Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

He set us up to play very attacking in the first half. We played great football and created multiple chances. The system really brought out the best in Savinho, Doku, Bernardo and Gundogan. The problem was we were too easy to play through

In the second half, we shored things up. We were way more solid defensively, but we lost a lot of attacking impetus. The players mentioned above looked a lot more sterile. This is what we were like last season

It's kind of why we can't play like we used to back in 2017–2019. Teams are just far too good at playing quickly in transition these days

The question is can Pep figure out a way for us to continue to attack with flourish without being vulnerable defensively. Is there a middle ground that would be less sterile than the second half but less shaky than the first? I don't think there's an obvious solution. The optimist in me says it's actually just a case of getting the press to be more organised and to improve in terms of sharpness

We were definitely the better side in the second half after we reverted to the slower style, despite what people might say. They barely created and we had multiple chances to finish the game off still. I suspect this will continue to be Pep's fallback option if he can't make a way for the faster football to work

If I had to pinpoint one area I think needs fixing, it's CB. I honestly believe this era is the first time we're truly missing Kompany. It feels like we desperately need a big, strong and fast CB who can deal with balls to a target man and be quick enough to sweep behind when another CB or fullback is caught out of position. Khusanov is very fast and quite strong, making up for any lack of strength with aggression. I understand why he hasn't featured much, but if we're playing with high lines, we need someone who can handle it when it goes wrong
 
I’ve enjoyed his squad selection during CWC, he’s given some new combinations a try and it’s felt like we’ve been successful and respectful to the tournament (probably not right word but been up since 2am…) while also experimenting a bit. He’s got some big players to fit in and I’ve liked the variety.

I was baffled last night by no attacking subs until ET. Defending wasn’t working with his subs so you’d think he’d throw the kitchen sink at scoring more goals. Appreciate he might have wanted to keep some of them fresh for ET and potential penalties but the depth of that bench was unreal and as soon as Cherki and then Phil got on we had some magic. can’t even work out if Phil would have come on if Rodri didn’t sub off.

Anyway like I say bit baffling. We’ll see what the season holds. Overall disappointing to have gone out but it was a good fight and definitely seen a shift in energy, including Pep’s over past few weeks in a positive way.
 
Bluewonder said:
Because he pedigree as a manager is less meaningful than being knocked out of a pre-season tournament?
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It’s not about getting knocked out for me. It’s the style of play he sticks with has been found out long ago. Shite sides know how to play against us and beat us

So it’s not just about getting knocked out last night in the previous 12 months I’ve seen us struggle for top 4 get beat in a cup final by a shite United seen us get beat in another cup final by an average Palace side

Pep has been the best ever for us but he’s starting to go sour like wenger did at arsenal he stayed around and set Arsenal back years
 
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madloaf said:
To be fair the people in here who are frustrated with him have probably been saying it for almost the last 18 months. It's probably not a kneejerk reaction to last nights loss.
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True some of the same posters have been positin the same nonsense for a long time, some for years. Luckily nobody at the club will be taking the slightest bit of notice.
 
Mcfc1.9.8.0 said:
It’s not about getting knocked out for me. It’s the style of play he sticks with had been found out long ago. Shite sides know how to play against us and beat us

So it’s not just about getting knocked out last night in the previous 12 months I’ve seen us struggle for top 4 get beat in a cup final by a shite United seen us get beat in another cup final by an average Palace side

Pep has been the best ever four us but he’s starting to go sour like wenger did at arsenal he stayed around and set Arsenal back years
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At what point was the style of play found out? Long ago? Before or after we won the treble? Before or after we won four in a row?

How long did Wenger go without winning a title for Arsenal? How long has Pep gone without winning one for us?
 
I hate to criticise the great man but he is having a mare on counter attacks.

He looks to have went soft. I thought the Kev leaving was back to ruthless business like pep but I still see him play the old guard and still see us defend like clowns.

When will it stop?
 
Kippax Kidd said:
He's apologized to Stones for not giving him game time.
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Ridiculous.

Persisting with Akanji who, by his own admission, didn’t want to be there instead of giving Stones some much-needed minutes in his legs during a pre-season environment.

Then he’ll throw him into a blistering game mid-season and wonder why his body won’t last.
 
wolviedinho said:
I hate to criticise the great man but he is having a mare on counter attacks.

He looks to have went soft. I thought the Kev leaving was back to ruthless business like pep but I still see him play the old guard and still see us defend like clowns.

When will it stop?
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The press isn’t good enough and that’s partly due to having older legs trying to close things down. Bernie’s awareness compensates for his lack of pace but Gundo isn’t so lucky and it’s an issue.
 
The players we've signed since January aren't compatible with the style of play Pep and the old guard are used to. He didn't bring in Lijnders to play the same old slow possession based football.

Will probably take a while for the system to change, but would start with certain players to leave.
 
Bluewonder said:
At what point was the style of play found out? Long ago? Before or after we won the treble? Before or after we won four in a row?

How long did Wenger go without winning a title for Arsenal? How long has Pep gone without winning one for us?
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I would say after we won the treble. The players gave it their all to win 4 in a row but the signs were there all that season. We were poor in a lot of games but scraped wins and won the league against bottlers and no other challengers

That’s what I’m getting at re Wenger Arsenal wouldn’t pull the trigger on him even tho he was bringing the club backwards at the rate of knots. As rival fans looking at Arsenal and Wenger we all knew he was found out but all loved it when he stayed “another” season I bet rivals are starting to think the same about Pep
 
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Mcfc1.9.8.0 said:
It’s not about getting knocked out for me. It’s the style of play he sticks with had been found out long ago. Shite sides know how to play against us and beat us

So it’s not just about getting knocked out last night in the previous 12 months I’ve seen us struggle for top 4 get beat in a cup final by a shite United seen us get beat in another cup final by an average Palace side

Pep has been the best ever four us but he’s starting to go sour like wenger did at arsenal he stayed around and set Arsenal back years
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Hopefully he will change his approach before hitting those levels, but his stubbornness is a concern for many of us.

Holding on to declining players is not a good omen, no matter what success they have had previously.

Old age and loss of speed in past heroes, both mental and physical is not the way forward
 
WallyA said:
But why did he revert back to the crap of last year?

Ait Nouri was never allowed to hold the width, Nunes as well.

It was wide wingers over and over again.
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I think Nouri and Doku were supposed to interchange going inside and outside. It disbt work as well and Doku hot too comfortable outside.

We should have been bup 4-0 and the game would have been a walking pace pass around; n the 2nd.

We have to be one better at burying teams when we are in the ascendent position.
 
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