Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

[Kippax77]

Correct, I suspect they will overun our defence. We could and should have held on to win last night and gained in confidence , now we go into the next game low on confidence.

And knackered through our inability to keep the ball.
I don't mind us losing possession further up the pitch, but to be dispossessed whilst playing backwards creases me

 

[Chak19]

And knackered through our inability to keep the ball.
I don't mind us losing possession further up the pitch, but to be dispossessed whilst playing backwards creases me

Exactly, like I said before it's both negative and risky at the same time.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

And knackered through our inability to keep the ball.
I don't mind us losing possession further up the pitch, but to be dispossessed whilst playing backwards creases me

That comes with playing a high line when the players are not up to it.

 

[SWP's back]

Seems out of ideas and far too loyal to some players whose legs have clearly gone.

 

[Bluewonder]

Sadly it's time to go

Great, don't let the door hit you on your way out.

 

[robbieh]

Probably would be like that. It is always a long road of chop and change to get the right manager.

Pep will not stay forever and we can't guarantee that the next guy (or gal) will be as good for as long.

In my opinion now is probably the best time to get someone new (if they are available). Expectations are low, months to try things, summer for signings, new season probably another test bed.

Anyway it's not my decision but if it was and the right candidate was ready I'd switch.

The right candidate is the issue.

This Saturday Leverkusen play Bayern. 2 young managers on show.

 

[TonyM]

The right candidate is the issue.

This Saturday Leverkusen play Bayern. 2 young managers on show.

Obviously we want the very best candidate for our club ... but I suspect it'll not go smooth whoever we get.

Most important for me is their energy level. I'd prefer Mancini vibes than Pelligrini vibes.

After that I'd just cross my fingers and toes.

 

[eastmanc]

Like Ric said a couple of weeks ago, be careful what you wish for Blues. All we have to do is look over the road to old scaffold to see what happens after a great manager leaves. Let Pep try and rebuild the squad he has earned that.

 

[sir baconface]

surely, Khusanov and Victor Reiss would have been better choices against two superfast wingers of Real. Lewis was destroyed against PSG as well, Pep is doing him no favors by playing him against fast and physical players.

This sort of sums up one of the main issues with Pep. He ALWAYS falls back on his trusted favourites - regardless of form and current ability - rather than “risk” a less experienced player. When push comes to shove, though, is that really improving the odds, and is it the way to build for the future?

You can understand it when we’re in a ding-dong race for the title but it just looks like obstinacy in current circumstances.

 

[Craig]

Having great intensity without having great quality means there are spaces to be attacked. They can't keep possession like Madrid and won't be able to play through our high press like them. Intensity or not, Newcastle are levels below Madrid.

So are we in terms of quality. Our press is average these days at best. They won’t try and play through they’ll go over thetop and down the wings. Be worrying to watch whoever is right back against Gordon.Not saying we won’t win on Saturday but i certainly wouldn’t back us.

 

[Craig]

Like Ric said a couple of weeks ago, be careful what you wish for Blues. All we have to do is look over the road to old scaffold to see what happens after a great manager leaves. Let Pep try and rebuild the squad he has earned that.

He’s definitely earned that. Overachieved last season and even he accepts now we should have recruited last summer. Try and have a good end to the season as there is still plenty to play for. A decent right back in the summer and keeper and the return of Rodri and things could be very different.

 

[K-Bo]

He's earned a terrible season, but that doesn't mean it's not a terrible season and he doesn't deserve criticism for it. He's been as bad as any of the players and everything he's done since the rodri injury has been wrong, wrong and wrong again. The crux of it seems to be an over reliance on aged players and a refusal to face facts about them but there's other things too.

in his own words he doesn't seem very good at managing a team without top level players and I agree with him, doesn't mean that if some top players are restored to his team he wont be back on top. Its the worst year of his career though and he's to blame as much as the injuries imo

 

[Saddleworth2]

He’s definitely earned that. Overachieved last season and even he accepts now we should have recruited last summer. Try and have a good end to the season as there is still plenty to play for. A decent right back in the summer and keeper and the return of Rodri and things could be very different.

I'm not sure it will. What would our midfield look like under those circumstances?

 

[merz]

I mean if you field lewis, kovacic, gündo and bernardo at the same time against madrid thats what you get.

you can keep kovacic as a squad player next season as an 8 but the others are burnt out, too old or just not good enough.

also marmoush isnt' a winger, especially in our system. he needs to play behind or next to haaland. why not play more compact when 2:1 up? wingers still need to hug the touchline? such a high line?

and then theres ederson... cant command his defense, cant save shots and gives the ball away like that at the end? wow.

 

[TonyM]

Like Ric said a couple of weeks ago, be careful what you wish for Blues. All we have to do is look over the road to old scaffold to see what happens after a great manager leaves. Let Pep try and rebuild the squad he has earned that.

We can't avoid a post Pep existence. The chaos of replacing manager after manager will be here sooner or later. It was fun to laugh at others while we were cozy but we'll suffer the same.

(Unless we can be lucky like Liverpool. That'd be nice)

 

[Craig]

I'm not sure it will. What would our midfield look like under those circumstances?

Rodri and Gonzalez( if that doesn’t give us a much more solid base then it’s time to give up) with then an attacking midfielder. Take your pick Bobb, Foden, Grealish or Bernado if you just want another grafter in there. Million times better than what we’ve had all this season and competitive compared to any other midfield in the league, assuming Gonzalez comes off after 6 months to bed in.

 

[Kippax77]

Like Ric said a couple of weeks ago, be careful what you wish for Blues. All we have to do is look over the road to old scaffold to see what happens after a great manager leaves. Let Pep try and rebuild the squad he has earned that.

I don't think we should use that shower of shit as a template.
Look at Slot coming in and almost eclipsing bingo in 1 season.
I don't know Khaldoon personally (obviously) but when I've listened to him the one thing I can gather is that he is dead set against stagnation.
He wants the club pushing forward all the time.
Pep will be given time but he needs to show us next year that he can go again without over reliance on the old guard.
The club will back him financially, then the rest is on him, as it would be with any manager

 

[Saddleworth2]

Rodri and Gonzalez( if that doesn’t give us a much more solid base then it’s time to give up) with then an attacking midfielder. Take your pick Bobb, Foden, Grealish or Bernado if you just want another grafter in there. Million times better than what we’ve had all this season and competitive compared to any other midfield in the league, assuming Gonzalez comes off after 6 months to bed in.

Bobb is unproven as a midfielder. You are also assuming that Phil could operate as a central attacking midfielder. Maybe he can but not really shown it this season where to all intents and purposes he is playing as an additional attacker and shows little appetite for off the ball work or laying on chances for others. Grealish may well be on his way out and you are basing your proposal on a player that is clearly not trusted enough. Bernie? Does he have another season in him? I'm not sure. That midfield lacks the physicality strength and pace that exists elsewhere in the PL. I honestly think its a bigger rebuild.

 

[Gabriel]

Rodri and Gonzalez( if that doesn’t give us a much more solid base then it’s time to give up) with then an attacking midfielder. Take your pick Bobb, Foden, Grealish or Bernado if you just want another grafter in there. Million times better than what we’ve had all this season and competitive compared to any other midfield in the league, assuming Gonzalez comes off after 6 months to bed in.

I think that could be right, but I also think we'd need to add a couple more to that mix: players with more pace and physicality who can cover the pitch.

 

[hilts]

We used to go months without making mistakes, now we make at least five a half

Edited for accuracy