New style of play?

[NowInMilnrow]

And because of the FIFA Club World Cup, City will hit the ground running at the start of the PL season, whilst the other PL clubs start off slowly.

...unless half our squad get injured in it.

 

[bluetonium]

Pep has some very core beliefs around football that won't change.

If we have greater possession of the ball then it's less likely we concede, being key.

That said, the low block and defensive play, using set pieces or counters to get at us, has worked periodically and last season we were woefully exposed.

We will see an evolution. I predict we will use more of a "counter-counter" when the occasion arises, more ruthless and more pacey, compared to slowing down the game and stating our attack. Especially in games against the teams who come at us.

Clearly set pieces is an area we need to do better at. For all the passing and possession, a simple corner or free kick could be the key sometimes and completely change the game, allowing us to them play our possession based game.

But the biggest change will be breaking the lines. We've done it on occasion, Kovacic is actually pretty good at it with the ball, Rodri is hugely underrated for this skill but rarely plays a killer ball, but in Cherki and Rudolph we have two guys who can and will dribble past players and/or try that through ball.

Now it's up to the opponents to decide, stand off and let city pick a pass, or press and risk being side stepped by a team than has something crazy like 5 of the top 50 ball carriers in world football. And two of them are defenders.

But something that will be an even bigger influence on our games, is the service to Haaland. Quality balls and he puts them away, and the right ball completely takes out of the question how many defenders are lined up or even who they are.

I'm really looking forward to next season. The CWC gives us a partly serious playground to start the process, but I have a feeling next season we're going to see , some hiccups sure, but some really clever tactical play and some very well worked goals.

I'm not going to say we'll win this or that, as we need to see how we adapt to the new players first. But a team that didn't have the balon d'or winner available for selection, was missing two key centre backs at least for months, and played attacking midfielders at full back out of necessity, still picked up more points in the last 19 games than the eventual league winners did in their last 20.

We are not that broken. We have only given ourselves more talent and tools in the box to unlock defences. After seeing the Southampton and palace games, you can bet many teams will rock up at the eithad now with no ambition unless they get a lucky break or free kick. Not that they didn't before, but now with the belief they can get something maybe. We'll have to kill that dead early on, and I believe we will.

 

[Master-Lotus]

There is nobody like KDB, but Reijnders is very like Gundogan, Cherki has many of David SIlva's qualaties, so while the ew coaches will have some influence and help our pressing, it will still be similar to how nprevious Pep teams have set up.

But we intentionally didn't go for KDB replacement (Wirtz, Musiala) which suggests a new style of play is our plan. We have multiple options now instead of just hyperfocusing on 1 creative midfielder. I like it.

 

[jamielowndes]

I think it's going to look a little more like 18/19.

They're always going to want to keep the ball, but there's the ability to play faster and vertical when needed.

 

[blueparrot]

But we intentionally didn't go for KDB replacement (Wirtz, Musiala) which suggests a new style of play is our plan. We have multiple options now instead of just hyperfocusing on 1 creative midfielder. I like it.

We did go for Wirtz initially,It will be a new style to an extent, but it will still be based on Peps basic belief in how to play the game grounded in the principles he learnt from Cruyff, he always adapted depending on the players he has.
He will still want to keep the ball ,and when we lose it press it to win it back, he will still play a high line and pass out from the back. Only difference last season was the players no longer had the energy to that to the level needed.

 

[Cityfan]

But we intentionally didn't go for KDB replacement (Wirtz, Musiala) which suggests a new style of play is our plan. We have multiple options now instead of just hyperfocusing on 1 creative midfielder. I like it.

We never did focus just on KdB , he was injured at times and we still played very well without him(last season excepted).
We clearly played a lot through him when he was playing well as he was simply the best player in the PL but our style never demanded he played.
I don't see Pep abandoning his positional play , nor do I see these signings as being very different to many of our previous signings in style. Many have commented on how similar Reinjders is to Gundogan and how similar Cherki is to Silva. We have bought technical players.
Pep has consistently evolved his tactics throughout his management and doubtless there will be further evolution, but I don't see a totally different style of football, though hopefully there will be a bit more energy in midfield with younger player and Rodri back to co-ordinate and cover.

 

[Rhapsody in Blue]

I would love if we not always pin down the opposition in their own penalty box but dare to let them come up att little bit and make use of the spaces behind. I don’t think Pep will allow the opposition to hold the ball so that we can hit them on the counter that much, but if we don’t have to play against parked buses and handball defenses and actually nick an early goal once in a while, that’d be extremely refreshing.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

As I suggest, do we think we will see a more attacking style.
With players we have bought in and the new backroom staff it seems to suggest we are going to play with more freedom, I for one hope we do.
Just would like the thoughts of others...........

