cityfanlee23

I completely understand the logic, but that would surely mean Winks needs to be rested soon? I somehow doubt that will come but I don't mind rotation if it's based on minutes played, I just don't feel Ndidi needs it personally, but that's not to say him and Enzo havent agreed on it.

I would say if anyone needs game time I think it's CC, he's definitely been the least consistent of all the signings but he keeps showing flashes of brilliance, theres a player in there

Which is why I used the word "if". He has averaged 60 minutes, so I don't buy into the rested argument. He needs to be averaging more than 60 minutes if he wants full match fitness for the internationals in my opinion.

Yeah I realise dropped was a poorly chosen word.

As much as I understand the logic, why does he need to be rested after only 3 full games recently. He's averaged 60 minutes. I'd argue he probably needs more minutes if he wants to go to international duty fully match fit.

I've not once said I don't trust him, you can disagree with a decision without having your trust questioned. And it's not a conspiracy either.

Bit of a stretch to make claims like that so early into his career. Maybe in the case of Ndidi dropped is the wrong word. But Ndidi has averaged about 60 minutes per game this season. If we are going to replace one of the midfielders to bring Casadei on for minutes i'd far rather it be KDH who has obviously contributed statistically but has often been very poor for long periods.

Because I don't believe it's a likely reason. He's come off the bench or been subbed off most games this season. Ndidi has played 1 full game and has averaged 60 minutes per game this season. I very much doubt he needs a rest.

Ndidi dropped for Casadei, what does this man have to do?? If he's not exhausted and in need of a rest he simply has to start.

Definitely feel like we could go on to score 4-5 today. Just want us to come out of the blocks a bit. Most games this season we come out in the first half with a lethargic negative tempo. The strategy is fine but we play so slowly we are unable to cause any threat at all. If we play the way we play but with some tempo we will open these up easily. I fully believe in the direction we are going but I cannot stomach another 45 minutes of 70% possession and 0 shots on target, there’s no need for it given our quality.

Really want to see him continued in the middle as we desperately lack someone in that position just outside the box behind the striker, someone to link up the midfield and attack. We desperately need a Maddison replacement.

Why do I feel like these are his festival clothes?

Overall I think this was definitely his most complete performance for us this season, and likely one of his best in a few years.

Lazio would have been favourites obviously, but this is just typical RodgersInEuropeBall... Atletico Madrid up next!

It's shocking really, when we came into this season I thought on paper we have the quality to be up there, but the last 2 years of Rodgersball had just embedded this idea in my mind that most of them were finished, in the end it was just 100% a Rodgers thing.

I sort of feel for Hamza, I don't think he's really put a foot wrong since coming into the side, he's been fantastic

Can't remember what I wrote so wouldn't bother

Fair enough I agree with you can we agree on that for me too? Also if i'm coming across in any sort of aggressive way it's not meant like that, we've both been on here a long time so it's all opinions!

This is just nonsense, there is nothing blinkered about it, we played really poorly in the first half, gave them too long to organise themselves and made no effort to "tire them out" as many were claiming, they were sitting back and just mopping up our slow negative passes across the back line. PNE barely moved in the first half and we gifted them 45 minutes, if we had taken a few more chances and tried to make more aggressive passes we would have maybe lost possession but we would then have forced them to come forward and open up the space for us. Again, everyone that I saw complaining about the tempo fully understood the strategy, we all knew PNE were going to park the bus, but we also all knew that passing around aimlessly at the back 4 was never going to produce a chance for us, and did nothing to tire them out. The only time the game opened up was when we moved the ball quickly and pulled them out of position. Very surprising to see you coming off in this way, as if anyone who thinks the first half was needlessly slow doesnt "get it" but anyone who is happy with it is somehow tactically more knowledgeable. Most of us that were unhappy with the first half were happy with the style of play, but unhappy with the lack of tempo as it was achieving nothing.

Yeah you're right on that, it's benefitting us massively

I really don't get your logic, nobody that I saw in the MDT were saying the game was finished, we all had pretty valid criticisms of the first half, because it was objectively poor and we made it easy for them. Then we had a fantastic second half. We knew PNE would park the bus, which is exactly why slow passing across the back 4 was the wrong approach, we needed to be sharper, we gifted them 45 minutes. All valid criticisms and nothing to do with you being "wiser" because you're more happy to watch that kind of football, Enzo would not have been happy with that either. Really sad to hear such great posters like yourself jumping on the band wagon of attacking other posters for pretty valid opinion in that moment.

5 subs has really helped us turn the screw when teams are flagging and it's great for squad rotation too

Great result, another game of two halves, we really need to be faster in the first half of these sorts of matches as we made it way too easy to defend for PNE, ended up needing a stroke up luck to open up the game, but that luck was created by us playing with more intent and putting the pressure on. We are a fantastic team when we play offensively. We knew PNE would park the bus and overall they played to their own strengths, but once we got that goal we became a completely different team as they tried to get one back. Overall a really great result, equalling the best start in championship history.

I don't think the second half negates the criticisms of the first half....

Kel.... Kel please Kel