Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

[Cravenvirgin]

I wouldn’t want another person to lead us through this period.

Genuinely disappointed to see so many turn on him due to a bad season. Yes it’s been crap and boring but what about all the seasons we ripped it up? He is more than due a rocky season or 2 ffs.

A victim of his own success.

So many players have not turned up this season. I would move any of them on instead of pep, any.

Let’s all buckle under the pressure instead. As if pep can’t see how shite we are. He is dealing with a huge squad of players who are nothing more than average at best.

No wonder he is sick of them. It’s a game of football not rocket science. The majority need to do a lot better or be shown the door. I would just get rid now.

Rip the plaster off and go again.

We don’t score goals and it’s on the players. We concede stupid goals and it’s on the players. We create fuck all and it’s on the players. The recruitment is on the club. Both those major issues is why we look and play like shit.

Yep you got it right there pal. The **** who posted about Pep going should go fuck himself

 

[ProofMCFC]

'They are all mistakes bar Savinho who shouldn't be near a first eleven'. So he isn't a mistake but shouldn't be near the team?
It doesn't make sense.

Of course it makes sense. He isn’t a mistake as it’s too early to say and he’s still 21. He also shouldn’t be near the starting 11 at the minute. How does that not make sense?

 

[shemnel]

my happy new week put on a brave face theory; Pep is shielding a lot of the new lads from a bad team that he cant fix this season, and will completely change the whole 11 and outlook over the summer, the team for 25/26 will be much transformed, along with the style of play.

 

[BlueRockape]

Is most of that not on Pep though? Those that make risky passes forward, then get dropped. Same with our wingers who run up the pitch and stop dead to look for a non existent overlap, its got to be coached into them surely? Nobody would naturally play that way. He wants ball retention at all costs. He says as much everytime we lose a game by more than a goal.

Jack says hello

 

[heslops barnet]

We dominated the game and should have walked away with the cup

we didn't for a few reasons: our wingrrs are not brave enough to either feed the ball through put in a cross or take a shooting chance.
Kev was done by the 50th minute (probably before) he should have been off at H/T
We have 2 strikers who beg for the all to be put though or over to them early, it never happens and after sideways pass number 50 teams have doubled up on pur attack.
We have half hearted tackles and recoveries easily lost and 2nd balls some are too lethargic to chase (including the strikers).

Some of it is down to Pep and his selections/subs, some of it us dow. to players not producing a high enough standard or stepping out of second gear.

But Saturday even in 2nd gear and half arsed we dominated but were toothless.

We shit it in tackles……probably because we always get a booking for any 50/50 challenges

 

[normskih]

I'd take Glasner after yesterday

That wasn’t football. When they came to the Etihad, they had a go, played entertaining football and they were two up, almost three up and got tonked in the end. He learned by his mistakes and went five at the back and played anti football, anti entertainment. Mind you, we did pass the ball around the pitch, pass, pass, bleeding pass and then no end product. It makes you wonder who has got it right in the end;)

 

[BillyShears]

Right, yeah.

So we miss out on 30, 40m pounds of prize money and it doesn’t impact what our revenue is and what we can spend in the transfer market?

All makes sense now.

Hopefully it will still happen, but our revenue and transfer options would still be materially impacted by missing out on the CL, regardless of the CWC.

Our revenue and transfer options will not be materially impacted by missing out on CL football. You cannot discount the money the club will make from the CWC out of one side of your mouth then say out of the other that missing out on 30/40 million pounds of CL prize money does impact what can be spent. We're lucky that the CWC will fill be a huge financial bonus for the club regardless of whether we finish 5th or 6th.

In terms the club's actual transfer budgets for this summer, we're well enough run that they won't be decided by CL football. They have already been decided which is why transfers are already being worked on. As I said to you yesterday the club won't want to target players who aren't prepared to join whether we finish 5th or 6th. Players sign contracts over 5 - 6 years, not for 12 months. Which is why United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, have all signed top players at some point in the last decade without CL football. The wages are what matter in most cases.

