Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

[Blue-Ghana]

The lineup today suggested we would take a more pragmatic approach to the game, I'm thinking it's not a bad idea, it is at least something different. So he takes our ball playing keeper and best defender on the ball out of the lineup and seemingly replaces them with a more sturdy defence and we naturally assume we'll perhaps play a bit more directly than usual, try turn the dippers and get in behind them from time to time, be a bit quicker in going back to front because we sure as shit don't have the players on the pitch to dominate the ball and play through them.

Game kicks off and we've got Dias standing on the ball, inviting pressure until he forces the high press from them and then within 3 passes we've lost the ball because we simply cannot beat a press anymore as everybody is too slow. we get away with it numerous times without once even getting out over the halfway proving it to be totally useles tactic thay brings danger and no reward and yet we just persist with it.

What did pep have in his mind? I'd love to know how he thought we were going to score today. The players aren't to blame for that, they tried to make a deeply flawed gameplan work as best they could against all the odds.

The starting line up had no pace ...with Bernardo and Nunes on the wings ,we are never going to be direct,the aim was to control possession

 

[bluegaz13]

I wouldn’t swap Pep…..but he’s not immune to criticism.
My biggest disappointment with him is that Liverpool, the Rags etc will pick a youngster to replace an injured player in a specialised position.
Even before this dreadful run started, we weren’t playing well but apart Simpson ( when he had no other choice) Pep is very reluctant to give any of the youngsters a start.
I have no idea how good Wright or O’Reilly are going to be, but Silva, Rico and Gundogan have obviously not worked against lesser teams than Liverpool so why did he think it would work today…..could the youngsters do any worse?
I have said for a long time that Grealish in the middle would give us something we lack….(providing he’s fit) a ball carrier plus someone who very rarely gives it away and some physicality …..again Pep looks like using Jack in the middle because he has run out of options.
Looking forward to Pep’s latest reinvention….In Pep I still trust !

 

[Monsters.]

Pep main philosophy is be a team be selfless that's how he has got us so consistent winning league titles and why no one else has ever got 100 points the domestic quad the treble four leagues in a row!

Best squad in English football history wins leagues shocker.

If he compromised that philosophy and allowed the plethora of talented players to express themselves intuitively he might have succeeded more often in Europe - as that squad should have.

 

[nellyonthewing]

After a disastrous start and being lucky not to be 3 or 4 down we then managed some ball retention but they just sat back and conceded ground .Liverpool did exactly what an opposition player said recently about playing City i.e 'when they have the ball we rest'. Its now a tired and flawed strategy with this team to slowly meander into the final congested third where 8 opponents wait for us to pass pass then rinse and repeat with zero threat. Come up with something else Pep.

 

[DATOIA]

We need to be realistic and start to look at certain things..

Like... KDB + Gundo + Bernie earn 1m per week and that's a lot of money...

But if we selected our best trio in midfield, that would be:

-------Rodri--------Kovacic-------
--------------Foden-----------------

And funny is that, these three earn like twice less than above mentioned three guys :D

So it's obvious that they need to go.

We should go for Zubimendi in January and that would be Rodri's cover and due to injuries, Kovacic should be regarded as a sub player, who covers for Zubimendi, so:

-------Rodri --------- Zubimendi--------
---------------Foden-----------------------

On the bench we have left: Kova, Matheus and Macatee..
Macatee as Foden's cover and Matheus as Zubimendi / Kovacic's..

But if till the end of this season Matheus doesn't improve significantly, then he should be moved as well and we need another player there, like Wirtz of someone like that.

I would give Macatee +1 season to prove himself and I'm sure, when defensive midfield plays well and our system starts to work again, Macatee will be great squad player, who will provide assists and goals.

That's why I am not so critical about other areas. Unless midfield starts to work again, which has always been cornerstone of our success, I can't blame defenders or attackers for poor displays.

So to sum up, we need to buy maximum of 2 top-class players in midfield.
Plus we will have Oscar Bobb and Echeverri.

KDB, Gundo and Bernie will most probably leave for free.

PS if we get Wirtz, who can also play LW position, I would also kick out Grealish, who earns 300K per week and hasn't done anything since the UCL final in 2023 and it's 2025 already..

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

He gave the feral Dippers’ fans (and by extension the red top journalists) the reaction they were praying for at the end, unfortunately.

Cherry on the cake for them.

 

[meeesh]

He gave the feral Dippers’ fans (and by extension the red top journalists) the reaction they were praying for at the end, unfortunately.

Cherry on the cake for them.

Only telling them the truth, I remember bingo on back of bus on of their parades doing similar regarding CL wins

It’s not too professional I concur but these reactions from Pep is because he’s proper feeling the strain now, I was hopeful two years was adequate when he signed a few week back, now I’m not sure if that will go the distance, he’s gonna crack up otherwise, and be a sad ending to what’s been a wonderful time at City

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

Best squad in English football history wins leagues shocker.

