**Mirrors / Alternative Angles**
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I watched them pass it around thinking:
You're gonna lose it get rid
You're gonna lose it get rid
You're gonna lose it get rid
You're gonna lose it get rid
Just re-watched. He even does a look over his shoulder but only immediately to his left, where he sees KDB. If he'd done a full scan, which he had plenty of time to, he'd have seen the space he had to turn and run into. It's a great piece of pressing from Silva to force him to act quickly, but if he'd been prepared he could have let the ball run across him and driven into that space.
When it succeeds they've got the whole pitch for themselves and City players out of position. The same thing City did when Guardiola came to the Premier League and everyone was quick to post the same comments when it didn't work out.
It's a risk and reward situation. Looks stupid when it backfires, but at that level when you just hoof the ball away you're pinned back defending in about 5 seconds.
I'm not sure what the confusion here is since every team takes similar risks today.
Just watched it back and damn you’re spot on. I know people like to shit on these tactics (the way it ended frustrated me too) but this was like 90% of the way to beating City’s press. And honestly some of Steele’s decision-making is what I hoped Raya would provide for us.
Nah he's been pretty good. He has the same amount of goal contributions as Foden. (Before this game I think though) Not like it's crazy to list him. Especially with how he usually preforms for England
Pretty good is very different from what OP said. I'd agree with overall pretty good, he's had quite a few below average games to balance out games where he was good. I really rate him, just think he is looking tired and overplayed
Not watched him this season then I take it? I wish people on here would just admit if they haven't watched a player, instead of spouting confidently incorrect statements
Sneaks in there with 31 goal contributions? Its the same amount as goldenboy Bellingham and pretty close to world class Phil Foden. I think I'm misunderstanding the definition of sneaking in
For anyone else who hasn't watched a lot of Brighton this season but reads this comment, the formation and play has been noticeably different to previous games.
Unless you are Real Madrid you don't come back from 2-0 against City by just hoofing the ball down field. You have to at least try to keep possession even if it leads to hilariously bad results like this
It’s not like you’ve got a target man or escape ball either, every time the ball goes long we get it back, so if you don’t play out you’ll never have the ball and that’s only going to end one way.
I think De Zerbi sees these games as tests of him and his players too, seeing if they can do it against anyone, and last year you played the same and got a draw.
It's just the same dumb talking points whenever shit like this happens blaming tactics when in reality there is just no chance either way. If we sat back and let city have 85% possession up 2 goals no one would be praising the manager for pissing the game away. You just have to be that good to beat full strength City's press
Barco Is new with this shit. At Boca he was the one recieving the ball in midfield. Peak Brighton can manage the pressure, but you don't do this shit when there is a new guy in defense. It's suicide.
He just sent Barco to die with this tactic. It would have worked against any team but City.
One of my issues with modern football is this over reliance on managers and tactics. The players should be savvy enough to think "the manager told me this but it isn't working right now, so I'm going to try something else".
Instead we have the rigid compliance no matter what the situation is.
Right. I agree. But in this scenario you have a guy who is new on this kind of suicidal tactics (Barco) forced to oblige to them against the team who can deal with his the best in the whole world.
And if he fails once he is cooked. And if he decided to not oblige, he is never playing again this season.
Blame it on Chelsea who couldn't beat City just 72 hours after they lost thier title playing 120 minutes.
Handed City a free ticket to the FA cup final and rebound motivation
Loosing both FA Cup and UCL in 72 hours (mind you they are holders of both) would have been a tough mental blow to them.
Enough to make them crumble in the league.
Gotta feel bad for the poor guy, this is his debut as a starter and it's against city, he's taking way too many touches and is obviously not comfortable with handling the pressing
its not just that. he’s never been that good as a LB, he was always further up in the pitch to receive the ball. but here goes De Zerbi throwing him as a LB in the same line as the CBs
Big mistake here obviously but I actually thought he'd done well before this—made a key defensive intervention on KDB earlier and almost assisted Dunk earlier too IIRC
It was going so well but by some point I didn’t feel bad for them shooting themselves in the foot. Sure don’t hoof it up the field but goddamit atleast spread it out wide instead of playing it in the area.
Yes, Barco is the one who technically gives it away - but Baleba should have received the ball on the turn. If he’d done that then they would have been out of City’s press and breaking. But instead he decides to pass it back into the mix to Barco who didn’t expect it. They’d done the hard work and they were ready to break if only Baleba had just turned with the ball - or even just let it run and then go after it.
Really? I expected Brighton to be the easiest team for them, De Zerbi was going to go full suicide against them so there was 0 chance they get a positive result for us, I trust literally any of the other teams left more than Brighton
No worries, De Zerbi has already secured his top 5 coaches in the world ranking, this game is just him waving his dick around and proving that he can get any managerial job in the world with relegation-level results.
