Pep Guardiola - 2024/25

[citeh94]

Seen some stuff about him and it’s pretty clear anyone doubting him wasn’t a City fan before he came in because what he has given us is beyond my wildest dreams. 20 years ago I would have bitten anyone’s hand off for even 1 league title and we’ve done 6 in 7 years. Mad.

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

We were a missed penalty and a hangover away from a consecutive treble just 9 months ago.

This line of argument is braindead.

Scary part is.. we were Rodri's loss of form (2021), Cancelo's braindead playing Benzema onside (2022), and that awful Kova pen (2024) away from 4 in a row CL's.

I wouldn't be surprised if we actually do manage to do something like that in the next iteration because we've broken the glass ceiling already!

 

[5 Hit Gibbon]

Them fuckers at the Telegraph would love him to leave because they know everybody after Pep is a massive downgrade.

Exactly this. I hope he stays as long as possible, everyone else hates that he's here as he's stopped them winning things.

 

[Gordyola]

This is where Fergie did well. Changing his assistant every few years to freshen things up. Our assistant looks half asleep most of the time.

Bit of a myth about him refreshing his assistant, they all left to be managers and he fell out with a good few of them as well including Kiddo who he didn’t speak to for years Pep has had 4 work with him and all of them remain friends

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Bit of a myth about him refreshing his assistant, they all left to be managers and he fell out with a good few of them as well including Kiddo who he didn’t speak to for years Pep has had 4 work with him and all of them remain friends

Pep also done it as well. Think he’s had 5 or 6 in the 9 years so far

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Scary part is.. we were Rodri's loss of form (2021), Cancelo's braindead playing Benzema onside (2022), and that awful Kova pen (2024) away from 4 in a row CL's

I'd forgotten about Kova's effort.
What sticks in my mind is Bernardo's arrogant attempt.
2 weeks later he struck a great penalty for Portugal

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

I'd forgotten about Kova's effort.
What sticks in my mind is Bernardo's arrogant attempt.
2 weeks later he struck a great penalty for Portugal

Yeah for me KOVA is the worst signing for City the past 15 seasons.. Total shit.

I am never quick to throw a player under the bus after one game but after the Chelsea game in this season where he gave the ball away 8 times.. I realized it.. he's fucking shit and always has been.

Might get away with lesser opposition but he will be punished by good teams and we've been taught a lesson in how a midfield should be run in our games vs Villa, PSG and Real Madrid this season. Hell even Leicester gave us problems with Bilal El Khanouss and Baleba.

The first step to fixing a problem is realizing we have a problem and hopefully the front office and Pep realize that we need massive changes. At least FOUR new midfielders in to phase out Kova, KDB, Gundo and one of Stones/ Bernardo.

I think Bernardo.. how he acted after Khusanov had a nightmare first 5 minutes and he made himself available to take the pressure off him.. he should be given another season.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Just needs to take a leaf out of Vinny's book and have a nice Manc Lass giving him some stress relief when he needs it.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Yeah for me KOVA is the worst signing for City the past 15 seasons.. Total shit.

I criticised him earlier in the season and a poster, a young lady I think, accused me of being racist.
He's not our worst signing but far from our best.
Has scored some crucial goals for us but there is something lacking.

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

I criticised him earlier in the season and a poster, a young lady I think, accused me of being racist.
He's not our worst signing but far from our best.
Has scored some crucial goals for us but there is something lacking.

I've run out of patience for the clown. He doesn't fit the team and he plays completely braindead. People threw Rico under the bus for the Real loss but it was Kova all along.

Btw funny I'm not Mangalaist, Bonyist, Mendyist but whatever.. she can call me Kovacist.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Yeah for me KOVA is the worst signing for City the past 15 seasons.. Total shit.

I am never quick to throw a player under the bus after one game but after the Chelsea game in this season where he gave the ball away 8 times.. I realized it.. he's fucking shit and always has been.

Might get away with lesser opposition but he will be punished by good teams and we've been taught a lesson in how a midfield should be run in our games vs Villa, PSG and Real Madrid this season. Hell even Leicester gave us problems with Bilal El Khanouss and Baleba.

The first step to fixing a problem is realizing we have a problem and hopefully the front office and Pep realize that we need massive changes. At least FOUR new midfielders in to phase out Kova, KDB, Gundo and one of Stones/ Bernardo.

I think Bernardo.. how he acted after Khusanov had a nightmare first 5 minutes and he made himself available to take the pressure off him.. he should be given another season.

Kalvin Phillips cost more than Kovacic.

 

[simon23]

Spot on.

The drama around our performance and results are because bad news about City sells.

I don't remember Real having this after their 4-0 drubbing. We mauled them that night and then they won the CL the next season.

The dippers won the league then fell off a cliff. They spent time out of the CL. They rebuilt and are a good side again.

We have gone up against a side who throw a fortune at players and have some of the best in the world. You can talk about how cheap Valverde was but their stature means they can get players for cheap as they live off their names and pay huge wages.

We are a few players off getting right back to the top, but we also rely on those we have bought to develop fast and deliver more consistently.

