Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

[meeesh]

I think some on here are saying Pep Out without actually saying it.

Nah,I'm not,although I ain't too impressed with a few things,and it's not just about yesterday,if he signs he signs,if not we will still be here.

 

[jrb]

Pep.

Stop chopping and changing then 2 centre halfs and the back 4. If you’ve got to piss certain players off because they aren’t getting regular football, then do so

Also, can you use the subs a bit more during the game. Bringing just Alvarez on for 5 minutes + 10 minutes injury time was’t enough. Not bringing Grealish on was a poor decision. You after all wanted the new 5 sub rule as you said the PL schedule is too much and to hectic for your team and squad.

Let’s just put it down to you having a bad day. Go home, enjoy the break with your family, some home cooking, some wine, the sunny and warm weather, some golf, go to the training camp in Abu Dhabi, meet your boss Sheikh Mansour, have a chat, sign a new contract, come back to the Rainy City, sort the team and your tactics out, and win the PL 3 seasons in a row. :-)

 

[FantasyIreland]

I think some on here are saying Pep Out without actually saying it.

If that is aimed at me....if I wanted Pep out I'd say so.

 

[come-on-barney]

Our football is boring,thats my opinion.

Constantly playing side to side and backwards,only for most of our slow play in the final third to break down is mind numbing.....especially when you see the opposition take the ball,quickly break,and look far more dangerous than we had for the previous 80% of possession.

We have too many square pegs and not enough options to change in the attacking positions,and then the defensive positions are changed for fun rather than purpose.....i get the need for genuine rotation,but there have been many games where that need has not existed and yet players find themselves in unfamiliar line ups and with none ideal tactics.

We are not getting the best out of this squad,and if you think different,well,thats up to you.

Totally agree, it’s light years from the days of Leroy, Silva and Raz at his best, where it was so exciting to watch.

 

[Gumzy97]

I just dont think flair players work under pep he had the same criticism at Bayern, I think Pep prefers winger that work hard and are a part of the system than players that like to dribble past players, use skills etc have a bit of flair to them. Like Henry said Pep had a go at him when he scored because he didnt keep to the line/his position in a game at Barca. its why we haven't seen a Villa Grealish.

 

[come-on-barney]

I think some on here are saying Pep Out without actually saying it.

I just want him to go back to playing wingers and the exciting team he built when Leroy was here. That was magical Pep.

 

[Brewster's millions]

I dont agree,he has had the luxuries no other manager experiences.

As for left back,he sold a very reliable/steady option and brought in a kid from Anderlecht who in the grand scheme of things is as much use as tits on a fish.

He has the players to to formulate a very very effective team,yet he chooses to go down the shoehorn route by picking his perceived best 11 individuals.

Then rather than encouraging direct aggressive football we try to win the most passses in 90 mins cup,which also encourages and forces the opposition to park the bus and again limit our options.

We need a rethink.

Given the resources of the club, highlighted this week with the latest accounts, the squad simply isn’t good enough at the moment and Guardiola can’t be fully absolved from the blame here even if he isn’t the main culprit.

For the life of me I can’t understand why we let Zinchenko leave, and given how green Gomez is (that’s being kind), we’ve placed ourselves in a situation where one injury to a 32 year old full back - who was missing for a big chunk of last season - leaves us completely in the shit. That simply can’t happen to a club like ours and again Guardiola can’t plead ignorance here.

Similarly we went into the season lacking options out wide and without any genuine pace on the wings. Sterling was far from perfect last season, he wanted out and we got a good deal for him in the end. But even when he was playing poorly, Sterling was still capable of knocking it past someone on the outside and whipping a cross in, unsettling defences. We’ve lost that ability now, it hasn’t been replaced, and in key moments - such as yesterday - we’re lacking a spark or the ability to mix things up through a bit of physicality and directness.

Again, I can’t see these things being allowed to happen without Guardiola’s consent.

He seems far too happy this season to play with three centre backs and four central midfielders. Pushing Bernado out wide to accommodate this is a criminal waste of his influence in the middle of the park, while Gundogan has often played almost as a centre forward this season given how high up the pitch he’s been. The net result has been a lot of sideways movement and very slow transitions. In his interviews, Guardiola has increasingly referenced the need to build up slowly to reduce our vulnerability to a counter attack. He seems to have talked himself into believing that we need to hang onto the ball at all costs, and now picks the team accordingly. It even seems to be influencing his substitutions, or lack of. It’s a backward setup in my opinion and we’ve failed to exploit a very favourable run of fixture before the WC.

The derby showed how we can play if we pick the right team and take more risks with how we approach the game. Granted, united’s approach that day allowed us to play much more freely, but we seem to have moved in a completely opposite direction since and Guardiola seems quite happy doing so. He made no attempt to change things yesterday - zero - and I find that very hard to understand given how poor and pedestrian we were.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Given the resources of the club, highlighted this week with the latest accounts, the squad simply isn’t good enough at the moment and Guardiola can’t be fully absolved from the blame here even if he isn’t the main culprit.