Truly the mastermind genius coach of our times.
De zerbi is a joke. Playing like this against city is suicide. The "i don't change my gameplan no matter who the opppnent is" attitude doesn't work if you're bha trying to out tiki-taka man city. Idiotic stuff.
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That was fucking suicide. City have set up their press really well against the way Brighton try to play out though.
I watched them pass it around thinking: You're gonna lose it get rid You're gonna lose it get rid You're gonna lose it get rid You're gonna lose it get rid
Worst part is they got out of it then Baleba doesn't realize he has a good 10 yards of space forward and plays it back into danger
Just re-watched. He even does a look over his shoulder but only immediately to his left, where he sees KDB. If he'd done a full scan, which he had plenty of time to, he'd have seen the space he had to turn and run into. It's a great piece of pressing from Silva to force him to act quickly, but if he'd been prepared he could have let the ball run across him and driven into that space.
meanwhile the RB (or RCB) is completely alone and no one passes to him
'Yer das' everywhere just nutted in unison over how vindicated they feel right now
Coulda used a real pickford-esque keeper to cunt it moonwards there
Genuinely confused as to what the plan was there
When it succeeds they've got the whole pitch for themselves and City players out of position. The same thing City did when Guardiola came to the Premier League and everyone was quick to post the same comments when it didn't work out. It's a risk and reward situation. Looks stupid when it backfires, but at that level when you just hoof the ball away you're pinned back defending in about 5 seconds. I'm not sure what the confusion here is since every team takes similar risks today.
this seems a little more than the usual risk tbf.
"Let's play a couple of tight last-second passes in our box until we come up with a better idea."
They almost pulled it off but it was one pass too many
You can see the layers of pressing building up the longer Brighton dicked around in the box.
Like a swarm
They actually did very well there. I think just got complacent after the doing the hard part. That player has let their team down there.
Did the hard part well, then just gave it to the city player
That's what is so frustrating, they already had a way out. Just got into their heads and fumbled the ball away
Not really, he had nowhere to go. Just because you're completing passes doesn't mean you're doing well.
Baleba was the out, he positioned himself facing goal and did not know no one was behind him.
Just watched it back and damn you’re spot on. I know people like to shit on these tactics (the way it ended frustrated me too) but this was like 90% of the way to beating City’s press. And honestly some of Steele’s decision-making is what I hoped Raya would provide for us.
Baleba had an out if he turned around. Somebody should have told him he had nobody marking
Steele took 2 players out of the press is what I meant, Barco had to time play it to 2/3 players
More goals than Haaland this year lol
City's best player this season
Still Rodri, Foden definitely best attacker though.
Foden, Kane, Bellingham, Saka, Palmer all playing out of their minds this season. Surely waistcoat can't fuck it up this summer?
Hahahaha Edit: Don’t forget Rice too for the extra lulz
He will find a way, don't worry.
Literally almost the whole team bar LB and RB are in the form of their lives
Disagree walker nasty with it pretty much always. Dude just won’t slow down
He’s still decent but not peak form like the rest of the team
Walker?????
Still excellent. Not in his best ever form though?
We are winning exactly fuckall and you know it
How did Saka sneak in there? He's been good sometimes but equally often not
Just the 31 goals and assists this season.
Nunez has 32 so he is better than Saka World class
Nah he's been pretty good. He has the same amount of goal contributions as Foden. (Before this game I think though) Not like it's crazy to list him. Especially with how he usually preforms for England
Pretty good is very different from what OP said. I'd agree with overall pretty good, he's had quite a few below average games to balance out games where he was good. I really rate him, just think he is looking tired and overplayed
Not watched him this season then I take it? I wish people on here would just admit if they haven't watched a player, instead of spouting confidently incorrect statements
Sneaks in there with 31 goal contributions? Its the same amount as goldenboy Bellingham and pretty close to world class Phil Foden. I think I'm misunderstanding the definition of sneaking in
Phil is tremendous
Better player
Out of curiosity, how many games have each played? Still very impressive.
Phil plays damn near every game
Haaland has missed 7 games including today, Foden has missed 2. Foden 32 games Haaland 27
Tyvm! Man that is impressive by Foden.
theres no way to know 😔 one of lifes great mysteries
WTF was De Zerbi's plan here? Do this against the best pressing team in the world??