If he compromised that philosophy and allowed the plethora of talented players to express themselves intuitively he might have succeeded more often in Europe - as that squad should have.

Maybe, maybe not. What is the point of buying into peps philosophy, buying the players to fit and then doing something different? You could equally argue that pullis would have won the CL last year with city by just lumping it up to Haaland

 

[shemnel]

usual caveats we seem to need to not be called a bed wetter etc: Pep's the best we've had, im so grateful etc etc and on and on

I still dont understand why the defensive line is permanently so high? anyone figured this out yet?

 

[jimharri]

Has he gone yet?

 

[skillman]

I wouldn’t swap Pep…..but he’s not immune to criticism.
My biggest disappointment with him is that Liverpool, the Rags etc will pick a youngster to replace an injured player in a specialised position.
Even before this dreadful run started, we weren’t playing well but apart Simpson ( when he had no other choice) Pep is very reluctant to give any of the youngsters a start.
I have no idea how good Wright or O’Reilly are going to be, but Silva, Rico and Gundogan have obviously not worked against lesser teams than Liverpool so why did he think it would work today…..could the youngsters do any worse?
I have said for a long time that Grealish in the middle would give us something we lack….(providing he’s fit) a ball carrier plus someone who very rarely gives it away and some physicality …..again Pep looks like using Jack in the middle because he has run out of options.
Looking forward to Pep’s latest reinvention….In Pep I still trust !

The lack of McAtee and Wright have been major disappointments for me this season. Especially when the team/midfield has been so poor with younger, energetic legs being so obviously needed.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

In Pep we trust. We are very lucky to have him. It's that simple.

 

[meeesh]

Has he gone yet?

I remember posting that when Mancini was on the brink, it was duly removed, as should this, no times for tongue in cheek Jim, consider yourself fucking told man

 

[Blue Maverick]

What is he going to change ? He brought in two wingers who upto now are doing very little because I assume they are better playing counter attacking than slow passing which gets them nowhere as the box becomes to crowded, this leads to Erling getting zero service. If his philosophy is to keep the ball and play out from the back unfortunately that is not working now as we can’t string more than 3 passes together to play us out of trouble, so maybe don’t play such a highline invite teams on and then go fir the wingers, I just can’t see Pep going this but other teams have adapted with more physical speedy high pressing and it will be our downfall this season. It’s took teams 8 years to suss us out but now they have, small immobile players in midfield will not cut it, we need to recruit physical bigger lads for those positions who can boss the game this takes pressure of the defence and gives us more up top.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

best start in a season for us until the last 7 games.

WTF has happened, that team at Chelsea opening game of the season looked so fresh and determind.

 

[jimharri]

I remember posting that when Mancini was on the brink, it was duly removed, as should this, no times for tongue in cheek Jim, consider yourself fucking told man

"tongue in cheek"?

 

[Norman kneejerk]

What is he going to change ? He brought in two wingers who upto now are doing very little because I assume they are better playing counter attacking than slow passing which gets them nowhere as the box becomes to crowded, this leads to Erling getting zero service. If his philosophy is to keep the ball and play out from the back unfortunately that is not working now as we can’t string more than 3 passes together to play us out of trouble, so maybe don’t play such a highline invite teams on and then go fir the wingers, I just can’t see Pep going this but other teams have adapted with more physical speedy high pressing and it will be our downfall this season. It’s took teams 8 years to suss us out but now they have, small immobile players in midfield will not cut it, we need to recruit physical bigger lads for those positions who can boss the game this takes pressure of the defence and gives us more up top.

I have often thought similar and agree there is a problem. I think all of that and we are far too hesitant never catching teams off balance or on the hop. The only thing I would say is though there is no substitute for sheer class and that can transform any situation and that's what we need most imho.

 

[yerwot?]

For what-ever reasons, watching City has become dreary and frustrating. Predictable. Champagne that's gone flat. A recurring criticism on here is how slow the build-up to attacks are, maybe that is because opponents have honed their "press", from headless chicken to a form of "catenaccio" but with fitter, faster players. That is something Pep is responsible for (imo), and he needs to find a way to deal with it. At our best, one-touch instinctive movement that found holes even against jam-packed penalty areas was only possible with world-class players at their peak. That is not the case anymore, Father Time, injuries, too much football, and plain old battle-fatigue have all played their part, again, just my take on where we are right now.

 

[Richie Rich]

He gave the feral Dippers’ fans (and by extension the red top journalists) the reaction they were praying for at the end

He floored Michael Owen?

 

[beast]

Can’t always win? We’ve lost 7 out of 8. Conceded more goals in that time than any team in europe, the fuck are you talking about.

Morning fella, my opinion, that's what the fuck I'm talking about. Now be a good lad and jog on.