It's Quiet the £250m return

[alexmcity]

Guess what, lads: we possibly have the greatest manager in the history of the game managing us, and we are the first team to win four consecutive titles, score 100 goals, win all four domestic trophies, and the treble. If Pep didn't have some loyalty to the players who have delivered so much, he wouldn't be human.

Pep let big legends go even though some of them wanted to stay for another season or two, the likes of Aguero and KDB. The loyalty point concedes too much to those thinking Pep lets human sentiments get the better of him.

He picks the players he thinks are the most likely to deliver. Note 'most likely', not 'guaranteed'. There are few guarantees.

But we won 40 pts from the last 19 games without Rodri and with many injuries (Stones, Ake, Akanji, Haaland...), after going through a horrific injury crisis in the first half of the season. To suggest that he played his favourite players over better and more deserving players is to suggest that Pep should have won more than 40 pts in the 2nd half of the season, say, 45 pts.

45 pts from 19 games is title-winning form. To want that from Pep is completely unrealistic. He did really well to finish 3rd with the problems we had.

Pep played G and B for the simple reason they delivered in the 2nd part of the season. Some people couldn't understand it due to unrealistic expectations.

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

They finished on 84 points. Hardly a great side. They won the League because Rodri was injured and KDB and Walker had grown old. And even then we were better than them through 2025.

Which players do you think City have signed that Pep doesn't want to play?

We had a better 2025? Since the start of the year we had the following embarrassing games: Arsenal, Liverpool, Madrid x2, PSG, Brentford, Brighton, Southampton, Palace, United, and Al Hilal. We can also add all of our wins where we played ping pong with our opposition giving up 10+ shots each game.

If Liverpool (who took the CL winners to penalties) are hardly a great side, then what does that make this City side?

 

[King Jay]

The fact that people come up with the fact that city got more points than Liverpool in 2025 when they were clearly going to win the league and started concentrating on the CL is funny.

„84 points hardly a decent side“ sometimes I think people would rather talk bullshit before admitting that another side is far better

 

[decmancity]

We had a better 2025? Since the start of the year we had the following embarrassing games: Arsenal, Liverpool, Madrid x2, PSG, Brentford, Brighton, Southampton, Palace, United, and Al Hilal. We can also add all of our wins where we played ping pong with our opposition giving up 10+ shots each game.

If Liverpool (who took the CL winners to penalties) are hardly a great side, then what does that make this City side?

Despite all of that, more points than them in 2025 as he said.
Hilarious you’re counting “wins” as bad because they had a shot against us.

Chelsea just pissed all over the “CL winners”, what’s your point?
Liverpool took them to penalties and lost in March. Why didn’t they bounce back and storm to 90+ points if they are such a good team?

 

[blueparrot]

How is it nonsense ? We all have eyes. He played the old guard even after the January window. Gundo Kova Bernardo played 33 matches EACH in the PL.

Pep’s comments about only wanting players that can play everyday was in relation to extremely injury prone players mainly Stones.

I have an issue with his preference of players when I see him change systems in favour of his players like in the FA Cup final. Playing an aging Akanji who recently got surgery at RB instead of Nunes who’s been working the whole time. Or playing Gundo AND Bernardo in the same midfield against Al Hilal and only bring on Foden and Cherki in extra time.

To say if he thinks they’re not good enough then he won’t play him when there’s a mountain of evidence to suggest otherwise.

It’s not to say I’m smarter or the trophies he won were by luck. The decisions he’s made in the last 1.5 seasons have been questionable. We still have no idea what level Khusonov, Reis, Nico G are at despite having the perfect opportunity to see them. We know what Dias, Gundo Bernardo can do.

That’s why the only solution is to take it out of his hands because as last season as shown even if we win 1 game in 14 he will not budge and keep playing the old guard. Did they get second win and helped us get top 4 yes they did and I applaud them for that. But he’s still relying on players who are past their best. Thats concerning.

I guess you didn't notice him find a winning team and system after December that took us to top 4 and a long unbeaten streak, or do you think he should have messed with that, tried younger players and risked CL . Maybe that's what you have done, luckily we have someone who knows what he's doing instead.

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

Despite all of that, more points than them in 2025 as he said.
Hilarious you’re counting “wins” as bad because they had a shot against us.

Chelsea just pissed all over the “CL winners”, what’s your point?
Liverpool took them to penalties and lost in March. Why didn’t they bounce back and storm to 90+ points if they are such a good team?

Liverpool and Arsenal didn’t need 90 points considering the rest of the PL, including us, were abysmal and about 15-20 points off them consistently. Liverpool already won the league by February, whilst Arsenal rightfully sacrificed their PL to try to win the CL. They demolished an awful Madrid, that weeks prior made us look like a middle of the table La Liga side. Liverpool and Arsenal demolished us in first gear during this run in.

We are really fabricating that the current City side has suddenly become as good as the two best teams in the PL? Based on barely beating teams in a barely competitive environment? Even Southampton taking a game seriously made us struggle.

