Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

[Don Karleone]

There's no ideas or innovation anymore. It's stale.

This season, summed up.

 

[Dax777]

Not even going to bother arguing with those saying he's done.

The players take the blame for me and I think that'll be proven right next season.

He'll be brutal this summer, can see him telling a lot of players to find a new home.

4 great seasons in the last 5 years, 6 great seasons in 8 years, he'll bring us back to the promised land.

Again, this is a copout. Sure with the best players in the world ( Wirtz and Reindjers) he very well might lead us back to a title.

But would i trust him in a cup final? No. Not that i've ever truly trusted his cup final decisions.

I feel like we are scared to step away from Pep because he has been so dominant... But it may very well be the case that we already have.

The firs 7-8 years were phenomenal. The last 2 has been less so. Even though we still won the league last year, a good portion of it included some of this new turgid football.

This year was just a step too far. In my view, qe are in the 2nd era of Pep and that started last year. And this version of Pep simply isn't special anymore. He is just okay.

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

Well he picked that bench.

Also, and this might seem radical, but why not switch the wingers for 10 mins? Savinho had a decent run of form on the left earlier in the season and Doku would have terrified Mitchell, who was shaky

There's no ideas or innovation anymore. It's stale.

Sack him tonight give the team a lift for Tuesday

 

[MCFC1993]

Again, this is a copout. Sure with the best players in the world ( Wirtz and Reindjers) he very well might lead us back to a title.

But would i trust him in a cup final? No. Not that i've ever truly trusted his cup final decisions.

I feel like we are scared to step away from Pep because he has been so dominant... But it may very well be the case that we already have.

The firs 7-8 years were phenomenal. The last 2 has been less so. Even though we still won the league last year, a good portion of it included some of this new turgid football.

This year was just a step too far. In my view, qe are in the 2nd era of Pep and that started last year. And this version of Pep simply isn't special anymore. He is just okay.

And I think this is a cop out. 90+ point season and a penalty shootout defeat away from probably another CL Final last season.

Loads of injuries and underperformed players and suddenly he's washed...not having it.

This is why I said pointless arguing, he's going nowhere, let's revisit in 12 months.

 

[ScottSinclair]

And yet they were worst than this team.

Kolarov, Clichy, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernando, Mangala etc...

It'd the same situation but different position.

Summer 2017 needed a defensive revamp.
Summer 2025 needs a midfield revamp.

Tbh I initially mentioned I don't really want to argue with those who want him out. He's going nowhere and I'll be happy to revisit these comments in 12 months times.

We also most likely need a goalkeeper (as we did in 17 tbf), ideally two new full-backs and a senior centre-back unless we bank on the injury situation among out current personell gets a lot better out of nowhere next season.
We also probably could do with a winger that actually has shown he can deliver goals and assists (as unlike Sav and Doku, Sterling and Sane did show in that season at a similiar age). None of the new or young players should be written off, but also absolutely none of them have actually shown they can be relied upon to actually develop into important top players next year. Nico, Marmoush, Khus, Sav, Doku, Reis. Which of these have shown so far shown an curve of form going upwards into key-player territory? Again, they might all turn out decent but this time there is huge question marks about them.

I'd go as far as saying we have a core of Gvardiol-Rodri (if we ignore that he might never be the same player)- Haaland of players that we can rely on to keep us at the top. Maybe Dias can be added to that becaude his partnership with Gvardiol has been good but he has been weak individually to often for my personal liking. Everyone else has huge question marks over them based on this season, not only the midfield.

 

[Dax777]

Fuckin state of entitled wankers on here.

We've just lost the fa cup.

It happens. We aren't going to win every trophy we are in, you have to accept that unless you are a jonny come lately and all you have known is success.

Before these hangers on we'd won stuff. And don't anyone tell me to shut up because you say it's all about the now.

Wrongo.

You have to accept defeat, you have to accept the good with the bad. Pep has gave us so much joy. Embrace it. Once he's gone it's done.

Yeah, im going to tell you to shut up. Its not the loss, its the performance.

4, 5 years ago we used to lose to Wolves in a amash and grab after cutting them ipen all game but missing so many chances. It is not the loss. Its the performance!!!!

