Pep Guardiola - 2022/23

[Bluewars]

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.

Some fans/posters have an optimistic view that Pep can turn it around thats fine thats their prerogative. I genuinely hope for the rest of the season we can play better football not possession with no end product. Being in three competitions at this stage is not an indication of a good season as some posters would like to think.

That Villa game he played Fernandinho as a centre back and John Stones a natural centre back as a right back, it backfired and he changed it at halftime.
These baffling line ups/formations are becoming more frequent and he's moving further away from his own attacking philosophy.

 

[blueparrot]

I do think a few of this team are done though and pep will need to re invent his squad

I think this team is done as it is especially the midfield , but I also think 4 new players possibly 5 are enough to re invigorate the team. My guess is we'll bring in 2 midfielders a left back a centre back and possibly a wide forward.The players and tactics will be slightly different to accomodate Haaland . The fundementals of possesion football that are Peps red line though will stay the same. I also don't doubt Pep can see the issues better than anyone and will know exactly what is lacking and needed.
I find it difficult to understand how a few don't think he has that ability and don't think he's earned that trust.

 

[Saddleworth2]

If he though the 11 on the pitch were in the best position to get a result during the second half then he was wrong.

that is your opinion and you are entitled to it.
Its as easy for me to say you are wrong as it is you to say Pep was.

 

[freshie]

Give RB Leipzig some credit they are in an lengthy unbeaten streak.

What, all of 2 games?

 

[bobom]

We are surely overreacting too early. The correct time is when we lose the second leg of a semifinal against Benfica, after conceding 3 goals on the counter after dominating possession.

 

[hilts]

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.

Something is missing I agree but I could argue a few points as to what is causing it. Ultimately the manager is responsible for results and so far he has a lot of credit in the bank(Europe apart).

Arguments can be made over transfers
The players
Or Pep.

It is probably a mixture of all 3 tbh. Personally I would take the Premier league by a whisker right now. Only time will tell if that is negative, realistic or wishful thinking.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Just needs two fast above average natural wingers

 

[balotellishaircut]

Just needs two fast above average natural wingers

Well he could give Cole Palmer more minutes or put a bid in for Kingsley Coman in the summer.

 

[nellyonthewing]

We are too predictable . We weave pretty patterns to no effect .Opposition managers have learnt how to negate the Haaland threat and sadly unless KDB is on it to unpick the lock we are an easy touch vulnerable to a counter attack at any time.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Well he could give Cole Palmer more minutes or put a bid in for Kingsley Coman in the summer.

It looks like Pep doesn't trust Palmer enough to be given minutes in big games. That said he will probably start at Bristol City. If he doesn't make an impression on that game i think he'll either be sold in the summer or loaned out next season.

 

[balotellishaircut]

It looks like Pep doesn't trust Palmer enough to be given minutes in big games. That said he will probably start at Bristol City. If he doesn't make an impression on that game i think he'll either be sold in the summer or loaned out next season.

Can’t see him being loaned out or even sold, we have a very thin squad and Palmer is 20 yrs old with huge potential so he’ll be staying here, just hope he starts against BCFC in the cup, because it’s hard for young lads just sat on the bench, Pep needs to give his head a shake about not using subs.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Can’t see him being loaned out or even sold, we have a very thin squad and Palmer is 20 yrs old with huge potential so he’ll be staying here, just hope he starts against BCFC in the cup, because it’s hard for young lads just sat on the bench, Pep needs to give his head a shake about not using subs.

I like Palmer but but what I've seen of him this season I don't think he's kicked on from last season. I'm sure being sat on the subs bench looking on is not helping his development but young Cole needs to realise sharpish that he has to make things happen when he's given starts(rare) or cameo sub minutes.

As for Pep not using subs it's a strange one, especially when he advocated wanting a 5 subs rule so vociferously.

 

[lee_wsm]

Typical pep great first half when things start to change in second no changes. At times he seems opposed to making subs and it costs us games.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

We could be managed by Klopp or Potter and be mid table.
In my view, for various reasons, this is the hardest Pep is working in his career and we are still in with a good chance in three competitions + we have a manager who backs the club during unprecedented external attack. Folk underestimate how hard it is to keep a squad at the very peak standards season after season. On top of that:

- a world cup right in the middle
- needing a complete change of style to integrate Haaland
- constant disruption to a back 4 because of injury
- a new no 2
- ageing key players
- some squad dissatisfaction because of rotation
- the circus round charges
- the refereeing bias

We are lucky to have him, imperfections and all. Everyone has an opinion but only one is the best coach and serial winner we will ever see.