And Pep is the best manager on the planet to deliver that.

Agreed.

I do think we have started the rebuild already....both Khusonov and Nico look good already...especially considering the pressure they have been under from the off and with th positions that they play. Marmoush looks an excellent addition but with his age and experience you would expect him to be able to adapt.....Reis is obviously going to take time to develop to see if he can reach the level required

Our midfield overhaul has to be a priority and moving out players is the first step towards that. There can be no nostalgia or sentiment in this...KDB, Kova, Gundo Bernardo all are at the end of their careers....we cannot have them as part of our midfield next season.....Bernardo may still have it but the rest absolutely not.....they are past it. regardless of their performances from this point on we have to replace them....
Grealish needs to go....he has been a failure and aint gong to be the player we need.
One of Stones or Ake needs to go to create financial and squad room as well as we can carry one injury prone player but not two. Lastly a proper right back is required even though Khusonov did a decent job there (the issue for him will be his ability in the final third - whereas Walker wasnt great

I agree that the high wages will help, but there’s not too much in transfer fees in there! And, “4 quality replacements” will demand every penny of $1M/month in wages themselves.

But we haven't until this winter spent that much over a few previous so we should have financial room to spend...plus sell8ng a few academy kids will bring in money.

 

[simon23]

I haven't seen many want him out, just genuinely question what is going on currently. Not seeing KDB was done is on him, not starting the rebuild last summer is on him. Not planning accordingly regarding Rodri is on him. Our formation, set up, boring slow style of football is on him.

He has brought us success we will never see again, he has been an absolute joy managing us and I hope he can find that desire and eagerness to go again, find solutions and innovate as he has done previously. He deserves every plaudit for what he has brought us, but on the same level he needs to be held accountable too.

Its not just on him though...its on the DOF as well. I suspect the squad planning in terms of future is more on the DOF as well. Peo deals with the here and now...

The style of football in terms of slow build up, possession based etc is what has created that success

 

[ChicagoBlue]

But we haven't until this winter spent that much over a few previous so we should have financial room to spend...plus sell8ng a few academy kids will bring in money.

The greatest help is the amortization of “young player, long contract,” with the requisite sliding scale of wages starting in the €50-100K/mo range and slowly rising into the €200K range.

If we can get 4-5 of those players in the team, then we are golden!

 

[ChicagoBlue]

The style of football in terms of slow build up, possession based etc is what has created that success

Yesterdays fish wrapper.

What’s going to lead the back pages tomorrow? Or as we say in America/Canada, you have to skate to where the puck is going!

 

[heslops barnet]

Yeah for me KOVA is the worst signing for City the past 15 seasons.. Total shit.

I am never quick to throw a player under the bus after one game but after the Chelsea game in this season where he gave the ball away 8 times.. I realized it.. he's fucking shit and always has been.

Might get away with lesser opposition but he will be punished by good teams and we've been taught a lesson in how a midfield should be run in our games vs Villa, PSG and Real Madrid this season. Hell even Leicester gave us problems with Bilal El Khanouss and Baleba.

The first step to fixing a problem is realizing we have a problem and hopefully the front office and Pep realize that we need massive changes. At least FOUR new midfielders in to phase out Kova, KDB, Gundo and one of Stones/ Bernardo.

I think Bernardo.. how he acted after Khusanov had a nightmare first 5 minutes and he made himself available to take the pressure off him.. he should be given another season.

Bernie, one episode of solidarity deserves another season?

Don’t think so, thanks Bernie you’ve been a great servant for the club but close the door behind you on your way out.

 

[heslops barnet]

Its not just on him though...its on the DOF as well. I suspect the squad planning in terms of future is more on the DOF as well. Peo deals with the here and now...

The style of football in terms of slow build up, possession based etc is what has created that success

Slow build up looks dated now….come on Pep get things changed and come again….

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

Who in our squad doesnt speak english? Savinho and the two CBs, that's it

Savinho even said he was 'buzzing' for marmoush the other day. We're an English club and our training sessions are in English. Dunno what poster you were replying to was trying to imply.

 

[supercity88]

Yesterdays fish wrapper.

What’s going to lead the back pages tomorrow? Or as we say in America/Canada, you have to skate to where the puck is going!

It's not an outdated style of play. If you have possession of the football you're more likely to score than the opposition and less likely to concede. It's just about getting the right players to implement that strategy to the highest level. When we lose the ball we're wide open which has led to us being a lot safer and more pedestrian when we've had the ball.

Rodri's return will instantly help us control and dominate games again. We saw with Nico against Newcastle how critical it is to have someone who can anticipate where the outball is if we lose possession and win it straight back. That gives attacking players the confidence to press rather than being fearful of the space they're leaving behind them.

 

[simon23]

Slow build up looks dated now….come on Pep get things changed and come again….

Dated......after one bad season. Have you quickly forgotten yhe previous seasons? Pep literally changed football in this country...you don't think he has adapted as he has gone along...even this season he has changed, we have been way more direct in our attacking play at times.