Slow, turgid, dependent on Center backs opening up sunken defenses as our most talented playes spend 80 minutes standing around watching the CBs swing it back and fort then ro the wing and back.

Its about the toothlessness of it all. Its about a manager who can't put his best players in their best positions to succeed. Who makes a habit of tinkering with the line up in almost every final. Losing fat more of those than the talent ar his disposal suggests he should have.

His mad scientist genius is now overrated. Just put your best players in their best positions and let them play.


Im personally over it! The only reason id vote stay is because i know he can attract top talent still.

Not foe what he actually does on the field.

 

[theres only one carlito]

He used to be able to motivate his teams with ease. I don’t see it anymore.

 

[Tomblue]

The last 5 years or so have been incredible no doubt but the nature of football is that you simply can’t have a full season off and I’m afraid that’s what’s happened this season. I think next season is his last whatever happens but if we don’t start well next season he will have to be under severe pressure.

 

[Damanino]

this version of City is painful to watch after the top years we had. nothing like 16-17. there he didnt have his players yet. now he only have his players sadly that includes lot of underwhelming signings from him and Txiki.

our style, speed, risk taking is all down the toilet. boring football and this version has been well and truly found out. Real MAdrid easily knocked us out ad they are poor this season. even Arsenal easily sent them packing and they looked second best vs PSG.

Pep sadly is underperforming about as much as Foden's form went down the toilet compared to last season. we all talk about what happened to Foden but wtf has happened to Pep? these displays are hard to take. one week to prepare for Soton and Palace each and complete shitshow. I want to know whats happening at training. feels like way too many day offs to players. thank God we only have now 2 days until Bournemouth. less fucking about from Pep and Lillo maybe brings a different game.

he would have hated a team like this version City in his Barca or Bayern years even in his early City years.

is Lillo or anyone like Txiki talk to him and ask him about this?

my main worry he wanted to leave but decided to to renew but does he have the fire in the belly for a rebuild job? did he renew for the wrong reasons? I see nothing since December he tried tactically that shows something exciting for the future. his over reliance on KDB who he and Txiki told cannot be staying is crazy.

we lost so much aura this season. so many teams were scared from us before. opposite managers now have lot of belief to hurt us tactically. mediocre ones too. they know they can sit back and have two quick attacks all game and we fail for it so often.

 

[Dax777]

And I think this is a cop out. 90+ point season and a penalty shootout defeat away from probably another CL Final last season.

Loads of injuries and underperformed players and suddenly he's washed...not having it.

This is why I said pointless arguing, he's going nowhere, let's revisit in 12 months.

He is not washed. He is just not special. Talent drives the team now, not Pep.

Frankly, had Kova been healthy and Pep picked him, i reckon we'd have still muddled our way to victory.

His tactics are NOT a difference maker. They are mostly pointless and negative impacting.

 

[ScottSinclair]

His mad scientist genius is now overrated. Just put your best players in their best positions and let them play.

I was thinking this today. I get a feeling he is a genuine genius that has lost his edge a bit, but has gotten more obsessed over being perceived as a genius than maybe taking a step back and doing what is best for the club. The baffling formation switches and players suddenly getting thrown in against specific opponents have certainly never been as frequent as this year. Lewis, Grealish out for months and suddenly starts huge games. Nunes first name on the teamsheet and suddenly hardly part of the squad for weeks, multiple times this season. Players in every position other than the one they are good at.


Pink Floyd reference, but I think the last 8 years have been Roger Waters writing output in the 70's. Absolute genius, with a few weird deep-cuts here and there

And I fear we have just witnessed "The Final Cut". Where the genius swallowed himself. And it was never as good again

 

[decmancity]

Getting sick to death of all the gesticulating on the side of the pitch, results in absolute nothing. So either the players are ignoring him or it's all for show.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

Whatever happens this summer with players coming in and out, I just want us to be fun again. I don’t even care much about winning trophies for a season or two, I want to see good, attacking football. The past two years has been a bit of a chore, I include last seasons title win too as it wasn’t particularly great to watch. A midfield of Rodri, Reijnders and Wirtz would be fucking brilliant but I think we need some attacking full backs to light the fire again. The CB at full back era should be fucked off.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Fuckin state of entitled wankers on here.

