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Episode 37: Bournemouth Post Match Review (a)
9 Plays1 month ago
Daily Manchester City - Join Jools and Lewis as we dissect what went wrong as City lose 2-1 for the second consecutive game
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Transcript
Manchester City's Missed Opportunity
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to episode 37 of the Daily Manchester City Podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. Today, we are given a post-match reaction to City's 2-1 loss away to Bournemouth. Joining me with a very upset face today is Lewis Royal. Hi Lewis.
00:00:25
Lewis
Hi Jill, how are you?
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm okay mate. There'll be better days though, I'm sure.
00:00:31
Lewis
Yeah, me too.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it's So, just to set up how it went down, Semenyo and Everdeal since scored the goals in a deserved win for the Cherries. Guardiola's late strike amounted to nothing in the end. With Arsenal losing earlier in the lunchtime kickoff and Liverpool also looking like they were going to for a large period, this game seemed to be a fantastic opportunity for City to consolidate their position atop the Premier League.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the end of play though, it's City that are now looking up at leaders leaders again Liverpool, who managed to turn it around against Brighton and leapfrog City. We know the Vitality Stadium is a difficult place to go, Arsenal found that out a couple of weeks ago, but the expectation was that City could could and should do the job here.
Bournemouth's First Half Dominance
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Especially after the loss against Spurs in the Carabao Cup in midweek, a reaction was wanted and needed from the side.
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, it was made immediately very clear that Andonia Riola's team were going to be no pushovers, and Bournemouth were on top for the majority of the first half, bringing Edison into action a number of times, the Brazilian probably being City's standout performer today, which says quite a lot. Semenio buried his chance after a cross from the impressive Kirquez, touching, twisting and shooting into the corner, Alar Chriswood against Leicester last week.
00:01:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Evan Eelson doubled the lead and got what eventually turned out to be the winner in the middle of the second half, again capitalising on great play from the cherries left-back Kirkes to leave Ederson stranded and tap in with his outstretched leg.
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
As timers running out-city were pushing and pushing and reduced the arias when Josh Gogvadio leaped like a salmon to meet Gundogan's cross, got enough on the header to put it beyond Mark Travers, who was good again today, however it turned out to be too little too late and
00:02:11
Lewis
Too little, too little.
00:02:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and city left the South Coast empty-handed.
Analyzing City's Defensive Struggles
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Lewis, I'm not sure where to start with this one, so I guess I'll just ask what went wrong today.
00:02:21
Lewis
Well, it's it's a lot of things. I mean, just to start, Arsenal couldn't do it with 10 men. You've got Pundit saying, oh well, a title challenge inside like that. I've got to be got to be stepping up the gear even with 10 men. We had 11 today and we still lost in basically the same matter that Arsenal did. We we were dominated throughout. Like you said, Edison was our clear savior. The amount of times he's bailed us out in defence was a lost count of how many times?
00:02:50
Lewis
We didn't have a shot on target until 80 minutes in, which was a Harlan P roller, just into the hands of Mark Travers. I mean, he did do well towards the end, but before that he was given nothing to do. I just really think we're flat again. I thought we'd bounce back after the midweek defeat, obviously our first of the season, but unfortunately we haven't. And like you said, Liverpool of have took our loss. They've took the advantage and they've now gone top, even though they were losing to Brighton.
00:03:20
Lewis
They've fought out today, they've they've overturned their game, but we've not. I just i just don't see any hump about us. I don't see any and courage in the team. I don't know if it's because we're just too comfortable or it's too early in the season, we're near the top, that'll do. I just i don't see any any fighting us at all.
Tactical Concerns: Gundogan and Walker
00:03:39
Lewis
I think Gundaman was flat again. I've said it many times, I don't see anything from him. I don't know why, I don't know if you know why Rico Lewis wasn't starting.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe Maybe it could have been a case of trying to arrest him because he's pretty much played every minute so far this season, isn't he?
00:03:55
Lewis
Yeah, I guess, but I mean, Kyle Walker, he's he's just passed it now. he He's not good enough. I mean, he was, he was court lacking for the their second goal on the counter attack yet again, we can see the goal on the counter attack and it's just, it's not good enough within scraper wins the past few weeks, the past month or so. And now Bournemouth have led to us paying the price and it's just getting caught on the counter again. It's just not good enough.