For the life of me I can’t understand why we let Zinchenko leave, and given how green Gomez is (that’s being kind), we’ve placed ourselves in a situation where one injury to a 32 year old full back - who was missing for a big chunk of last season - leaves us completely in the shit. That simply can’t happen to a club like ours and again Guardiola can’t plead ignorance here.

Similarly we went into the season lacking options out wide and without any genuine pace on the wings. Sterling was far from perfect last season, he wanted out and we got a good deal for him in the end. But even when he was playing poorly, Sterling was still capable of knocking it past someone on the outside and whipping a cross in, unsettling defences. We’ve lost that ability now, it hasn’t been replaced, and in key moments - such as yesterday - we’re lacking a spark or the ability to mix things up through a bit of physicality and directness.

Again, I can’t see these things being allowed to happen without Guardiola’s consent.

He seems far too happy this season to play with three centre backs and four central midfielders. Pushing Bernado out wide to accommodate this is a criminal waste of his influence in the middle of the park, while Gundogan has often played almost as a centre forward this season given how high up the pitch he’s been. The net result has been a lot of sideways movement and very slow transitions. In his interviews, Guardiola has increasingly referenced the need to build up slowly to reduce our vulnerability to a counter attack. He seems to have talked himself into believing that we need to hang onto the ball at all costs, and now picks the team accordingly. It even seems to be influencing his substitutions, or lack of. It’s a backward setup in my opinion and we’ve failed to exploit a very favourable run of fixture before the WC.

The derby showed how we can play if we pick the right team and take more risks with how we approach the game. Granted, united’s approach that day allowed us to play much more freely, but we seem to have moved in a completely opposite direction since and Guardiola seems quite happy doing so. He made no attempt to change things yesterday - zero - and I find that very hard to understand given how poor and pedestrian we were.

Great comment,we are very much on the same page.

Pep needs to go back to the drawing board in some respects,some of his ideas have been sussed and others just dont work.

He is still the best in the business,i fully expect he will as frustrated as the rest of us and he will find answers

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

Pep is not the problem!

However he does have a problem and the last few wins/ draws have papered over the cracks.

After 24 hours and cooly thinking about it..

In a strange way I think its a blessing. Good for Pep and Txiki. Now they know the problems can't be ignored and they might have to address them sooner than later. We've not had a good run of form since the Derby and the last few wins are just papering over cracks.

Sometimes a band aid just won't last forever and Cancelo's form and KDB's dip of form is concerning.

We don't need a complete overhaul but we need more midfield and corner back options. Maybe that's why Cole Palmer has been trusted in midfield and although not 10/10, he can do the job.

Pep if you're somehow reading this, PLEASE SIGN THAT CONTRACT!

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Given the resources of the club, highlighted this week with the latest accounts, the squad simply isn’t good enough at the moment and Guardiola can’t be fully absolved from the blame here even if he isn’t the main culprit.

For the life of me I can’t understand why we let Zinchenko leave, and given how green Gomez is (that’s being kind), we’ve placed ourselves in a situation where one injury to a 32 year old full back - who was missing for a big chunk of last season - leaves us completely in the shit. That simply can’t happen to a club like ours and again Guardiola can’t plead ignorance here.

Similarly we went into the season lacking options out wide and without any genuine pace on the wings. Sterling was far from perfect last season, he wanted out and we got a good deal for him in the end. But even when he was playing poorly, Sterling was still capable of knocking it past someone on the outside and whipping a cross in, unsettling defences. We’ve lost that ability now, it hasn’t been replaced, and in key moments - such as yesterday - we’re lacking a spark or the ability to mix things up through a bit of physicality and directness.

Again, I can’t see these things being allowed to happen without Guardiola’s consent.

He seems far too happy this season to play with three centre backs and four central midfielders. Pushing Bernado out wide to accommodate this is a criminal waste of his influence in the middle of the park, while Gundogan has often played almost as a centre forward this season given how high up the pitch he’s been. The net result has been a lot of sideways movement and very slow transitions. In his interviews, Guardiola has increasingly referenced the need to build up slowly to reduce our vulnerability to a counter attack. He seems to have talked himself into believing that we need to hang onto the ball at all costs, and now picks the team accordingly. It even seems to be influencing his substitutions, or lack of. It’s a backward setup in my opinion and we’ve failed to exploit a very favourable run of fixture before the WC.

The derby showed how we can play if we pick the right team and take more risks with how we approach the game. Granted, united’s approach that day allowed us to play much more freely, but we seem to have moved in a completely opposite direction since and Guardiola seems quite happy doing so. He made no attempt to change things yesterday - zero - and I find that very hard to understand given how poor and pedestrian we were.

