It's Quiet 16 - Txiki grinders

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I have nothing to back this up (thats why I feel at home on here) and it's just a feeling in my water, but.... I think Pep will shake it up again next season. When teams were expecting us to go again with 3 up top after winning the league, Pep dumped centre forwards (and wingers for a time) and went full on midfield blitzkreig. Next season, I wouldn't put it past him going with 2 forwards and changes in midfield with Grealish playing in the role he was bought for. It would throw them a curveball.
Agreed. Our system under Pep tends to change every 2/3 seasons because, eventually, teams work us out and Pep has to try something different to keep us a step ahead. It was what made Ferguson so great, just keeping that door revolving often enough that they were never off the top for long. He always played 4-4-2 but he always opted for a slightly different version every 3/4 years to avoid things going stale. In 1999 their system was a traditional 4-4-2 (Schmeichel; Neville, Stam, Jonsen, Irwin; Beckham, Scholes, Keane, Giggs; Cole, Yorke), but by 2003 they'd moved to a system that prioritised ball retention just that bit more (Barthez; Neville, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Neville; Beckham, Veron, Scholes, Giggs; Solskjaer, Van Nistelrooy). Then when Mourinho knocked them out of the Champions League, came to Chelsea, and brought something new to the league, Ferguson adapted again by opting for a slightly skewed 4-3-3 in 2008 (Van Der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez). By the time Ferguson left, United were playing stodgy football but it was effective because it was a solid 4-4-1-1 that was calm in the middle and ruthless up front (De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Young; Rooney; Van Persie).

In Pep's first season here, he used what Pellegrini had left behind and took a hit for one year in order to teach the players his system. Then in our Centurions season we prioritised taking advantage of transitions with fast, wide wing play and a lot of bluster (Ederon; Walker, Otamendi, Stones, Delph; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva; Sterling, Aguero, Sane). But that system left us a bit exposed in tight games, so in 18/19 he shored us up and played a slightly more detailed, slower game with Sane on the bench more often (Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Zinchenko; Fernandinho, Bernardo, Silva; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling). Then when Kompany left and Fernandinho slowed down, we got a bit found out quite a bit. Miles behind Liverpool in 2020, in a terrible run of form at the start of the 2020/21 season, Pep made his most radical change yet by opting against using a striker, going for maximum ball retention and control, and trying to win games via slow strangulation (Ederson; Walker, Dias, Stones, Cancelo; Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Mahrez, Bernardo, Foden). Sooner or later, this strikerless system will get found out and he'll adapt again - hence why we're bringing one in over the summer. It'll be fun to see where we go next.
 
I have nothing to back this up (thats why I feel at home on here) and it's just a feeling in my water, but.... I think Pep will shake it up again next season. When teams were expecting us to go again with 3 up top after winning the league, Pep dumped centre forwards (and wingers for a time) and went full on midfield blitzkreig. Next season, I wouldn't put it past him going with 2 forwards and changes in midfield with Grealish playing in the role he was bought for. It would throw them a curveball.
I've been thinking the same since the links with Alvarez. Add in Haaland (for choice) and Delap can be the backup/rotation option. Pep does like to keep everyone on their toes.
 
"City are already set up domestically and for the CL. With Madrid it's going to take time, to get back to their very best."

Disagree, Madrid are not what they were, but they can still attract the very best and they will.

Three of four top signings and Real will be very much in the mix.
Money issues, won't allow them the luxury of signing 3 or 4 top players. All these tweets are BS. They're being put out to make them feel relevant
 
I've been thinking the same since the links with Alvarez. Add in Haaland (for choice) and Delap can be the backup/rotation option. Pep does like to keep everyone on their toes.

I honestly can't believe people keep talking of Delap as an option. For a first team stiker. The guy has had what, one brief appearance in 2.5 years of hype? Nothing there to even remotely suggest think he will be a meaningful option in pep's last season.
 
I honestly can't believe people keep talking of Delap as an option. For a first team stiker. The guy has had what, one brief appearance in 2.5 years of hype? Nothing there to even remotely suggest think he will be a meaningful option in pep's last season.
For a first team backup striker. You seem to have missed that bit.
 
For a first team backup striker. You seem to have missed that bit.

No, even that is a role way more meaningful than I think he will ever fill. Jesus is a 'backup' at the moment. Delap is nowhere near the frame to be a significant part of this squad.

I don't see Pep suddenly changing his mind and relying on someone who hasnt featured at all. Particularly if it is his final season.
 
Madrid are favourites according a colleague who is Dortmund season ticket holder

I wouldn’t feel any better if we where, the fact is nothing is done for any team and this is Raiola’s biggest most high profile transfer deal.

He is in the limelight and looking to extract the most out of any club (this is important knowing other high profile players are watching, so he’ll want to show why he is worth the extra money to them).

So it’s going to have up and downs.

Now Real are a great club with great history so the idea of him wanting to play there is certainly true.

The leaks on not wanting the Premier League, I don’t but he’s grown up watching it etc. Seems ideally suited and Norwegians always seem to like the Prem.

So these leaks are probably as much about upping our offer (he’s not as keen but if you make it worth it, could persuade him). No doubt the opposite will apply at some point and we will be touted as the favourite club or someone else.

He is going to get the best possible offers from a few clubs and then it will be up to Haaland to decide. The rest is just noise.
 
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