Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

[BillyShears]

So what happens when we get no CL and get off to a bad start next season?

And for me that is a real possibility, this rebuild started 6 months ago and from what I am seeing is going nowhere fast, bizzare team selections, players like Nunes & Khusanov coming into the side, contributing greatly then disappearing.

Same boring, predictable football, possession for the sake of it and creating little or no chances.

Yes we have allowed our players to get old, yes we have had injuries but we still have an enormous talent pool at the club and should be performing better, I am not talking about chasing titles but simply going into games and challenging the opposition.

You just like moaning. Every thread you post in is the same doom and gloom stuff. You’ve predicted our demise every season for years. You must be in heaven right now. Haha.

 

[Blue Maverick]

Who replaces Pep even in 2 years then, Alonso seems flavour of the month but he’s off to Madrid.

 

[cleavers]

There's a reasonable explanation for why he hasn't used the new players as much as some would like (me included).

Very reasonable explanations, like you I'd like to see more of them too. Ignoring the obvious, we actually have quite a young squad to build on.

Reis was never going to start big games this season, he looks good, but needs to learn about the PL.

Khusanov was a signing brought forward due to a situation, he was thrust into the limelight right away as we literally had no one else, he was even voted player of the month, but once we had Akanji back he was going to struggle for games, and again he needs to learn the PL.

Nico has been up and down in the games he's played, some thought he was going to be Rodri, ridiculous, again young, doesn't know the PLand has a lot to learn, if it's true he had a go at Pep when subbed, then it was a bit silly, but I would think Pep actually liked that, rather than scapegoating him, and none of us know what goes on in training.

Omar was again brought in because we had a situation, he's done OK, should have played at Southampton, and I don't understand why he was taken off yesterday, as I thought he was one of few who looked like he was giving maximum effort.

As for the rest of the squad, McAtee isn't good enough in midfield in a Pep team, he doesn't work hard enough, Nunes has some good talent, but doesn't apply it well enough, he was doing OK at FB, and was improving, not sure he deserved to be left out, only Pep can explain the reasoning there. Doku does the same frustrating things every time he gets a game, he has a great skill set, but no brain to use it for the best. Savinho might be good, but he wasn't brought in to play a full season. I don't think he should start when Doku does, or vice versa, it just brings too much chaos. O'Reilly has been a great addition, and I'd like to see him further forward, and in the limited games Oscar has looked good.

None of us really know what is going on with Grealish or Foden, I never saw the hype with Grealish, and he seems to be the best player that never plays in some peoples eyes, yet when he gets on, does nothing. Phil is just burnt out for me, needs a lengthy break, and find a way to get back to some energy/enthusiasm for the game.

I don't think there as much to fix as some make out, injuries have taken a toll, some look knackered, some are done at this level, but I think Pep will sort it out, though we have to make the CL, as the players we need might not come for EL.

 

[BillyShears]

Who replaces Pep even in 2 years then, Alonso seems flavour of the month but he’s off to Madrid.

Two years in football is a lifetime. Pep could have won back to back titles and be signing up for another couple of years. Some coach could emerge from nowhere and become a world beater. I'm just delighted we don't have to worry about a new coach right now and have got Pep for two more years.

 

[alexmcity]

Amorim might be available in a week. Ten Hag is probably waiting a call as we speak.

So many great options out there. On this forum too. Our bosses must be foolish to keep Pep. When was the last time he won something?

 

[BillyShears]

Very reasonable explanations, like you I'd like to see more of them too. Ignoring the obvious, we actually have quite a young squad to build on.

Reis was never going to start big games this season, he looks good, but needs to learn about the PL.

Khusanov was a signing brought forward due to a situation, he was thrust into the limelight right away as we literally had no one else, he was even voted player of the month, but once we had Akanji back he was going to struggle for games, and again he needs to learn the PL.

