dangerous than when the opposition has a throw-in….

Another thing has to be mentioned, and that’s Bielsa’s team selections:

Why James as no.9?

Why not start Gelhardt?

Why Ayling, and not Creswell, as CB?

Why Shacks, and not Ayling, as RB?

Why Firpo?

Why insisting on Klich?

Why not try Bate or Greenwood?

Why not start Summerville?

Why insisting on Harrison?

Forever grateful to Bielsa, but…..

Alright, I have now watchex the game a secomd and 3rd time and have cecided that there are 3 main faulgs which have lead to our downfall in thks game and dare I say in 90% of our games this season. Theses are my observations.

1) MIDFIELD:

We lack a midfield that can play as a organized unit. Rodrigo, Roberts are not midfielders and nor should they be made to play there. Forshaw has abilities but is all over the place. Phillips performances this season reminds of when he first broke into the first team. Klich, something is just not right with him.

Our player are drawn out of position far to easily and consistently leave our centre defence exposed to 2 and 3 attacking players. Their is little to no understanding between central midfielder and often take to many touches before under hitting a pass backwards which creates pressure for our defense and goalkeeper. Make runs into space but that space is actually where our other players already are. Tunnel vision on their passing.

2) PASSING:

The goals we have conceded are down to our consistently slow backwards passing to a player in a position which is worse then they are at. The goalkeeper receiving the ball from his own defence only for the defender to stand 3m away causing space to close and inviting pressure. Passing speed slow and more often extremely under hit inviting further pressure as opponents are allowed to cover multiple players with simple movements.

3) MAN MARKING:

We man mark to the point where players look like a under 5's park football team (follow the ball) leaving space and time for the opponents do what ever they want.

I have counted 18 goals caused by players dragged out of positon. Another 10 from needless back passing and 4 from unprofessional school boy errors. Add that up anx you can say 32 goals we have gifted others teams.

My advice to melier would be to tell his central defenders to fu8k off each time he has the ball as standing anywhere within 10m of him is asking for him to concede. Alos voal kids are playex short only if the defenders are out of box and free in space.

Might need someone from the stands to put on a jersey at the rate these injuries are pilling up.

I hope Radz has planning permission got for the extension to our treatment rooms.

Chillax Bull....

Go and look at your tablecloth porn to calm down 👍🙈😂😉

Im not doubting the talent in LUFC what is worrying me is the amount of players out injured presently, and the quality that have to replace them isn't on a par so by default it cant be a surprise that we have less than a point per game since spurs 5 points from 6 games.

We must also realize that other clubs have injuries too and they could argue they wouldn't be down there if they had the full squad to select from.

I do agree if we get back full strength (as do others) there are 5 worse teams than us, but lets be honest we got three points off Palace and probably didn't deserve them but you take what you can when it presents itself, which is why the stupid tackle by Klich in the dying mins against Chelsea was disastrous in my view. We need every point this season and we haven't the luxury or element of surprise anymore when taking to the field. I don't see us ever completely overwhelming bottom of table teams and dominating them, we just haven't got the players to do that, so even playing against those teams its a difficult task to take all 3 points.

If burnley park the bus have we the players to unlock them / open them up?

NO

so its not enough to say there are 7 teams worse than us so we will be alright, those 7 teams will do exactly what they can on matchday. when leaving the dressing room they have a point so some teams will sit back wait for a set piece or try to hit on the counter what have they to lose? A POINT that they already have so there comes a time in the season when the manager must preach to the players "we cant lose today boys"

I feel our its the policy of a small squad is causing our biggest problems, yes i have faith in MB and yes its wonderful to see an LUFC team play the way we do but a time comes in every walk of life you gotta "cut your cloth"

We need to pick up points where we can against the mid to top table teams we must adopt the stance "hold onto this bloody point for as long as we can" and against the bottom half teams we gotta be thinking "lets get at them hunt them down, but stay neat and tidy at the back"

we cant set up / play the same way week in week out in the PL its a recipy for disaster. And what would be the ultimate disaster would be to get relegated when youve got a bunch of players that are more than capable in staying up.

These next two months could define LUFC for decades

Danish, think in many ways you've answered your question, anyway it may well be that the decision is a made for them.

Glory1972, I agree with you that a Leeds team at full strength would still struggle to contain that City team. Difference & gulf is class is paramount.

As you say James should not be deployed in the striker position, gets about the same results as Harrison → none.

So I can't fanthom why Bielsa has not tried the one person I wouldn't hesitate in playing in a more central position. A player that can go either way, with the required skillset, pace and an eye for goal, think he's a Brazilian.

Regroup for saterday, play Ayling at RB, Dallas LB and put Cresswell in at CB.

Also hope Llorente finds his feet again and puts his boots on in the right way.

Jeeez, he was poor.

Forshaw will need help in midfield, because he can run all he wants, but on his own that's futile.

Yesterday he came up short because of his lack of pace, but also had very little help. Would hesitate in starting with Harrison who has been pants over the last 2 games (makes the wrong decisions every single time, be it passing, shooting, dribbling you name it), defensively brushed/blown aside with ease.

Shitty beat us in every aspect of the game, but they also won every 2e, 3e & 4e balls and als nearly all 50/50's.

Yesterday, and not for the first we got closed down & locked up near our own box. That happened time & again, but we still tried to play the same way at every occasion.

The most anoying thing about it→ it was so predictable and excecuted at such a slow pace, we were just caught in possesion every time or had to kick the ball out of play.

