Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

[red 2 hats]

Why do we play players constantly out of position ?
I genuinely think the players are confused as fuck, they don't know if there coming or going, defending or attacking, on the left or the right.
Our formation and personal change from game to game, is it a back four, is it a back three with inverted full backs, are the full backs over lapping and playing as wingers, are we playing midfielders out wide or wingers in midfield, is it a out and out centre forward or no forward with a false nine.
Some of the selections and performances of late have been shocking and this is down to Pep, yes we're currently champions, but this is seriously under threat, we're easy to defend against and teams know our weaknesses, I just wish he'd stick to a formation that the players understand, play the players where they perform best and stop complicating a simple game.

 

[Gundogan's Moustache]

Back to basics needed.

4-3-3
Strongest Centre Halves
Overlapping Full backs
Rodri pivot supported by Bernardo
Mahrez & Grealish/Foden either side
Haaland number 9

 

[Lavinda Past]

Call a plumber

DIY, it's a simple job.

 

[MarsLlama]

Pep is a genius and I don’t doubt that he could have coped with playing different positions, different teammates and different systems every week when he was a player. Problem is he doesn’t seem to realise his squad mostly can’t do that. It’s too much change week to week and they don’t handle it well at all.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

It’s not about individuals or reminiscing of days gone by. It’s about Pep producing the best football this country has ever seen, bagging 100 points in 17/18 and winning every domestic trophy in 18/19 and then deciding to completely change the way we play, because of the odd CL defeat. This place is reactionary, no doubt, but nothing has been more reactionary than Pep delivering the best English side ever, and then changing it all because of minute details that cost us in the odd game.

You can’t really criticise him for it though seeing as he’s continued to win after changing how he sets up his team. His tactics from 17/18 may have got found out or eventually got stale, like his current tactics seem to have. It’s up to him to see if he can adjust his team once more again. He definitely needs to this summer.

 

[city warrior]

I understand people being worried, but so far we had 6 games post WC. We have been brilliant in 3 of those. Of the other three we were average against Everton (people here will say we were awful, but they had one shot in the entire match, and we had 3 HUGE chances to win that game that people seem to forget), today's match that proves our bench players are not up to the task (meaningless for the important games bar injuries) and Chelsea 1st half (this one is on Pep crazy tactics, we all agree on this mostly).

I think it's pretty obvious that Leeds, Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton are closer to what we are gonna play in the important matches, and it's not as bad and catastrophic as people are talking here.

I think the derby is even more important now. If we play badly, then it is time to worry (no excuses now, we have Walker, it's the PL), if we beat them, then I think our season is gonna end really well

 

[mosssideblue]

Pep is a genius and I don’t doubt that he could have coped with playing different positions, different teammates and different systems every week when he was a player. Problem is he doesn’t seem to realise his squad mostly can’t do that. It’s too much change week to week and they don’t handle it well at all.

They must train mid week for these strange lineups and can only assume they look ok then

 

[dickie davies]

I think he's lost his edge now with this squad
He's never been first team coach anywhere more than four years except here. He's in unknown territory now and it's looking quite obvious that the players he once relied on as his on field generals have aged and he's not replaced them with younger, hungrier players that are equal in talent
We've recently gone through a cycle of terrible big money signings that are turning Mangala esq
£100m on Grealish who makes Pogba look like he was a decent buy for United and 40 odd on Philips, who is another Rodwell, must be down to Pep. No way City would have splashed the cash unless Pep wanted them

 

[woody1968]

The problems we have are mounting. Firstly players in the squad who are simply not good enough - Palmer, Gomez, Philips and Cancelo. Secondly we have several injury prone players - Stones, Ruben, Walker. Thirdly we have several ageing players - Kev, Mahrez, Gundogan, Walker. Fourthly we have too many players not in any kind of form - Kev, Foden, Cancelo. Then we have players who are doing OK like Bernie, Laporte ( who both want away ) and Ake. That leaves us with Lewis, Akanji, Eddie, Rodri and Haaland ( and Stones if fit ) as the only players showing any kind of form. Food for thought.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

You can’t really criticise him for it though seeing as he’s continued to win after changing how he sets up his team. His tactics from 17/18 may have got found out or eventually got stale, like his current tactics seem to have. It’s up to him to see if he can adjust his team once more again. He definitely needs to this summer.

Nobody has a crystal ball, but I find it impossible to believe that the other Prem sides would have found it as easy to adjust to and negate the qualities of the 17/18 and 18/19 sides as they are seemingly doing with this side.

I don’t want to knock him, I love the guy but this season, I consistently find myself asking what the fuck has happened to this team. This is is most non-Pep like team I have ever seen. His Barca side remains the greatest side I have ever seen. His Bayern side were a great team and so exciting to watch. His 17/18 and 18/19 sides, just incredible. This side is just so meh in comparison and a huge departure from what he has delivered here and at his previous clubs.

I agree that this summer is huge for him. I hope that we are champions by the time the summer comes, but I would also hope that any trophies we may have won this season don’t cloud judgement on what we do going forward.