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The Footie Thread

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I think to call them 'ageing' is overstating it a bit. Walker was ageing, and he's been moved on already. The key defenders are 28-31 which is meant to prime age for defenders. Similarly Ederson is only 32 - that's no age for a goalie. From the midfield - KDB looks past it, and fair enough, it's impossible to replace a player of that standard. But Gundogan was surely only brought back to warm the bench anyway. B.Silva is 31 and the others are all younger. It's not like the core of the starting line-up are all 33-34 is it?

As for injury-hit - there's one big and obvious hole with Rodri missing but that's it really?

Doku and Savinho are the latest wingers to come in, but are they good enough? Will they get to the level Mahrez was at? I'm not sure.

Defensively we've had one injury after another and seldom a settled centre back pairing. We looked a bit better with Stones back and now he, and Akanji, are out long term. Plus the current loss of Haaland - not sure how long for. Oscar Bobb. Grealish has been in and out with niggles.

Not excuses, facts. I agree with Tashy about the ageing squad. We're talking players who have spent 5 years at the very top of their game, playing lots of games, lots of high pressure games. Not sure those in their 30's can sustain that.
 
Until it’s mathematically possible then it’s still fingers crossed

PSG is a tough draw

Get something out of the game this week and then it becomes easier

If we can get to the Arsenal game at home with it done that would be great

Just the title matters this year - CL or Lge Cup would be a bonus

But getting to 20 will produce a big silence 😁

Did enjoy Troy Deeneys team of the week - he makes Crooks seem knowledgeable

Bonkers right?! Villa drew Liverpool and beat Chelsea within 4 days and no players in the team despite a brace from Asensio on Saturday :ROFLMAO:
 
Oh and

2 goals
5 subs
4 bookings

and only 3 minutes of added time in the second half yesterday? Absolutely ridiculous.
It almost felt like the ref decided the game was done, with a 2 goal difference, and signalled to the 4th official a bog standard 3 minutes. Then Forest scored to make it 4-3. Had they scored after 87/88 minutes instead of 90, would added time have been higher?

I'm sure the officials have a much better system of accurately deciding added time, to be as consistent as possible, so I guess the 3 minutes have been justified. However, I am confused at times. Occasionally they signal 3 minutes and you can think of loads of occasions play was stopped, players wasting time, etc. Then in other games, that seemed to have had a good flow to them and no real injuries, they suddenly announce 7-9 minutes added time.

I agree with others, that the official clock should be visibly to all, so it is transparent. Otherwise, it feels like a bit of a dark art, and officials never seem to have to justify added time, as it just gets forgotten.
 
It almost felt like the ref decided the game was done, with a 2 goal difference, and signalled to the 4th official a bog standard 3 minutes. Then Forest scored to make it 4-3. Had they scored after 87/88 minutes instead of 90, would added time have been higher?

I'm sure the officials have a much better system of accurately deciding added time, to be as consistent as possible, so I guess the 3 minutes have been justified. However, I am confused at times. Occasionally they signal 3 minutes and you can think of loads of occasions play was stopped, players wasting time, etc. Then in other games, that seemed to have had a good flow to them and no real injuries, they suddenly announce 7-9 minutes added time.

I agree with others, that the official clock should be visibly to all, so it is transparent. Otherwise, it feels like a bit of a dark art, and officials never seem to have to justify added time, as it just gets forgotten.
Which, if the case, is absolutely absurd.

I know we put ourselves in the hole conceding 4 goals in 11 minutes (classic forest, if you're going to capitulate, make sure you do it to the extreme 😆) But the team worked their gonads off in the 2nd half to get something from it, and given an extra 4-5 minutes (Which would have been about right), who knows what would have happened.
 
Great debate that tbf...

Henry and Ronaldo are probably the only other 2 in the discussion for me off the top of my head but I'm sure I can add to that in time

I think if Ronaldo stayed and played to the level he did at Madrid then he is up there

Henry is mainly the one they say is the best that’s been

KDB can be getting there as well

Aguero also

Henry had better ability than Mo but for sheer numbers and output Mo is up there

No bad for a one season wonder 😁
 
Great debate that tbf...

Henry and Ronaldo are probably the only other 2 in the discussion for me off the top of my head but I'm sure I can add to that in time
One that rarely gets mentioned, but really should : Peter Schmeichel

Ronaldo didn't stay long enough imo.

Henry, KDB, Schmeichel, Salah

There must be some defenders, the forgotten players, who get in there.

(whilst always remembering football existed before the PL)
 
One that rarely gets mentioned, but really should : Peter Schmeichel

Ronaldo didn't stay long enough imo.

Henry, KDB, Schmeichel, Salah

There must be some defenders, the forgotten players, who get in there.

(whilst always remembering football existed before the PL)

Yeah Kasper was a great GK 👍😁

Could add Kompany as well as well as VVD

always hard for Defenders and GK to get a look in with the way goals etc dominate people’s thinking
 
I think to call them 'ageing' is overstating it a bit. Walker was ageing, and he's been moved on already. The key defenders are 28-31 which is meant to prime age for defenders. Similarly Ederson is only 32 - that's no age for a goalie. From the midfield - KDB looks past it, and fair enough, it's impossible to replace a player of that standard. But Gundogan was surely only brought back to warm the bench anyway. B.Silva is 31 and the others are all younger. It's not like the core of the starting line-up are all 33-34 is it?

As for injury-hit - there's one big and obvious hole with Rodri missing but that's it really?

Doku and Savinho are the latest wingers to come in, but are they good enough? Will they get to the level Mahrez was at? I'm not sure.
The age the guys are at, who or what team do you compare them to? They have been at the top of there game for years and years and not just playing for City but international. Rodri stated they were expected to play to much football and then he is injured.
Citys team at the weekend was the second youngest starting 11 Pep has started yet it had KDB and Ederson in.
Rodri who was player of the year has been a massive miss but the defence predominantly centre half’s have been hammered. Who was the natural player to drop in for Rodri. Stones who has spent most of the season injured.
So let’s say for arguements sake you are right. We have had only one injury and the team is not old. Why are City rammel this season. It’s not loss of form. The energy has gone from that team. Most of the senior players contracts either finish the end of This season, 26 or 27. It makes sense to let them go now.
 
The age the guys are at, who or what team do you compare them to? They have been at the top of there game for years and years and not just playing for City but international. Rodri stated they were expected to play to much football and then he is injured.
Citys team at the weekend was the second youngest starting 11 Pep has started yet it had KDB and Ederson in.
Rodri who was player of the year has been a massive miss but the defence predominantly centre half’s have been hammered. Who was the natural player to drop in for Rodri. Stones who has spent most of the season injured.
So let’s say for arguements sake you are right. We have had only one injury and the team is not old. Why are City rammel this season. It’s not loss of form. The energy has gone from that team. Most of the senior players contracts either finish the end of This season, 26 or 27. It makes sense to let them go now.


The game is full of players in their 30’s still playing to a high level - we have two of them , and they have been and continue to play at the very highest level even in their mid 30’s

If someone 29/30 has lost their energy maybe it’s a motivation issue as opposed to a physical issues

Someone 29/30 should still be playing in their prime

Teams do need refreshing regularly but city have spent £100mil each summer bringing in new faces over the last 4 years

Even Pep hasn’t been himself this year and has seemed flat a lot of times
 
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