Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

[Dogtanian]

The players also seemed to celebrate more at the end, they actually acknowledged we existed and came over and clapped, lead by Rico

 

[BillyShears]

You can only do what Pep did yesterday once.

He's had to pick his moment very carefully, which is probably why it took so long.

You have to do it after some sort of comeback or victory because otherwise you're just piling on when the players are at rock bottom, you can't do it when the team is top of the league and in all the cups because the players think it's an overreaction. Similarly you can't do it after a boring, regulation 1-0 or 2-0 where they got away with being lackadaisical because the players will convince themselves they can turn it on when needed.

He's probably been waiting for this kind of game of two halves for a while. It wouldn't have worked after any of the previous games when we've looked poor since the world cup.

Yeah that's fair. I do think it is a bit more complicated than players being at rock bottom. I suspect there's something in the 'happy flowers' comment. I've said for a while that the issue has been a bunch of players playing at 75% instead of 100%.

I do feel a bit sorry for Wolves. Suspect that the attitude from minute 1 on Sunday will be like that of a pack of rabid dogs.

 

[01cravend]

Lots of time for his outpour last night. Shows he's not willfully ignoring some of our issues and he wants more from everyone. He's pissed at the players, he's gone public now and the next months will sort the ones that want and deserve to be here from the one that need fucking off. Hopefully that also helps him settle into a more consistent XI.
Got a bit of buzz back for the season going forward

 

[Xhavenjoe]

The big positive from last night is that Pep has cleared up the issue of the slow,boring backwards and sideways shite. He said he doesnt encourage it and wants a high tempo.

The likes of Alvarez and Rico don't know how to slow down, very energetic.

 

[domalino]

Yeah that's fair. I do think it is a bit more complicated than players being at rock bottom. I suspect there's something in the 'happy flowers' comment. I've said for a while that the issue has been a bunch of players playing at 75% instead of 100%.

I do feel a bit sorry for Wolves. Suspect that the attitude from minute 1 on Sunday will be like that of a pack of rabid dogs.

Who do you think the happy flowers are? I think it's Cancelo, Laporte, Ederson and Bernardo.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Who do you think the happy flowers are? I think it's Cancelo, Laporte, Ederson and Bernardo.

I've started to think Foden as well. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic and trying to find a reason for bad form but I hope he's not started to take success for granted.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Everyone knows we've been shite for ages.

Most of us also recognise it's not as easy as clicking your fingers and saying "be better."

Many of us however realise that it can be as easy as dropping a few slackers, increasing the pace, and being more direct.

Pep threw some of his stubbornness out of the window at half time last night, and it worked.

Maybe he should have listened to a few of the 'finger clicks' that have been sounded on here for the past few months.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Who do you think the happy flowers are? I think it's Cancelo, Laporte, Ederson and Bernardo.

Add Foden and De Bruyne to that list.

 

[domalino]

Add Foden and De Bruyne to that list.

I don't think De Bruyne is a happy flower, I think like Walker he's just having a hangover after his last world cup ended badly.

I have no doubt those two will be showing up at their best in March/April/May.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Pep threw some of his stubbornness out of the window at half time last night, and it worked.

I'm interested to read precisely what it is you thought he changed.

 

[David Silva]

The players also seemed to celebrate more at the end, they actually acknowledged we existed and came over and clapped, lead by Rico

Rico was there alone at first but it was actually Rodri that dragged the rest of the squad over.

 

[Lavinda Past]

I'm interested to read precisely what it is you thought he changed.

More direct play. Moved the ball quicker, played higher, and we didn't seem to be scared of losing the ball.

We didn't stagnate in midfield like we have been. Haaland, Alvarez, and Mahrez received the ball earlier and faster.

I've said for months that Pep is risk averse and the team played like they were scared to lose the ball. That went out of the window after half time last night.

Long may it last.

 

[FantasyIreland]

More direct play. Moved the ball quicker, played higher, and we didn't seem to be scared of losing the ball.

We didn't stagnate in midfield like we have been. The ball

I agree,there was more free spirit about us and a good deal more aggression.

We sometimes returned to default.....but on the whole there was much more of a desire to take the game to the opposition.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

More direct play. Moved the ball quicker, played higher, and we didn't seem to be scared of losing the ball.

We didn't stagnate in midfield like we have been. The ball

He criticised Haaland for not being direct enough in the first half. Erling Haaland. One of the most direct players in the sport and a player Pep's chosen to rely on for almost every game this season.

Does that seem like the kind of guy who had been telling his players to move the ball slowly?

 

[Lavinda Past]

I don't think De Bruyne is a happy flower, I think like Walker he's just having a hangover after his last world cup ended badly.

I have no doubt those two will be showing up at their best in March/April/May.

I hope so!

 

[Lavinda Past]

He criticised Haaland for not being direct enough in the first half. Erling Haaland. One of the most direct players in the sport and a player Pep's chosen to rely on for almost every game this season.

Does that seem like the kind of guy who had been telling his players to move the ball slowly?

My eyes tell me that we've been slow and frequently quite boring to watch. That's been down to Pep being obsessed with ball retention.

Fear of failure.

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

Who do you think the happy flowers are? I think it's Cancelo, Laporte, Ederson and Bernardo.

The Mendes clients are a bit of a clique, and they’ve all been shite this season - so that wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Laporte is a good shout too.

Foden is having his worst season since he broke through too, and doesn’t look as motivated as usual.

Phillips’ attitude clearly hasn’t impressed Pep much either since he came back from the WC, although it’s still very early for him.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

My eyes tell me that we've been slow and frequently quite boring to watch.

Everyone's eyes have told them that.

That's been down to Pep being obsessed with ball retention.

That's your interpretation.

You could just take the guy at his word and recognise that this team he says he doesn't recognise hasn't been playing the way he wants but I guess not.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Everyone's eyes have told them that.



That's your interpretation.

You could just take the guy at his word and recognise that this team he says he doesn't recognise hasn't been playing the way he wants but I guess not.

Take him at his word?

He's seen the same games that we have, but doesn't seem to have woken up to reality until we went 2 down last night.

Spurs did us a favour

 

[BillyShears]

Who do you think the happy flowers are? I think it's Cancelo, Laporte, Ederson and Bernardo.

Yeah pretty much. But also think it is an attitude that can permeate through the whole squad at times. Rodri losing the challenge to Kane last night is a great example. Hardly a dogs of war challenge from him and he’s been our outstanding player this season.