Leroy Sané

[domalino]

he's nearly 30 years old, if he cant beat a man, finish a chance and cross a ball by now I cant see Pep having much luck.

As pithy as that sounds, he was good in his first season, and clearly it's pellegrini's tactics which didn't agree with him - or any winger for that matter. His half dozen goals and 13 assists in 13/14 were a more than decent return and there's no reason to think Pep can't get at least that much out of him.

Very hard to beat players when the entire defence is behind the ball and you're receiving the ball at the 18 yard line with no space to run into. Get him the ball early, on a counter attack and he's a completely different player.

Same goes for crossing - turns out trying to pick out a 5'8" striker in a box packed with 8 defenders over 6 foot isn't particularly productive. When we attacked at pace and he got behind the defence in 13/14, he could pick out Aguero or Negredo just fine.

 

[Jazzman]

I hope we are after and will sign Sane. That will give us 2 players for each side (call them wings or not), and that is what Bayern have had in the last season.

 

[Maldeika]

As pithy as that sounds, he was good in his first season, and clearly it's pellegrini's tactics which didn't agree with him - or any winger for that matter. His half dozen goals and 13 assists in 13/14 were a more than decent return and there's no reason to think Pep can't get at least that much out of him.

Very hard to beat players when the entire defence is behind the ball and you're receiving the ball at the 18 yard line with no space to run into. Get him the ball early, on a counter attack and he's a completely different player.

Same goes for crossing - turns out trying to pick out a 5'8" striker in a box packed with 8 defenders over 6 foot isn't particularly productive. When we attacked at pace and he got behind the defence in 13/14, he could pick out Aguero or Negredo just fine.

But that is exactly the problem - it does not need big artists to work with much space but is a lot more difficult to get the players that are able to breakthrough when the defense sits back.

Pep's philosophy is to have control of the ball... - defend big spaces and attack in small spaces.

 

[domalino]

But that is exactly the problem - it does not need big artists to work with much space but is a lot more difficult to get the players that are able to breakthrough when the defense sits back.

Pep's philosophy is to have control of the ball...

"We work tactically. We wingers have to spread out as much as possible... the coach makes sure that we're put in the best conditions for a one-on-one.

"The idea is that once the team gets the ball back they find us quickly so as to favour one-on-ones and to avoid situations where it's one against three or one against two.

"The coach is someone that -- if you lose the ball after a one-on-one, he won't be angry with you.

"He'll always encourage you to continue by saying to you 'if you don't get by once, twice, three times, you'll get by the next time.'"
​

That's Kinglsey Coman talking about how Pep sets the entire team up to get the most out of his wingers, and make sure they get the ball in the best situations possible.

"If we set a really high line and establish our central defenders where the midfield would normally be, then it will limit our opponents’ scope to double up on the wingers. We will convert each play into a one-vs-one situation. In that type of situation our guys are the very best and I’d back them to get goals.”
​

That's Pep talking about how he creates situations where his wingers are given the ball in space against isolated defenders.

It's the exact opposite of Pellegrini's approach to wing play. Unlike our team last season when Sterling and Navas would often be double marked before getting the ball because our build up play was so slow, and they'd have no space to work in, Pep will put them in situations to succeed, and unlike Pellegrini, who coached Sterling not to risk taking players on, Pep will give them the confidence to do so, knowing that he doesn't mind them losing the ball in the process.

There's absolutely no doubt that both Navas and Sterling will have infinitely better seasons under Guardiola than they did under Pellegrini.

 

[Jazzman]

"We work tactically. We wingers have to spread out as much as possible... the coach makes sure that we're put in the best conditions for a one-on-one.

"The idea is that once the team gets the ball back they find us quickly so as to favour one-on-ones and to avoid situations where it's one against three or one against two.

"The coach is someone that -- if you lose the ball after a one-on-one, he won't be angry with you.

"He'll always encourage you to continue by saying to you 'if you don't get by once, twice, three times, you'll get by the next time.'"
​

That's Kinglsey Coman talking about how Pep sets the entire team up to get the most out of his wingers, and make sure they get the ball in the best situations possible.

"If we set a really high line and establish our central defenders where the midfield would normally be, then it will limit our opponents’ scope to double up on the wingers. We will convert each play into a one-vs-one situation. In that type of situation our guys are the very best and I’d back them to get goals.”
​

That's Pep talking about how he creates situations where his wingers are given the ball in space against isolated defenders.

It's the exact opposite of Pellegrini's approach to wing play. Unlike our team last season when Sterling and Navas would often be double marked before getting the ball because our build up play was so slow, and they'd have no space to work in, Pep will put them in situations to succeed, and unlike Pellegrini, who coached Sterling not to risk taking players on, Pep will give them the confidence to do so, knowing that he doesn't mind them losing the ball in the process.

There's absolutely no doubt that both Navas and Sterling will have infinitely better seasons under Guardiola than they did under Pellegrini.

Agree completely with you mate.

 

[Blue Coop]

Sane, Sterling and De Bruyne all buzzing around behind Aguero is a hell of a prospect - very young too across those three. I genuinely think Sterling could be a huge player for us next season. He will benefit from a change in system massively.

 

[MCFCFanTX]

I would hijack Shalke's move for Embolo if we don't get Sane.

 

[Jazzman]

According to transfermarkt.de the Embolo transfer will cost Schalke 27,5 million Euro's. I don't see how the have that kind of money unless they are selling somebody. Speaks for a Sane transfer.

 

[BlueDeadHead]

Roberts is at Celtic for all next season. It was written into the contract and was the only way Celtic would agree to take him for 18 months, so we won't see Roberts for at least 12 months minimum.

Next season is 12 months away.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

As pithy as that sounds, he was good in his first season, and clearly it's pellegrini's tactics which didn't agree with him - or any winger for that matter. His half dozen goals and 13 assists in 13/14 were a more than decent return and there's no reason to think Pep can't get at least that much out of him.

Very hard to beat players when the entire defence is behind the ball and you're receiving the ball at the 18 yard line with no space to run into. Get him the ball early, on a counter attack and he's a completely different player.

Same goes for crossing - turns out trying to pick out a 5'8" striker in a box packed with 8 defenders over 6 foot isn't particularly productive. When we attacked at pace and he got behind the defence in 13/14, he could pick out Aguero or Negredo just fine.

Navas arrived at the club with the best cross completion stat in Spain. I thought he looked really good when he first arrived, played with much more freedom and his play seemed more instinctive. It isn't surprising that his performances suffered once Pellegrini seemed to go down the keep possession at all costs route. Same happened to Sterling within a couple of months of joining. I hope Navas stays, not expecting him to be world class or anything and probably not even first choice on that side but I definitely think we will get a lot more from him going forward than we saw the last two seasons and he always works back well and gives us some balance on that side.