Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

ken tali said:
He has a point though ,Pep has fcked up many times in CL play-offs with really stupid formations and picks.
Click to expand...
I didn’t see that as being his point though.
His point was that Pep dropped key figures from the side in the big games because he wanted to prove that he was the one winning and not the players.
Sounds like something Jamie caragher or Gary Neville would say.
 
JewelZee said:
9 League titles, the CL, among other things. He was the manager of Milan's early 90's legendary squad with Van Basten, Gullit, Baresi, Maldini, and Rickard. You don't have to like what he said but Capello is regarded as an all time great...
Click to expand...
LOL, I meant since he made his comments not in his career, I didn't comment on that.
 
ken tali said:
He has a point though ,Pep has fcked up many times in CL play-offs with really stupid formations and picks.
Click to expand...
Whilst on the surface this is undoubtedly true, it is also highly selective. Not a criticism, as we all do it, but Pep has stupid formations, stupid picks, stupid substitutions all the time.
The number of games I’ve been somewhat astonished at what team he’s picked, the formation they’ve been set up in, Gundo on when losing to Villa in a must win last game of the season (man is clueless doing that, I’d imagine almost the entire stadium was thinking). Thing is, they don’t get criticised on the myriad of occasions when they work, only when they don’t work, because they are the ones we remember.
 
I'd value the opinions of people on here much more than the non-City media pundits (current or former players or coaches). They may have competed at the highest level but that doesn't make them hugely insightful on what goes on at this club. So I've no time for Capello's comments.

That said I think Pep has lost his mojo. I would have preferred him to walk on a high the season before last or on a low after this past season. On the assumption that the club had a ready to go replacement of the top calibre. I fear the club is sleep walking to an extent by not making a significant move at the top.

But then we signed some very exciting players. And then we had more bewildering decisions by Pep. So God only knows.

I'd like to see a season with the likes of Echeverri, Cherki, Reijnders, Ait Nouri & Marmoush mixing with improved performances of Foden, Haaland, Doku, Savinho and the return of Rodri and Bobb. But I also want to see plenty of Nunes, Gvardiol, O'Reily, Gonzales, Khusonov and Reiss. It's so close you can taste it but having lost faith in Pep I feel like we are heading into the season with one hand tied behind our back.

I hope I'm wrong.
 
Last edited:
TonyM said:
I'd value the opinions of people on here much more than the non-City media pundits (current of former players or coaches). They may have competed at the highest level but that doesn't make them hugely insightful on what goes on at this club. So I've no time for Capello's comments.

That said I think Pep has lost his mojo. It would have preferred him to walk on a high the season before last or on a low after this past season. On the assumption that the club had a ready to go replacement of the top calibre. I fear the club is sleep walking to an extent by not making a significant move at the top.

But then we signed some very exciting players. And then we had more bewildering decisions by Pep. So God only knows.

I'd like to see a season with the likes of Echeverri, Cherki, Reijnders, Ait Nouri & Marmoush mixing with improved performances of Foden, Haaland, Doku, Savinho and the return of Rodri and Bobb. But I also want to see plenty of Nunes, Gvardiol, O'Reily, Gonzales, Khusonov and Reiss. It's so close you can taste it but having lost faith in Pep I feel like we are heading into the season with one hand tied behind our back.

I hope I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
I feel the exact same. I think if things ain’t going well at Christmas he be gone at the turn of the year
 
Crazy how all this is coming from one half of football in a pre season but it’s right because it’s not about winning or he trophy and getting knocked out it’s about watching what happened and it was pep’s instinct to revert back to the football and players that have had their day for us. It might all be bollox and pep comes out first game and changes everything and we all take it back but I have a gut feeling but October we are going to in tearing our hair out baffled .
 
cleavers said:
LOL, I meant since he made his comments not in his career, I didn't comment on that.
Click to expand...
Here's my issue, some may have doubts whether we can rebuild with Pep back to where he had us, I can discuss that and they may be proved right. What I find unnacceptable are those posters and there are a few that are those giving zero respect n to him for the last 9 years of records and trophies, zero credit in the bank to give him time to rebuild in his way, and no awareness that he and his coaches might just possibly know what they are doing, and understand tactics.
I find some of the disrespect from City fans towards a man that has brought so much shocking.
 
