Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

OrigamiNinja said:
As crazy as it sounds after winning 4-in-a-row, this is a huge refresh, arguably much bigger than at the end of 16/17. That’s why I said a few weeks ago, that Pep either really needed to commit (more than 12 month extension) or he should leave. Thankfully he opted for the former.

I look at the squad and there are huge question marks…

GK - We are fine. I know some aren’t happy with Eddie but there’s hardly a huge line of top replacements available.
RB - Walker is past it and Rico isn’t good enough.
CB - The talent is there but fitness records are atrocious. No other side rotates CBs and gives them as much rest as we do and yet they’re still always injured. Big question marks over Stones and Ake.
LB - We still don’t really have one. Gvardiol (last month aside) has been really good but is his long-term future there?
CDM - We had the best in the world but what Rodri do we get back after a year out? Kovacic is a fine back up to the best in the world but he isn’t good enough to be 1st choice every week.
CM - KDB is out of contract, wrong side of 30 and always injured. Do you give someone £300k pw at his age, when he only plays half a season every year? Gundo is finished. Rico isn’t good enough. Nunes isn’t good enough. I do have faith that Foden will return to form but much of that will probably depend on what he has around him.
LW - Grealish doesnt produce enough. Doku has something but unless he can add consistency and G/A to his game he won’t be the answer.
RW - Savinho is probably the one that I have most hope for. Needs to work on his decision-making but I do think there is a player who has the potential to make it here. Bernie is done.
FW - We have the best striker in the world but zero back up. He can’t play every game.

If our CBs can’t stay fit and KDB leaves, I reckon we need a £300m spend this summer. Some will probably think I am being overly negative with some of my player assessments but if we are talking about title challenges, that’s where I am at.
Click to expand...
Good synopsis and probably worth putting in the squad planning thread so we don't derail this one, lol. For me:

RB
Rodri cover in some form
CM
AM
Supporting striker

Sounds a lot but I think we're nearing that stage.
 
OrigamiNinja said:
As crazy as it sounds after winning 4-in-a-row, this is a huge refresh, arguably much bigger than at the end of 16/17. That’s why I said a few weeks ago, that Pep either really needed to commit (more than 12 month extension) or he should leave. Thankfully he opted for the former.

I look at the squad and there are huge question marks…

GK - We are fine. I know some aren’t happy with Eddie but there’s hardly a huge line of top replacements available.
RB - Walker is past it and Rico isn’t good enough.
CB - The talent is there but fitness records are atrocious. No other side rotates CBs and gives them as much rest as we do and yet they’re still always injured. Big question marks over Stones and Ake.
LB - We still don’t really have one. Gvardiol (last month aside) has been really good but is his long-term future there?
CDM - We had the best in the world but what Rodri do we get back after a year out? Kovacic is a fine back up to the best in the world but he isn’t good enough to be 1st choice every week.
CM - KDB is out of contract, wrong side of 30 and always injured. Do you give someone £300k pw at his age, when he only plays half a season every year? Gundo is finished. Rico isn’t good enough. Nunes isn’t good enough. I do have faith that Foden will return to form but much of that will probably depend on what he has around him.
LW - Grealish doesnt produce enough. Doku has something but unless he can add consistency and G/A to his game he won’t be the answer.
RW - Savinho is probably the one that I have most hope for. Needs to work on his decision-making but I do think there is a player who has the potential to make it here. Bernie is done.
FW - We have the best striker in the world but zero back up. He can’t play every game.

If our CBs can’t stay fit and KDB leaves, I reckon we need a £300m spend this summer. Some will probably think I am being overly negative with some of my player assessments but if we are talking about title challenges, that’s where I am at.
Click to expand...
Don't disagree with your analysis but it's depressing.
Needing 6 new first teamers suggests disastrous lack of planning since we win the treble.
So getting rid of the players you suggest leaves us with these. We can just about put out a first XI.

Ederson
Akanji Dias Gvardiol Ake
Rodri
Foden Kovacic
Savinho Haaland Doku
 
OrigamiNinja said:
As crazy as it sounds after winning 4-in-a-row, this is a huge refresh, arguably much bigger than at the end of 16/17. That’s why I said a few weeks ago, that Pep either really needed to commit (more than 12 month extension) or he should leave. Thankfully he opted for the former.

I look at the squad and there are huge question marks…

GK - We are fine. I know some aren’t happy with Eddie but there’s hardly a huge line of top replacements available.
RB - Walker is past it and Rico isn’t good enough.
CB - The talent is there but fitness records are atrocious. No other side rotates CBs and gives them as much rest as we do and yet they’re still always injured. Big question marks over Stones and Ake.
LB - We still don’t really have one. Gvardiol (last month aside) has been really good but is his long-term future there?
CDM - We had the best in the world but what Rodri do we get back after a year out? Kovacic is a fine back up to the best in the world but he isn’t good enough to be 1st choice every week.
CM - KDB is out of contract, wrong side of 30 and always injured. Do you give someone £300k pw at his age, when he only plays half a season every year? Gundo is finished. Rico isn’t good enough. Nunes isn’t good enough. I do have faith that Foden will return to form but much of that will probably depend on what he has around him.
LW - Grealish doesnt produce enough. Doku has something but unless he can add consistency and G/A to his game he won’t be the answer.
RW - Savinho is probably the one that I have most hope for. Needs to work on his decision-making but I do think there is a player who has the potential to make it here. Bernie is done.
FW - We have the best striker in the world but zero back up. He can’t play every game.

If our CBs can’t stay fit and KDB leaves, I reckon we need a £300m spend this summer. Some will probably think I am being overly negative with some of my player assessments but if we are talking about title challenges, that’s where I am at.
Click to expand...
No question we now need a major overhaul , getting the most out of their bodies over a relatively long period of time eventually takes it toll and it can happen much quicker than you would think should occur.

Haaland aside we have no world class player that can stay fit long enough under 28 and our 30 plus players are very near the end of their tether at the top level now and more injured than not as you allude to.

It will get worse before it gets better but I am confident that even if we are not in Europe next season we will start the resurgence and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
 
mancity111 said:
No question we now need a major overhaul , getting the most out of their bodies over a relatively long period of time eventually takes it toll and it can happen much quicker than you would think should occur.

Haaland aside we have no world class player that can stay fit long enough under 28 and our 30 plus players are very near the end of their tether at the top level now and more injured than not as you allude to.

It will get worse before it gets better but I am confident that even if we are not in Europe next season we will start the resurgence and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
Click to expand...
I'm probably in a minority here and players would hate it, but a season out of Europe would give them a rest and also time to regroup and bed in new players.
 
robbieh said:
Don't disagree with your analysis but it's depressing.
Needing 6 new first teamers suggests disastrous lack of planning since we win the treble.
So getting rid of the players you suggest leaves us with these. We can just about put out a first XI.

Ederson
Akanji Dias Gvardiol Ake
Rodri
Foden Kovacic
Savinho Haaland Doku
Click to expand...
It is depressing but that’s what happens when you recruit poorly. IMO when you’re at the top (as we have undoubtedly been) we should still be aiming 1 or 2 signings every summer that improves the 1st XI. Not always going to be possible but that should be the aim. We haven’t done that.
 
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