Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

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"Enough with the facts, let's panic some more!"
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Just looked a bit deeper into this and went a bit more specific as to what season we were taking part in.

After 18 games:


SeasonPos.PWDLFAPtsFinal pos.Final pts.
16/173rd
18​
12​
3​
3​
39​
20​
39​
3rd
78​
17/181st
18​
17​
1​
0​
56​
12​
52​
1st
100​
18/192nd
18​
14​
2​
2​
50​
13​
44​
1st
98​
19/203rd
18​
12​
2​
4​
50​
20​
38​
2nd
81​
20/212nd
18​
11​
5​
2​
31​
13​
38​
1st
86​
21/221st
18​
14​
2​
2​
44​
9​
44​
1st
93​
22/232nd
18​
12​
3​
3​
46​
18​
39​
??

So looking at this, I'd say we're on track to finish on about 80 points. That'll be enough for 2nd or 3rd.

How many sides have won three in a row? How many win it back-to-back? It takes monumental energy physically and mentally. Pep's tried to secure it by bringing fresh players in who want to win. By allowing those who want to leave to do that, avoiding them causing any issues in the squad. We're also seeing a major change in tactics by playing with a central striker rather than false 9. Those factors combined are a natural reason why we are where we are.

I don't see any reason why this season doesn't turn into 2020/21 rather than 16/17 though. The majority of players know Pep and vice versa. He'll get them performing and they'll find that spark. When they do, the rest of the league is in trouble. Let's start by winning the next two but we need to remember we're 8pts behind a team we play twice. It's very much on still.
 
There is something in this. And we could draw a parallel with our good friends (!) down the East Lancs Road. City and the dippers have slugged it out over a number of eye-wateringlyintensive seasons. Arsenal are benefiting from being fresher; fewer fixtures, lower expectations, less pressure.

Pep and Klopp haven’t suddenly turned to shit. Nor has our squad.

There are clearly issues to be addressed. Mental and physical fatigue don’t explain everything but this has to be a factor.
Another parallel with our friends from down the East Lancs are the issues in midfield that are hampering performances.
 
Another parallel with our friends from down the East Lancs are the issues in midfield that are hampering performances.

I don't see it as solely midfield issues for either team. Both have completely changed how they press. Liverpool are perhaps suffering from Mane leaving and several players out injured, but their press is half-arsed so there's plenty of space to pass around their midfield. Similarly we're not pressing as a unit. We seem to have the occasional spell of pressing but have taken to sitting off at times and allowing the opposition the ball in their defensive third, or we've had a few pressing but no collective effort. That just makes it so easy to find an outball and it isolates our defence and leaves several of our players out of the game. I'm not sure whether this has been Pep reacting to his perceived lack of legs defensively/in midfield or if it's an energy conservation thing, so we don't fatigue too early...but it's not working. We're all over the place when a team attacks with any pace. It's a frantic panic with blue shirts scrambling towards the ball and no one really knowing what to do.
 
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