Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

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I'll never lose faith in Pep after all he's done for us, but I truly don't get the subs thing. Especially when we've got games every few days, what's the harm in letting Alvarez have 15 minutes or giving Phil the last half hour of that game last night?

I'm not even saying that they'd have changed it or won it for us, but purely for fitness and injury risks, surely it makes sense to make a couple of changes? Jack had been kicked about as usual and looked a little sore, and one or two players were clearly a bit tired towards the end.

Just not sure what his aversion is to making subs, especially in games that seem to be crying out for a bit of change.

Still, we got the minimum result we needed and I'm confident in the lads to get a win at our place, so all's well that ends well, hopefully.
 
Lavinda Past said:
I thought it after the Villa game last season when Gundogan dragged us over the line to win the PL. That game was lost and Pep was on the edge until Gundogan saved his bacon.

I thought it again during the Brentford match. There's something missing with Pep now. The spark has dimmed and our football is laboured and frequently boring.

His press conference rant against the PL charges did little more than mask what's been going on on the pitch imo. The same heartfelt passion isn't apparent when it comes to matches.

The team reflects the coach. Make of that what you will.
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The spark does seem to be missing this season and despite trying a number of different formations and line-ups, we’ve never really found any intensity or aggression in our play. Various excuses have been offered - the World Cup and distracted players being the main culprits - but ultimately it’s been the same story all season and the buck has to stop with the manager.

The big question for me is whether the pretty turgid football we’ve been served up this season - and last night was particularly boring to watch - is simply a pragmatic response to the current shortcomings of the squad or something more insidious, and by extension whether this would change if we revamp the squad in the summer.

I’m in two minds about this to be honest. We will sign more mobile midfielders in the summer and possibly a fast winger as well, and this will help. We’ve also bought some very average players when compared to the ones we’ve lost. But I also think that Guardiola’s mindset has changed and become more cautious. Last night for instance he again referenced our lack of pace and vulnerability to counter attacks from Leipzig. But we were hardly blessed with pace at the back in 17/18, and that didn’t stop us from playing aggressive, attacking football. Also, we have an absolute weapon up front in Haaland who we refuse to play early balls to, even when we have 9 or 10 players behind the ball and we’re not vulnerable to a counter attack.

Personally I’m not convinced that new players will bring a new mindset and I question whether Guardiola signing the new contract was the right move for both parties. Lots of people will disagree with that and no one can question his achievements. But he seemed genuinely unsure as to whether he wanted to continue, and given the all-encompassing nature of the job, I do wonder whether the spark is still there with him and whether he’s ready to overhaul not just the squad but the mindset as well.
 
i♥city said:
Just needs two fast above average natural wingers
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Along with two proper full backs who are able to both defend, and support the wingers.

Oh yes... Don't forget the top class midfielders we need to replace/back up Bernardo, Gundogan, and De Bruyne.

All is not rosy in our garden, and I don't believe that Pep is necessarily the right man to lead a rebuild. He's too cautious, obsessed with keeping the ball, and the killer instinct seems to be missing. He probably needs time to recuperate, and I expect he will already be thinking about taking a break from football.

Time for the Board to take back control of things and identify a successor. It won't be easy, and it will never be the same.
 
Lavinda Past said:
Along with two proper full backs who are able to both defend, and support the wingers.

Oh yes... Don't forget the top class midfielders we need to replace/back up Bernardo, Gundogan, and De Bruyne.

All is not rosy in our garden, and I don't believe that Pep is necessarily the right man to lead a rebuild. He's too cautious, obsessed with keeping the ball, and the killer instinct seems to be missing. He probably needs time to recuperate, and I expect he will already be thinking about taking a break from football.

Time for the Board to take back control of things and identify a successor. It won't be easy, and it will never be the same.
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Problem with us needing a rebuild is any decent player will be 100 million. We need about 5 to 7 new players
 
Lavinda Past said:
He's another 'emperor's new clothes' product from the academy. He's nowhere near ready for elite football and certainly not as a winger.

A loan beckons next season.
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He 'may' be ready, but he needs a run of 6 or 7 games in his best position to give him a chance to feel secure and show what he can do.

He's not going to get that here. A season on loan would be good, but I wouldn't be surprised if he left in the summer either. He needs first team football now for his own sake.
 
Mancini’s Pastilles said:
Problem with us needing a rebuild is any decent player will be 100 million. We need about 5 to 7 new players
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4 needed possibly 5, a couple may be £100 mill the other 2 or 3 I'd guess around £60 mill, but we'll probably bring in about £250 mill. Doubt our net spend will be over £100 mill.
 
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