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, um so like let's let's try and figure out why. ah So let's start with a selection. I know City have got a lot of injuries at the moment, but what were your thoughts on it?
00:04:33
Lewis
yeah
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've mentioned Carl Walker, and I know hindsight's perfect, of course, but did Pep get it wrong for you today?
00:04:40
Lewis
i Not necessarily, but I definitely would have started Lewis, especially if he's not picking up on it. If he's not carrying any injury through training, I don't know. Obviously, can you get injured in the warm-up through um in the Spurs game? I mean, we spoke on on Friday about a thin squad, but I mean, that has just proved how thin the squad actually is.
00:05:01
Lewis
Nunez again on the left. He always looks like he's going to give you something. He looks like, oh yes, Nunez has got the ball. He's driving forward and there's no end product. I know he has been providing some sort of end product, but today there was none. I think, I mean, for me, Daku was injured. But if you can come on and play the last 10, 15 minutes, at the pace he was going at, flying down the wing, cutting inside, doing his little trademark shimmy he does.
00:05:26
Lewis
Then for me, you can start the game and then and then you can take him off. flat I would have took that chance just for the extra spark and the directness the directness that he does give to the squad because there was none of it. The ball is not getting to Harlan. He's not that type of player where he can ignite a game by himself. He needs the help of others. But um ah again, it's just, ah I'm lost for words in the flatteners of the team. but There's no, there's just like, I can't even, I can't even put it into words. What have you got to say?
Midfield Woes Without Rodry
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Well, ah you you spoke a lot about flatness, so do you think it was tactically that the city were missing something today? Because there must be a reason for like this type of flatness, you know?
00:06:07
Lewis
You know, I think we've got to change somewhat moving forward. With the absence of Roger, you could see it today. It was clear, the holes in midfield. I mean, at one point, right near the end, it's the 80th minute and there's a massive gap in midfield. And I think it was, was it Kirk, I don't know, who's at the time and space to drive forward? So much space. I think it's Clive, actually. Take three or four touches and get a shot off on target. And I just think we can't carry on with that hole in midfielder. We've got a,
00:06:34
Lewis
maybe change it to a two and a one and sit folding in front on his own and let him but do his free rowing. But I think it is, again, obviously sitting, we love ha sorry, obviously Gundawan and folding in front is what we're seeing, but that's just not going to cut it because Gundawan, he's not going to flare that he used to have. He's not got the energy and excitement that I saw in the Euros when I watched him with Germany. I thought he was still at the top of his game and and he's coming. I don't know if it's the confidence, but that spark within it needs to be reignited like the season when he was scoring like braces against West Brom and he got 20 plus goals that I want to see that back again that attacking drive from him but yeah I don't think necessarily Pep could have done much with the with the players available it is quite harsh to say that his tactics were wrong but that is probably something I would change yeah
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I think it's still a better team than Bournemouth, though, isn't it? So you we have to figure out and analyze the reasons why Bournemouth looked superior in many ways today, you know? And and we'll do that in a bit more detail again after this short ad break.
00:08:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to Daily Manchester City on the Global Sports Podcast Network. We're giving our immediate reaction to City's 2-1 loss to Bournemouth and talking about the reasons why City was so flat today. I think Gondwan is a big aspect in why city have looked flat.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's such a shame because I thought last year for Barcelona, it was one of their best players as well. i I didn't think he'd lost it in any way. And even the first couple of games, um he was getting in positions to score chances.
00:08:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, the finishing was terrible, but the movement was there, the the confidence, the drive to get in the box was there.
00:08:42
Lewis
Yeah.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it seems as long as goes on and the goals aren't coming and, you know, with the injuries in the team, he's been thrown straight in there really with no kind of adapting back in period.
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's playing with players that aren't necessarily first choice. so And a lot of the times he's probably used to playing with Rodry and Kev as well. So what do you think Pep needs to do for Gundo and to get his spark back?
00:09:09
Lewis
I really don't know. ah I have no words for what. He's just, I think it's within himself. he He's playing in this position that he wants. And you say he's obviously not got Rodry and Kev there backing him up, like feeding him passes, but he's he's a good enough player where he should be able to spark attack.
00:09:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's experienced too. It should be in in in a time like this, it should be him that's the one stepping up really, shouldn't it?
00:09:25
Lewis
Yeah, exactly.