 

[Dobsy]

That wasn’t football. When they came to the Etihad, they had a go, played entertaining football and they were two up, almost three up and got tonked in the end. He learned by his mistakes and went five at the back and played anti football, anti entertainment. Mind you, we did pass the ball around the pitch, pass, pass, bleeding pass and then no end product. It makes you wonder who has got it right in the end;)

Yeah tbf it was a tongue in cheek comment. I love Pep and would walk over broken glass for him even if he drives me up the wall sometimes.

 

[Lavinda Past]

So you're basing your argument on two derby games? Despite them playing us at our very worst and in the lead up to that fixture we'd only claimed one victory in the previous 10 games we threw that home game away against them. The reverse fixture I agree was a sham and neither team deserved or 'earnt' a point.

You think tge PL is quality? You must be about 12. The two derbies summed up just how poor we are, and yet we're still in with a strong chance of top 4.
The overall standard of the PL is awful compared to 5 -10 years ago.

 

[Edghill OG]

You think tge PL is quality? You must be about 12. The two derbies summed up just how poor we are, and yet we're still in with a strong chance of top 4.
The overall standard of the PL is awful compared to 5 -10 years ago.

Don't know why you have to have a strop if somebody disagrees with you. I agree it has regressed in recent years. I wouldn't say any of the other leagues are stronger though as I've outlined in my replies to you.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Don't know why you have to have a strop if somebody disagrees with you. I agree it has regressed in recent years. I wouldn't say any of the other leagues are stronger though as I've outlined in my replies to you.

Not a strop mate - Apologies if it came across like one!

There's just no real quality about any more, as demonstrated by our pursuit of Wirtz and Gibbs-White. Good players but on a different planet to the likes of KDB, Bernardo, and Gundogan, let slone Yaya, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero.

We're seeing the last truly great players we're going to see at City for many years, same at Liverpool with Salah and VVD.

Take City, Arsenal, and Liverpool out if the equation and the PL is a pile of shit.

The saddest thing for me is that Guardiola has failed to actually develop any academy players while at City. If Foden’s the best we've got, the future isn't great.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

Not a strop mate - Apologies if it came across like one!

There's just no real quality about any more, as demonstrated by our pursuit of Wirtz and Gibbs-White. Good players but on a different planet to the likes of KDB, Bernardo, and Gundogan, let slone Yaya, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero.

We're seeing the last truly great players we're going to see at City for many years, same at Liverpool with Salah and VVD.

Take City, Arsenal, and Liverpool out if the equation and the PL is a pile of shit.

The saddest thing for me is that Guardiola has failed to actually develop any academy players while at City. If Foden’s the best we've got, the future isn't great.

Totally agreed mate.

The league was once awash with truly world class players.

Silva
 Toure
Aguero
Salah
VvD
Kane
Son
Coutinho
Hazard
Bale
Ronaldo

I could go on. But like you say now. Once the likes of Salah, KDB and the likes bow out, the league is looking pretty average.

 

[mccity]

my happy new week put on a brave face theory; Pep is shielding a lot of the new lads from a bad team that he cant fix this season, and will completely change the whole 11 and outlook over the summer, the team for 25/26 will be much transformed, along with the style of play.

I feel similarly, albeit I don't think it's quite as extreme as you put it.

With every passing year, Pep has become increasingly concerned about City getting torn apart on the counter. To be honest, it's justified. Teams are far better technically than they used to be. They're better tactically. Most critically, they're way better physically. Most teams are much stronger, faster and intense than ever.

As a result, City have become increasingly patient with the ball and deliberate with attacks. Basically, City are playing slower each year. In fairness, it's worked. Last season, we didn't win many games by big margins, but we still won many games by keeping a lid on things.

Some significant things have happened this season to hamper us. One is Rodri being out all season. That has meant we've lost a lot of our midfield ability to control things, made worse by having no replacement. Stones and Grealish are two players that can sort of help with the control issue, but they've both had problems of their own too. Two is Walker finally getting past the point of usefulness. This has meant our counter attack safety net has disappeared, again made worse by no replacement. In addition, these were two of our strongest players, and strength is very important in the modern PL. Three is both De Bruyne and Foden losing form for their reasons. This has meant that we've lost almost all our direct threat from midfield.