I agree mostly but to be fair to Pep yesterday, he did change Bernado and KDB positions and bring Alvarez on so whilst it was nowhere near enough and much too late, it wasn’t zero. I was more concerned that he spent most of the last 15 mins sat on the bench rather than influencing things. Strange game yesterday. It seemed no one was up for it, and yes I know the World Cup is coming but it didn’t stop Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal or Newcastle from winning.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Pep wasnt the problem against Brentford , every player apart from Ederson played well below par , you can still win games with a couple of players off colour but when ten of them are crap you caanot put the blame at the managers door.
Hindsight is a great thing but our defence was all over the pace , play a right back , at right back , Rico Lewis play your two strongest headers in the middle Stones & Dias against a team that uses long ball tactics and rest Cancelo because he has struggled for the last few games , Sergio is not perfect but he is a natural left full back.
Then use the subs , we had eighty odd minutes of playing the same labourious system and it wasnt working , Grealish or Mahrez could have offered an alternative , why clamour for five subs and then use one of them in the 88th minute , love Pep and wouldnt swap him for any other manager but he does make some strange decisions , luckily for us he gets them right 99% of the time.

 

[hilts]

Pep wasnt the problem against Brentford , every player apart from Ederson played well below par , you can still win games with a couple of players off colour but when ten of them are crap you caanot put the blame at the managers door.
Hindsight is a great thing but our defence was all over the pace , play a right back , at right back , Rico Lewis play your two strongest headers in the middle Stones & Dias against a team that uses long ball tactics and rest Cancelo because he has struggled for the last few games , Sergio is not perfect but he is a natural left full back.
Then use the subs , we had eighty odd minutes of playing the same labourious system and it wasnt working , Grealish or Mahrez could have offered an alternative , why clamour for five subs and then use one of them in the 88th minute , love Pep and wouldnt swap him for any other manager but he does make some strange decisions , luckily for us he gets them right 99% of the time.

For someone who started off saying Pep wasn't the problem you went into great detail explaining how he was:-)

 

[Dr Jacoby]

I wish he’d make subs sooner and pay Liverpool less respect.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Pep wasnt the problem against Brentford , every player apart from Ederson played well below par , you can still win games with a couple of players off colour but when ten of them are crap you caanot put the blame at the managers door.
Hindsight is a great thing but our defence was all over the pace , play a right back , at right back , Rico Lewis play your two strongest headers in the middle Stones & Dias against a team that uses long ball tactics and rest Cancelo because he has struggled for the last few games , Sergio is not perfect but he is a natural left full back.
Then use the subs , we had eighty odd minutes of playing the same labourious system and it wasnt working , Grealish or Mahrez could have offered an alternative , why clamour for five subs and then use one of them in the 88th minute , love Pep and wouldnt swap him for any other manager but he does make some strange decisions , luckily for us he gets them right 99% of the time.

Pep is rarely the problem but what I would like to see for a short interlude in a game like that one on Saturday, and in future games if teams come to waste time and hope for a City mistake or some largesse from the whistling wanker, is a completely different approach. Why not take ten minutes doing what Brentford did? No, not the blatant timewasting, but giving the ball a mighty boot upfield like Eddie occasionally does and having a couple of players hanging about the half way line. Erling and Julian can run like the fuckin' wind so let's put defenders at the point where they have to deal with a different approach. Saturday, indeed most Saturdays, same with the women, our play is soooooooooo predictable! The other thing I've begun to notice is that our players make an obvious pass (well, obvious to me!) after weighing up three others and then deciding the first one was the best after all. Make the pass straight away, keep the ball moving. We weren't moving the ball anything like quick enough.

 

[waspish]

Pep is all about control and the process he will never change he will not make subs when a game is tight it’s who he is and we can’t argue with his methods! Because when he goes we won’t have the trophy haul like he’s achieved at city with another manager..

 

[B\connellblue]

The world cup excuse is just letting the players off the hook.
We have been bang average for a while now. Losing, scraping a few wins against also Rans and losing again to a side who have a bit of pace and power up front.
We are so fucking slow in the build up it's just inviting and indeed giving the opposition the opportunity to pack the defence.
All we need to do is move the ball quicker and more accurately to the wide men. Halland with the right service will do a lot of damage.
Floating it into the box is not what he needs.
5 points is in no way irretrievable but continue as we are and it will be. There's talk of the postponed match against the arse being played in January. We need to be winning that for sure.

 

[samuelyeboah]

lots of bad vibes right now going into the world cup but I know pep's gonna find the secret sauce when the boys are back. still think it's gonna be a great season when it's all said and done.

 

[blueparrot]

The world cup excuse is just letting the players off the hook.
We have been bang average for a while now. Losing, scraping a few wins against also Rans and losing again to a side who have a bit of pace and power up front.
We are so fucking slow in the build up it's just inviting and indeed giving the opposition the opportunity to pack the defence.
All we need to do is move the ball quicker and more accurately to the wide men. Halland with the right service will do a lot of damage.
Floating it into the box is not what he needs.
5 points is in no way irretrievable but continue as we are and it will be. There's talk of the postponed match against the arse being played in January. We need to be winning that for sure.

From bang average it was obvious the rest would be nonsense.

 

[Phil1]

From bang average it was obvious the rest would be nonsense.

Bare in mind out very best performances get no credit from him and usually absent when there’s fuck all to moan about.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

For someone who started off saying Pep wasn't the problem you went into great detail explaining how he was:-)

He wasnt the problem , our players our good enough to play out of position , they were the problem against brentford