00:09:30
Lewis
Yeah, exactly. And he has got experience around him in cover search. And obviously, Foden is not a bad player. He played with the season last year.
00:09:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:36
Lewis
He's still unbelievable on the ball. It just doesn't seem to be clicking in midfield. I just, I really don't know if we're going to, how long Pep's going to give him starting him. I mean, when, if Kev does come back, for me personally, it's a straight swap. I can't really see, I can't really see Gundogan starting too many games once players are coming back in.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and even if when Savino was back fully fit, he'd probably have Bernardo move in the middle and then Savino go back out right because I think he he's been one of City's better players this year, which is especially impressive considering he's only just joined the club in his age and stuff.
00:10:04
Lewis
Yeah.
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, let's get back into some of the players that did play today.
Haaland's Isolation Issues
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Harland was probably a standout for a poor player ah today, which is often the case when City don't play well. It looks like Harland is kind of very isolated and full on figure up there. He's earned the right to have a bad game. Of course, he's done so much for the club and he's normally so amazing, but it looks so striking when he is having a bad game, doesn't it? So evident. So what was the problem with him today? Is it all down to lack of service or was something not quite right with him, do you think?
00:10:47
Lewis
Yeah, I think it is. I mean, we've not got a proper winger on the pitch for for the 85 minutes of the game. Obviously, the newness coming on in from the left. um And obviously, the pitch at Bournemouth is obviously a lot smaller, so there's not going to be crosses flying in from afar. It's all tight in and around the box. But in the 90th minute, or I think it was the 90th minute, he had a chance. um It's fell to him, and Mark Travis, fair enough, has made a good say, which is right at him. And then, for me personally, Harlan's got to be scoring.
00:11:14
Lewis
There's a chance at the near post, he's he's tried to get his foot round it. We're talking like two yards out of the net and he's at the post.
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
i don't understand I don't understand how how like how that transpired. you know It looked like he just his legs stopped working, didn't it?
00:11:26
Lewis
No, no.
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
like It was there.
00:11:28
Lewis
Yeah. and live
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was a yard out. It was an open goal and he just didn't move his leg quick enough.
00:11:31
Lewis
and
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I couldn't believe it.
00:11:34
Lewis
and well It was like he received an electric shock or something. and I was in disbelief. The commentators didn't even make it out like it was that bad of a miss either. They were just saying, ah
00:11:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was right next to him.
00:11:44
Lewis
He's not been able to reach it. But yeah for me, that's an open net mix. I know it's like, I couldn't believe it when I watched the replay.
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:11:51
Lewis
I was like, oh my God.
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, both if ah if if any player has deserved that off day, it's him really, isn't it?
00:11:54
Lewis
But yeah, I just think, yeah, go on.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it's some of the other players that have looked flat all season.
00:12:01
Lewis
and
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's easier to point the fingers at, let's say, especially when Harlan's role in the team is so dependent on service, isn't it? you know
00:12:12
Lewis
Yeah.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's pretty much brought up every single game that he's had the fewest touches in the game as a graphic on Sky or BT or TNT or whatever, isn't it? So we know what he's about.
00:12:20
Lewis
yeah
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if the team plays badly, he tends to get a lot of the criticism for it. But it's a team game at the end of the day. Were there any positives for you today or is the taste of defeat a bit too overwhelming to even consider that?
00:12:34
Lewis
At the minute, it is too much the ah the the taste of defeat. I think that moving forward, we really need to be more direct. I mean, against a better team today, we it could have been a terrible performance. They could, like I said, Bournemouth should have been 4-0, 5-0 at half time. And we can't keep relying on our are defenders. John Stones, obviously it was Guardiola again today, we cannot keep relying. I mean, is he our second top scorer behind Ireland now, Guardiola? I mean, it's just not good enough with the the quality of the best team in the world, the quality in behind Ireland. Obviously, I can't mention it enough, the injuries we've got, but they're still players at the top of their game, some of the best players in the Premier League.
00:13:17
Lewis
And we're constantly getting bailed out by last minute John Stones and Guardial headers and wonder strikes. is It's getting a bit ridiculous for me, but in terms of positives, ah yeah really I'm really struggling to find him. Against the Bournemouth side, losing two went away. I mean, it was just two won. I mean, it was a scrape. I don't even think, I can't even say, oh, we missed loads of chances and we dominated because we didn't. I thought the Bournemouth coming out from the start were were quicker than us.