We need to be realistic that with the lack of ability to move on our deadwood, we will not be able to improve our already aged squad and will compete for a CL spot again.

 

[Vester]

We had a better 2025? Since the start of the year we had the following embarrassing games: Arsenal, Liverpool, Madrid x2, PSG, Brentford, Brighton, Southampton, Palace, United, and Al Hilal. We can also add all of our wins where we played ping pong with our opposition giving up 10+ shots each game.

If Liverpool (who took the CL winners to penalties) are hardly a great side, then what does that make this City side?

I can understand anyone arguing that Liverpool this season was not as good as previous versions of our team, or the Liverpool team that pushed us against point records. But they were still obviously a great side, and one could argue they could have gotten more points if they had any real competition that pushed them.

But I find it hard to understand how anyone thats watched us this season can possibly think "we had a better 2025 than Liverpool" when Liverpool did what they needed to do to win the league and we had multiple absolute embarrassments almost every time we faced a decent side, not to mention bottling a final against Palace.
Sounds a lot like when deluded Arsenal fans a few years back during Wengers last seasons was trying to convince themselves they were going to win the league next season, before every season, because "Arsenal had the most points in the last 3 months of the league".

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

I guess you didn't notice him find a winning team and system after December that took us to top 4 and a long unbeaten streak, or do you think he should have messed with that, tried younger players and risked CL . Maybe that's what you have done, luckily we have someone who knows what he's doing instead.

Out of curiosity why did this serial winning team with the revolutionary system, get knocked out of the CL, FA cup, and CWC? I would assume such an inform team would be playing PSG in the finals? Did this same winning system go to the Emirates and play Arsenal off the park, or did the inverse happen?

 

[decmancity]

Liverpool and Arsenal didn’t need 90 points considering the rest of the PL, including us, were abysmal and about 15-20 points off them consistently. Liverpool already won the league by February, whilst Arsenal rightfully sacrificed their PL to win the CL. They demolished an awful Madrid, that weeks prior made us look like a middle of the table La Liga side. Liverpool and Arsenal demolished us in first gear during this run in.

We are really fabricating that the current City side has suddenly become as good as the two best teams in the PL? Based on barely beating teams in a barely competitive environment? Even Southampton taking a game seriously made us struggle.

We need to be realistic that with the lack of ability to move on our deadwood, we will not be able to improve our already aged squad and will compete for a CL spot again.

That is the difference between City and the rest then, didn’t need 90 but got it anyway, multiple times. Why can't you admit they aren't as good as you think they are, this bullshit about having won it since Feb is not only embarrassing for Liverpool but also Arsenal which some in here are praising as the second coming and better than City because they finished above us for the first time in a decade.

They beat Madrid, we didn't. Can I just shock you, sometimes a team can play good in one game and not good in another.

What is the fabrication, it's a fact. Did we or did we not get more points than them in 2025?

As for the last point, fucking hell mate that is revolutionary that, why has no one discussed that before. Hardly a surprise that nobody is jumping through hoops to sign our ageing players on huge wages, the exact problem every club in the world faces.

 

[blueparrot]

Out of curiosity why did this serial winning team with the revolutionary system, get knocked out of the CL, FA cup, and CWC? I would assume such an inform team would be playing PSG in the finals? Did this same winning system go to the Emirates and play Arsenal off the park, or did the inverse happen?

Excellent twisting of what I said,just so you can make out we are shit and Peps an idiot. Whatever makes you happy.

 

[Ste-CTID]

How is it nonsense ? We all have eyes. He played the old guard even after the January window. Gundo Kova Bernardo played 33 matches EACH in the PL.

And we were the most in form team in 2025, just maybe he knows who can execute his game plan and who need more time to adapt to what he wants.

We all want to see new energetic players added to the team, but they need to be up to speed and capable of executing what Pep demands before he will use them. Pep has always been more about the system and tactics than individual players or talent and if players can't deliver his plan he won't use them.

IMO all we are really missing to challenge for the league and CL is pace in the back line. I'd love to see Khusonov trusted, if not then we need a right back with pace and good defensive instincts to cover in behind.

 

[alexmcity]

Out of curiosity why did this serial winning team with the revolutionary system, get knocked out of the CL, FA cup, and CWC? I would assume such an inform team would be playing PSG in the finals? Did this same winning system go to the Emirates and play Arsenal off the park, or did the inverse happen?

Straw man fallacy.

Nobody says City have been exceptional since January.

The thing is Pep played the old guard because they were delivering: 40 pts from 19 games is an excellent return given the circumstances: no Rodri, plus Stones, Ake and Akanji out for 2-3 months, Haaland out for 5-6 weeks, midfielders at FB, etc.

Anyone who thinks City would have won much more points in the 2nd part of the season (45?, 50?) had Pep started the players they preferred to see instead of G and B is a bit foolish or dislikes Pep for some reason.

