The criticism that really pissed me off was the game has moved on and he’d been left behind’ . Like there’s anything new in the game,and one of the games greatest thinkers couldn’t see what was wrong and depite his record should be discarded and not allowed to sort us out. Then again some of those still haven’t forgiven Txiki and Soriano for sacking Mancini.It’s not much more than a month since every lazy pundit and quite a few of our fans were parroting “City have been worked out”.
so what did the beautiful bald genius do? He reinvented us again, with a changed system which has them all bamboozled. Everything is a tweak rather than a radical change, but as a whole it’s transformed us and the rest can’t keep up: 4 at the back but then it stretches to 3 when we have the ball and we now have two holding midfielders. A false 9 system where as soon as the false 9 drops someone else pops in. And someone else drops in to cover that player. They are moving all over the place and creating both confusion and big overloads in the last third.
Go and work that one out, mere mortals. Actually don’t bother. He will just do it again.
When he is gone we will all realise what a privilege it has been to witness a giant of the game build, manage and motivate his teams. He’s the best I’ve ever known.
Not only that though. He has managed to reinvigorate the team spirit. The celebrations and camaraderie are back for all to see. The Cheltenham manager watched one of our games before we played them and his comment was he couldn't believe just how engaged our 'superstar' subs were shouting encouragement to their teammates and celebrating everything. As you say, we are privileged to have him. Will we ever see his like again?It’s not much more than a month since every lazy pundit and quite a few of our fans were parroting “City have been worked out”.
so what did the beautiful bald genius do? He reinvented us again, with a changed system which has them all bamboozled. Everything is a tweak rather than a radical change, but as a whole it’s transformed us and the rest can’t keep up: 4 at the back but then it stretches to 3 when we have the ball and we now have two holding midfielders. A false 9 system where as soon as the false 9 drops someone else pops in. And someone else drops in to cover that player. They are moving all over the place and creating both confusion and big overloads in the last third.
Go and work that one out, mere mortals. Actually don’t bother. He will just do it again.
When he is gone we will all realise what a privilege it has been to witness a giant of the game build, manage and motivate his teams. He’s the best I’ve ever known.
I think I mentioned that in another post: his player management is world class. When’s the last time you heard a City player whingeing in the press? The last time they weren’t putting the effort in? The bond they have, the focus, the drive to win in every game. City will stay at the top but I don’t think we will ever see a team as dominant as this. He will get that champions league and it could well be this season.Not only that though. He has managed to reinvigorate the team spirit. The celebrations and camaraderie are back for all to see. The Cheltenham manager watched one of our games before we played them and his comment was he couldn't believe just how engaged our 'superstar' subs were shouting encouragement to their teammates and celebrating everything. As you say, we are privileged to have him. Will we ever see his like again?
They will try to deny we are. Money money money money money. We escaped injury issues because we’re so rich, paid off officials and human rightsI think I mentioned that in another post: his player management is world class. When’s the last time you heard a City player whingeing in the press? The last time they weren’t putting the effort in? The bond they have, the focus, the drive to win in every game. City will stay at the top but I don’t think we will ever see a team as dominant as this. He will get that champions league and it could well be this season.
After all the hype about Liverpool, if we win the league, and possibly other trophies like the big one, this year, then nobody can deny that we are England’s dominant club.
Early days to predict the outcome of this season but yet again, win everything or win nothing, he has served up football that make those that love and understand the game, drool. I watched some of the games last night and it is honestly like a different game we play.I think I mentioned that in another post: his player management is world class. When’s the last time you heard a City player whingeing in the press? The last time they weren’t putting the effort in? The bond they have, the focus, the drive to win in every game. City will stay at the top but I don’t think we will ever see a team as dominant as this. He will get that champions league and it could well be this season.
After all the hype about Liverpool, if we win the league, and possibly other trophies like the big one, this year, then nobody can deny that we are England’s dominant club.
Maybe for you. If he passes that one I’m sure you’ll be able to think up a new test.
A lot of that early season rotation is all of a sudden starting to work in our favour now..
It wasn’t right, Pep has proved over and over in his time as a coach with others and with us that he thinks and knows more about the game than any other coach. After all he has achieved he should have enough credit in the bank to be allowed the time without the sniping to see how things went.Pep was rightly questioned a few months back when our football was really crap, he's since recognised the issues and fixed them. There's always a danger after a few years that managers get into ruts and can't change when things that once worked no longer do. He's identified the problems and fixed them in inventive ways that no other manager in the world could come up with. Deserves immense credit for that.
Not that you're wrong, but I was more referring to our rather impressive injury record, COVID aside :)I'd say it's far more to do with playing the wingers higher and wider, ditching Gundo in the double pivot, and the whole Joao Cancelo into midfield thing that have made more of a difference rather than some long term plan that involved us dropping into the lower half of the table a couple of months into the season
No doubt about it now though, playing an absolute blinder
Perhaps at the start of the season his mind was elsewhere with his mother passing away over the summer. He didn't look himself which is perfectly understandable. They say that time is a healer and as someone who has lost both parents you start to remember the good things about them rather than the loss and start to move with your life.Pep was rightly questioned a few months back when our football was really crap, he's since recognised the issues and fixed them. There's always a danger after a few years that managers get into ruts and can't change when things that once worked no longer do. He's identified the problems and fixed them in inventive ways that no other manager in the world could come up with. Deserves immense credit for that.