Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

[simon23]

And BINGO, there we have it. Dare question someone underperforming in their role, and drastically underperforming and the entitled word comes out. You are proving my point that he seemingly can perform to a really poor standard and shouldn't be held accountable. I will support Pep through thick and thin, through treble wins and through him throwing our first CL final. I will support him as his name rings around the King Power, whilst still supporting him as he moans to the media about the fans, number of people who turn up or the noise that is made.

Our players not having the physicality is on Pep, he has overseen an ageing squad and publicly declared he made a mistake. HIM, nobody else. He holds the power at City. Walker and Foden off the field problems - where is the manager resolving them issues? Walker was a nightmare off the pitch and Pep was happy as larry with him being club captain. Pep deserves every praise when it goes well and equally should be held accountable when it doesn't. It works both ways. There has always been a feeling that little City should just be happy he is here, of course we are happy but he can be questioned when it's an absolute mess. This season has been a mess. Not winning the league or anything is not a problem in the slightest. Getting slapped regularly, only competing on one front mid Feb and repeating the same mistakes every game (Gundog) is rightfully being pulled up by match going, paying fans. The other night was embarrassing, not because of the scoreline but because of the very clear lack of fight or desire from us which comes from the top.

Ive never said he shouldnt be held accountable...I have actually said he is partially accountable.

The lack of physicality isnt on Pep at all - he cant stop the ageing process and cannot account for the HUGE drop off for instance in someone like KDB (I actually said about KDB over 12 months ago that he was falling off a cliff and got told I was wrong - well there you go)

People are entitled....they have a right to have an opinion of course but the reaction of a minority is shameful.....There is no harm in questioning or blaming Pep - again of course he is accountable BUT he is not the only one....Txixi is - he has dropped the ball and that was said at the very start of this season by some....including myself.

Describing it as an absolue mess is again going too far - what it is is the end of a cycle of players - this happens all the time - whether its Arsenal's invincibles, Klopps team when they finished 10th and then did what we are going to have to do and that is a complete overhaul of the midfield, ......
Not one team EVER has done what Peps team and players have done - 4 in a row..only one other team ever has done a treble. Not one other team has done a domestic quad EVER - this is the end of that team and cycle...

We went through a bad patch (Oct - Jan?) but w have turned it around to some extent - I wouldnt call that a mess...turing around I would call admitting the mistakes and starting to change it.

Ive criticised likewise the playing consistantly of Gundo....go back and check..ive called it out for months but what I also recognise is that there is little to no other option in the middle of the season. Who else does he play in that midfield? what other combination? and before Nico arived what were his options... I questioned why he didnt at least try to blood OReilly in some of the early cup games but Im guessing this is where the inside indepth knowledge of Pep and his coaches come in....Look at what happened to Rico Lewis this year compared to last - good in a functioning team with experienced performing pro's around him.....now this year.....he has been terrible. So I can already see some of the logic for not putting Oreilly in there. So who are the other options...we rightly got rid of Phillips (look at how he has performed elsewhere), Nunes is a clearly not good enough and anyone can see that...He has tred bernardo deeper, He has tried Gundo deeper and more advanced....he cant play foden deeper and Grealish seems to ahve fallen out of favour and I think we all know why - there is literally no other option...
KDB is finished....he cant play deeper (he loses possession constantly as well and if you play him as a number 10 he cant press from the front or get back to help. KDB is done and that is clear....2-0 at Madrid and he doesnt bring him on...that tells you everything...Pep knows he is done, KDB knows it as well
So again what else are his options..from October to January.

Lastly - the word embarassing...what exactly is embarrasing?

Running through the middle of Piccadilly with no clothes on is (for most I guess) embarrassing....

but a city team getting beaten by the very best team in the world who have literally spent billions on the best players in the world untouched and unhindered by any criticism or rules for their spending or the way they go about getting financed in the first place while we face critcism at every turn no matter what our owners do..Owners who have had to fight against everything from instituaionalised racism within the sport and British media to the old cartel of teams backed by the FA , media at all levels and prem league bringing in unlawful rules, constant allergations of wrong doing (nothing proven yet but we have already beaten one such allergation at UEFA level)...while developing not just a winning team which has transformed the way football is seen in this country (go watch the kids play football on the local parks and tell me Pep et al havent been the single biggest positive influence on how football is played in this country) but a team that has consistently broken records, been competative at EVERY LEVEL with the club from under 6's to the first team and womens team, while turning the east side of Manchester which was s shit hole (were you embarrased by he state of your city then? I was) into a place that is actually decent to be around.

