Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

[JewelZee]

My opinion too. At least 1 of our CBs per game needs to be excellent at passing from deep (like Laporte years ago) or in midfield (like Stones at his best). Ideally both CBs are also lightening quick and hard as nails (like Kompany years ago). Leadership etc can come from further forward if that is the reason why we play the slower minded guys at CB.

People say we need a new RB but I see that as less of a priority. We need a super strong spine and it's missing at CB.

Gvardiol if left alone to get a run of games at CB can definitely pass from deep and Khusonov is lightning quick, good in the air, and fearless. I wouldn't mind seeing that pairing given a look. Oddly enough they weren't paired together for a single minute at the CWC. But what do I know...

 

[sir baconface]

Well, we stand on the brink of a new season.

Pep’s been found out by every other manager and has a tendency to regress to his comfort zone. On the other hand he has a system, an unrivalled track record of trophies and many millions worth of new, bought-in talent.

Let’s see what happens.

 

[JewelZee]

I believe the club will provide what's needed to succeed. If Pep moves into the current and stops with all the unnecessary machinations we'll be fine. Actually better than fine. We'll kick some ass! But if Pep keeps on his current course then forget about it.

Watching PSG dismantle Real Madrid. Best 11, no line-up surprises, no square pegs in round holes, no old guys struggling to get around the pitch, a straight forward 4-3-3, no inverted anything. Just working super hard and trusting the talent on the pitch to get it done...imagine that...

 

[blueparrot]

I believe the club will provide what's needed to succeed. If Pep moves into the current and stops with all the unnecessary machinations we'll be fine. Actually better than fine. We'll kick some ass! But if Pep keeps on his current course then forget about it.

Watching PSG dismantle Real Madrid. Best 11, no line-up surprises, no square pegs in round holes, no old guys struggling to get around the pitch, a straight forward 4-3-3, no inverted anything. Just working super hard and trusting the talent on the pitch to get it done...imagine that...

Don’t need to imagine it seen it at the Etihad many times and will again. Looking at how the squad is changing it isn’t hard to imagine. If you haven’t seen signs of it it’s because you don’t want to.

 

[JewelZee]

Don’t need to imagine it seen it at the Etihad many times and will again. Looking at how the squad is changing it isn’t hard to imagine. If you haven’t seen signs of it it’s because you don’t want to.

Of course I've seen it. That's what makes it so frustrating. No one is going to convince me that Pep hasn't either. He's always had the reputation of over tinkering but within reason and not enough to undermine his teams (well sometimes). He's fallen in love with the idea of making unconventional player selections. It's just my opinion, but for me he's gotten carried away somewhere along the line and a lot of his machinations are superficial, unnecessary, and unsuccessful. He's making it much harder than it needs to be, You tell me. Is he bored? Coaching for his own amusement? I can't think of one manager who would have started both Gundogan and Bernardo v Al Hilal and kept all 3 of Foden, Marmoush, and Cherki on the bench. Bayern PSG, Real Madrid, and Chelsea have all played it straight. When other managers with great experience start to question your motives (No one is questioning his abilities) one has to at least question what the eff is he actually trying to accomplish? There's no such thing as getting a pass in pro football based on past accomplishments no matter how successful you've been. If you are on the payroll making huge amounts of money there's no room for self-indulgence. When Pep admitted he thought we could roll it back with the status quo one more time that's a major red flag. Someone with his experience should have known better. Instead he doubled down by saying we didn't need any upgrades in January. Also, I don't know why it's considered taboo to mention his personal situation over the past year. He is a human being. Going through a divorce after so many years could affect anyone's focus. I genuinely felt sad for Pep and his family going thru that. Maybe I'm crazy, I don't know...

 

[blueparrot]

Of course I've seen it. That's what makes it so frustrating. No one is going to convince me that Pep hasn't either. He's always had the reputation of over tinkering but within reason and not enough to undermine his teams (well sometimes). He's fallen in love with the idea of making unconventional player selections. It's just my opinion, but for me he's gotten carried away somewhere along the line and a lot of his machinations are superficial, unnecessary, and unsuccessful. He's making it much harder than it needs to be, You tell me. Is he bored? Coaching for his own amusement? I can't think of one manager who would have started both Gundogan and Bernardo v Al Hilal and kept all 3 of Foden, Marmoush, and Cherki on the bench. Bayern PSG, Real Madrid, and Chelsea have all played it straight. When other managers with great experience start to question your motives (No one is questioning his abilities) one has to at least question what the eff is he actually trying to accomplish? There's no such thing as getting a pass in pro football based on past accomplishments no matter how successful you've been. If you are on the payroll making huge amounts of money there's no room for self-indulgence. When Pep admitted he thought we could roll it back with the status quo one more time that's a major red flag. Someone with his experience should have known better. Instead he doubled down by saying we didn't need any upgrades in January. Also, I don't know why it's considered taboo to mention his personal situation over the past year. He is a human being. Going through a divorce after so many years could affect anyone's focus. I genuinely felt sad for Pep and his family going thru that. Maybe I'm crazy, I don't know...