Meslier just dinking and stroking the ball around only helps in setting up the opponent, it's so easy to read. When he does kick the ball somewhat further, the lack of pace on the ball makes sure it's a defender's ball all the long.

Mind you, it's not helpfull when we've got so many midgets & lightweigths in the team.

Despite the findings like Raphina, Meslier, Joffy & some other young promising players, I do feel the recruiting team needs to have a good look at the type/quality of players and for what position they thus far have signed.

Of course they can't all be a succes.

Normally after a night's sleep I can rationalise a result.

Still trying today 🙄

I do believe more and more it's Bielsa's last dance this season - not attaching blame with that statement.

If I were Bielsa I would have the whole team out in Leeds city centre picking up litter today....In full Leeds kit!

Please let me cry!

Well I took one for the team there. Good luck to the next poor soul that takes over the MDT.

I've just got home from the match. Terrible experience watching us fold so easily, they were far better than us in every position. We shouldn't be playing like that against them, it should be defend defend defend. I just hope the goal difference doesn't come back and bite us on the a55 at the end of the season.

We need ER to be a right atmosphere on Saturday and it should be with the late kick off time.

Chin up.

Not mentioning names, some of our players today had embarrassingly low quality. Question is how long Phillips and Raphinha and probably even Meslier will have patience with their less talented team mates, and stay in our beloved club?

On the positive side, just, Norwich lost at home, the bin dippers will beat the barcodes tomorrow and Firpo is banned for Saturday which will allow Dramah a full game hopefully.

Persisting with James up front is just pointless, Gelhardt is willing an able so let him do it. We need James and Harrison out on the wings with Rapha just inside ( I am presuming he was still on the pitch in the 2nd half?). I would also add Cresswell in at the back alongside Llorente and move Ayling to his favoured position of right back.

To be honest, even if we had fielded our strongest team, yes we would have put up a better showing but in fairness I think we would have still lost the game.

The only games I am concentrating on now are Villa & Burnley where we must take 6 points.

Batty4, have been hitting the same nail for a long time.

Hope by now the penny has finally dropped.

The clear and obvious weak positions in the starting 11 & squad have not been adressed.

Can somewhat understand their decisions because several results towards the end of last season flattered us and led them to (mis) believe the players and team were much better than the reality.

Warning signs / alarming bells were going off in pre-season and again neglected.

Remains to be seen if there's enough money left to bring the needed improvements.

our supporter did sing and support to the end.How many team have supporters like that.

Mica richards saying it was down to bielsa not adapting quickly enough

Wow

If these current injuries are not going to be cleared by the beginning of January, money will need to be found for replacements, otherwise it’s a long hard relegation fight.

How embarrassing. Mind you this is what I thought Chelski would do to us so you never know what will happen with us

Indeed Soopaleeds, as you say every cloud.

But the one thing that looks clear to me, certainly on this performance (even considering all the absenties), it shouldn't be too difficult to find some better players.

Just hope the players can somehow get this out of their heads, not sure if they can.

That’s me done for the night. try to give our heads a shake for Saturday 😞

Our retired weatherman might not get to do another MDT at this rate.

to use a weather analogy: every cloud……

dear oh dear.

Yes Glory, it's time to put Firpo out of his misery.

MB better take him off now.

Not happy

If we weren't 4-0 down, Firpo would have been off!

Was being a bit kind with Harrison, but he's pants.

They're making us look silly now

Obviously we're up against much better players with more pace, skill and football knowhow/intelligence.

Our midfield is getting runover and looks very lightweight.

But as is pointed out we must stop making those repeated mistakes.

MB should be now realize that James is not a striker at all.

Harrison again (like at Chelsea) is having a poor first half, Firpo is drawning.

Hope we can keep it somewhat respectable, furthermore I would now try and focus on the next match.

Now I know what SkyBet had us at 22/1 to win!!!!

I think this has been as much about City being stupidly good as us being weak. Either way that was as one sided as anything we’ve seen in the Bielsa era

I know it’s City we’re playing, but we are absolutely pathetic tonight! Embarrassing!

Suppose it's a good thing we don't need to buy any players in January.

Plenty of wingers waiting in the wings.

Anc could someone please finally ask Meslier to kick the ball, not stroke it every time.

A perfect example of why a small squad does not work. Can’t play a team like this missing so many regulars and such an inexperienced bench. Apparently a number also one booking away from a ban on Saturday. Dread to think what that team will look like. Please just stop the game now.

Firpo banned for Arsenal, Shacks next on the treatment table. 😣

Well, at least Norwich are losing at home!

Firpo now banned from arsenal game,sub raphina and llorente

Expect Firpo to get another Yellow card and end up in the dressing room!

Well, well, well…… are we gonna do a Southampton? Boys against men, so far.

ooh this is going to be a long night 😫

Come on Leeds

We should've more than enough to take those Mancs on.

Good luck mate

2-1 Leeds win

£10 to park at the ground tonight. They must be a bit skint Man City.

If any of you are local to Manchester the home end and sides still have seats available

Nice one m'lud

2-2

Eventhough we got nothing from Saturday the performance alone should give the first xi some confidence facing City.

Hope we can frustrate them again like we did last season (twice) but its going to be tough, a draw is as much as i can see us getting unfortunately.

You sure it will be "Dark" someone please tell me pep has paid the electricity bill

So will be an unchanging side all those out injured for the Chelsea game still out

Good Luck Sir!

No prediction from me other than heavy rain!

Great MDT sir.

Soopa curse has worn off. Leeds put on another spirited display, but can't find the winner.

Man City 2 - 2 Leeds

Excellent weather forecast I predict snow

mph sorry 1-1