Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

[meeesh]

We somehow went 2-0 up in that game but they were miles better than us. This is a City side that’s not beaten any of Liverpool, Arsenal or Madrid in about 12 games over the last couple of years.

Yea but come on, finished above both Liverpool and Arsenal for last 4 years apart from one just gone, it's about the war not the battles.

 

[Damocles]

Here's an observation.

Pep has had the same problems with countering now for at least 12 months.

Who thinks he's going to fix it over the next 12?

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

His style of football has been found out long ago. 18 months ago top sides knew what to do and they could beat us but we were still good enough to beat the average and shit side. Now we care game ball for anyone

New players have come in new coaches with I’d presume new ideas have come in but we get served up the same shite. And it is shite it’s fucking woeful to watch. Slow backwards sideways passing. All the ball outside their box knowing full well they’ll have a chance to score as soon as they brake

Pep needs to change or pep needs to go

I’d say he will be gone by Christmas

 

[Earlyriser]

We have a whole host of midfielders and more importantly wide forwards that don’t score goals. Sterling and Mahrez used to do my nut in at times but come the end of a season, they would invariably both be in double figures for goals. Our current crop can barely get double figures between them. It puts far too much pressure on Haaland.

Like it or not, Salah is the benchmark for a wide forward and ours are not even close. There’s just no getting away from the fact that from the days of Sane and Sterling, we have gotten progressively worse out wide. It’s one of the main reasons we don’t kill off games and why teams don’t really fear us anymore. If I was an opposition manager, I would just pack the middle to negate Haaland and leave Doku and Savinho to it. Yeah, a handful of times a season, one of them will turn it on and get on the scoresheet but even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

I say this as someone who likes watching Doku and thinks Savinho has something but their returns are pitiful and it’s having a major impact on the side.

I would be happier if they could get double figures for shots on target. That would be a start!

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Honestly we had really bad luck today. FH we should be 3-4 up. Not having Gvardiol at his best, and Rodri at his best hurts us, but it should be fine. Nunes is really good, I think Khusanov should play if we are gonna play with this high-line.

I understand people are really emotional, but Juventus and FH of today were extremely good. I think we are gonna be fine.

We didn't have any bad luck. We had chances and their keeper made several good saves. We just weren't good enough and credit to Al Hilal who defended well and took their chances.

 

[bluemoon32]

Here's an observation.

Pep has had the same problems with countering now for at least 12 months.

Who thinks he's going to fix it over the next 12?

I love the guy & wouldn't ever want him sacked but if this was happening at any other club, we'd all be posting about him ending up like Mourinho, yesterday's man

 

[Tugay One Cup]

I sincerely hope he learned from last season's mistakes because I'm going to insane if I have to go through another season of him stubbornly sticking by his favourite has-beens.

He acknowledged it months ago; we were/are the worst team in the league when facing transitions. Let's use the rest of the transfer window to help deal with that.

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

Yea but come on, finished above both Liverpool and Arsenal for last 4 years apart from one just gone, it's about the war not the battles.

Look what happened to Arsenal when wenger went stale

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

I love the guy & wouldn't ever want him sacked but if this was happening at any other club, we'd all be posting about him ending up like Mourinho, yesterday's man

Or wenger at arsenal look how long he stayed on and how far backwards that club went

 

[Millennium]

Pep is no longer the same coach who pushes his players to perform at their best. His affection for the old guard, like Gundogan and Silva, seems to have affected his decisions. Unfortunately, despite all the signings over the winter and early summer, he fielded a lineup similar to last season's, repeating the mistakes that led to our heavy losses. Pep was a significant factor in our defeat; by not playing Sharqi, Foden, and Marmoush, he stifled our ability to create goal chances. Additionally, he started the match without a defensive midfielder!!!!, once again repeating past mistakes.
Playing with a high defensive line that was easily breached and resulted in 4 goals. This is unacceptable at the World Cup knockout stage.

 

[madloaf]

The Pep conundrum.
Is both our strength and our weakness at the moment. Probably still a net positive on the whole - but his fcking selections!!!! It's like he's experimenting in important games.

He experiments with selections - but doesn't with tactics. Its a weird one we're in and have been for 17 months.