I couldn’t care less who he started in the CWC, I only care who is starting and how we are playing by September October next season, and I’m looking forward to seeing that team and it starting to gel.I saw enough in the CWC over the games to be excited by it.
Oh he didn’t say we didn’t need upgrades in January, another imagined quote, in fact he said the opposite that we needed help. I’d find the quotes if I could be arsed, I can’t though.

 

[JewelZee]

I couldn’t care less who he started in the CWC, I only care who is starting and how we are playing by September October next season, and I’m looking forward to seeing that team and it starting to gel.I saw enough in the CWC over the games to be excited by it.
Oh he didn’t say we didn’t need upgrades in January, another imagined quote, in fact he said the opposite that we needed help. I’d find the quotes if I could be arsed, I can’t though.

I saw enough to want to see more. Will we tho? You seem to be 100% convinced that we will. I hope and pray that you are right. I'm not going to lie and say I don't have concerns about what Pep will do. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see Marmoush, Foden, and/or Cherki on the bench on August16. Maybe Ait Nouri too. No one would be happier to be proven wrong than me.

 

[Ric]

Well, we stand on the brink of a new season.

Pep’s been found out by every other manager and has a tendency to regress to his comfort zone. On the other hand he has a system, an unrivalled track record of trophies and many millions worth of new, bought-in talent.

Let’s see what happens.

It's a bit depressing to see some posters already spreading so much negativity before a ball has even been kicked in earnest. I guess it's debatable whether or not you class the CWC as the end of last season, or the start of this campaign, but I'm not reading too much into performances there. Fatigue, weather, lack of time to incorporate new signings etc. all played their part, but there were still some encouraging signs regardless.

Last season was something of an anomaly, with poor squad planning and injuries biting us on the arse. I expect us to be a different animal this time around though, with the new signings and coaching staff to freshen things up. Also expect to see a few more outgoings in the coming weeks so the squad will have a different feel by the time the Wolves game comes around. Pep will adapt too, as he always does. He'll be acutely aware of our failings last season and will surely address them.

 

[eastmanc]

It's a bit depressing to see some posters already spreading so much negativity before a ball has even been kicked in earnest. I guess it's debatable whether or not you class the CWC as the end of last season, or the start of this campaign, but I'm not reading too much into performances there. Fatigue, weather, lack of time to incorporate new signings etc. all played their part, but there were still some encouraging signs regardless.

Last season was something of an anomaly, with poor squad planning and injuries biting us on the arse. I expect us to be a different animal this time around though, with the new signings and coaching staff to freshen things up. Also expect to see a few more outgoings in the coming weeks so the squad will have a different feel by the time the Wolves game comes around. Pep will adapt too, as he always does. He'll be acutely aware of our failings last season and will surely address them.

Too much crap thrown at the greatest manager ever . He deserves better from City fans

 

[Ric]

Too much crap thrown at the greatest manager ever . He deserves better from City fans

It tends to be the same group of posters as well. I guess it's why player/manager threads can be problematic, as you often get people with their own personal vendettas/axes to grind dominating the threads, when their views aren't really reflective of the fanbase as a whole. Obviously forums are for discussion and different viewpoints, but criticism needs to be constructive. If it's just the same people repeating that they don't rate someone ad nauseum it can get tiresome.

 

[BedsBlue68]

Too much crap thrown at the greatest manager ever . He deserves better from City fans

Agree getting tired of "Peps lost it" "Peps been found out" - short memories as we put together a 14 match unbeaten run at the end of the season to qualify for europe, and that with a patched up squad with players playing through injury and other older players blowing out of their arse as they had had to play way more games that I am certain Pep intended them to play due to injuries (oh ignoring the absence of out ballon dor winning dM).

As Ric said last season was an anomoly for many reasons - some self inflicted, some unlucky. But even with that we ended up close to pipping the mighty (as they were reported to be) Arsenal to second.

Who knows what will happen this next season, who knows what the plans for the new signings from summer and January are, who knows what the plans for trimming the squad numbers down. We dont but Pep, Hugo et al will do so lets be patient and let them get on with the job that they have shown they are bloody good at.

 

[Gumzy97]

I didn’t know where to put it but apparently in Italy there’s rumblings of City looking at Fabregas at como and the job he’s doing. His first season was impressive and they are keeping an eye on him this season.

Apparently us and a few others are looking at him to see what he does this season with Como. Being talked as though he’s the next big talent in management.