Nico has been up and down in the games he's played, some thought he was going to be Rodri, ridiculous, again young, doesn't know the PLand has a lot to learn, if it's true he had a go at Pep when subbed, then it was a bit silly, but I would think Pep actually liked that, rather than scapegoating him, and none of us know what goes on in training.

Omar was again brought in because we had a situation, he's done OK, should have played at Southampton, and I don't understand why he was taken off yesterday, as I thought he was one of few who looked like he was giving maximum effort.

As for the rest of the squad, McAtee isn't good enough in midfield in a Pep team, he doesn't work hard enough, Nunes has some good talent, but doesn't apply it well enough, he was doing OK at FB, and was improving, not sure he deserved to be left out, only Pep can explain the reasoning there. Doku does the same frustrating things every time he gets a game, he has a great skill set, but no brain to use it for the best. Savinho might be good, but he wasn't brought in to play a full season. I don't think he should start when Doku does, or vice versa, it just brings too much chaos. O'Reilly has been a great addition, and I'd like to see him further forward, and in the limited games Oscar has looked good.

None of us really know what is going on with Grealish or Foden, I never saw the hype with Grealish, and he seems to be the best player that never plays in some peoples eyes, yet when he gets on, does nothing. Phil is just burnt out for me, needs a lengthy break, and find a way to get back to some energy/enthusiasm for the game.

I don't think there as much to fix as some make out, injuries have taken a toll, some look knackered, some are done at this level, but I think Pep will sort it out, though we have to make the CL, as the players we need might not come for EL.

I'm super excited about the summer because I have full faith in the club's plans. I imagine that winning the 4th title on the bounce bought a lot of players an extra year at City, but this summer will be a different story. The reality is that Gundo, Bernardo, Stones, Ederson, McAtee have contracts expiring in 2026. Hard to see even two of those 5 staying this summer. Grealish is obviously toast so he's another one that will go. Walker has gone. Phillips has gone. There's room for 4 players who go straight into the best XI (two full backs and two CM's). Potentially a high output winger too.

 

[King Jay]

Very reasonable explanations, like you I'd like to see more of them too. Ignoring the obvious, we actually have quite a young squad to build on.

Reis was never going to start big games this season, he looks good, but needs to learn about the PL.

Khusanov was a signing brought forward due to a situation, he was thrust into the limelight right away as we literally had no one else, he was even voted player of the month, but once we had Akanji back he was going to struggle for games, and again he needs to learn the PL.

by not playing ? Huh? That makes no sense. What is there to learn when he is already good to start and how is he supposed to learn how the PL work by sitting on the bench? Do you see any other club doing this? It’s nonsense and I doubt that’s the case. Pep just doesn’t wanna use them.
Huijsen or whatever top talent out there would also sit on the bench for Pep and they already „ learned „ how the PL works.
That can’t be the case. Getting player of the month to going back to the bench or not even making the squad because „ he needs to learn the PL“.

 

[cleavers]

I'm super excited about the summer because I have full faith in the club's plans. I imagine that winning the 4th title on the bounce bought a lot of players an extra year at City, but this summer will be a different story. The reality is that Gundo, Bernardo, Stones, Ederson, McAtee have contracts expiring in 2026. Hard to see even two of those 5 staying this summer. Grealish is obviously toast so he's another one that will go. Walker has gone. Phillips has gone. There's room for 4 players who go straight into the best XI (two full backs and two CM's). Potentially a high output winger too.

We need to secure top 5 though, or we'll have to get clever. The keeper situation intrigues me, it can't be Ortega, not good enough for the way we play, and Ederson will move I think.

 

[RayCTID]

Who replaces Pep even in 2 years then, Alonso seems flavour of the month but he’s off to Madrid.

That is all down to Viana. Pep might have some input in the decision as well.

 

[cleavers]

by not playing ? Huh? That makes no sense.

It does in the situation we face in trying to secure top 5, when we have a far more experienced defender fit.

