Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

[Keeper!]

Only if that’s what kind of mind your mind is. I don’t think there’s anything more deep than Dias not being fit enough to start yet and that 15 minute cameo the other week set him back a bit as he went off feeling his injury.

I really not sure that's the case but I hope your right.

We need his leadership skills more than his playing skills.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

I’ve tried to calm down and relax after yet another shit-show yesterday but I am getting more and more concerned about the teams direction. No side, however great, is immune to bad results or a bad season, but I can’t help but worry about us next season and beyond.

For whatever reason, we now find ourselves playing week in, week out, with at least half a dozen of our best players/bona fide winners, not there for one reason or another. Some can’t get in the side (Dias, Laporte). Some have had their form/standard fall off a cliff (Bernie, Gundo, KDB), others seem to be in limbo (Walker, Foden) and Cancelo has been booted out.

No team can handle this number of missing top players and let’s face it, no other team would even attempt it, because 99.99999% of other clubs, would boot the manager out of the club, as it is far more cost effective (and easier) than thinking about trying to replace so many players.

Let me be clear…I do not want us to part ways with the best manager in the world but something has got to give. If the club is backing the manager over the players (and I fully expect them to) then it means we need to back him with a summer of spending that makes Todd Boehly look like Peter Swales.

The club cannot and MUST NOT go into next season with Akanji, Ake, Rico, Grealish and Mahrez as nailed on starters.

Akanji must be nothing more than a back up CB.
Ake can possibly be our LB, much like Delph or Zin were. Not the long-term answer but serviceable in an otherwise solid/top-class back 4.
Rico must be what he is…a kid working his way into professional football.
Grealish a squad player as he won’t ever deliver enough playing wide forward every week.
Mahrez a squad player as he is too flaky and cannot be 1st choice when he goes missing for months on end.

Before people lose their shit with “Ake is our best defender” or “Mahrez has been great since the WC” or “Grealish is working hard”…look at what we are watching collectively out on the pitch. The level of these players (no matter how hard they are trying), is nowhere near the level of those they have replaced from previous title-winning seasons. Most top sides (we have done it ourselves) can handle one or two players in the side that are a level or two below the rest. No side remains a top side, when there are more squad players in the starting XI, than there are top players and at the moment that’s where we are at.

If the likes of Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Gundo, Bernie are done, then it requires replacing them with players of equal quality. That means no more squad-padding with Akanji, Ake, or Calvin Philips like purchases. It means buying proper top-class players. If we don’t, then we have started to see the end of our dominance cycle and this side is in a top four battle next season.

 

[clarion]

What concerns me
the month February and we still don’t know ho to create a chance for the best strikers on world. Except that KdB passing.

And Lewis. Like the boy. But he needs to get Foden’s development treatment.

 

[alexmcity]

Only if that’s what kind of mind your mind is. I don’t think there’s anything more deep than Dias not being fit enough to start yet and that 15 minute cameo the other week set him back a bit as he went off feeling his injury.

This is the most likely explanation. Dias wasn't probably fit enough to start against a really good attack. Don't think his situation is comparable to Laporte's and Cancelo's (and Walker's), who aren't/weren't happy enough.

We were in big trouble before Dias's arrival in 2020. Let's hope his return will help the team.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

This is the most likely explanation. Dias wasn't probably fit enough to start against a really good attack. Don't think his situation is comparable to Laporte's and Cancelo's (and Walker's), who aren't/weren't happy enough.

We were in big trouble before Dias's arrival in 2020. Let's hope his return will help the team.

Laporte had an operation last year and has only started 4 Prem games this season since that operation.

Walker also has an operation last year (even more recently than Laporte) and hasn’t been right since.

 

[alexmcity]

Laporte had an operation last year and has only started 4 Prem games this season since that operation.

Walker also has an operation last year (even more recently than Laporte) and hasn’t been right since.