 

[Ken92]

We have a whole host of midfielders and more importantly wide forwards that don’t score goals. Sterling and Mahrez used to do my nut in at times but come the end of a season, they would invariably both be in double figures for goals. Our current crop can barely get double figures between them. It puts far too much pressure on Haaland.

Like it or not, Salah is the benchmark for a wide forward and ours are not even close. There’s just no getting away from the fact that from the days of Sane and Sterling, we have gotten progressively worse out wide. It’s one of the main reasons we don’t kill off games and why teams don’t really fear us anymore. If I was an opposition manager, I would just pack the middle to negate Haaland and leave Doku and Savinho to it. Yeah, a handful of times a season, one of them will turn it on and get on the scoresheet but even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

I say this as someone who likes watching Doku and thinks Savinho has something but their returns are pitiful and it’s having a major impact on the side.

Ive said it countless times last season ,that our wingers are not good enough or atleast not yet and maybe never will. All the best teams atm in Europe mostly rely on their good wingers to score and create chances.

 

[Chak19]

Think the real changing of the guard happens when pep calls it a day. He will not drop his favourites ever. Think this coming season is the swansong peps last. Then this time next year all the uncs go. Ed Bernardo Stones Ake Akanji Gundo. And the new players step up with a new coach at the helm.

Who says the new players want to wait a year ?

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

Who says the new players want to wait a year ?

Ive no doubt they dont but what can they do? Say everyone is fit. Pep all day long picks Stones Ake Gundo Bernardo. Only one of the new guys i can actually see playing is Reijnders. Even Ait Nouri will be benched a lot to accommodate Gvardiol and Ake

 

[Craig]

Yea but come on, finished above both Liverpool and Arsenal for last 4 years apart from one just gone, it's about the war not the battles.

Oh, yeah definitely. I was just on about where we’re at currently

 

[Chak19]

Ive no doubt they dont but what can they do? Say everyone is fit. Pep all day long picks Stones Ake Gundo Bernardo. Only one of the new guys i can actually see playing is Reijnders. Even Ait Nouri will be benched a lot to accommodate Gvardiol and Ake

Yeah I'm saying they could demand a transfer .

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

Yeah I'm saying they could demand a transfer .

Dont think theyll demand a transfer but pretty sure morale will be low, we can hire all the coaches we want and bring in all the talent we want. But as long as Pep is here. His favourites will play.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Thought we were pretty good in the first half. No issue with the starting XI, we created a bunch of chances and pressed well to keep them boxed in. We should’ve been out of sight

The change in shape and personnel absolutely fucked us. Savinho became a non-entity once Nunes went off. The back three had no answer to simple balls in behind and our pressing intensity dropped to allow them to play through us easily

Even then we could’ve rescued it with attacking changes made earlier. Cherki and Foden on at the 60 and I think we win

Some combination of profligacy, poor game management, and fatigue all played their part, but the biggest issue was the tactical failings that played right into their hands

 

[robbieh]

Ive no doubt they dont but what can they do? Say everyone is fit. Pep all day long picks Stones Ake Gundo Bernardo. Only one of the new guys i can actually see playing is Reijnders. Even Ait Nouri will be benched a lot to accommodate Gvardiol and Ake

Fucking madness and very arrogant of Pep if he thinks wasting a season is OK.

He has got to make a call here. What type of football are we trying to play.
To get the best out of Haaland we need a bit more chaos. Play Cherki. Play Marmoush. Lose the ball. But let's have 4 defenders who can defend or at least are told to play a bit deeper. So Khusanov plays as he's quick. In Walker's old position. Doesn't cross the half way line. Ever.
Gvardiol is not that fast but he's out best available centre back. Alt Nouri who knows, but as we don't have a LB presumably he plays. Dias is not the CB for this. Mad to say it but we probably do need another.

Midfield Reinjders Rodri and Phil

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

Ive no doubt they dont but what can they do? Say everyone is fit. Pep all day long picks Stones Ake Gundo Bernardo. Only one of the new guys i can actually see playing is Reijnders. Even Ait Nouri will be benched a lot to accommodate Gvardiol and Ake

If he ever benches Nouri for Ake or Gavardiol he should be sacked at half time of that game