Do you agree with Capello? (Regarding Pep)

No overreaction from me but, the hard facts are we still have a squad, albeit ageing and injury prone that is massively underperforming on a number of levels.
The football at times is robotic and ultra safe.

If we don't qualify for the CL with the 2nd highest wage bill in world football, the buck stops with Pep.

He's out greatest manager ever so, is allowed an off season to rebuild but, my fear is we don't seem to be making any progress and the malaise will spill over to next season.

4 new players (will have fully adapted by summer) plus 2 new signings & we’ll be off again

Surely after all he’s achieved Pep is due a transitional season with new players? - without attracting criticism from his own fans
 
4 new players (will have fully adapted by summer) plus 2 new signings & we’ll be off again

Surely after all he’s achieved Pep is due a transitional season with new players? - without attracting criticism from his own fans

Do we know if he's staying long enough to see it through though? That's my only doubt about him at the minute.
 
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Ake isn't always injured Stones ' has been worse this season and Akanji and Dias have been injured for much of the season plus Walker going awol. The only fit first choice player we have consistently been able to field at the back is Gvardiol.
Akjanji only got injured recently and Dias was only short-term.
City let Walker go, and I suggest you check Ake's record on injuries.
While you're at it, check Brighton's and Arsenals injuries this season, it compares.
 
4 new players (will have fully adapted by summer) plus 2 new signings & we’ll be off again

Surely after all he’s achieved Pep is due a transitional season with new players? - without attracting criticism from his own fans
Let's hope so.
The criticism is valid as long as constructive and not personal.
We're not little City anymore and any manager will have a high level of scrutiny, it goes with the job.
 
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Akjanji only got injured recently and Dias was only short-term.
City let Walker go, and I suggest you check Ake's record on injuries.
While you're at it, check Brighton's and Arsenals injuries this season, it compares.
Both Akanji and Dias were clearly not fully fit when they played for quite a few games
Ditto Ake

I've no idea about Brighton's injuries , though last time I looked they have had some pretty poor results.
Arsenal have a younger overall squad and have had their progress considerably hampered by injury.

Yes City let Walker go because he had clearly lost his mental edge in English football, we've also a lot of players who are getting too old or are still young and immature. These are squad planning issues for which Pep bears a degree of responsibility but they are not a reason to believe that Peps tactical acumen is any less than it was.
 
It amazes me that the players get away with so much whilst pep is constantly getting a right bollocking on here from almost everyone and their dog.

Meanwhile the man is trying to get a team of geriatrics that will not stop fucking about and putting themselves in danger, passing to the opposition, not marking, not saving, not running, not fighting, to perform to the peak of English football, all while being ravaged by defensive injuries and carrying too many passengers who are too interested in getting pissed than they are playing, I mean fucking Nunez is playing full back for Christ sake.

There are only two arguments to be had really, should he abandoned his plans and formations which were actually working at the start of the year and try to fluster around for something that’d work instead and should be blooding more youth players to plug the gaps? Neither of which would guarantee any success nor do they conclusively show that football has evolved past Guardiola and he doesn’t have the answers.
As I’ve said before, the criticism that should be being explored is why the FUCK has the team got this bad? Is it down to shit recruitment and resting in our heels. Is this due to the ever present investigations making the powers reluctant to spend or simply arrogance that the squad that did so much had one more season in them? And then following that’s is it pep’s fault or were his hands tied by the money men?

This season is a write off but to put the blame purely on pep is naive and shows a lack of football intelligence. For me the real test, and the real marker for just how finished he will be next year after he has a chance of a real rebuild.

If we’re going into Christmas next year looking the same then the tough question should be asked, but I think, at least for a bit longer, he deserves a chance.
 
I think the last few seasons we have been quite boring to watch for neutrals. It is very much keep the ball and avoid transitions at all costs. This can lead to a lot of sideways passing whilst city try and lure opposing players out of position.

Contrast to how we played when pep first came in with wide wingers and d silva de bruyne in the 8s. We were so great to watch but we had major flaws which where exposed by better sides particularly in Europe.

I think it is fair to say pep has got a lot more pragmatic as he has got older and also due to his experience in England. It started with the Bernardo and grealish winger during the treble winning season which undoubtedly worked. We won tight games due to moments of brilliance from individual players back then. Now the team isn’t quite as good or players have aged we are struggling.

If I’m honest I haven’t particularly enjoyed the football the last few years it has felt very slow and ponderous but I would counter that with teams do sit in against us so it is hard to entertain.
When you say last few seasons/years, do you mean last season and this season so far, (1 and a half seasons), or are you including the 22-23 treble winning season where, as another poster pointed out, we smashed Real Madrid with breathtaking football, along with dominating Bayern over two legs with some cracking attacking football, and smashing Arsenal at the back end of the season 4-1 at our place, which would be 2 and a half seasons ago? Or are you going back to the 21-22 season, where we pipped Liverpool on the final day, which would be 3 and a half seasons ago?

I'm not trying to be facetious by the way, just interested.
 
Capello got all upset about tomato sauce and butter, so I wouldn't be taking too much notice of what he says
 
4 new players (will have fully adapted by summer) plus 2 new signings & we’ll be off again

Surely after all he’s achieved Pep is due a transitional season with new players? - without attracting criticism from his own fans
Pep is now building his third team. His Centurions team played possession based football, with very wide wingers and lots of pace to counter attack. Then he won the treble with a more pragmatic approach of four centre backs and "the best defence in Europe." Now he is changing to a 4411 formation with Haaland and Marmoush up front. But he doesn't have enough pace and creativity in midfield yet and needs two great full backs. It looked good against Chelsea and Newcastle and I don't know why he changed it for Forest. But I trust him to get it right.
 
Maybe, but other coaches have stepped up and to just place the blame on injuries and ageing players is a convenient excuse.
Which coaches have stepped up, I don’t think there are any outstanding teams in the PL this season, not sure there are in Cl to be honest.Ageing players and injuries are a fact,not some convenience. The team next season will be very different and much younger.
 
Pep is now building his third team. His Centurions team played possession based football, with very wide wingers and lots of pace to counter attack. Then he won the treble with a more pragmatic approach of four centre backs and "the best defence in Europe." Now he is changing to a 4411 formation with Haaland and Marmoush up front. But he doesn't have enough pace and creativity in midfield yet and needs two great full backs. It looked good against Chelsea and Newcastle and I don't know why he changed it for Forest. But I trust him to get it right.
I think because he knew that Forest would sit back and City would have lots of the ball. Probably the reason Omar didn't start and Bernardo did.
 
I think because he knew that Forest would sit back and City would have lots of the ball. Probably the reason Omar didn't start and Bernardo did.
At least Pep tried to win the match bringing Kev and Omar on towards the end even though it backfired. Perhaps we should have settled for a draw. Forest never really looked like scoring without a breakaway. It is all fine margins. We won at Spurs but Ederson was solid there. I am still confident we will be sorted next season.
 
Which coaches have stepped up, I don’t think there are any outstanding teams in the PL this season, not sure there are in Cl to be honest.Ageing players and injuries are a fact,not some convenience. The team next season will be very different and much younger.
Brighton and Bournemouth have both stepped up on limited budgets.
Injuries have always been part of the game and guess what players age, this can be planned for.
 
Brighton and Bournemouth have both stepped up on limited budgets.
Injuries have always been part of the game and guess what players age, this can be planned for.
Brighton have been here before, yes Bournemouth are having a good season,same with Forest, hardly ground breaking though.
 

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