Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

It's a bit depressing to see some posters already spreading so much negativity before a ball has even been kicked in earnest. I guess it's debatable whether or not you class the CWC as the end of last season, or the start of this campaign, but I'm not reading too much into performances there. Fatigue, weather, lack of time to incorporate new signings etc. all played their part, but there were still some encouraging signs regardless.

Last season was something of an anomaly, with poor squad planning and injuries biting us on the arse. I expect us to be a different animal this time around though, with the new signings and coaching staff to freshen things up. Also expect to see a few more outgoings in the coming weeks so the squad will have a different feel by the time the Wolves game comes around. Pep will adapt too, as he always does. He'll be acutely aware of our failings last season and will surely address them.
Ric on the last line I hope you are right as I think it wasn't just last season it was the end of the one before where we somehow got over the line. Teams were already using the tactic to have the low block and expose our slowness in transition, so 18mths to counteract this threat.. lets hope he has pulled a rabbit out of his magical head and has it sussed
 
Ric on the last line I hope you are right as I think it wasn't just last season it was the end of the one before where we somehow got over the line. Teams were already using the tactic to have the low block and expose our slowness in transition, so 18mths to counteract this threat.. lets hope he has pulled a rabbit out of his magical head and has it sussed
Teams were using a low block and counters long before the last couple of seasons, probably by Peps 3rd or 4th season it was common. Most seasons we’ve overcome it.Last season at least before Christmas we didn’t, but having to pick a midfield from a misfiring Foden injury hit Kovacic and KDB, over used Gundogan amd Bernardo it’s hardly surprising our press failed.
Next season our midfield will be far more energetic.
 
Anyone who questions Pep no matter how mild or severe is attacked. The cult decide what's acceptable and what's not, context be damned. "You are disrespectful, you are entitled", "You think you know more than Pep". When anyone posts any criticism those statements should be automatically inserted as an addendum to the post...
True but it’s a City forum so no great surprise.

Don’t know about you but I’ve been a Blue for over 60 years. I wear my FOC medal with bar with pride. Some say the Pep critics come from the new plastic fans but that’s because the narrative suits them.

In my case, I’ve seen it all, from Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison to Alan Ball, to Gillingham to UEFA and World club champs. It’s filed as part of our illustrious history. With that comes the belief that the club is bigger than any manager, no matter how shit or how successful, and that life will go on.

It’s perfectly legit to regard Pep has having peaked a couple of years ago and having been caught up by the chasing crowd. I could be wrong, and hope I am. However, one thing certain is that our recent glory years won’t be replicated by Pep or anyone else. No reign at the summit lasts for ever; not Alf Ramsey, Cruyff, Mourinho nor the Govan Piss Can, nor, in other fields, Thatcher, Churchill, Hitler, Usain Bolt, Uncle Joe Stalin or even (!) Kier Starmer.

When opponents say “who will we get that betters Pep’s achievements?”, the answer is “nobody”. Because he was the king of his era and that era has gone.

No problem, no regrets, happy memories.
 
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True but it’s a City forum so no great surprise.

Don’t know about you but I’ve been a Blue for over 60 years. I wear my FOC medal with bar with pride. Some say the Pep critics come from the new plastic fans but that’s because the narrative suits them.

In my case, I’ve seen it all, from Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison to Alan Ball, to Gillingham to UEFA and World club champs. It’s filed as part of our illustrious history. With that comes the belief that the club is bigger than any manager, no matter how shit or how successful, and that life will go on.

It’s perfectly legit to regard Pep has having peaked a couple of years ago and having been caught up by the chasing crowd. I could be wrong, and hope I am. However, one thing certain is that our recent glory years won’t be replicated by Pep or anyone else. No reign at the summit lasts for ever; not Alf Ramsey, Cruyff, Mourinho nor the Govan Piss Can, nor, in other fields, Thatcher, Churchill, Hitler, Usain Bolt, Uncle Joe Stalin or even (!) Kier Starmer.

When opponents say “who will we get that betters Pep’s achievements?”, the answer is “nobody”. Because he was the king of his era and that era has gone.

No problem, no regrets, happy memories.
Over 60 years, you are a true OG! Me 31 years. 1994 to 2025 is like growing up piss poor, but happy and then striking it rich and being happier still.
As far as Pep, cemeteries are filled with "irreplaceable" people.
 
Over 60 years, you are a true OG! Me 31 years. 1994 to 2025 is like growing up piss poor, but happy and then striking it rich and being happier still.
As far as Pep, cemeteries are filled with "irreplaceable" people.
It was either my first or second season when we got relegated to Division 2 but came back up in 1966 as champs and went on to win the league in 1968.

We resurrected from the dead again in 1998, when us fans left Wembley singing “the Great Escape”. I was one of the few who has missed York away that year but luckily 250,000 others made up for my absence.

We’re a club who have plumbed the depths and scaled the heights. The next change of manager will be but a drop in our ocean of history.
 

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