00:13:44
Lewis
They were first to every ball. I mean, Semenyo, we spoke about him in the preview. I thought he was fantastic. Got his goal on the turn. And I just think that they wanted it more. That's what it comes down to.
00:13:54
Lewis
Like I've said, we've not got the fight and Pep really needs to ignite that moving forward into the season because we've been left off today. The Arsenal did lose at Newcastle, but I do think it's Liverpool, oweum our main challenges.
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:06
Lewis
So yeah, we need to step it up.
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just, you did mention Dokka earlier, but um I just want to put it put it out there. I think he was a positive today, especially while he wasn't fully fit.
00:14:17
Lewis
Yeah, he was when he came on, yeah.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
He looked really, he looked really good.
00:14:19
Lewis
Yeah.
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's probably the best 15 minutes all season from him, to be quite honest, wasn't it?
00:14:23
Lewis
Oh yeah, he was, yeah.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
and We'll get into Bournemouth and what they did right and talk a little bit more about the state of the Premier League after this outbreak.
00:15:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hi and welcome back to Daily Manchester City on a global sports podcast network. So and we've talked about City.
Bournemouth's Tactical Mastery
00:15:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it's only fair that we give huge credit to Bournemouth.
00:15:11
Lewis
Well,
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
What about debt performance impressed you today?
00:15:15
Lewis
maybe this one.
00:15:18
Lewis
Yeah, I think Ariola, like Jax mentioned, and he he's a great manager. I think i think they got the tactics spot on. Kirk has going down the left from left back. I thought two assists today.
00:15:29
Lewis
i think I think he got the second one as well.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I did.
00:15:32
Lewis
Yeah, a great performance from him. we I mean, I know you're a fan of his, and but it's not it's not just the individual. It's the way they played as a team. I mean, they're not they not fantastic individually.
00:15:43
Lewis
I know they've got a few good attackers in Evan Olsen. And obviously, Semenya, like I mentioned, but I mean, For me, they've got a very poor defense, defending. Going forward, the full back's flying forward.
00:15:54
Lewis
I mean, I'm not saying they they're good, but they're getting to the positions. I know Adam Smith missed an absolute howler towards the end. I don't actually quite know how he put the ball over the net. But again, that's another letter for us.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
i don't
00:16:05
Lewis
And then all the danger is...
00:16:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was just going to say I think Adam Smith is not scored in a few years so I think he probably panicked a little bit.
00:16:11
Lewis
ah Six years, I think it was, yeah. He saw his name in headlights bottled it. and he's bottle But yeah.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Happens to the best of us.
00:16:17
Lewis
oh All their dangers going down the left. And I've mentioned Walker. Perp came out after the game and said that he's only trained six minutes in the last 19 days, but he started him ahead of maybe a tired Rico Lewis. I would much rather have a tired Rico Lewis defending Semeniu, who is one of the most informed players in the league at the minute, rather than a ah six minute training in the week, probably kicking a few balls at the crossbar, Carl Walker. I would much rather that.
00:16:48
Lewis
But yeah, no, I think, I do think that Ariola set his ball on the team very well today. They were compact at the back. I mean, they limited us to, was it two shots on target? I think in the end, I think it was tactically very, very good from from the South coast side.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just on the Lewis vs Walker selection again today, maybe it was a case of, ah with Semenyo's pace and power and ability to just glide past people, maybe it was that 1v1 thing that Pep was looking at, because Semenyo did end up being the most important player in the team for them today, but it didn't matter who was playing, I guess, in the end.
00:17:18
Lewis
ah Yeah.
00:17:23
Lewis
I do get that, but for their goal their second goal, Walker tried to make the challenge and he completely missed the ball and they've gone and scored.
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
and yeah
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:17:32
Lewis
And we saw it when when we played Fulham and he can't catch a dharma. I just don't think... i I don't think that can constantly be an excuse for Walker for me personally. He's fast because the the gaps that he keeps leaving for goals is not good enough.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
His positional defending has pretty much always been poor, but he's been so good at recovering and so athletic that it's not mattered.
00:17:52
Lewis
Yeah.