His tactics are similar to Pep apart from instead of pushing a fullback into midfield he’s pushes the striker or winger into there instead. He’s been impressive

 

[K-Bo]

It tends to be the same group of posters as well. I guess it's why player/manager threads can be problematic, as you often get people with their own personal vendettas/axes to grind dominating the threads, when their views aren't really reflective of the fanbase as a whole. Obviously forums are for discussion and different viewpoints, but criticism needs to be constructive. If it's just the same people repeating that they don't rate someone ad nauseum it can get tiresome.

In the interest of balance, I also think there’s a lot of posters here who are toxically positive and in the fanbase in general , and overreact to the mildest critiques of the club and players because essentially they are too insecure to handle city being anything but perfect and on the way to another treble. Pep deserves criticism for last season, he made our problems worse on a weekly basis and that is inevitably going to lessen the trust in him amongst fans. Generally speaking most still want him to stay, they just want to stop seeing the same mistakes over and over again and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that

 

[citizen_maine]

In the interest of balance, I also think there’s a lot of posters here who are toxically positive and in the fanbase in general , and overreact to the mildest critiques of the club and players because essentially they are too insecure to handle city being anything but perfect and on the way to another treble. Pep deserves criticism for last season, he made our problems worse on a weekly basis and that is inevitably going to lessen the trust in him amongst fans. Generally speaking most still want him to stay, they just want to stop seeing the same mistakes over and over again and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that

What?

 

[waspish]

It tends to be the same group of posters as well. I guess it's why player/manager threads can be problematic, as you often get people with their own personal vendettas/axes to grind dominating the threads, when their views aren't really reflective of the fanbase as a whole. Obviously forums are for discussion and different viewpoints, but criticism needs to be constructive. If it's just the same people repeating that they don't rate someone ad nauseum it can get tiresome.

They’ll be the same people if a new manager not winning titles after 1 year will be back moaning

 

[K-Bo]

What?

The rough definition is being too soft to handle city having any problems at all, so they lash out at anyone who says they do. usually way more aggressive then any of the haters do. Its the worst thing about this forum when people are just trying to have a conversation and the same 20 posters tell you to die because you say pep is playing bernardo too much.

 

[alexmcity]

In the interest of balance, I also think there’s a lot of posters here who are toxically positive and in the fanbase in general , and overreact to the mildest critiques of the club and players because essentially they are too insecure to handle city being anything but perfect and on the way to another treble. Pep deserves criticism for last season, he made our problems worse on a weekly basis and that is inevitably going to lessen the trust in him amongst fans. Generally speaking most still want him to stay, they just want to stop seeing the same mistakes over and over again and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with saying that

The insistence that Pep should have done much (not just somewhat) better in spite of the severe injury crises is based on little more than toxic positivity.

We didn't simply lose the best player in the world for the entire season (did Klopp do better when VVD got badly injured?), but multiple important players for months: Dias missed nearly two months, Ake and Stones 3 months or more, Akanji 2-3 months, Kovacic (Rodri's replacement) had multiple injuries, Walker and Foden fell off a cliff, KDB, Doku and Haaland had injuries as well. Basically, only Gvardiol and Bernardo from the first team were almost always available. And also Gundogan who wasn't supposed to start many games. That's it.

To expect from Pep to do much better in spite of all this factors, including aging players and personal issues, is toxic indeed.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

What?

Britney Spears is the only toxically positive person that springs to mind

 

[eastmanc]

Agree getting tired of "Peps lost it" "Peps been found out" - short memories as we put together a 14 match unbeaten run at the end of the season to qualify for europe, and that with a patched up squad with players playing through injury and other older players blowing out of their arse as they had had to play way more games that I am certain Pep intended them to play due to injuries (oh ignoring the absence of out ballon dor winning dM).

As Ric said last season was an anomoly for many reasons - some self inflicted, some unlucky. But even with that we ended up close to pipping the mighty (as they were reported to be) Arsenal to second.

Who knows what will happen this next season, who knows what the plans for the new signings from summer and January are, who knows what the plans for trimming the squad numbers down. We dont but Pep, Hugo et al will do so lets be patient and let them get on with the job that they have shown they are bloody good at.

Well said Blue.

 

[Fiftyyearsandcounting]

Let's see what happens in the forthcoming season. If we avoid all the injury issues of the past year and still not perform any better, then there are clearly issues to be addressed.

1 The current squad is simply not good enough, due to poor recruitment. DoF?
2 Pep's tactics are no longer giving us the edge. Other coaches have better match-day strategies. Pep?

Perhaps our current epoch has run its course. I've followed City from the late 50/s, when hoping my team could avoid relegation was the greatest fear (mixed in with occasional league and Cup successes).