Laporte's been relatively fit after October and completely fit after the WC. It's obvious that he plays a lot fewer minutes than he can, which is probably related to the rumours he intends to move in the summer.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

As others have mentioned , we are looking at a replace the manager or replace the players situation

his plan for this season is plainly not working with this set of players

they are so used to having the nominal forward dropping off and creating overloads that they don’t have a clue how to break teams down with a guy who sits on the last man. I’ve also got a sneaky feeling that some of the players nose has been put out of joint by the new superstar striker we have brought it. These players have big egos and can’t be happy with all the early season attention being about him. Have we seen less passing to him since the world cup?it feels like it

Major clear out in the summer I think , we need it if we are to move on from where we are as a team at the moment

Bernardo, Gundogan, Laporte , Dias could all be for the chop

we need a couple of centre mids that offer more athleticism to get up with Haaland and occasionally pass him the ball !

if we are playing with inverted wingers then we must have full backs than can get to the byline and provide width

to be honest, we would suit the way Liverpool play when in their heyday

possession football but with a more direct style

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Laporte's been relatively fit after October and completely fit after the WC. It's obvious that he plays a lot fewer minutes than he can, which is probably related to the rumours he intends to move in the summer.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with Laportes fitness and I am not 100% convinced there is anything wrong with Dias either.

If either/both of them want out in the summer, let them go but while they are currently here…play them. Win the title and then let them leave, they wouldn’t be the 1st players we have done that with. It feels like Pep is cutting off his nose to spite his face with his current team selections.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Vibes have been well off before.

Pep’s been with us for seven seasons and in four of those seasons we’ve been miles behind our three better seasons with vibes seemingly well off. Even though in one of those seasons we ended up winning the league!

2016-17: 3rd, 78 points; CL Ro16
2017-18: 1st, 100 points; CL ¼; EFL Cup w; Community Shield w
2018-19: 1st, 98 points; CL ¼; FA Cup w; EFL Cup w; Community Shield w
2019-20: 2nd, 81 points; CL ¼; EFL Cup w
2020-21: 1st, 86 points; CL final; EFL Cup w
2021-22: 1st, 93 points; CL ½

2022-23: currently 2nd, on course for an 82 point season, still in the CL and FA Cup. This season might not be anywhere near our worst under Pep.

It would be like us to win the CL this year, like Chelsea and Liverpool finishing nowhere near the title when they did. I think Pep needs to decide how he wants to play, if he wants to keep,the ball at all costs then sell Haaland because that lad thrives off making runs in to space,if they are only trusting KDB to do that pass then forget it. The best game we’ve played this year was without Haaland against Chelsea at home, fast paced lasts of movement interchanging positions, I know Chelsea aren’t the best but it was the old style of play we’ve enjoyed the last few years. Pep said Haaland would have to adapt to our style, but he can’t he’s nit a mobile forward like Aguero or Alvarez, so he has a choice change the style and build the team around Haaland or drop him put Alvarez in there and go back to the old style which Pep has used forever. I don’t mind if we don’t win anything this year as long as the players try, a massive rebuild in summer 2 fast wingers, a left back, and a leader On and off the pitch!
I still have a nagging feeling Pep may walk, his body language is not good, so unless Tixi opens that cheque book he may well part ways.

 

[BlueBlood84]

It's a bad look a man of Peps stature getting cut down by a stand in. I have faith in him and I'm not someone who believes we have the God given right to claim the league title year after year but yesterday was undeniably lacking in direction and passion which was worrying with Arsenal giving us a way in and the rag fuckers breathing down out neck.

 

[lee_wsm]

Problem with pep is he is too stubborn. Substitutes fine get used at right times or at all. The style of play we had back in the sterling sane days was so great to watch attacking fast football now it’s over passing boredom. Haaland should have been the key to attacking football but he seems wasted apart from his initial goal burst. Bring entertainment back pep.

 

[richards30]

the board need to have a chat with him to find out what the fuck is going on in his head! We all realistically knew yesterday that team and shape was going to struggle yet the best manager in the world buries his head and keeps doing it???

 

[alexmcity]

build the team around Haaland

Given Haaland's limitations outside the box, it's not clear Pep can do this without betraying his principles. Plus, it could be risky to try to build a team around a player who changes clubs every 2 years or so.