It's pretty obvious that we will be far more direct. Our new signings are all capable of carrying the ball forward and are able to beat defenders one-on-one. Moreover, they're all young and able to high-press. I think that our attack will be much more like PSG's next season rather than the slow-tempo attack we've seen from City in the recent past.

 

[TonyM]

The key challenge is how to get the most of Haaland. If he plays in the box alone imo he is goosed. Too static and he is goosed. Stand at the back post for headers, goosed.

The answer imo is to have him in the box as little as possible like the way a basketballer has only a few seconds in the paint.

Pep needs to find a way to get Haaland buzzing again. As the tip of the spear Haaland will reflect whether Pep's tactics are working or not.

 

[TinFoilHat]

No more Dias with his foot on the ball in the centre circle?

He's too busy spilling his balls in Maya Jama.

 

[alexmcity]

It's pretty obvious that we will be far more direct. Our new signings are all capable of carrying the ball forward and are able to beat defenders one-on-one. Moreover, they're all young and able to high-press. I think that our attack will be much more like PSG's next season rather than the slow-tempo attack we've seen from City in the recent past.

More direct yes, *far* more direct no: that would be Klopp rather than Pep.

It's always about finding the right balance between attack and defence so that the team can control games and finish the season strongly.

Being *far* more direct implies a lot of running up and down the pitch, more chances for the opposition and less control. We couldn't compete for everything every season playing like that. We wouldn't like another implosion like last season...Klopp's teams imploded every other season, including in the final months in 23/24 when we won 4 in a row.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

More direct yes, *far* more direct no: that would be Klopp rather than Pep.

It's always about finding the right balance between attack and defence so that the team can control games and finish the season strongly.

Being *far* more direct implies a lot of running up and down the pitch, more chances for the opposition and less control. We couldn't compete for everything every season playing like that. We wouldn't like another implosion like last season...Klopp's teams imploded every other season, including in the final months in 23/24 when we won 4 in a row.

With respect - I totally disagree.

Currently our attack is all about ball control. SIdeways pass, back pass, work it around the back, pass to a winger, hopefully the winger can spring forward and put in a cross, if not, pass back again... and so on.

That's not going to be our style next season at all.

Every one of our new signings is able to take on defenders one-on-one and given the chance they'll do so. Look for a huge amount of close-play between the lines, direct attacks, not nearly as often from wingers making crosses, but from forwards attempting to beat their man one-on-one.

 

[Dunne's own goal]

I think the other PL managers, teams, and fans are in for a shock next season.

And because of the FIFA Club World Cup, City will hit the ground running at the start of the PL season, whilst the other PL clubs start off slowly.

Funny you see it that way. I'm afraid we might struggle as surely the lads must go on holiday after the joke cup? ...meaning they'll go out on a holiday few weeks later than all other clubs' which means they'll also come back from holiday way closer to the start of the season, no ? (all this with not even mentioning the increased injury risk)

I hope you're right though!

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Funny you see it that way. I'm afraid we might struggle as surely the lads must go on holiday after the joke cup? ...meaning they'll go out on a holiday few weeks later than all other clubs' which means they'll also come back from holiday way closer to the start of the season, no ? (all this with not even mentioning the increased injury risk)

I hope you're right though!

The CwC will help Rodri get back to speed, revive Foden, boost Marmoush and Haaland as a partnership, integrate Kusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Cherki, and Ait Nouri. I can’t wait.

 

[Pablo ZZZ Peroni]

I think the other PL managers, teams, and fans are in for a shock next season.

And because of the FIFA Club World Cup, City will hit the ground running at the start of the PL season, whilst the other PL clubs start off slowly.

I hope you are right. One thing for sure, an almost unprecedented training block for Pep of 3 to 4 weeks, has to reap many dividends bearing in mind so many new or relatively new players all together to integrate. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if we start well.

EDIT. Just seen what bobby says above, so what he says as well :)

 

[Master-Lotus]

We never did focus just on KdB , he was injured at times and we still played very well without him(last season excepted).
We clearly played a lot through him when he was playing well as he was simply the best player in the PL but our style never demanded he played.
I don't see Pep abandoning his positional play , nor do I see these signings as being very different to many of our previous signings in style. Many have commented on how similar Reinjders is to Gundogan and how similar Cherki is to Silva. We have bought technical players.
Pep has consistently evolved his tactics throughout his management and doubtless there will be further evolution, but I don't see a totally different style of football, though hopefully there will be a bit more energy in midfield with younger player and Rodri back to co-ordinate and cover.

And that is great because it's the proof that we did it before (2019 & 2021). I never said totally different style, it's still going to be an attacking style. Last two seasons we were completely confused when KDB was out, I think Pep wants our squad to learn how to not be clueless when the 'main' playmaker is out, the way we did it in 2019 and 2021.