Embarrased about no fight? Really? The club has been fighting tooth and nail from day one from the very top. Its not a lack of fight you are seeing its a lack of ability from the players to keep fighting after everything they have achieved - they physically cannot do it anymore and there is no embarrasment in that after all they have achieved.

The only embarrassment should be from the fans that are reacting like spoilt children...well here is some news for those people - its going to be a bit of a long road back to the top ....it wont change over night, it certainly wont change this season and maybe not even next unless the club manage to pull off one of the best transfer summers ever seen.

And if anyone is "embarassed" about the other night then they seriously need to reevaluate their lives...after all its only a game of football

 

[simon23]

Did you laud pep when we won the treble and four in a row? I bet you did, we have attributed a lot of the success we've had down to him.

Therefore now the going has got tough it can't just suddenly all put on the players. If Pep was responsible for our successes he is also responsible for this slump/drop off/regression. Results always lay at the door of the manager, that's what they are employed to provide.

I really don't think you can argue that Pep is currently operating at the level he's capable of, whether that's due to his personal issues or not - ultimately both HIM and the players are underperforming. It's not being entitled to expect more from a manager who most consider the best of all time. And by more I don't mean winning every trophy every year, but at least seeing us compete for trophies unlike we have in the league or champions league this season - highlighted by the most feeble, limp performance on Wednesday I've seen from any city side in years.

i lauded the team, Pep, Txixi et al..the whole lot

Ive never once put it ALL on the players...Ive said Pep is at fault, Ive said Txixi has dropped the ball..what Ive said is that I dont think Pep has got many other options at present to change it with the squad he has (especially from October to Jan).

If you want an image of what happens when you dont look at the whole picture and just look at the manager then look down the road at the red scum....constantly changin managers with the same group of players and what happens - constant failure......Van Gaal, Mouhrihno, Ten Hag, Amorin Ragnick Solchar - all baring the last experienced managers with good reputations but keeping on with a core of players who are not good enough while adding more shit to the pile.....and they are where they are (and long may it continue - if they stick with Amorin and invest well they will get stronger btw - he is a decent manager with a good way of playing but he doesnt have the players to play it which is why they are so poor at present)

It is being entitled to expect more when it is not possible.

We did compete - we lost that happens....we move on and try again

I feel you are probably in for more pain over the weekend

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

Ive never said he shouldnt be held accountable...I have actually said he is partially accountable.

The lack of physicality isnt on Pep at all - he cant stop the ageing process and cannot account for the HUGE drop off for instance in someone like KDB (I actually said about KDB over 12 months ago that he was falling off a cliff and got told I was wrong - well there you go)

People are entitled....they have a right to have an opinion of course but the reaction of a minority is shameful.....There is no harm in questioning or blaming Pep - again of course he is accountable BUT he is not the only one....Txixi is - he has dropped the ball and that was said at the very start of this season by some....including myself.

Describing it as an absolue mess is again going too far - what it is is the end of a cycle of players - this happens all the time - whether its Arsenal's invincibles, Klopps team when they finished 10th and then did what we are going to have to do and that is a complete overhaul of the midfield, ......
Not one team EVER has done what Peps team and players have done - 4 in a row..only one other team ever has done a treble. Not one other team has done a domestic quad EVER - this is the end of that team and cycle...

We went through a bad patch (Oct - Jan?) but w have turned it around to some extent - I wouldnt call that a mess...turing around I would call admitting the mistakes and starting to change it.

