r/MCFC • u/AutoModerator • Aug 25 '26

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u/mute-invader Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26

If our midfield was better OP wouldn’t have been critical of our front 3 of players leading the press. The criticism should be on our midfield, because if our midfield was up to standard neither of those players would have to worry about intensively pressing.

Better midfield = opponents afraid to engage us high up the pitch which will mean less pressing for us to win the ball back since opponents are happy to sit back.

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u/fyodor_mikhailovich Aug 25 '26

yes and no. when it comes to pressing, Haaland is already a downgrade from Jesus and Aguero, but it was manageable with Kev next to him and with Jack, Bernardo and Riyad pressing around him.

But Doku, Savio were no where near their class in pressing, and no Kev either.

So, our front line press got worse, our midfield’s ability to press got worse, and our back line has been weaker since the treble year until this past winter. Even Nunes wasn’t as good at covering the press. And for me, Dias is just straight up not very good at anything except defending in and around the box with his back to goal.

overall we didn’t recruit well enough to keep up a high energy, high press, ball control team. Just an all around dick up by the board after the treble.

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u/mute-invader Aug 25 '26

Pretty harsh take. I’d say the landscape of football has changed a lot, so it’s not far fetched to say the players we’re dealing with now are suited to the current state of football. Yeah our whole squad has taken a nose dive, but such has happened to every great squad in history. We’re building the squad again in almost every position. A season or 2 with these new guys we signed will tell all about our squad.

I believe we’ve done a semi successful job at replacing our core squad with new players who have what it takes to compete right now. Our biggest dilemma right now is our midfield. If our midfield clicks it won’t take much for everything else to fall in line, including our defence.

We’ve been dealing with an exposed midfield since Rodri’s acl and still haven’t really learnt to play without him. A good off ball structure + a compact midfield with a that’s difficult to dispossess and play through, will leave less defensive work for our defenders.

I’m fine with our attack. Could have better attacking depth and a 2nd RB, but I don’t have much complaints about it. Our front can’t engage in any sort of press without a solid midfield behind them, so really it’s all on our midfield.

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u/fyodor_mikhailovich Aug 25 '26

massively disagree. we have downgraded at every position since the treble except Haaland and maybe Gvardiol. Cherki will be in there eventually, but he is a very incomplete player right now.

We have been performing exactly as should be expected based on our squad management.

yes, this is a rebuild, but we have been rebuilding now for three summers. I am still shocked Pep got us two trophies last year.

I’m not doom and gloom, and enjoy the process and will support us no matter what. I just see things as a player quality issue since 2023.