The Footie Thread

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Another disjointed, lethargic performance in the first half from Newcastle despite having the lead.

Cant help thinking that the reports of illness that affected Tonali in the week before the West Ham game, others during the build up to that game and more players earlier this week, is having maybe a bit more effect than the club is letting on.
 
Another disjointed, lethargic performance in the first half from Newcastle despite having the lead.

Cant help thinking that the reports of illness that affected Tonali in the week before the West Ham game, others during the build up to that game and more players earlier this week, is having maybe a bit more effect than the club is letting on.
2 up now 👍🏻
 
City at times looked back to there best, and at times looked why Liverpool, PSG, Munich could score quite easily against them.

Looking at Cherki and Doku. I am as excited seeing them play as I was Sane and Stirling
 
Is the old school sweeper just the Makelele role?
Makelele was more combative, more involved in the centre of the pitch, and would sit in front of the CH.

The role doesn't exist anymore but I'd say it was more detached than Makalele. They had an over view of the game, he was in the thick of it. I do get your point though, he was a great reader of the game.
 
Makelele was more combative, more involved in the centre of the pitch, and would sit in front of the CH.

The role doesn't exist anymore but I'd say it was more detached than Makalele. They had an over view of the game, he was in the thick of it. I do get your point though, he was a great reader of the game.

I would have Makalele as maybe that first real main “DM” - the player whose main role was to protect the back 4 and try and break up play, a “holding midfielder”
 
I would have Makalele as maybe that first real main “DM” - the player whose main role was to protect the back 4 and try and break up play, a “holding midfielder”
Great player and would improve any midfield but was nowhere near the first.

Frank Rijkard played that role for Holland, Ajax and AC Milan in the late 80s and 90s. He was phenomenal at it, even better than Makele as he had the athleticism and skill to dictate play from deep.

Before that Gerson was cited as a MF that just broke up play and gave it to the better Brazilian players. Then before that you had the original English DM/holding player Nobby Stiles played that exact role at Utd and for England during the World Cup. Bobby Charlton said often Stiles did the dirty work protecting the defence and let him and Alan Ball be creative.
 
2nd half was better for 15-20mins but think the players eased off after that. Good job Athletic were riddled with injuries and missing players, as they might have taken a few of the chances they created with a full strength team.

Still...a win is a win and with away games next against Marseilles and Leverkusen before a home game with PSV....a win and a draw from those three games will all but guarantee a place in the play-off matches. Two wins and a draw giving us 16 points might just be enough for top 8....maybe just 2 wins. Final game is away at PSG....cant really see us getting anything from that game if we actually need to go and force a result.
 
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