Right now most City fans would rather see the back of Pep and the other top players than losing Haaland. This would be suicidal, though. Pep over Haaland or any single player. Pep will realise his mistakes from this season, he's quite clever.

 

[karnoks]

i miss the time when the front 3 is lethal - Sane, Aguero & Sterling. fast winger hold the line, making runs left and right, they stretch out the opponents, open up the space, and Aguero is there to finish it all.

what happen to that system? joy to watch, simple, effective and destructive to opponents.

 

[DMA's]

Whilst I do agree the recruitment has been awful I do think some posters are completely overreacting. We have just won back to back prem titles it’s hardly a surprise we are having a downturn in form. We are still 2nd and when you compare our season to Liverpool’s (the only other side who have been under the same mental toil as we have) then it’s hard to get too critcal. I’m certain pep will sort it in time.

 

[Bluewars]

For the first time he needs to be questioned.

Team selection: Suck it up and put the best players on the pitch.

Personal Favourites: Akanji. Nowhere near good enough I dont care if he smiles at you every morning. Every fan from any club would have raised eyebrows when seeing Dias and Laporte on the bench.

Mystery exclusions: De Bruyne & Foden. No words really.

Lack of in game changes & Stubbornness : Did we ever look like scoring today ?

Peps Ego is so big that he'd rather sabotage the season than admit his 442 system is utter nonsense.

The players don't believe in the tactics. The squad are mentally exhausted. Last season was so tough on the players, Kevin said
"This was the hardest one!"
A gruelling title fight and a dramatic champions league defeat to end the season. This season started early with cramed fixtures because of the winter world cup.

This should have been the season where the players where given more freedom, its impossible to maintain the same intensity. Gundogan, Kev, Laporte, Bernardo, Walker, Stones, Mahrez, let them play to the best of thier abilities in a system they're familiar with, instead he's marginalizing our best players because they've realised this 442 inverted set-up is crap!

Players like Ake, Akanji, Lewis, Grealish are just happy to be playing, they will never question Pep, the established players have voiced their discontent thats clear. Its a dangerous territory Pep is entering, he has insecurities (UCL) that is affecting the team.

 

[come-on-barney]

Unless Pep is willing to commit long term, I don’t see the club opening the cheque book to a manager who would gone at the end of the season. We need a few good purchases. Unless we know who the new manager will be and we buy the players he wants. If Pep stays we are going to need a clearout and rebuild. It depends how many players are unhappy. What ever decision is reached we are looking at a couple seasons of transition. If Pep commits longer term he needs a strong assistant who he can bounce ideas off, and can be a bridge between him and the players. Short term extensions don’t allow for enough planning given the scale of the rebuild needed.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

Peps Ego is so big that he'd rather sabotage the season than admit his 442 system is utter nonsense

This is utter nonsense

I would rather Pep is given a blank cheque to clear out the sad faces than to put our trust into the players

its obvious the dressing room is divided , this is going to take a while to sort out.

 

[FantasyIreland]

I am the egg man
They are the egg men
I am the walrus
Goo goo g'joob

Its been a hard days night.....

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Peps Ego is so big that he'd rather sabotage the season than admit his 442 system is utter nonsense.

The players don't believe in the tactics. The squad are mentally exhausted. Last season was so tough on the players, Kevin said
"This was the hardest one!"
A gruelling title fight and a dramatic champions league defeat to end the season. This season started early with cramed fixtures because of the winter world cup.

This should have been the season where the players where given more freedom, its impossible to maintain the same intensity. Gundogan, Kev, Laporte, Bernardo, Walker, Stones, Mahrez, let them play to the best of thier abilities in a system they're familiar with, instead he's marginalizing our best players because they've realised this 442 inverted set-up is crap!

Players like Ake, Akanji, Lewis, Grealish are just happy to be playing, they will never question Pep, the established players have voiced their discontent thats clear. Its a dangerous territory Pep is entering, he has insecurities (UCL) that is affecting the team.

They can’t believe their luck. They’ve gone from bit-part players to first names on the team sheet. Not out of quality but because they will tow the line.

Pep is locked in a dick-measuring contest with half the squad, unfortunately for us, it’s with the better half of the squad.