Ive criticised likewise the playing consistantly of Gundo....go back and check..ive called it out for months but what I also recognise is that there is little to no other option in the middle of the season. Who else does he play in that midfield? what other combination? and before Nico arived what were his options... I questioned why he didnt at least try to blood OReilly in some of the early cup games but Im guessing this is where the inside indepth knowledge of Pep and his coaches come in....Look at what happened to Rico Lewis this year compared to last - good in a functioning team with experienced performing pro's around him.....now this year.....he has been terrible. So I can already see some of the logic for not putting Oreilly in there. So who are the other options...we rightly got rid of Phillips (look at how he has performed elsewhere), Nunes is a clearly not good enough and anyone can see that...He has tred bernardo deeper, He has tried Gundo deeper and more advanced....he cant play foden deeper and Grealish seems to ahve fallen out of favour and I think we all know why - there is literally no other option...
KDB is finished....he cant play deeper (he loses possession constantly as well and if you play him as a number 10 he cant press from the front or get back to help. KDB is done and that is clear....2-0 at Madrid and he doesnt bring him on...that tells you everything...Pep knows he is done, KDB knows it as well
So again what else are his options..from October to January.

Lastly - the word embarassing...what exactly is embarrasing?

Running through the middle of Piccadilly with no clothes on is (for most I guess) embarrassing....

but a city team getting beaten by the very best team in the world who have literally spent billions on the best players in the world untouched and unhindered by any criticism or rules for their spending or the way they go about getting financed in the first place while we face critcism at every turn no matter what our owners do..Owners who have had to fight against everything from instituaionalised racism within the sport and British media to the old cartel of teams backed by the FA , media at all levels and prem league bringing in unlawful rules, constant allergations of wrong doing (nothing proven yet but we have already beaten one such allergation at UEFA level)...while developing not just a winning team which has transformed the way football is seen in this country (go watch the kids play football on the local parks and tell me Pep et al havent been the single biggest positive influence on how football is played in this country) but a team that has consistently broken records, been competative at EVERY LEVEL with the club from under 6's to the first team and womens team, while turning the east side of Manchester which was s shit hole (were you embarrased by he state of your city then? I was) into a place that is actually decent to be around.

Embarrased about no fight? Really? The club has been fighting tooth and nail from day one from the very top. Its not a lack of fight you are seeing its a lack of ability from the players to keep fighting after everything they have achieved - they physically cannot do it anymore and there is no embarrasment in that after all they have achieved.

The only embarrassment should be from the fans that are reacting like spoilt children...well here is some news for those people - its going to be a bit of a long road back to the top ....it wont change over night, it certainly wont change this season and maybe not even next unless the club manage to pull off one of the best transfer summers ever seen.

And if anyone is "embarassed" about the other night then they seriously need to reevaluate their lives...after all its only a game of football

Again it is contradictory. Pep cannot stop the ageing process of course but he can prepare better for it. Something he has publicly acknowledged and something I won't repeat any more, it is factual and from his mouth.

You lay blame on Txixi and he is accountable too, but when we win these trebles and break these records you speak of, Pep gets ALL of the praise and nobody says 3 cheers Txixi. He gets the credit therefor deserves the questions the other way around. We have been a mess this season. You say we have turned it around, dumped out of the CL and threw hundreds of million at the problem. The bare minimum I would expect after that transfer window is a better change in fortune, which still hasn't been great. It has just been a bit better than the poor form we was in previously.

Embarrassing is getting absolutely pumped on a regular basis, not being in games from minute one, showing no heart, desire or commitment to the cause. Wednesday was pathetic, it truly was, just like Arsenal away, just like Liverpool away, just like Villa away. I can keep going if needed. A drop off was going to happen at some point, but a drop off from being champions, from going out of the CL to the eventual winners on pens to this is extreme and like many have said, a drop off that has been off the charts. I am at risk of continually repeat myself to you, as you want to keep talking about Pep not being as much to blame, or talking about past glories or anything else. He is the best manager in the world apparently. This season hasn't been acceptable for many reasons, and a lot of them fall at his feet. I will repeat for the last time it isn't being entitled, just competitive and if we lose then fair fucks. Rocking up to matches and getting our bellys tickled, consistently, is gutless.

