Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

I thought he got everything spot on in the CWC up until last night.

He took liberties last night with the team selection, tactics and subs thinking that game would be a walk over.

Maybe we all got lulled in a little too much from that Juventus game, but last night was a shocker from Pep.

We were getting drilled on the counter left right and centre yet at one point we had Bernardo as the pivot.

Cherki and Marmoush came on way to late and Savio should have been off at half time.

Baffling.
I don't know who replaces Pep when the time comes. I just know I am increasingly annoyed at his team selections.

I may well know more when I read the Marti Peranau book that I was saving until after CWC to fill my footy void.

Very odd at times.
 
it goes back to pep saying he does not coach defending!

I doubt you can find a quote that supports that claim.

What Pep said is he doesn't coach tackling, which isn't the same. City make the fewest tackles in the league, which hasn't stopped us from winning 4 in a row.

One of the reasons people criticize Pep is that they don't understand his tactics. It's revolutionary whereas people try to make sense of it through dated concepts. Pep's teams don't defend in the usual ways. Most of the defending happens in the other two thirds of the pitch. It seems too risky, as huge spaces are left behind and the opposition can counter them.

Yet we went 26 CL games unbeaten and conceded just 5 goals in 13 games in 22/23, 2 goals in 5 games vs Bayern, Real and Inter (Walker played only vs Real). The system works most of the time, unless we have injuries or the team has a bad day at the office.
 
I doubt you can find a quote that supports that claim.

What Pep said is he doesn't coach tackling, which isn't the same. City make the fewest tackles in the league, which hasn't stopped us from winning 4 in a row.

One of the reasons people criticize Pep is that they don't understand his tactics. It's revolutionary whereas people try to make sense of it through dated concepts. Pep's teams don't defend in the usual ways. Most of the defending happens in the other two thirds of the pitch. It seems too risky, as huge spaces are left behind and the opposition can counter them.

Yet we went 26 CL games unbeaten and conceded just 5 goals in 13 games in 22/23, 2 goals in 5 games vs Bayern, Real and Inter (Walker played only vs Real). The system works most of the time, unless we have injuries or the team has a bad day at the office.

Ah yeah your right as regards “don’t coach tackling”

We mainly never close down to stop crossing in our box and it’s pretty weird that the players think it’s fine too..
 
Ah yeah your right as regards “don’t coach tackling”

We mainly never close down to stop crossing in our box and it’s pretty weird that the players think it’s fine too..

I think Pep isn't happy with that either. I think that's a matter of trade-offs. We prefer FBs who can participate in the build-up and the attacks over FBs who are better at closing down. It's not perfect but overall the stable and hard to disrupt with pressing build-up is very important defensively. Because if the FBs are great at tackling and blocking crosses but shit their pants when pressed, then their overall defensive value isn't great as we would be vulnerable to high pressing.
 
Same problems were there against Juve. Just the scoreline and attack masked the defensive fragility of our defence, also Rodri just did what Rodri does.

Juve looked dangerous on the counter when they did break. We were very good in attack but our defence still was showing signs during that game of last season. Akanji ball watching for their goal. Nunes that game was our best defender.

Same as this morning attack looks like our attack of old. Should’ve been out of sight. Defence still like last season same with the midfield without Rodri there’s no protection.

Good start would be ditching having both slow CBs playing 30 yards from oppo goal.

Kept 2 clean sheets vs good teams last year and one was at start of season(Chelsea). The other was freak result vs Newcastle as we lost every other game we played vs a good teams before and after that result.

It's looking like we'll be carrying these same issues into next season. Starting to lose confidence in Peps ability and/or willingness to adapt to how teams approach us simply because it'd mean giving up some control
Was hoping in the cwc we would see this, but we didnt. Attack was really good at times, but again at others it look disjointed.

That said though, its in better shape than the defence, and going off what i saw it looks like the attack are going to have to knock in 3 to 4 goals a game if our backline and keeper concede like a sieve.
 
I don't know who replaces Pep when the time comes. I just know I am increasingly annoyed at his team selections.

I may well know more when I read the Marti Peranau book that I was saving until after CWC to fill my footy void.

Very odd at times.
Man most have made millions writing all these Pep books, it would be a crazy twist if Pep retires and claims to not have any idea about most of the things written in these books about him.
 
This might be a wild idea, but when we end up with centre-backs on the ball 40 yards from goal, and the other team completely hemmed in. We could stop doing that.

Honestly I'd rather they were in the box waiting for a cross than the ones on the ball.

Please, no more Dias 30 yarders that will never, ever go in. Or Akanji crossing over everyone from deep.
 


When Pep Guardiola was deciding on a new #ManCity contract last year, one thing was clear: He wanted to take charge at the #FIFACWC. With his previous deal due to expire at the end of June, Guardiola was willing to sign a short-term contract, perhaps even working alongside his successor at the tournament.
 
So why did he sign a two year contract? If he was willing to work along side our next manager?

I always thought he would leave after the CWC !
I assume when he was thinking about a new contract his options were to do the CWC with a new manager or sign a new contract. He obviously decided the latter, and the story is now old news.
 
I find that hard to believe.Pep isn't the type to encroach on a new manager.
 
I thought Pep looked right fucked off coming off the pitch on Tuesday night. I imagine he was thinking that all last seasons mediocrity might not have disappeared even after looking impressive in the group games
 
I thought Pep looked right fucked off coming off the pitch on Tuesday night. I imagine he was thinking that all last seasons mediocrity might not have disappeared even after looking impressive in the group games

We missed many chances and a good opportunity to go far in the tournament. It's only natural that he was pissed off. Losing against a non-European team wasn't on the cards.
 
I'm sorry but he's done at the top level . Nobody wants to say it out loud but it's true.
 

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