Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

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I legit don't know what's working well in this team right now, there's so many issues -
1. Very old and slow midfield makes it extremely easy to counter
2. Defenders extremely high line means there's usually not enough bodies at the back, leading us to concede basically the same exact goal every week (2nd goal today)
2. No ability to counter with pace
3. No overlapping fullbacks, so very easy to double team on wingers
4. No creativity in the middle of the pitch, so no problem for opponents to focus on wings
5. No real aerial threat in the middle despite having a 6''4' striker due to poor crossers on the wings
6. Fullback inverts inside offering very little in possession but leaving their position exposed to the counter
7. Wingers don't create underlapping runs behind the defenders (like sane and sterling used to do), so opponent centerbacks can very easily focus on striker
8. Midfield extremely slow & striker who presses lazily means very hard to execute press effectively
9. very little goal contribution from the wing due to poor finishers in that position leaves our only threat isolated in the striker position

How much is this on pep? I don't know, but all of these things have been there for 3 months and we still continue to do the same things.
 
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Txiki had to convince the manager to sign Haaland. So, yes, he has a veto.
 
Whoever made the decision that we sit tight with this midfield is at fault. I'm yet to understand our refusal to spend this past window. Personally I think the decision to keep the purse closed was made from above both Txiki and Pep. Waiting until the Summer of 25 to make the necessary impact moves only makes sense if the club expected Pep to leave. If they anticipated him extending even for one year then big moves should have been made this past Summer in order to give Pep his best chance to remain dominant over his last 2 years. The way we are moving in terms of squad development has to be questioned irrespective of what happened over the last 14 seasons. The current squad has at minimum 6 players who will have next to zero value in terms of maintaining our level next season. That number could easily be closer to 8 or 9. Some of these could remain as squad depth/role players but we'll be needing MINIMUM 5 serious additions or you can forget remaining England's best and one of Europe's best.
100% agree. Love txiki but he has left us in the shit and Viana with a job to do. How someone of Pep’s ilk doesn’t know if he wants to stay or not yet is crazy, it has to be bullshit. For some reason both parties are biding their time to announce it. It does all seem to be pointing to this being his last year with not spending big last summer. That would mean Pep has done a Ferguson on us imo, I’d like to think he wouldn’t do that. Let’s just hope the board don’t expect the next manager to paper over the cracks.
 
He's run out of ideas unfortunately. Need to let him go and bring in someone new for next season.
If it’s only a one year extension I agree. Tbf he was badly let down in the transfer market over the summer. The club just expected Pep to keep producing miracles. The club management needs to take a lot of the blame not Pep.
 
A signing of a quality, young and dynamic midfielder the year Gundogan left would've left us very well placed for another 5 years of success.

As it is now, we need to make signings from a position of weakness and they need to hit the ground running.
Agree...
 
All the hallmarks of his third season at Barcelona.

We will still be there or thereabouts in all the remaining competitions but with a tactically tired team and ageing squad I think we are seeing the beginning of the end of the Pep era.

I think he leaves in the summer and hands the rebuild over to a new coach with the new DOF.
Or perhaps the outgoing DOF might be going at the right time!
 
100% agree. Love txiki but he has left us in the shit and Viana with a job to do. How someone of Pep’s ilk doesn’t know if he wants to stay or not yet is crazy, it has to be bullshit. For some reason both parties are biding their time to announce it. It does all seem to be pointing to this being his last year with not spending big last summer. That would mean Pep has done a Ferguson on us imo, I’d like to think he wouldn’t do that. Let’s just hope the board don’t expect the next manager to paper over the cracks.
If both Pep and Txiki planned on this being their last season here respectively and the squad we see currently is of their doing and not the result of the club putting restrictions on them then I'd have to say WTF were they thinking? I have to think the club knew both were leaving and thus in fairness to their successors they would leave it to them to make the big decisions in terms of building the squad going forward. It's the only thing that makes sense. I know I'll get slaughtered on here for saying this but with a new director coming in I'd rather Pep extend for 2 or 3 years or not at all. What does one more year signify? I'm not one for begging him to stay one more year. If he's not dying to stay then I say arrivederci. Build him a statue and move on. Rip off the band aid and keep the train moving. Cemetaries are full of irreplaceable people...the club ALWAYS comes first...
 
Ahh, so we’re at the point of questioning him now after a first defeat in an injury ravaged season.
Seems this place never learns.
All very very sad.
 
He's run out of ideas unfortunately. Need to let him go and bring in someone new for next season.
Don’t agree. If anything he needs new fresh quality players.

Time for another small rebuild. It’s all went somewhat stale which let’s not pretend wasn’t on the cards at some point.

Rather keep the boss and identity what he needs before leaving it to someone else inferior.

It resembles season 1 under pep. Get it right and he signs for another 2 seasons. Starting in January.
 
It's more Wednesday mate than today for me
Yeah, a win Wednesday and we are motoring along ok considering the circumstances.
We stay within 5 points coming into the New Year and I expect a few to be eating their words like most seasons when they lose the plot after a couple of poor results.
 
He's run out of ideas unfortunately. Need to let him go and bring in someone new for next season.
Who has?

If it's who I think you mean - isn't the usual problem that he has too many?

For me we'd hit the formula - then instead of signing younger back ups to some of our senior pros, we sign wingers. Yes, crowd pleasing, but ultimately jeopardising the successful system and leaving us short elsewhere.
 
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City: Injury crisis.

Me: Okay that sucks, guess that means we will have to rely on some of our promising youth.

City: Gonna play the seniors into the ground.

Me: Okay well, that doesnt instill confidence in the youth, atleast dont make the midfield as weak as possible.

City: Here is a midfield 3 that lacks physicality or creativity but can keep the ball.

Me: ...
 
Don’t agree. If anything he needs new fresh quality players.

Time for another small rebuild. It’s all went somewhat stale which let’s not pretend wasn’t on the cards at some point.

Rather keep the boss and identity what he needs before leaving it to someone else inferior.

It resembles season 1 under pep. Get it right and he signs for another 2 seasons. Starting in January.
I think that’s the key point though, needs to stay for a minimum of two seasons. We need a rebuild, one season doesn’t help any new manager.
 
If you’re coming on this thread to question pep, don't bother. The standards the fella has set mean that our first league defeat in about a year has caused some seriously wild knee jerk reactions. Victim of his own genius.
Sign an extension and stay forever mate
 
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