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

i lauded the team, Pep, Txixi et al..the whole lot

Ive never once put it ALL on the players...Ive said Pep is at fault, Ive said Txixi has dropped the ball..what Ive said is that I dont think Pep has got many other options at present to change it with the squad he has (especially from October to Jan).

If you want an image of what happens when you dont look at the whole picture and just look at the manager then look down the road at the red scum....constantly changin managers with the same group of players and what happens - constant failure......Van Gaal, Mouhrihno, Ten Hag, Amorin Ragnick Solchar - all baring the last experienced managers with good reputations but keeping on with a core of players who are not good enough while adding more shit to the pile.....and they are where they are (and long may it continue - if they stick with Amorin and invest well they will get stronger btw - he is a decent manager with a good way of playing but he doesnt have the players to play it which is why they are so poor at present)

It is being entitled to expect more when it is not possible.

We did compete - we lost that happens....we move on and try again

I feel you are probably in for more pain over the weekend

And the delusion claiming we have been competitive tells its own story. Have a good weekend blue.

 

[simon23]

Nunes was definitely last on the list - and was reported that we were weighing up between a move for him or Eze for squad spaces, with Nunes being easier to sort (that they were 2 completely different types of players shows how much thought went into it).

For Phillips, it's not the case he was a panic buy - he was signed on the 4th of July, with 7 weeks of the window left, and I'm sure it was reported that Pep had the nod from Bielsa about him. I think the fact he's not been a great signing makes people think he was a panic buy but it's just one that didn't work out.

I vividly remember Pep saying that Doku was a Txiki signing at the time though - I wonder what his input was for him.

For any of them and others, It’s another thing I have found so odd about the squad building/planning. Why have players in the squad who you know you won't play - it makes a small squad even smaller.

Phillips was a bottom of the list player...yes he did get the nod from Bielsa but that doesnt show anything....there is no way Phillips was at the top of the list for anything..

You are right about Doku -a player I think is underrated by some - shows how even the best in Txixi and Pep can differ and sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt

 

[simon23]

And the delusion claiming we have been competitive tells its own story. Have a good weekend blue.

are we still in the FA Cuo?
are we still in the race for the top 4?

as pep says being in the race is all that counts...being there or there abouts is what he says...and we are....
Being competative is not about being in top position all the time

Look at Liverpool when they had an aged midfield under Klopp - they finished 10th. I think Chelsea were bottom half of the league at one point.
Did arsenal finish outside the top 4 at one point??? (genuine question)

All teams have drop offs -this is ours

nothing delusional about anything...we have been competative - its just about levels...ours has dropped but that happens.

 

[Blue2202]

i lauded the team, Pep, Txixi et al..the whole lot

Ive never once put it ALL on the players...Ive said Pep is at fault, Ive said Txixi has dropped the ball..what Ive said is that I dont think Pep has got many other options at present to change it with the squad he has (especially from October to Jan).

If you want an image of what happens when you dont look at the whole picture and just look at the manager then look down the road at the red scum....constantly changin managers with the same group of players and what happens - constant failure......Van Gaal, Mouhrihno, Ten Hag, Amorin Ragnick Solchar - all baring the last experienced managers with good reputations but keeping on with a core of players who are not good enough while adding more shit to the pile.....and they are where they are (and long may it continue - if they stick with Amorin and invest well they will get stronger btw - he is a decent manager with a good way of playing but he doesnt have the players to play it which is why they are so poor at present)

It is being entitled to expect more when it is not possible.

We did compete - we lost that happens....we move on and try again

I feel you are probably in for more pain over the weekend

Nowhere in the previous post I replied to did you lay any fault with pep? You talked about his admission of wishing he'd rebuilt last summer and then defended it by saying he was covering for the club? Which makes absolutely no sense.

So you're telling me you have no expectations of Pep or city then? And you're content with Wednesdays performance? Leyton orient competed better against us than we did against Madrid the other night, there's absolutely no doubt about that.

We have the lowest points total at this stage of a premier league season since 2008 - that is not competing.

Look at Liverpool when they had an aged midfield under Klopp - they finished 10th.