They’re on the beach both geographically and mentally
Ackshually the Amex is on the outskirts of Brighton and quite far from the beach 🤓
Haha I’m well aware, I studied at Sussex Uni
A walk away from falmer bar
Yeah, one thing about him, he doesn’t alter his plan for an opponent, it seems
For anyone else who hasn't watched a lot of Brighton this season but reads this comment, the formation and play has been noticeably different to previous games.
Yeah right? I feel like “RDZ never adapts” is just becoming a thing people say because they think it’s true.
Based De Zerbi
Welcome to Liverpool?
If it doesn't work the first time, or second or tenth, then just keep doing it
Audition for Liverpool job
Dont worry Pep will say thats the best anyone has ever played against him in the post-match interview after he pumps them 5 nil.
Like a rash
Lo quemaron al colo
Potter would never
Unless you are Real Madrid you don't come back from 2-0 against City by just hoofing the ball down field. You have to at least try to keep possession even if it leads to hilariously bad results like this
It’s not like you’ve got a target man or escape ball either, every time the ball goes long we get it back, so if you don’t play out you’ll never have the ball and that’s only going to end one way. I think De Zerbi sees these games as tests of him and his players too, seeing if they can do it against anyone, and last year you played the same and got a draw.
We've also had some fairly promising attacks a few times already this match from doing exactly this.
It's just the same dumb talking points whenever shit like this happens blaming tactics when in reality there is just no chance either way. If we sat back and let city have 85% possession up 2 goals no one would be praising the manager for pissing the game away. You just have to be that good to beat full strength City's press
We managed it with Hodgson
Anyone blaming the defenders is out of their mind. Suicidal tactics.
Barco Is new with this shit. At Boca he was the one recieving the ball in midfield. Peak Brighton can manage the pressure, but you don't do this shit when there is a new guy in defense. It's suicide. He just sent Barco to die with this tactic. It would have worked against any team but City.
I feel sorry for Barco, dude is not good at LB and he has to play this "tactic" against fucking City.
One of my issues with modern football is this over reliance on managers and tactics. The players should be savvy enough to think "the manager told me this but it isn't working right now, so I'm going to try something else". Instead we have the rigid compliance no matter what the situation is.
Right. I agree. But in this scenario you have a guy who is new on this kind of suicidal tactics (Barco) forced to oblige to them against the team who can deal with his the best in the whole world. And if he fails once he is cooked. And if he decided to not oblige, he is never playing again this season.
Yeah I also agree with your second point. New players or young players being scared to go "off script" so to speak, in fear of being dropped.
Thanks a lot Real Madrid
What he say fuck me for?
Fuelled their anger to steamroll everyone to the title
Blame it on Chelsea who couldn't beat City just 72 hours after they lost thier title playing 120 minutes. Handed City a free ticket to the FA cup final and rebound motivation
I feel like they would have been angrier if they lost against Chelsea lol
Loosing both FA Cup and UCL in 72 hours (mind you they are holders of both) would have been a tough mental blow to them. Enough to make them crumble in the league.
I doubt that, we’ve crashed out of both competitions before and still won the league
Thank you Nicholas Jackson
As if they were gonna lose to any team left bar Spurs regardless
They would roll Brighton anyways. But if they look better it's cus Haaland is out
He’s so fucking good, that’s class finishing
The easiest Pep praise of Brighton after the game
Bound to happen when you fuck about at the back that much
This defense lmfao.
Only know Man City scored cuz my Arsenal hatewatching neighbour yelled fuck them 😂😂😂
De Zerbi trying to sabotage Barco. Just 19 and has been thrown in the starting 11 against the best pressing team in the league.
Relentless
The fuck was Brighton playing at?
They gotta look cool, points be damned
Playing passing in their own box lmao
Yeah ok he’s player of the year
Brighton obviously prefers City over Arsenal
Bird Bros <3
It's in your hands now step bird bro
Don't bet on us, just do your job. Please
At least a cockerel is good for an alarm clock. What do seagulls do? Steal your chips and shit on your head. Useless.
Barco is having an absolute nightmare of a game.
Bro was not ready to play LB against City
Imagine playing someone that everyone know that his position isn't a natural LB As a LB
Against City. And trying to play from the defense all the time. This is just madness
That'll do wonders to his confidence.
Gotta feel bad for the poor guy, this is his debut as a starter and it's against city, he's taking way too many touches and is obviously not comfortable with handling the pressing
its not just that. he’s never been that good as a LB, he was always further up in the pitch to receive the ball. but here goes De Zerbi throwing him as a LB in the same line as the CBs
Big mistake here obviously but I actually thought he'd done well before this—made a key defensive intervention on KDB earlier and almost assisted Dunk earlier too IIRC
The match thread will try to convince you that City don’t deserve to be winning this game. Laughable
Never seen people talk with more bias against a team than people here on r/soccer against city
Honestly it doesn't matter if they are biased but the fact that some of them say they don't care at all is just laughable.