We've just lost the fa cup.

It happens.

Yes but why did today happen? Because Pep changed a side that wasn't doing too badly and where we looked like we were on the way back to something like decent form. And as a result we couldn't score against the worst side in the PL this season, and the second worst in PL history.

And instead of realising his mistake, and correcting it, he has another brain fart for the final. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

But could still get the CL, what an achievement with the money spent and having Pep in charge. And I’ve supported us since the 80s, only gave up my season ticket last season.

Yes. The current world champions might finish in the top 5 places in the league they'd won for the previous four seasons. Now if that isn't worth a pitch invasion..

 

[Dax777]

I was thinking this today. I get a feeling he is a genuine genius that has lost his edge a bit, but has gotten more obsessed over being perceived as a genius than maybe taking a step back and doing what is best for the club. The baffling formation switches and players suddenly getting thrown in against specific opponents have certainly never been as frequent as this year. Lewis, Grealish out for months and suddenly starts huge games. Nunes first name on the teamsheet and suddenly hardly part of the squad for weeks, multiple times this season. Players in every position other than the one they are good at.


Pink Floyd reference, but I think the last 8 years have been Roger Waters writing output in the 70's. Absolute genius, with a few weird deep-cuts here and there

And I fear we have just witnessed "The Final Cut". Where the genius swallowed himself. And it was never as good again

The greatest example of that is throwing Echeverri on.

It was an ego play. I know something you don't. And had Echeveri scored, he'd be hailed a genius. But in reality, this is just poor coaching behavior.

Disorganized and throwing Hail Marys

 

[CΛL]

Why, when we’ve picked up form, in the last two games, why has he then gone, ah you know let’s fuck off the entire system that’s got us results, sack of the wingbacks, put in Haaland for no reason and so on.

He’s his own worst enemy with overthinking.

How many important games has he lost us through this? Single-handedly.

What a frustrating man.

 

[manimanc]

Yes but why did today happen? Because Pep changed a side that wasn't doing too badly and where we looked like we were on the way back to something like decent form. And as a result we couldn't score against the worst side in the PL this season, and the second worst in PL history.

And instead of realising his mistake, and correcting it, he has another brain fart for the final. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS.

Oh behave pal.
We're possibly entering an end of an era with Pep.

Will he rebuild and go again?

I'd like to think so. Truth is Palace wanted it more than us today. They dug in, rode their luck and scored when it mattered then they hung on to what they had with all their heart?

Us?

Fanny fart. As a team we are spent. The last 4 years of trebles and 4 in a row have killed us. Throw in players getting old, young players trying to integrate themselves into the team and on top of that injuries and fuck me it was huge injuries then your looking to the gods for help.

Today wasn't a surprise to me, we just aren't the team of yesteryear.

 

[sh249]

Absolutely mad that we‘ve got to the end of the season and he has no idea whatsoever what his best set up is.
I‘ve never seen any team go through so many different shapes, systems and line ups. Hardly a surprise that there is zero coherence in our play.

 

[Dax777]

Getting sick to death of all the gesticulating on the side of the pitch, results in absolute nothing. So either the players are ignoring him or it's all for show.

Oh behave pal.
We're possibly entering an end of an era with Pep.

Will he rebuild and go again?

I'd like to think so. Truth is Palace wanted it more than us today. They dug in, rode their luck and scored when it mattered then they hung on to what they had with all their heart?

Us?

Fanny fart. As a team we are spent. The last 4 years of trebles and 4 in a row have killed us. Throw in players getting old, young players trying to integrate themselves into the team and on top of that injuries and fuck me it was huge injuries then your looking to the gods for help.

Today wasn't a surprise to me, we just aren't the team of yesteryear.

Palace actually didn't dig in. Its not even particularly in Palace's DNA to be defensive. Qw were just so slow that they had no other choice.

Everytime we sped it up half a tic, they were opened up. But we just couldn't do it enough.