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, maybe we're finally at an age where he can't keep getting himself out of jail anymore because it may be a bit last year as well, you know. when he When he gets caught out, the other team tend to score, and you can't have a player like that at this level.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
to rely on him at least, especially when he got one of the best right backs in the country at the moment. and So yeah, um Walker walker deserves deserves his place in the squad
Bournemouth's Mid-Table Potential
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
though. He is a city legend. um So after watching this match alongside their excellent victory over Arsenal and solid draw at Villa 2, what do you think the ceiling is for this Bournemouth team?
00:18:19
Lewis
yeah
00:18:29
Lewis
Yeah, they beat Arsenal now at home, they beat us at home, they moved up to eighth now I think it is. It's good, they've always been in and and around. I think every year the IEA shouts that they're going to go down. It's about time Bournemouth went down because they were they were known as a yo-yo team about five, six years ago, but I think now they've definitely solidified themselves as as a solid prem side, a solid mid-table prem side. I don't quite think they can push for Europe. I do think that they'll tailor off, especially when I do think you United are still going to come back and probably overtake them. But they have impressed me a lot more than some size that were expected to do better than they have, like West Ham, for example. So I do think that this season, especially if they keep the manager, they have got a good chance of coming in the top half. And you know I don't mind Bournemouth. I think it's it's quite a nice place, um quite a nice team, you know the little cute stadium on the on the south coast that we've just been battered in. but yeah
00:19:27
Lewis
and I wish them the best.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah said through gritted teeth truly made.
00:19:33
Lewis
ah
00:19:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So ah yeah, i just to finish off on Bournemouth, I think, um I mentioned this in a crossover episode as well, but ah that getting rid of Gary O'Neill was very controversial at the time, wasn't it?
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because he did a fantastic job when Scott Parker left them in the lurch. with the team that they had as well. They barely had a fit squad, so Gary O'Neill getting swapped out for Andoni Iraola was quite controversial, but I don't think there's any doubt that it was the right decision looking at looking at where they are to where they've been in terms of how good they are, yes, but also the style of play, the high press, the attacking wingers. you know It's probably a very good time to be a Bournemouth fan at the moment, and I'm sure the guys from Daily Bournemouth will let us know that too. In fact, they have messaged me to let me know that. so
00:20:19
Lewis
so
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's enough on Bournemouth for today.
00:20:20
Lewis
and
00:20:23
Lewis
Yeah, that'll do on Bournemouth here.
City's Mini-Crisis: Depth and Title Concerns
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So back to City. This is two losses in a row. Is this a mini-crisis, Lewis?
00:20:31
Lewis
I think at this time of the season it is always a mini crisis, but hopefully again it does stay as a mini crisis. From, you know, October, November is always a tricky period for us, but it's when it hits December when there's so many games that we do kick on. However, that is usually because of our immense squad depth. And obviously this year, like we've mentioned, it's not there. So I won't lie, I am worried for the title, especially with the squad depth that Liverpool have at the minute is definitely better than ours. They obviously have been spoke about not having one in recent years when they've been challenging for the title, but this year in the in the time that we can come into the new year, we've not got that. So I'm really, really not as confident as it happened in previous years that we are going to come out of January, February still in contention, but that's what we've got to do. We've got to stay on the toes of Liverpool. Now we are now the chasing team and you would think it would have been Arsenal, but it's not Liverpool have come out flying this season, only dropping five points. so
00:21:31
Lewis
because then we've got to be aware of.
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But City have only dropped two more than that, you know, there's still only two points between them and there's a four-point gap from Nottingham Forest in third, by the way.
00:21:41
Lewis
Yeah, which is wild, yeah.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is well, fair play to them, Nuno's doing a great job there. I think everyone on this podcast who did the prediction, so Keelan, me and Jack, we all had Forest going down this year, I don't know if you felt the same.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, they're doing great. But i don't I don't think it's maybe, of course, it's a cause for concern.
00:22:01
Lewis
Most of the music is really good.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two losses in a row is never good.
00:22:05
Lewis
Every hour, when
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But still, it's the first loss in the Premier League. It's only two points off Liverpool, who everyone's gushing over. There's only two points between the two teams. So that's as quick as one weekend of results, isn't there?
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could have even been today. Could have even been today with ah the way that Liverpool were losing until about the 60th minute. um So the gap's only two points. Of course the highest standards are expected at Man City, hence Ford League titles in a row. Is this advantage Liverpool
Confidence and Consistency Worries
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
for you? Or what does City need to do to stop this mini-crisis turning into a potentially much larger one?