There’s truth in all of those things, but he looks like a man doing everything he can think of to get a squad to perform the way he wants, when they no longer have the attributes to do so. I’ve seen that performance repeated many times this season, and ultimately the buck stops with Pep. It’s his squad.

It feels to me like we’re applying sticking plasters all over the place, when only major surgery will work. Full back shoved up into midfield to give us the numerical superiority that we’ve lost from having an out and out striker, who conversely barely touches the ball, cos we play with one paced, inverted wingers and an aging engine room, none of whom can get the ball to him.
And when that set up turns the ball over, we get shredded on the counter, cos there’s oceans of space where an absent full back should be. Our goals conceded to chances conceded ratio is horrendous, cos the back 3 are so stretched and they have little organised cover in front of them, cos Rodri and Gundogan, great players though they are, lack pace and energy in getting back. I felt sorry for Ake in that 2nd half last night. He had to stay narrow, cos Leipzig were barrelling straight through the middle of our midfield, but in doing so knew he’d then have to scrabble across at the last minute to cover their unmarked substitute right winger. Why did we make no substitutes or tactical changes of our own to combat that threat, or get ourselves back in charge of the game? Pep applauding the way the opposition played is perfectly reasonable, but not if you (seemingly) do bugger all to stop it happening.

Our endless possession masks a multitude of sins at the moment. When we counterattack, we stop dead in our tracks and play the ball backwards (I couldn’t believe the Grealish one late in the game last night when Haaland was begging for a pass), every throw in we take in the opposition half goes 70 yards backwards to Ederson (via the full back), we’re not taking any risks at all going forward and we’re actually creating very little going forward as a result, yet if the opposition gets up in our faces - like Brentford did, like Southampton did, like Leipzig did 2nd half last night - we fall apart.

First world problems that most teams would give their eye teeth to have in exchange for being 2nd in the table, I know, but we ain’t winning the CL with this squad, playing this way

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Well he could give Cole Palmer more minutes or put a bid in for Kingsley Coman in the summer.

Palmer isn't fast or a natural winger

 

[balotellishaircut]

Palmer isn't fast or a natural winger

Who do you recommend then, give me a couple of fast natural wingers from the transfer market..

 

[Paul1970]

There’s truth in all of those things, but he looks like a man doing everything he can think of to get a squad to perform the way he wants, when they no longer have the attributes to do so. I’ve seen that performance repeated many times this season, and ultimately the buck stops with Pep. It’s his squad.

It feels to me like we’re applying sticking plasters all over the place, when only major surgery will work. Full back shoved up into midfield to give us the numerical superiority that we’ve lost from having an out and out striker, who conversely barely touches the ball, cos we play with one paced, inverted wingers and an aging engine room, none of whom can get the ball to him.
And when that set up turns the ball over, we get shredded on the counter, cos there’s oceans of space where an absent full back should be. Our goals conceded to chances conceded ratio is horrendous, cos the back 3 are so stretched and they have little organised cover in front of them, cos Rodri and Gundogan, great players though they are, lack pace and energy in getting back. I felt sorry for Ake in that 2nd half last night. He had to stay narrow, cos Leipzig were barrelling straight through the middle of our midfield, but in doing so knew he’d then have to scrabble across at the last minute to cover their unmarked substitute right winger.

Our endless possession masks a multitude of sins at the moment. When we counterattack, we stop dead in our tracks and play the ball backwards (I couldn’t believe the Grealish one late in the game last night when Haaland was begging for a pass), every throw in we take in the opposition half goes 70 yards backwards to Ederson (via the full back), we’re not taking any risks at all going forward and we’re actually creating very little going forward as a result, yet if the opposition gets up in our faces - like Brentford did, like Southampton did, like Leipzig did 2nd half last night - we fall apart.

First world problems that most teams would give their eye teeth to have in exchange for being 2nd in the table, I know, but we ain’t winning the CL with this squad, playing this way

I don’t get what happened after the world because before it haaland was in for 40 plus goals but at this rate he won’t make 32 league goals and that’s not exaggerating.

 

[RayCTID]

What, all of 2 games?

20 games at home

 

[blueparrot]

Who do you recommend then, give me a couple of fast natural wingers from the transfer market..

That isn't all the attributes needed though, they also need game intelligence and the ability not to lose possesion. Unless he have all those we won't be interested.

 

[balotellishaircut]

That isn't all the attributes needed though, they also need game intelligence and the ability not to lose possesion. Unless he have all those we won't be interested.

Tell that to the other poster mate, it’s not me that’s saying this I’m just asking the question.