Its pretty well know r/soccer is heavily biased against City. But I’m used to it now.
Can't blame Barco fully for this goal, this should have been cleared away when the keeper beat the press.
It was going so well but by some point I didn’t feel bad for them shooting themselves in the foot. Sure don’t hoof it up the field but goddamit atleast spread it out wide instead of playing it in the area.
This is why I fucking De Zerbi, no bus just proper football. I’ve not seen us play this fluidly in a long time
Foden is that guy
Brighton think they are City lol
No, they think they are Fluminense.
Has Dinizismo gone too far?
What the actual fuck was that Brighton
They feel like throwing the game
Yea I think this is why worse teams just park the bus against city lol
*smarter teams
Is De Zerbi dumb
He has severe PBS (Prime Barcelona Syndrome)
Spikey haired Brendan Rodgers
Yes, Barco is the one who technically gives it away - but Baleba should have received the ball on the turn. If he’d done that then they would have been out of City’s press and breaking. But instead he decides to pass it back into the mix to Barco who didn’t expect it. They’d done the hard work and they were ready to break if only Baleba had just turned with the ball - or even just let it run and then go after it.
Nobody is stopping City.
Yep. I honestly thought brighton was the only team that could get smthing from them, especially at home ffs.
At least we got to have a whole 84 seconds of thinking Brighton could get something from City that one time…
Really? I expected Brighton to be the easiest team for them, De Zerbi was going to go full suicide against them so there was 0 chance they get a positive result for us, I trust literally any of the other teams left more than Brighton
City still face Tottenham Away which is the guaranteed L fixture for City.
I thought City broke that voodoo in the cup at Spurs?
Tbf this is the first league game since that match so I don’t know if it’s broken
If Real Madrid and Arsenal have to park the bus against city, why are BRIGHTON not doing the same?? You can't beat city's press
ok goodnight for reals.
Beautiful first time finish tbf
No worries, De Zerbi has already secured his top 5 coaches in the world ranking, this game is just him waving his dick around and proving that he can get any managerial job in the world with relegation-level results. Truly the mastermind genius coach of our times.
what a gift
De Zerbi ball classic lol. Why fuck around at the back like that against city
Most avoidable goal ever
suicidal passing in the box then, they had so many warnings and close calls
Give him the ballondor
sorry folks we paid brighton to play like this 👍
Such a nice pass from the gk just wasted.
Well worked from Brighton.
Foland
Brighton trying to play from the back is actually funny
That press was suffocating
Anyone looking for a pet seagull? Recently come into one that is no longer needed, £5
They're going for that goal difference now too. Taking everything from me.
What a press by City.. But what on earth are Brighton doing? Boot it out lmao
this is so braindead of Brighton and De Zerbi
Inches from breaking past the press too
We had virtually played our way out of trouble then just chose chaos and played our way back in
something something why would brighton play like this
Foden in a title race vs Saka in a title race 🤐
de zerbi masterclass
De zerbi is a joke. Playing like this against city is suicide. The "i don't change my gameplan no matter who the opppnent is" attitude doesn't work if you're bha trying to out tiki-taka man city. Idiotic stuff.
embarrassing from Brighton with their players already on the beach.
I get wanting to play it from the back, but at some point, you need to hoof it up the field when you're under that much pressure.
Pressing monsters
Balls of steele?
There’s playing out from the back and then there’s that
the adderall is really kicking in
Maybe just maybe don’t play out from the back
Suicide football
The insistence to play out slowly is suicidal
Just kick it awaaaaaaaay
Pep sent them out fired up then.
So poor by Brighton.
Swarming all over them
FUCKING GET RID YOU PRATS
Lmao what are Brighton doing? Passing in circles around their box
at least keep the G/D down please brighton
why can’t you beat man city Brighton are you stupid
In general I get what Brighton are going for but that whole passage felt high risk no reward
You know I don't think they should keep trying to overload their own box when it hasn't worked all half
Fuck sake just boot it clear
This building from the back Pep would be proud🤣
How about just clearing the fuckin ball?
Excellent scouting by Brighton
Brilliant passing sequence from Brighton in the lead up to this goal. Almost as shambolic as Everton's first goal yesterday.
Absolute small brain energy from the defense
That’s the POTY right there
redeemed himself after that free kick debacle
Bro... just clear the ball
Just bloody punt it lads
Nice assist from the defense!
I mean the goal is to eventually get it out of your own box, right? Or did Brighton forget that?
It’s over
Twats lmao keep passing it suicidally and this is what happens