 

[BillyShears]

We need to secure top 5 though, or we'll have to get clever. The keeper situation intrigues me, it can't be Ortega, not good enough for the way we play, and Ederson will move I think.

They'll get the 4 points they need IMO, and if they don't I'm sure they'll have a list of targets that will come regardless. For example, Reijnders/MGW will absolutely join City even if we finish sixth. Ederson definitely gone, and no Ortega won't be given the number 1. Suspect the Costa/Garcia rumours are true and it'll be one of those two coming in.

 

[cleavers]

They'll get the 4 points they need IMO

Lets hope so, I was confident until the saints game, not so now.

 

[King Jay]

It does in the situation we face in trying to secure top 5, when we have a far more experienced defender fit.

I don’t mind him not starting when we had the usual back 4 but what exactly has akanji been doing that suggests he is a better option? We haven’t won a game with him starting again for whatever reasons.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

They'll get the 4 points they need IMO, and if they don't I'm sure they'll have a list of targets that will come regardless. For example, Reijnders/MGW will absolutely join City even if we finish sixth. Ederson definitely gone, and no Ortega won't be given the number 1. Suspect the Costa/Garcia rumours are true and it'll be one of those two coming in.

I'd only have a question mark against Wirtz, the rest of the targets named move anyway.

 

[BillyShears]

Lets hope so, I was confident until the saints game, not so now.

Saints was probably the angriest I've been since Pep took over. But I do think that yesterday, whether we like it or not, wasn't the priority for Pep or the club. Tuesday is. Think the team selection on Tuesday will be very interesting.

 

[Gorbachev]

So what happens when we get no CL and get off to a bad start next season?

And for me that is a real possibility, this rebuild started 6 months ago and from what I am seeing is going nowhere fast, bizzare team selections, players like Nunes & Khusanov coming into the side, contributing greatly then disappearing.

Same boring, predictable football, possession for the sake of it and creating little or no chances.

Yes we have allowed our players to get old, yes we have had injuries but we still have an enormous talent pool at the club and should be performing better, I am not talking about chasing titles but simply going into games and challenging the opposition.

Is it though?

Doku and Savio are mid table players at best and are incompatible with Haaland. United arguably have an equivalent if not slightly better midfielder than us, Foden took a season off, Jack cashed out after the treble. No fullbacks and a GK who wants to be in Saudi.

Only positive is the defence.

No coaching improves those players above, they are just either too old and finished or bang average.

 

[Brewster's millions]

I'd only have a question mark against Wirtz, the rest of the targets named move anyway.

So we’d miss out on the best player we’re targeting, and end up with an inferior player instead.

We’ve bought far too many players who aren’t top drawer in the past couple of years. We need to start buying the best again, and missing out on the CL would make that a lot harder to do.

 

[Bewar3them00n]

As soon as I saw that line up yesterday, I knew it exactly how it was going to go.
We fell into Palace’s trap 100%
No DM, & I would’ve played Khusanov at RB over Akanji for his blistering recovery pace.
Pep’s clearly instructed the players to maintain possession, to the detriment of speculative shots & crosses into he box, you have a 6’4” striker wtf ? No early balls, just endless recycling made us predictable, the one time we did put an early ball in we almost scored ( should’ve imo)
Pep’s loyalty to players who no longer have it in them has cost us. Sorry, but that loss is on Pep

 

[Columbia]

I’m expecting 2 draws which I don’t think will be enough. The transfer strategy needs to be upgraded, signed too many average players like Marmoush, Savinho etc. Pep thought we played very well yesterday which really concerns me.

 

[BillyShears]

So we’d miss out on the best player we’re targeting, and end up with an inferior player instead.

We’ve bought far too many players who aren’t top drawer in the past couple of years. We need to start buying the best again, and missing out on the CL would make that a lot harder to do.

We could finish champions and miss out on him. You can’t build a transfer plan around a single player.