Last edited:
blueparrot said:
Here's my issue, some may have doubts whether we can rebuild with Pep back to where he had us, I can discuss that and they may be proved right. What I find unnacceptable are those posters and there are a few that are those giving zero respect given to him for the last 9 years of records and trophies, zero credit in the bank to give him time to rebuild in his way, and no awareness that he and his coaches might just possibly know what they are doing, and understand tactics.
I find some of the disrespect from City fans towards a man that has brought so much shocking.
Click to expand...
Well said mate
 
madloaf said:
Professionals are to be trusted until they say something that posters don't agree with. Thats not to say I agree with the post about Capella. It is however why the "I trust the club and you're not a football manager" argument is so silly.
Click to expand...

Capelo didn't question Pep's ability and understanding of the game. He questioned an aspect of his character.

What some fans here question is Pep's understanding of the sourse of our problems (e.g., high line, slow passing, playing 'the uncs', etc.). That is, they imply his tactics are outdated due to, say, the growing dynamism of the game.

These criticisms are not new. They have accompanied Pep since his arrival and resurface every time we don't win several games, let alone a trophy. The problem is, his critics know fuck all about tactics. So, yes, the argument that some fans may understand why we are struggling now better than Pep is so silly.
 
blueparrot said:
Here's my issue, some may have doubts whether we can rebuild with Pep back to where he had us, I can discuss that and they may be proved right. What I find unnacceptable are those posters and there are a few that are those giving zero respect given to him for the last 9 years of records and trophies, zero credit in the bank to give him time to rebuild in his way, and no awareness that he and his coaches might just possibly know what they are doing, and understand tactics.
I find some of the disrespect from City fans towards a man that has brought so much shocking.
Click to expand...
I put those in a bracket as blinkered, grass is greener, entitled or just none city fans!
 
big big season for him, other managers found him out, its up to him to change and deliver. nobody will try to copy our current version of tactics of being extremely open to any counter and being slow in possession which results in us facing more compact parked buses where there is very little great ideas to break it up when Dias and Akanji spends most of the time on the ball who have next to zero creativity.

we used to work extremely hard off the ball in 20/21, 21/22, 22/23, none of that is there anymore. that for me the biggest issue, we got older, slower, comfortable, less fight, less hunger. chicken out of tackles, less tactical fouls as we dont give a shit of even tracking runners let alone getting close enough to do a foul high up the pitch. always losing to second balls too.

up to Pep to change that, he has bunch of new players since January bringing fresh energy, new backroom staff too, the start of the season aint easy, tricky games in first 5, we cannot let other sides get an early panic onto our side by punishing us same way as many sides last season or Al Hilal.
 
alexmcity said:
Capelo didn't question Pep's ability and understanding of the game. He questioned an aspect of his character.

What some fans here question is Pep's understanding of the sourse of our problems (e.g., high line, slow passing, playing 'the uncs', etc.). That is, they imply his tactics are outdated due to, say, the growing dynamism of the game.

These criticisms are not new. They have accompanied Pep since his arrival and resurface every time we don't win several games, let alone a trophy. The problem is, his critics know fuck all about tactics. So, yes, the argument that some fans may understand why we are struggling now better than Pep is so silly.
Click to expand...

Is it only his critics who know fuck all about tactics? Or everyone? You can't have it both ways.
 
madloaf said:
Is it only his critics who know fuck all about tactics? Or everyone? You can't have it both ways.
Click to expand...

I mean the fans on here.

For the record, Pep is not above criticism. But to imply he doesn't understand that playing with a high line or the uncs is suicidal is a stupid criticism. Anyone with two brain cells should be able to understand that Pep's knowledge of the game is far superior to his/her own, that he sees the players in training every day and knows their strengths and weaknesses much better than fans and pundits.

If Capello (79) talks to Pep and points out his wrong decisions regarding leaving star players on the bench in big games, I'm sure Pep can explain his decisions in a pretty rational way: he had reasons for them. This doesn't mean he was right, but he might not be as egotistical as Capello suggests.

For instance, playing Akanji at RB in the big games in 22/23 might have been seen as irrational, as Walker was widely regarded as a word class RB. Yet it was the right decision ultimately.

In the end, you can't go as far in football as Pep (who has won much more trophies than Capello and has had a much bigger impact on football, Capello's tactics were ultra defensive and uninspiring), if you are an egotistical genius who puts his ego above the team.

Capello made some very harsh comments on Cruyff the manager as well. Apparently, he couldn't get over the praise Cruyff was receiving for his attacking football...
 
Last edited:
Hope he stops unnecessary changes to the defence unless injuries or suspensions force them. This would help players feel more stable, building chemistry and confidence instead of panicking at the opposition or fearing unfamiliar teammates making surprise moves or passes that lead to conceding goals every time the opposition comes near as has happened recently.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top