Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

[nellyonthewing]

Remember after the 1-1 draw with West Brom in 20/21 Pep said he didnt like the way we were playing and something had to change?

Well we've been playing far worse than that side since September, nothing has changed. Some of the players look disinterested, Foden is unrecognizable, Gundogan had an early chance againts Southampton and hit a pathetic shot wide. Fans are right to be concerned.

All the possession and we dont create clear cut chances. Whether we play 433, 352, 4213 or inverted full-backs it doesnt matter teams will always put 10 men behind the ball and try to catch City on the counter. We've won the league back to back why the sudden change in system, Integrating Haaland is not an excuse.

This possession based system seems better suited for UCL football, but even againts Dortmund we looked poor, bar the individual brilliance from Haaland. We only have one fullback that can play the inverted role well, Rico Lewis. Is he expected to play in the latter stages?

I think the EPL is our best chance at a trophy this season and that relies on Arsenal having a bad spell because we dont have the consistency to go 9-10 games unbeaten.

The turnaround after that 20/21 slump was attributed to Fernandinho. Shouldn’t that have been the manager’s job?

 

[supercity88]

Pep may have signed a new deal but he's off unless things improve.

Usually we see the same type of performances regardless of who plays. There's a level and whilst some players are clearly better than others, the general performance meets expectations. This season it just doesn't look like the players are arsed about winning. To go and win the third title in a row was always going to be a challenge. Pep knew it. I'm sure he would have pushed harder to keep Gabby and Zin had we been going for back-to-back titles, but he wanted complete focus from the squad, and was willing to let anyone leave who might not have the right attitude.

The reason Lewis has come in and played so much is because he's young and wants to win. Pep's mentioned it. Clearly he knows others aren't showing the same fight. There's a lack of leadership in the side. The only two players I'm seeing it from are Stones and Rodri. Funnily enough we only looked cohesive when Rodri came on. The signings we've made were always going to need time to adapt. Akanji had a good start but looks poor now. Phillips is woeful, albeit in the hardest position to learn under Pep. Alvarez and Haaland can perform if the others hit their usual standards.

There are so many players right now that are off it.

Pep needs to get the motivational videos out. Remind them how it felt to win the league and ask if they want to feel that again.

Defensively we've been shocking this season. It's honestly like watching kids play at times. The number of times we've had 3 or 4 chasing the ball only to fail to win it and then leave acres for a pass...I don't get it. There doesn't seem to be any system or structure defensively.

 

[dhruvblue]

We've had plenty of bad games this season. How many is too many?

This would be first bad game if people think we played well earlier. In reality we have been painfully average against Fulham Brentford Everton Villa Newcastle even Palace, lost to Liverpool. Our "dominating" Wins were againstSoton Forest Wolves all of whom are now relegation fodder. Even West Ham have been shite this season and Bournemouth too. We are yet to play Aresneal and Tottenham. In PL, we had one good half against rags.

 

[Bluewars]

Plus in Europe we’ve lost 3 times to Premier league sides and a very average Lyon side and on all those occasions he changed the side and style from what had served us so well in the league. Yes we lost to Madrid but more down to piss poor finishing, no right back and a crazy last 5 minutes in Madrid. So i don’t even buy the this is the style to win a cup comp in Europe excuse either.

Agreed, i still cant believe he played 5 at the back vs Lyon and was so negative againts Spurs and Liverpool, lets not mention the final againts Chelsea.

I dont want to come off as a spoiled brat but its becoming tedious. I just want to see us playing well in a consistent system and not changing our style because of another team.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Dear Thomas/Diego

As you know we are capable of playing sublime football, but all too often a side gets in our faces and tries. Boy do we not like that! As sublime as we can be, there is always this bump in the rd around the corner. We are becoming a bit Wenger - except we pick up the odd trophy - although it's getting harder and Ol' Big Ears remains a distant dream. It was so close, but now as far away as ever.
We have a very talented but complacent, lethargic, ungrateful bunch of players that need a good kick up their collective arses, played regularly and in their correct positions. Perhaps you would be interested in being unpopular, pull up their comfort blankeys and get us able to win ugly and be competitive again.

Yours
Waspish
Er....no

 

[bluemoon32]

Pep will know which players he can trust to put a shift in & those he cant.
Hopefully he has given a list to the powers that be of players we need fucked off out the club asap

 

[supercity88]

At times like this we need leaders on the pitch. Who wants to go and win things? We've signed some new players, do they have the hunger to drive us forwards? Haaland will score goals, I'm not sure he'll kick the team up the arse. Alvarez will chase lost causes but he's a quiet character who's not going to challenge others. Stones and Rodri are the only ones who seem to have the fight. We need De Bruyne to kick into gear, we need Bernardo to park his dream of a move and fight for us again - signs are that he will.

I wouldn't be putting out a side without Stones, Rodri, Ake and potentially Bernardo at the moment, hoping the latter rediscovers his form, and shows that fight. The derby is the sort of game we'll get the answer on that from.

We're out of the league cup so the fixtures are less of a pile up than they might have been. Time to pick a settled 11 and, if anyone doesn't perform, bin them for the foreseeable. The attitude isn't right, and too many of the fringe players are in appalling form. The list of players performing continues to shrink.

We've beaten a shite Chelsea side (just) at their place and then easily in the league cup. Rather than a resurgence, I think, like the win at West Ham that's just because they're shit. The list of games we've performed well in is far shorter than the list of games we've scraped through. It's crunch time. Or maybe Pep's masterplan is to win the CL and not give a shit too much about anything else!

 

[B\connellblue]

His management is as bad as some of the players performances at the moment. How he can serve up such boring tactics and performances with the squad he has built is truly baffling. If these performances continue, then true to his word he'll leave at the end of the season.

 

[dhruvblue]

Pep may have signed a new deal but he's off unless things improve.

He got players he wanted? He has say kn everything so he cannot run away because things are getting tougher? He wanted £140m worth of English players who aren't helping so it cannot be blamed on someone else.
He is trying new fancy formations every week which are not working , he has new CB pairing every match, different set of players every match and players playing different positions and tactically aren't able to know what to do. These are his problems, yes players have been out of form but it could be because they don't know what time do

 

[nellyonthewing]

Pep will know which players he can trust to put a shift in & those he cant.
Hopefully he has given a list to the powers that be of players we need fucked off out the club asap

Its a long list now of those wanting away and those really not up to it. We are in desperate need for a quality left back and a Guardiol type central defender , 2 fast strong partners for Rodri,
I'd bin Grealish, Cancelo, Gomez and Gundogan.. ..Ake ,Akanji, Phillips and Laporte are OK but of mid table quality squad fillers.