Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

[Gabriel]

This is pretty much how I see it. Seems that, post-treble, Pep has decided to torch the two main principles that brought us those successes - a proper, tight, compact defensive structure, and the emphasis on controlling the ball (and the game) through the likes of Gundogan, Grealish, Bernardo, Rodri, Stones …
Signs were there at the start of last season with the signings - a chaos-type winger in Doku and two midfielders in Nunes and Kovacic whose main strengths are their ability to run with the ball, rather than to pass and control. And with the switch to using at least one high and wide fullback, which hasn‘t ever really worked in all Pep‘s time with us.
Sure he has his reasons and that there‘s a theory behind it. And maybe it will click at some point and elevate us again. But very hard to see at the moment.

Kovacic and Gvardiol I could understand, but Nunes, Doku and then Savinho meant we were tipping the scales the other way, especially when we also allowed Palmer and Alvarez to leave. From the midfield forward, we now only have Bernardo, Grealish, Gundogan, Rodri, Kovacic, and Bobb that I would say fit the typical Guardiola mould, three of whom are out. Playing the open way puts us on a level where we can be matched and beaten by almost all other League/Champions League teams, and we're unlikely ever to get by Real Madrid in spring if we've run ourselves into the ground in winter. Time to get back to signing players that give us control. Back to basics if you will...

 

[Xhavenjoe]

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 player

We wont be out of Europe next season
Just end up playing in Europe in a different competition like Chelsea are this year.
The champions league is a " want" for any player thinking of a transfer.

 

[Gabriel]

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.

How far are we falling?...

 

[Bluewonder]

We've fell off a cliff the past 6 weeks. Brentford and Fulham at home were a real slog as well that could easily have been draws. I hope a few posters are now waking up and realising this isn't a 2 or 3 player refresh. The entire spine of the team needs replacing/ reinforcing coupled with a RB. Pep will know this now and sentiment needs putting aside with a few current players.

The entire spine of the team does not need replacing. The spine of the team is:

Ederson,
Dias, Gvardiol, Akanji, Ake

Rodri, Foden,

Haaland

These are players in their prime and will be for another couple of years in the case of Ederson, Akanji and Ake and for 5-7 years for the others.

There's others who can do a job from the bench as their careers wind down like Kova, Grealish and Bernardo and others who should grow into the team like Savio and Doku.

We desperately need a new right back and a couple of quality midfielders, but we'll be well-placed to challenge for titles when they come in.

 

[John Wayne]

The entire spine of the team does not need replacing. The spine of the team is:

Ederson,
Dias, Gvardiol, Akanji, Ake

Rodri, Foden,

Haaland

These are players in their prime and will be for another couple of years in the case of Ederson, Akanji and Ake and for 5-7 years for the others.

There's others who can do a job from the bench as their careers wind down like Kova, Grealish and Bernardo and others who should grow into the team like Savio and Doku.

We desperately need a new right back and a couple of quality midfielders, but we'll be well-placed to challenge for titles when they come in.

I think this is a good, measured post.

We have let the squad deteriorate but I think we're five signings away from being fine. Once we move on Gundogan, De Bruyne and Walker in the summer, we won't have an outfield player over the age of 31.

We still have players to return from injury and hit peak condition again. Bobb and Rodri will be hugely significant players for us when they return.

People forget that Gvardiol, Doku and Savinho are all young and will improve. In fact, I'd say that Doku in particular was starting to show signs of improvement before his injury. These boys will continue to grow.

A new RB, LB, DM, CM and striker sorts us out over January and summer 2025. That's not a massive overhaul, it's the same number of outfield players recruited in the summers of 2022 and 2023.

 

[Roachy]

The entire spine of the team does not need replacing. The spine of the team is:

Ederson,
Dias, Gvardiol, Akanji, Ake

Rodri, Foden,

Haaland

These are players in their prime and will be for another couple of years in the case of Ederson, Akanji and Ake and for 5-7 years for the others.

There's others who can do a job from the bench as their careers wind down like Kova, Grealish and Bernardo and others who should grow into the team like Savio and Doku.

We desperately need a new right back and a couple of quality midfielders, but we'll be well-placed to challenge for titles when they come in.

We'll see but I'll stick with what I said. A RB and 2 MF's aren't enough. I like how you've omitted KDB, Gundo and not referenced any reinforcements for your "spine" players. Age, departures and indifferent form from some of the players you've mentioned are major factors looking ahead.

 

[Bluewonder]

I think this is a good, measured post.

We have let the squad deteriorate but I think we're five signings away from being fine. Once we move on Gundogan, De Bruyne and Walker in the summer, we won't have an outfield player over the age of 31.

We still have players to return from injury and hit peak condition again. Bobb and Rodri will be hugely significant players for us when they return.

People forget that Gvardiol, Doku and Savinho are all young and will improve. In fact, I'd say that Doku in particular was starting to show signs of improvement before his injury. These boys will continue to grow.

A new RB, LB, DM, CM and striker sorts us out over January and summer 2025. That's not a massive overhaul, it's the same number of outfield players recruited in the summers of 2022 and 2023.

Yep, and we could probably get by without a LB and a back-up striker who can contribute 15 a season hopefully won't prove to be too difficult or expensive to sign.

 

[Damanino]

he wanted a small squad now he got it. then stop crying about missing players. how good would be to have Alvarez around now to throw him in or even start him a lot. letting him go is one thing, not getting a replacement and be arrogant thinking his 30 G+A contribution will be just picked up by likes of Savinho and Grealish who have 0 goal between them so far.

 

[Roachy]

I think this is a good, measured post.

We have let the squad deteriorate but I think we're five signings away from being fine. Once we move on Gundogan, De Bruyne and Walker in the summer, we won't have an outfield player over the age of 31.

We still have players to return from injury and hit peak condition again. Bobb and Rodri will be hugely significant players for us when they return.

People forget that Gvardiol, Doku and Savinho are all young and will improve. In fact, I'd say that Doku in particular was starting to show signs of improvement before his injury. These boys will continue to grow.

A new RB, LB, DM, CM and striker sorts us out over January and summer 2025. That's not a massive overhaul, it's the same number of outfield players recruited in the summers of 2022 and 2023.

I didn't know we were constrained by 22/23 arrivals for future years.

 

[Bluewonder]

We'll see but I'll stick with what I said. A RB and 2 MF's aren't enough. I like how you've omitted KDB, Gundo and not referenced any reinforcements for your "spine" players. Age, departures and indifferent form from some of the players you've mentioned are major factors looking ahead.

I would be selling/ releasing KDB, Gundo, Stones and Walker this coming summer, so I didn't mention any of those.

Indifferent form is temporary and the players I mentioned are all in their prime and will be for a while.

It sounds like we're looking at Zubimendi and Ederson for the DM role and Musiala and Wirtz for the AM role. If you add two of those four to that spine you have the best team in the world again.

I've no idea on RB!