So we're left with an ageing, physically weak and perpetually unfit bunch of players who lack elite midfield control, struggle to deal with counters and provide very little threat from central areas.

So the two options Pep has are either play the usual way and hope for the best or play a super conservative way and hope to get by on individual quality.

We've tried the former, especially earlier in the season. But what would happen is we'd play well for 30 minutes, get tired and then get beaten on the counter while playing poorly for the last hour. So we went the boring route. It's sort of worked; we are in the running for the CL spots and did make the cup final. But it's hardly been great.

I don't think it's a coincidence we signed players in January with obvious physical qualities. I don't think it's a coincidence we've been linked with creative and energetic midfielders for the upcoming transfer window. I don't expect us to be back to our best next year, but I do expect it to be better than this (barring an injury crisis). New signings should see us play with more energy and attacking variety. I expect we'll be less sterile than we have looked at times in the last few months.

 

[Craig]

Totally agreed mate.

The league was once awash with truly world class players.

Silva
 Toure
Aguero
Salah
VvD
Kane
Son
Coutinho
Hazard
Bale
Ronaldo

I could go on. But like you say now. Once the likes of Salah, KDB and the likes bow out, the league is looking pretty average.

Yeah, spot on. Assume it goes in cycles as it’s not like football isn’t being played by kids still everywhere the world over. Definitely at a stage where there are the fewest amount of truly great players that i can remember.

If it’s not that then the only other reason could be what Messi referred to when he said kids are being over coached and the flair is being drilled out of them.

 

[Edghill OG]

Not a strop mate - Apologies if it came across like one!

There's just no real quality about any more, as demonstrated by our pursuit of Wirtz and Gibbs-White. Good players but on a different planet to the likes of KDB, Bernardo, and Gundogan, let slone Yaya, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero.

We're seeing the last truly great players we're going to see at City for many years, same at Liverpool with Salah and VVD.

Take City, Arsenal, and Liverpool out if the equation and the PL is a pile of shit.

The saddest thing for me is that Guardiola has failed to actually develop any academy players while at City. If Foden’s the best we've got, the future isn't great.

No, I completely agree with you with regards to the lack of quality in general. Yamal apart I haven't really seen anybody that's taken my breath away in recent years coming through. There was a massive hype around Mbappe, but whenever I've watched him he's generally been rather poor. The drop off in standard has been stark. For me Salah is the best player in the league by a distance at the age of 32. We've been spoilt with the Barca team with Iniesta/Xavi/Messi and then ourselves for a number of years.

I'm disappointed Arsenal haven't pushed Liverpool this season. Whenever Liverpool dropped points and Arsenal had the opportunity to close the gap they dropped them themselves and bottled it. Despite Arsenal pushing us close for the past two years I think this was their best chance. Us out of the equation and Liverpool with a mental fragility they've shown in other title run ins was a different animal they were up against.

We've clearly gone backwards, but I think Arsenal have too despite them getting carried away with a win over a rather poor Madrid. It is what it is and it's natural some generations just simply aren't as good as the previous ones. It was always going to come on the back of the freaks of the Ronaldo and Messi era ending.

 

[Lavinda Past]

No, I completely agree with you with regards to the lack of quality in general. Yamal apart I haven't really seen anybody that's taken my breath away in recent years coming through. There was a massive hype around Mbappe, but whenever I've watched him he's generally been rather poor. The drop off in standard has been stark. For me Salah is the best player in the league by a distance at the age of 32. We've been spoilt with the Barca team with Iniesta/Xavi/Messi and then ourselves for a number of years.

I'm disappointed Arsenal haven't pushed Liverpool this season. Whenever Liverpool dropped points and Arsenal had the opportunity to close the gap they dropped them themselves and bottled it. Despite Arsenal pushing us close for the past two years I think this was their best chance. Us out of the equation and Liverpool with a mental fragility they've shown in other title run ins was a different animal they were up against.