Also, not to be pedantic but this never actually happened. As much as I hate them you've made it up. Which makes me think you'll say pretty much anything to back up your points with things that arent true.

 

[Damanino]

he absolutely need to try the new signings to bed in as much as they can. that includes Echeverri, Reis as well. no point them for not to play but some older players out of form playing each week...

try to win Fa cup ad get the CL place but other then that try building for the future, try some new tactics which can help us next season. the slow tactics with slow and tired players aint gonna help us next season...

 

[Gabriel]

he absolutely need to try the new signings to bed in as much as they can. that includes Echeverri, Reis as well. no point them for not to play but some older players out of form playing each week...

try to win Fa cup ad get the CL place but other then that try building for the future, try some new tactics which can help us next season. the slow tactics with slow and tired players aint gonna help us next season...

Completely agree. If these guys aren’t starting, then they need to be used from the bench, and players who are unfit should either be in the stands or left at home.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Peps conference and he's lighting the fire regarding player fitness, injuries etc.

I think the RM defeat is proving to be a watershed moment for this team and club.

 

[Ajm1985]

Phillips was a bottom of the list player...yes he did get the nod from Bielsa but that doesnt show anything....there is no way Phillips was at the top of the list for anything..

You are right about Doku -a player I think is underrated by some - shows how even the best in Txixi and Pep can differ and sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt

We wanted Phillips, worked on him when we thought we could get him cheaper (relegation clause) and then carried on pursuing him when it was going to cost more.



The Bielsa nod was in reference to Pep being part of the transfer decision.

Not every transfer is a winner but we shouldn't reframe Phillips as being a panic buy or bottom of a list. Pep was also clearly part of it.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

We wanted Phillips, worked on him when we thought we could get him cheaper (relegation clause) and then carried on pursuing him when it was going to cost more.

View attachment 147513

The Bielsa nod was in reference to Pep being part of the transfer decision.

Not every transfer is a winner but we shouldn't reframe Phillips as being a panic buy or bottom of a list. Pep was also clearly part of it.

On paper it made a load of sense at the time (if you rated him or not different issue), and then for a variety of reasons, injury, mentality, tactic switch etc went tits up and was a disaster.

 

[Ajm1985]

On paper it made a load of sense at the time (if you rated him or not different issue), and then for a variety of reasons, injury, mentality, tactic switch etc went tits up and was a disaster.

Yeah definitely - particularly when it was mooted at £25m, it looked like a great shout. The fact his shoulder was crocked, his fitness was questionable and that he couldn't play facing his own goal were big issues.

I had hopes but was just a big miss

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Yeah definitely - particularly when it was mooted at £25m, it looked like a great shout. The fact his shoulder was crocked, his fitness was questionable and that he couldn't play facing his own goal were big issues.

I had hopes but was just a big miss

think pep ripping up the 433 and going to the box mid, probably set him back as well. d/l all the 'pep info' and then forget it and kinda start again. We've heard how hard it all is to take on, and to take it all in twice in the first months. All these players biographies in a few years time will be a good read. Phillips, Cancelo, Jack etc.

 

[Ajm1985]

think pep ripping up the 433 and going to the box mid, probably set him back as well. d/l all the 'pep info' and then forget it and kinda start again. We've heard how hard it all is to take on, and to take it all in twice in the first months. All these players biographies in a few years time will be a good read. Phillips, Cancelo, Jack etc.

Christ, the tactical stuff alone will be interesting but the other side for Cancelo & Jack will be amazing to read

 

[Father Paul]

Do you think that Pep makes any decisions single handedly? What would be the point of having a DOF if that was the case?
The here and now is poor...I agree -in comparrison to where we have been - btu look at other teams when they have dropped off -Chelsea ended up mid table - Scousers the same - they have both rebuilt with significant investment.
I dont agree on all this no fight no heart bullshit - its a deflection from the reality - which is the players are finished - too many people are emotionally attached (understandibly) to the players to see the bigger picture.

