Semi Final v Arse

[gavin]

XI | Ederson, Walker, Garcia, Laporte, Mendy, Gundogan, D Silva (C), De Bruyne, Mahrez, Jesus, Sterling.

Subs | Carson, Stones, Zinchenko, Bernardo, Rodrigo, Fernandinho, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden.

Think I'd have preferred Fern or Rodders to Gundo and Foden to Mahrez. But I'm sure Pep knows best.

[Stephen Paul]

strong team

[KunDB]

Strong bench

Bernardo, Rodrigo, Fernandinho, Cancelo, Foden  All unlucky not to start.

C'mon City lets end this beautuiful week on an even more beautiful winning note and a place in the FA Cup final.

[gavin]

Poor start indeed. So easy to create chances against us when they actually get in our half.

[Hesperus]

Piss poor so far. Should be 2 down rather than 1. Big test for us now. We have a bad record when we go behind.

[KunDB]

Was our Christmas party last night?

Limp performance first half. No urgency or tempo.

[gavin]

Changes need to be made either tactically or with different personnel. This game could go away from us quick the way it is. Arsenal look under little pressure at the back and we look like conceding every time they attack.

[Hesperus]

Arsenal better than us tactically and physically so far. Areteta has done a good job on us. Big half for us now. This will show the character of the team. To many of our team in the first 45 have underperformed.

[KunDB]

Get shot if Mendy. Defending like that is not a liability it’s a gift that keeps coming to opponents. Bye bye CL hopes.

[KunDB]

Disappointing result. But you can’t always win

[Hesperus]

Well, If this our best back 5 then that is the end of our season. No chance in the CL. 

This team needs a lot spending on it.

Very disappointed with that display tonight can’t say anyone played well, and that’s a big  issue given it was an FA cup semi.

[goat]

Get shot if Mendy. Defending like that is not a liability it’s a gift that keeps coming to opponents. Bye bye CL hopes.

Nevermind his defending, how fucking awkward did he look on the ball? Even a 5 yard pass he made look hard work

[gavin]

It is very hard to see us winning the Chumps after a performance like that. A performance we have seen so many times this season. When we go behind it all too often then becomes a case of defence v attack where the attack just does not look like scoring at all. I don't think anyone would say that we would have scored if the game had gone on for another hour. Just like Southampton, just like so many games. Bloody frustrating.

[KunDB]

Nevermind his defending, how fucking awkward did he look on the ball? Even a 5 yard pass he made look hard work

He can’t defend, pass or cross a ball. 

[KunDB]

It is very hard to see us winning the Chumps after a performance like that. A performance we have seen so many times this season. When we go behind it all too often then becomes a case of defence v attack where the attack just does not look like scoring at all. I don't think anyone would say that we would have scored if the game had gone on for another hour. Just like Southampton, just like so many games. Bloody frustrating.

The defence is rarely tested. When it is it is shambolic. Keep Laporte and build a defence around him.

[Hesperus]

No pace at the back is a big problem. This has been a very frustrating season. 9 league defeats is unacceptable.

Not good enough I’m afraid Pep. Will the board give him money this summer if he’s only going to stay one more season?

[lee]

boring as fook..

mendy wont be left back next season..he's wank the dog

[bluebrendan]

Mendy and Walker have pace but not a brain cell between them on that showing.

Gundogan as the link between defence and attack slows play down too much, we were very laboured moving the ball either side of the halfway line.

We're going to have to rebuild half the team, I hope I'm wrong but I can't see us winning the title next season.

[gavin]

I think anyone can see that the defence is a big problem but more perplexing is that this team that scores so many goals struggles so badly to come from behind. Pep really has to solve this conundrum. I love Pep's tactics but I do find myself thinking 'bring Edin on FFS' at times. We really need something different to break down packed defences under these circumstances.

[Stephen Paul]

Mendy always looks in two minds when on the ball , or maybe its just me

[Neil Mcnab]

Walker, Mendy and Gundog were poor. Louis made up for his shocker last time with an all action performance. They wanted it more than us, point to prove. I would play Cancelao instead of Walker. Walker and Mendy are flat track bullies. Its piss poor to see the opposition racing towards our goal and the full backs having given up running back and jogging somewhere in midfield. 
Lofting the ball into the box is unlikely to bring frequent goals for us, though Dzeko is available for a return.
Pep will need to conjure up something for when we play Los Blancos, because they will have a similar mindset to Arsenal.
We could do with a vocal leader on the field. Leading by example is great when things are going well.

[lee]

Mendy always looks in two minds when on the ball , or maybe its just me

You are right Stephen. He's not comfortable with it or looks like he's about to trip over

[Paddy]

PPP all round

[Swiss]

Hands up to shoot me down.  I'm not a fan of Gundog.

Hes got the occasional brilliance in him and there's nothing wholly wrong with him. But i just find him pedestrian which leads to a lack of dynamism in central midfield. Hes got great pass completion, but thats mostly 5 yard recycling.

Rodrigo is the better option for us, better pass completion, more goals and assists. Also, we've got a cracking potential in claudio gomes, though hes only 19 and spent a season in the Netherlands playing for Jong PSV (Eindhovens reserves).  Pep is a fan and is one signing we can attribute to him, not Txiki.

Yes, the defence looked shocking, but I think the midfield centre lost us the match in the first half. Funny to see Arsenal parking the bus though.

Dzeko. Loved him, especially against spurs. Problem is he can't play football. Needs too much space around him and running onto a ball (or cross and head). I found him frustrating. When transitioning defence to attack, he'd often slow down play rather than quick passing. And (I don't have the stats) I seem to remember, most of his shots would be blocked by defenders. Anyway, good striker of the ball, loved what he did for the club, but i don't think we match hla style that suits his game.

[gavin]

I was surprised Gundog started. He is too prone to mistakes in passing out. I prefer him further forward.