Pep Guardiola - 2020/21 Performances

[Pedestrian]

You weren't following us in the Spring of '19 then?

Are you pretending gundo was a good dm in spring 19. Hahaha.

 

[BillyShears]

That’s not how football works though is it? None of those teams has a slow methodical build up, no central striking presence, a high defensive line, a dearth of pace on an individual level, or any of the other attributes (or lack thereof) that suit Chelsea to play against. Our MO is too much for the huge majority of teams, but Chelsea aren’t one of them. Their insane high energy press and lightning forwards thrive on the space in behind us. Same goes for United. It’s why Solskjaer picks James, Rashford, Martial and Greenwood every time they come to the Etihad. We’ll win the league frequently, but if we want to win the CL, then, occasional brain farts from Pep notwithstanding, we might need one or two signings (and especially a top striker) to give us a wider spread of tactical options.

Striker will make the world of difference. Think we were always going to come undone at some point and I’m just glad we got as far as we did before it stalled.

 

[OB1]

Striker will make the world of difference. Think we were always going to come undone at some point and I’m just glad we got as far as we did before it stalled.

Pep has done amazingly without having a prolific striker this season but we need to add one this summer.

I think we should break the bank for Haaland if he will agree to move to us: he would offer us something very different to the options we have had in the last few years. I don't think City will go down the pay whatever it takes route though.

 

[BillyShears]

Pep has done amazingly without having a prolific striker this season but we need to add one this summer.

I think we should break the bank for Haaland if he will agree to move to us: he would offer us something very different to the options we have had in the last few years. I don't think City will go down the pay whatever it takes route though.

Obviously not my call but I’m all in on Kane. I love Haaland but I’d like the finished article if possible.

 

[Saddleworth2]

True definitely wearing thin with me, it’s fucking simple stuff ffs, but they will pick their wages up and go on holiday a few maybe more can fuck off for me

I think you should follow that guidance. For me.

 

[King-General]

It's such a shame how some people threat Pep with insults and disgusting comments on Twitter. I really don't understand those folk. Who are quiet when the teams wins trophies but use the first possibility (on a setback) to abuse such a great manager. We should be thankful that he became a coach of Manchester City and won us 10 trophies in 4 years! It's absolutely madness how some talks about him.

 

[Dax777]

Are you pretending gundo was a good dm in spring 19. Hahaha.

He was. But that's not a legitimate reason to change our best setup around for the final. Players had gotten used to the new routine.

 

[OB1]

That’s not how football works though is it? None of those teams has a slow methodical build up, no central striking presence, a high defensive line, a dearth of pace on an individual level, or any of the other attributes (or lack thereof) that suit Chelsea to play against. Our MO is too much for the huge majority of teams, but Chelsea aren’t one of them. Their insane high energy press and lightning forwards thrive on the space in behind us. Same goes for United. It’s why Solskjaer picks James, Rashford, Martial and Greenwood every time they come to the Etihad. We’ll win the league frequently, but if we want to win the CL, then, occasional brain farts from Pep notwithstanding, we might need one or two signings (and especially a top striker) to give us a wider spread of tactical options.

You are bang on. We are too much for most teams but we have an Achilles Heel and it needs addressing through signings.

That said, City have choked against or been choked by Chelsea in three games recently and whilst I am sure Pep is getting lots of stick, his players have failed to perform to anything like their capabilities in those games.

I think Pep should have done things differently in terms of both team selection and tactics but it wouldn't have made a big difference without people simply playing better.

I knew from Thursday that he was going to try and do something different to the previous two games against Chelsea and try to be very offensive and play Sterling rather than Dinho or Gundog. I can see why he thought that but I'd have gone with more of a 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 and really protected against getting caught again wide open in the middle. Scoring against Chelsea is really difficult at the moment and so the priority should have been not to concede. It's one area where Pep needs to learn to compromise in certain games.

Again though, we have player capable of individual match winning brilliance but it has not been in evidence in the last three games vs Chelsea and we needed someone to do something special (as happened for Leicester in the FAC Final) to break through that smothering blockade that Chelsea use against us.

 

[domalino]

Obviously not my call but I’m all in on Kane. I love Haaland but I’d like the finished article if possible.

Im the opposite because I know exactly what Kane is. He's very good, 30 goals a season in a good year.

Haaland is a goal/game, 40 goals a season striker at 20 before Pep gets his hands on him and to me thats the most exciting prospect since he got his hands on a 20 year old Messi. I have no idea how good he could get. He could genuinely be the one guy who replicates Messi and Ronaldo's scoring numbers.

We can't really lose short term, whichever we get will be fantastic and solve our biggest issue, but with Haaland there's just this sense of something special. I think you've said it yourself earlier in the year - against PSG last year, Sevilla this year, City this year - when he gets the ball the atmosphere changes. Defenders shit themselves, even in an empty stadium you can hear people (the benches, media etc.) Go quiet because wherever it is on the pitch he could do something incredible.

Also next year is going to be a revenge tour. Every single game is going to be this squad unleashing built up rage thats bottled up from last night and is going to ferment all summer. I expect us to be fucking scary again, like in 2017-2019 and be twatting clubs 7 and 8-0 like we did back then. Haaland is a City fan, he might play for another club but he is a City fan and I guarantee he feels like we do, and he will be on that wavelength.

If we get Kane I'll not complain for a second, we will be absolutely frightening for a few seasons. He has his own hunger and will probably get on the wavelength quick. I think in 3 and a bit years time we will be looking around Europe for the next striker to spend £150m+ on to replace Kane we will have some regrets, but it probably won't be Pep's problem by then.

 

[OB1]

Obviously not my call but I’m all in on Kane. I love Haaland but I’d like the finished article if possible.

I think you are more likely to get your wish.

I think Kane is a great option for us in many ways and brings different things to the party to what we currently have but he isn't a super fast battering ram and for all our wonderful technical ability, that bulldozing ability (and more besides) Haaland brings has great appeal to me.