00:22:37
Lewis
Yeah, I just think that for me, like you said, the standard at City is is so good. I get that we're only two points off the title. I was i was getting a sneaky hope that it could be invincible. However, the the thing is, the issue is the performances. I can't express it more and I can't touch on it any more. That is the style of the victories we have been getting makes, is the thing that makes me not confident. And the fact that Liverpool Yes, they were they were losing today to a Brighton side, but Brighton are a good side and we've still got to play Liverpool and we've still got I think they have had harder fixtures than us. We have we have had quite a few easy fixtures in comparison to them. So I do think that, yeah, I just I just can't see was really like taking the lead after the new year just because of the nature of the victories we've been scraping against a bottom of the table side like walls, for example.
00:23:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what needs to turn around then in terms of the players and how they're playing? You know you can be optimistic in answering this question, I guess, if you want. But you know ah we we we're not going to see City constantly lose. like That just won't happen. Pep won't allow it. So what what do you think his next step is? What needs to happen to turn things around?
00:23:53
Lewis
I think using Macatee, I would definitely get Macatee involved. He needs the confidence moving forward. It's worked with Foden. I really think he should start doing that, but it's also, I mean, we could ask ask a genie to heal all our players. That would be nice. He said be optimistic. There's my optimism, but I really, I just really think that we've got to start playing the city
Need for Direct Play to Challenge Liverpool
00:24:16
Lewis
way again. I i don't see it. It's just, it's lackluster moving forward. It's passing it around the back in the 75th minute.
00:24:22
Lewis
when we haven't had a shot on target again against against Bournemouth I mean it shouldn't be taken 80 minutes for Harlan to have a shot on target and it wasn't even a good shot on target we need to be more direct and i just fingers crossed that once Kev's back he stays fit and he has another blinding season we need Dokku and Savino fit just for the rotation you can start on both just that sharpness on the wing which we're not getting in the midfield Phones the only one for me who is sharp And you can do them darting runs with the ball and without the ball. But even he's not at the top of his game yet. We can't have Kovacic and Gundogan just in the midfield. They're sort of like the same player this season. Obviously Kovacic drives forward with his runs. But then, because of no roger, there's a massive hole in in the in the midfield and that leads to counter-attacks, which leads to us mostly, unfortunately, conceding goals. See, I just think we need to need to go back to our old ways of
00:25:18
Lewis
building up from the back, yes, but being more direct going forward and causing trouble to opposition callkeepers, like we're used to scoring fives and sixes. I mean, have we even seen one yet this season? I can't actually recall, but yeah, that's that's what I think.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I agree with that point. I think the team needs to be more attacking. I think i think Pep is being really conservative because of the injuries to the players he's got at the moment in in the way that he's setting teams out.
00:25:45
Lewis
Yeah.
00:25:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It feels obviously Pep has always been possession first type of manager of course, but it's the lack maybe it's maybe it's the lack of ability to get the ball into the front three but it feels like a lack of desire to a lot of the time doesn't it and if you don't get if you don't get the ball into that front three especially Mateus Nunez have been in good form in terms of getting output i don't think he's actually played well in any of those games but he's getting start he's getting making things happen which is more than happening for folding right now you'd say probably playing better but not actually
00:26:01
Lewis
Yeah.
00:26:10
Lewis
No, no.
00:26:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
creating anything in the final third. So, yeah, I think it's the passivity from midfield. I think it all stems from the midfield, really, doesn't it? have Having, chopping and changing, Gundo and coming back unexpectedly, the best player in the world being injured, and, well, who I think is the best player in the world, Kevin De Bruyne, is also injured. So, you've literally got two of the world's best players injured from that midfield, and there's a lot of hangover from the U-Rosen.
00:26:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the the season before, everyone was worn out as well. So I think with all of those things considered, two points off the top with a four point gap to third, it could be a lot worse, like it could be a lot worse.
00:26:51
Lewis
um
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I agree with you. The performances in the first 10 games this Premier League season have not been too encouraging. A lot of those seven wins have been by one goal and a moment of brilliance from Holland or or Savino even, you know, towards the last few weeks. But yeah, there's still a hell of a lot to play for and the Premier League is undoubtedly going to keep us on edge until until the end of May as per usual. And do not rule City out until that final whistle has gone. And that'll do for today. Thanks again to Lewis. and We have been Daily Manchester City. I've been Jules Jordan-Probert. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.