You tell me a team or a coach that could manage losing all in one go and
Rodri for nearly allt he season -
KDB for a significant part of it.... and not just losing him in terms of playing but also a significant drop off in levels
Most of his back 4 (and in paricular the stand out performers of Walker - who was pivotal to our back 4 set up and Stones again who was pivotal)
All of this happened at once while at the same time you have drop off levels in Bernardo as well - someone Pep rates so highly that he sasid at the time that Bernardo will "be at the club as long as I am."

KDB is not someone you just go out and replace - it takes significant planning and investment - the deal for a player to come in and replace him has to be worked on for years.

The DOF brought in Nunes and Phillips - no way were they Pep signings - right from the off you could see he wasnt sure on them - they didnt start games.

If you dont think hs style of play has evolved then you aint watching games - we have been way more direct in our attacking this year than previous years

How do you propose he adapts the team with the squad he has?

People want to see us sit deeper - well the issue there is that when we attack our midfield cannot either get up to support or get back to defend....yes we need physical players as you suggest but we cant get those just over night.....Look at the players we have just brought in - now do you think that hints at a potential change in style...Marmoush who literally can play both the short passing game but also wants to run in behind.... Khusonov a literal freight train of a defender who can run up and down all day and Nico who is way more mobile than people who are already giving him credit for -
Does Pep know he has made mistakes - yes undoubtedly - but are people so pathetic and thin skinned and unable to take losses that as soon as we have a bad season we start whinging about it?? Really?

The youngsters arent ready - look at Rico - he has really struggled this year - badly - last year in a functioning team he was able to fit in..this year not...do you think Pep wants to put that pressure on the likes of Nico OReilly - look at what has happened when he has been played - he has played him at full back as this is a common Pep tactic..play the young lads in a "safer position." he aint going to put Nico OReilly in central midfield against the likes of Liverpool or Real Madrid - he would get taken apart and long term that is no good for the lad.
Who else replaces those old guard you so rightlyfully point to are running with concrete boots on....Nunes? He has shown at every turn that he doesnt have the technical level to play in midfield...

People are way to ready to jump on someone who has been a significant part in bringing in unbridled success to the club - how do you change it mid season once Rodri goes down injured? - yes pre planning and getting a rodri back up in may have sorted some of the problems - but even though we have that now you can see the issue is way bigger than that.
We need a huge rebuild - that is going to take time - Id be suprised if we managed it even with this summer transfer window - this is where Viana has to step up and probably why we went pretty big with transfers in the winter.

Pep even "joked" about it whenhe was asked a couple of weeks ago how he solves the problem - he said the only way clubs can do it is to have a 40 man squad - this from a man who reportedly (and probably accurately) has always favoured a small squad of players....

Pep will adapt -but it takes time and people need to have that patience....

And for anyone wanting Pep out - someone tell me who replaces him??? Give me 2-3 names that is both viable and an improvement? Be careful what you wish for!!!

My view is that if you are not deemed good enough to fill in when players are injured or out of form you should not be in the squad. What is the fuckin point in having O'Reilly and the like if they never get a chance even though we have been beyond shite in a lot of games.

 

[Ajm1985]

https://archive.is/H3LcK

Interesting analysis of how shite our press was vs Madrid and in the CL games in general

 

[Shazza458]

Peps conference and he's lighting the fire regarding player fitness, injuries etc.

I think the RM defeat is proving to be a watershed moment for this team and club.

Yep. I get the impression no one at the club expected us to go through anyway after Pep’s presser today.

This schedule is much nicer for this squad with no CL football

 

[pbueno16]

My view is that if you are not deemed good enough to fill in when players are injured or out of form you should not be in the squad. What is the fuckin point in having O'Reilly and the like if they never get a chance even though we have been beyond shite in a lot of games.

O'Reilly's case is even more frustrating because he hasn't been bad in any of his appearances.

 

[sir baconface]

Hahahaha....childish

Im from Manchester originally....went to Maine Road in the dark days of the 80's so I will express my opinions all I want...and there is zero you can do about it except put me on ignore....

BTW Cornwall is a truly beautiful place as well......

I know. I’m also from Manchester originally but one of my grans was a fine Cornish woman. Survived all 4 sons and lived to 96.

Save me a pastie and I’ll call in next time I’m there. ;-)