We've clearly gone backwards, but I think Arsenal have too despite them getting carried away with a win over a rather poor Madrid. It is what it is and it's natural some generations just simply aren't as good as the previous ones. It was always going to come on the back of the freaks of the Ronaldo and Messi era ending.

We're definitely back on the same page now mate!

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I feel similarly, albeit I don't think it's quite as extreme as you put it.

With every passing year, Pep has become increasingly concerned about City getting torn apart on the counter. To be honest, it's justified. Teams are far better technically than they used to be. They're better tactically. Most critically, they're way better physically. Most teams are much stronger, faster and intense than ever.

As a result, City have become increasingly patient with the ball and deliberate with attacks. Basically, City are playing slower each year. In fairness, it's worked. Last season, we didn't win many games by big margins, but we still won many games by keeping a lid on things.

Some significant things have happened this season to hamper us. One is Rodri being out all season. That has meant we've lost a lot of our midfield ability to control things, made worse by having no replacement. Stones and Grealish are two players that can sort of help with the control issue, but they've both had problems of their own too. Two is Walker finally getting past the point of usefulness. This has meant our counter attack safety net has disappeared, again made worse by no replacement. In addition, these were two of our strongest players, and strength is very important in the modern PL. Three is both De Bruyne and Foden losing form for their reasons. This has meant that we've lost almost all our direct threat from midfield.

So we're left with an ageing, physically weak and perpetually unfit bunch of players who lack elite midfield control, struggle to deal with counters and provide very little threat from central areas.

So the two options Pep has is either play the usual way and hope for the best or play a super conservative way and hope to get by on individual quality.

We've tried the former, especially earlier in the season. But what would happen is we'd play well for 30 minutes, get tired and then get beaten on the counter while playing poorly for the last hour. So we went the boring route. It's sort of worked; we are in the running for the CL spots and did make the cup final. But it's hardly been great.

I don't think it's a coincidence we signed players in January with obvious physical qualities. I don't think it's a coincidence we've been linked with creative and energetic midfielders for the upcoming transfer window. I don't expect us to be back to our best next year, but I do expect it to be better than this (barring an injury crisis). New signings should see us play with more energy and attacking variety. I expect we'll be less sterile than we have looked at times in the last few months.

I think Sam Lee has been useful on this. In the second half of the season Pep has resorted to the most defensive football he's ever played because he has had to make us hard to beat. It's just we have a romantic image of the 4-4-2, celebrating every cleared ball, but we don't have a romantic image of Pep's version of defensive football which is get the ball in their half and don't lose it. I don't think Pep loves it easier but this has been the only solution with the players he had.

 

[Bozo]

I can take a trophyless season but please just give us some entertaining football again.

 

[urban genie]

Is most of that not on Pep though? Those that make risky passes forward, then get dropped. Same with our wingers who run up the pitch and stop dead to look for a non existent overlap, its got to be coached into them surely? Nobody would naturally play that way. He wants ball retention at all costs. He says as much everytime we lose a game by more than a goal.

Well yes I agree, he coaches possesion and control.

but watch on the touchline most games he is screamong at the wide players
to push forward, and looks exasperated at some of the decisions to pass over shooting in the 20 yard area.

 

[supercity88]

Not a strop mate - Apologies if it came across like one!

There's just no real quality about any more, as demonstrated by our pursuit of Wirtz and Gibbs-White. Good players but on a different planet to the likes of KDB, Bernardo, and Gundogan, let slone Yaya, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero.

We're seeing the last truly great players we're going to see at City for many years, same at Liverpool with Salah and VVD.

Take City, Arsenal, and Liverpool out if the equation and the PL is a pile of shit.

The saddest thing for me is that Guardiola has failed to actually develop any academy players while at City. If Foden’s the best we've got, the future isn't great.

Foden won PFA Player of the Year last season. There's clearly something happening off the field or with his health that has impacted him this campaign. Pep can't pick up a controller and make Phil do what he wants him to.