 

[Ajm1985]

I guess you didn't notice him find a winning team and system after December that took us to top 4 and a long unbeaten streak, or do you think he should have messed with that, tried younger players and risked CL . Maybe that's what you have done, luckily we have someone who knows what he's doing instead.

Which system is this? The clog the midfield with the old guard system, and O'Reilly & Nunes at fullback? That only really happened with any regularity from March/April and even then we had turgid displays against United & Southampton.

There really doesn't need to be any revisionism: yes Pep got us over the line, yes Pep is incredible, yes Pep played the more experienced players, no that doesn't mean it was the only way that we could have succeeded.

 

[thomas1307]

That is the difference between City and the rest then, didn’t need 90 but got it anyway, multiple times. Why can't you admit they aren't as good as you think they are, this bullshit about having won it since Feb is not only embarrassing for Liverpool but also Arsenal which some in here are praising as the second coming and better than City because they finished above us for the first time in a decade.

They beat Madrid, we didn't. Can I just shock you, sometimes a team can play good in one game and not good in another.

What is the fabrication, it's a fact. Did we or did we not get more points than them in 2025?

As for the last point, fucking hell mate that is revolutionary that, why has no one discussed that before. Hardly a surprise that nobody is jumping through hoops to sign our ageing players on huge wages, the exact problem every club in the world faces.

negativity breeds negativity people are scared to praise nowadays and if you do your a happy clapper, liverpool had a good season a lot better than what people expected and was deserving champions but was it a great season lost convincingly in the league cup final to Newcastle, lost in the 4th round of the fa cup to plymouth, yes took psg to penalties but that tie should of been over in the first leg but alison kept them in it. They had the chance to make history last season could of eclipsed city centurion season at the rate they was going but couldn't or didn't want to that what separates great teams from elite teams, my question is was liverpool season last year better than city 13/14 season

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

Straw man fallacy.

Nobody says City have been exceptional since January.

The thing is Pep played the old guard because they were delivering: 40 pts from 19 games is an excellent return given the circumstances: no Rodri, plus Stones, Ake and Akanji out for 2-3 months, Haaland out for 5-6 weeks, midfielders at FB, etc.

Anyone who thinks City would have won much more points in the 2nd part of the season (45?, 50?) had Pep started the players they preferred to see instead of G and B is a bit foolish or dislikes Pep for some reason.

Nobody says City have been exceptional since 2025? Have you actually read the comment I replied to? There are literally people that claim Liverpool have not been good, and City are on level terms.

Regarding the rest we signed players in January that were not used or needed and now they are the ones that will apparently elevate our team. Who says the players bar Haaland that have come back will be good? Rodri had a very serious injury. Ake, Akanji, and Stones are all old. I am not disliking Pep, but there is a clear disconnect between him and Hugo.

 

[thomas1307]

Straw man fallacy.

Nobody says City have been exceptional since January.

The thing is Pep played the old guard because they were delivering: 40 pts from 19 games is an excellent return given the circumstances: no Rodri, plus Stones, Ake and Akanji out for 2-3 months, Haaland out for 5-6 weeks, midfielders at FB, etc.

Anyone who thinks City would have won much more points in the 2nd part of the season (45?, 50?) had Pep started the players they preferred to see instead of G and B is a bit foolish or dislikes Pep for some reason.

they can't distinguish between people saying we managed to turn it around from where we was end of december to where we finished to city had an exceptionally good second half of the season, this is the issue with having agendas it clouds your judgement, for man city to have the most points in 2025 is more damming on the league it self considering that city had many poor poor performances in 2025

 

[alexmcity]

no that doesn't mean it was the only way that we could have succeeded.

No, it doesn't mean indeed, but it's anyone's guess what the other ways could be. How could we know that some fans were right that Pep could have achieved the same or even more benching G and B? What's their record to think their opinions have some weight?

The fact that Pep's way wasn't the only possible way doesn't mean that another manager could have done better with younger squad players.

Playing younger players might have worked, but the risk that we might have missed on CL football playing them over G and B was big. Pep succeeded, he was right. Anything else is presenting hypothetical scenarios as likely outcomes based on little more than amateurish understanding of the game.

 

[richards30]

they can't distinguish between people saying we managed to turn it around from where we was end of december to where we finished to city had an exceptionally good second half of the season, this is the issue with having agendas it clouds your judgement, for man city to have the most points in 2025 is more damming on the league it self considering that city had many poor poor performances in 2025

Our points tally was a good return in the second half of the season but we rode our luck in a lot of the games and were still nowhere close to the level we had set? Thats the concern for me going forward.

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

Excellent twisting of what I said,just so you can make out we are shit and Peps an idiot. Whatever makes you happy.

I don’t think I have twisted anything you said. Where have I criticised Pep? Have I ever called him an idiot? I have called this City side shit, because we are shit.

 

[manimanc]

Marvin and Doc sound like two bald men fighting over a comb.