Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

[Bluewars]

This is utter nonsense

I would rather Pep is given a blank cheque to clear out the sad faces than to put our trust into the players

its obvious the dressing room is divided , this is going to take a while to sort out.

There's a reason he only spent max 4 seasons at a club before joining us.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

There's a reason he only spent max 4 seasons at a club before joining us.

there Is a reason why most top managers have a limited shelf life at big clubs , eventually the players get fed up of the same voice asking for more and more despite the success they have brought

normally it’s too expensive to change the players so the manager is the one to get the boot

Pep has signed on for another two seasons, he will be massively backed , the team will be unrecognisable in 18 months time

buckle up and enjoy the ride

 

[Blue and true]

I’ve tried to calm down and relax after yet another shit-show yesterday but I am getting more and more concerned about the teams direction. No side, however great, is immune to bad results or a bad season, but I can’t help but worry about us next season and beyond.

For whatever reason, we now find ourselves playing week in, week out, with at least half a dozen of our best players/bona fide winners, not there for one reason or another. Some can’t get in the side (Dias, Laporte). Some have had their form/standard fall off a cliff (Bernie, Gundo, KDB), others seem to be in limbo (Walker, Foden) and Cancelo has been booted out.

No team can handle this number of missing top players and let’s face it, no other team would even attempt it, because 99.99999% of other clubs, would boot the manager out of the club, as it is far more cost effective (and easier) than thinking about trying to replace so many players.

Let me be clear…I do not want us to part ways with the best manager in the world but something has got to give. If the club is backing the manager over the players (and I fully expect them to) then it means we need to back him with a summer of spending that makes Todd Boehly look like Peter Swales.

The club cannot and MUST NOT go into next season with Akanji, Ake, Rico, Grealish and Mahrez as nailed on starters.

Akanji must be nothing more than a back up CB.
Ake can possibly be our LB, much like Delph or Zin were. Not the long-term answer but serviceable in an otherwise solid/top-class back 4.
Rico must be what he is…a kid working his way into professional football.
Grealish a squad player as he won’t ever deliver enough playing wide forward every week.
Mahrez a squad player as he is too flaky and cannot be 1st choice when he goes missing for months on end.

Before people lose their shit with “Ake is our best defender” or “Mahrez has been great since the WC” or “Grealish is working hard”…look at what we are watching collectively out on the pitch. The level of these players (no matter how hard they are trying), is nowhere near the level of those they have replaced from previous title-winning seasons. Most top sides (we have done it ourselves) can handle one or two players in the side that are a level or two below the rest. No side remains a top side, when there are more squad players in the starting XI, than there are top players and at the moment that’s where we are at.

If the likes of Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Gundo, Bernie are done, then it requires replacing them with players of equal quality. That means no more squad-padding with Akanji, Ake, or Calvin Philips like purchases. It means buying proper top-class players. If we don’t, then we have started to see the end of our dominance cycle and this side is in a top four battle next season.

Absolutely nailed it. And if he can't arrest this malaise then he needs to go.

 

[FantasyIreland]

First and foremost he needs to stop making the job harder for himself and frustrating for the fans.

Start by playing a regular spine.....then add the best players available in their favoured position to that spine.

Stick to basics where formation is concerned and play to the strengths of the collective as well as the individual.

Continually fucking about/tinkering and rotating is causing unnecessary issue and inviting avoidable criticism.

If the problems are just as apparent when the above is applied,then we clearly have matters that run much deeper than the managers tactics and team selection.

 

[FantasyIreland]

This is Pep's best 11,IMO

-------------Eddie--------
Walker--Stones--Dias--Ake
--------------Rodri------------
-------Bernie--Grealish-----
Foden-----Haaland-----Alvarez

 

[Damanino]

this wont be popular, but Chelsea won their two CL's when they were in kind of turmoil and had rather shit league campaign both when they hired Di Matteo mid season and Tuchel mid season.
they ended up winning the CL despite all the off field issues, PL issues as the managerial change galvanized them for the CL.
and didnt even matter that Di Matteo was far from a big tactician, neither Tuchel provided great playing tactics.

I am not saying get rid of Pep now and hire someone who might win us the CL. but if we play like last few months and Leipzig will eliminate us due to it, a team with lot lesser squad and resources same as Pep did before with Monaco, Lyon, Spurs etc., then big question need to be asked from Pep.

and if we beat Leipzig and we get either Pool or Spurs next round maybe, we all know what will happen in the away games especially. we shit the bed like every time. we need to overcome these mentality issues to win CL.

 

[sir baconface]

Pep can only do so much. He cant create with the wrong tools. Clear out needed. Far too many passengers not weighing in with goals or assists. The club needs to give him better players and not have him creating miracles each season.

Hey, I’m not piling in on Pep and agree with much of your post.

Not this part though. You paint a picture of some unfortunate wretch inheriting a shit squad at a penniless club, then being expected to perform miracles. He’s been here years and it’s his squad, assembled at some considerable cost.

I’m thankful for what he has done but let’s keep proper perspective.

 

[Constantine]

The midfield for the rest of this season (bar injuries) is probably: De Bruyne - Rodri - Gundo. It has its weaknesses of course but still is the best midfield trio amongst the available. I hope Pep goes back to that proven selection.

 

[SanPellegrini]

We should have all realised he’d lost the plot when he publicly body shamed Phillips

I don’t know what happened during the World Cup but since then he’s alienated half his squad, taken aim at the club’s fans and made ridiculous decisions on tactics

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

The midfield for the rest of this season (bar injuries) is probably: De Bruyne - Rodri - Gundo. It has its weaknesses of course but still is the best midfield trio amongst the available. I hope Pep goes back to that proven selection.

A painfully slow trio, but with Bernardo’s face like a slapped arse and Phillips on the naughty step (with about 5 other players) the options are limited.