I mean the fans on here.
For the record, Pep is not above criticism. But to imply he doesn't understand that playing with a high line or the uncs is suicidal is a stupid criticism. Anyone with two brain cells should be able to understand that Pep's knowledge of the game is far superior to his/her own, that he sees the players in training every day and knows their strengths and weaknesses much better than fans and pundits.
If Capello (79) talks to Pep and points out his wrong decisions regarding leaving star players on the bench in big games, I'm sure Pep can explain his decisions in a pretty rational way: he had reasons for them. This doesn't mean he was right, but he might not be as egotistical as Capello suggests.
For instance, playing Akanji at RB in the big games in 22/23 might have been seen as irrational, as Walker is widely regarded as a word class RB. Yet it was the right decision ultimately.
In the end, you can't go as far in football as Pep (who has won much more trophies than Capello and has had a much bigger impact on football, Capello's tactics were ultra defensive and uninspiring), if you are an egotistical genius who puts his ego over the team.
Capello made some very harsh comments on Cruyff the manager as well. Apparently, he couldn't get over the praise Cruyff was receiving for his attacking football...
Main problem with the high line compared to past seasons we’ve played it. Is there’s no chemistry between the defenders. Dias is the main centre back but he needs a partner.
It’s hard to gain chemistry when we don’t have a recognised right back and a partner for Dias. Injuries have affected this as well
I don't think it would be fair to belittle those fans who watch football day in day out and watch our own club religiously both now and pre-pep.
They understand football in their own way, which makes their opinion perfectly valid (even if it's something you disagree with).
I find the whole "pep knows everything" argument reductive. Again it's not that it's not valid, just incredibly dull.
I've said my peace. Now lets talk about not playing rodri or fern in the champions league final against chelsea? ;)Those fans belittle a genius mind in football, and also some of our players, they should be able to cope with criticisms of their opinions. It's a forum.
I find your defence of their opinions somewhat dull as well: they are free to express their concerns, criticisms or even dislike (!) for Pep and some players, other fans are free to argue they are being silly and disrespectful.
But Pep needs to not be so stubborn at times when its going wrong and change it?
I don't know if Pep is arrogant but Capello has a point there. In the game where the dippers destroyed our team coach, I still don't understand how we used Gundo as a left sided wide midfielder, the Lyon game with Eric Garcia still traumatizes me, going up against RM and failing to make substitutes to protect the defence in the dying minutes of the game. If he was just a little bit more practical, we would have at least 2 more UCL titles.He has a point though ,Pep has fcked up many times in CL play-offs with really stupid formations and picks.
Well he did, after the new year he went to a box midfield, somethime 5 which lead to us getting the most points after January and getting into 3rd, almost chasing down second.But Pep needs to not be so stubborn at times when its going wrong and change it?
I don’t think it’s necessarily Peps fault, if we had Konate and Van Dijk the high line wouldn’t be an issue or a Gabriel and Saliba.
Juventus is an example Vlahovic goal, Akanji doesn’t step forward with the rest of the defence meaning Vlahovic is onside.
If there’s chemistry Akanji would know to step forward with the rest of the defence to play the offside trap. But he doesn’t he’s been out injured and just come in but that’s the story for most of our centre backs.
Hard to build a defence that solid and has chemistry when nearly all your centre half’s are injured.
If Dias has a partner that played week in week out with him we’d look more solid at the back
Spot on and he has changed formation and tactics over and over again throughout the period he has been manager. Reading some posts you would think he has only ever had one way of playingWell he did, after the new year he went to a box midfield, somethime 5 which lead to us getting the most points after January and getting into 3rd, almost chasing down second.
Well he did, after the new year he went to a box midfield, somethime 5 which lead to us getting the most points after January and getting into 3rd, almost chasing down second.
I agree with this but after a few games where we can all see this the manager should adapt not persist with the same tacticsMain problem with the high line compared to past seasons we’ve played it. Is there’s no chemistry between the defenders. Dias is the main centre back but he needs a partner.
It’s hard to gain chemistry when we don’t have a recognised right back and a partner for Dias. Injuries have affected this as well.
I'd like to echo your opinion. It's on me that I've let the "Pep can do no wrong" posters get me to become harsher. Your post is honest, realistic, and probably a great representation of how many City supporters are feeling. I don't believe for anyone who watches every single second of our matches it's all that difficult to reach your conclusions. One doesn't have to dislike Pep to raise questions about how he's moving. For me City comes first. Miles above everyone including the legendary Pep. 99% of managers around world football would kill to have the talent he's had at his disposal at Barca, Bayern, and City. That said, he's kept his end of the bargain way more often than not. Which, for me makes some his decision making since winning the treble legitimately worrisome.I'd value the opinions of people on here much more than the non-City media pundits (current or former players or coaches). They may have competed at the highest level but that doesn't make them hugely insightful on what goes on at this club. So I've no time for Capello's comments.
That said I think Pep has lost his mojo. I would have preferred him to walk on a high the season before last or on a low after this past season. On the assumption that the club had a ready to go replacement of the top calibre. I fear the club is sleep walking to an extent by not making a significant move at the top.
But then we signed some very exciting players. And then we had more bewildering decisions by Pep. So God only knows.
I'd like to see a season with the likes of Echeverri, Cherki, Reijnders, Ait Nouri & Marmoush mixing with improved performances of Foden, Haaland, Doku, Savinho and the return of Rodri and Bobb. But I also want to see plenty of Nunes, Gvardiol, O'Reily, Gonzales, Khusonov and Reiss. It's so close you can taste it but having lost faith in Pep I feel like we are heading into the season with one hand tied behind our back.
I hope I'm wrong.
Maybe because you are taking it personal. Assumptions are being made about respect and such. You can consider that some are asking who the eff is this guy looking frazzled and making, let's be honest, a lot of questionable decisions for a bit now and where is the Pep we all know? Under no circumstances in the world we take a 4 nil to a shit Spurs team at home. That's just one example but shit like that happened all year. We didn't fall off, we became unrecognizable. Yes Pep deserves a ton of credit for all he's done here and elsewhere, but he also has to own that in the face of some adversity he had no answers, none that made any sense. We were nowhere near bereft of players that we should be getting clocked 5-1 at Arsenal. Arsenal couldn't clock Southampton like that. Then to say we didn't need any January signings to get CL football? Was Marmoush and his vital contributions just a figment of my imagination? He needs to get it sorted sooner rather than later or things will get real ugly, rightly or wrongly. If he proceeds with playing Gundo, Akanji, and some others over the likes of Foden, Cherki, Marmoush, Khusonov, etc. it won't turn out good for anyone (except our rivals)...Here's my issue, some may have doubts whether we can rebuild with Pep back to where he had us, I can discuss that and they may be proved right. What I find unnacceptable are those posters and there are a few that are those giving zero respect given to him for the last 9 years of records and trophies, zero credit in the bank to give him time to rebuild in his way, and no awareness that he and his coaches might just possibly know what they are doing, and understand tactics.
I find some of the disrespect from City fans towards a man that has brought so much shocking.
That's fine, but perhaps you yourself are blinkered?I put those in a bracket as blinkered, grass is greener, entitled or just none city fans!
Main problem is there is no prime Walker to use his pace and strength to outrun everyone and win the ball. In fact we continued using the same high line with Rico Lewis at RB who is practically the anti-Walker, very technical, but small and slow. Once Nunes settled in at RB we were much better but lo and behold Akanji steps in for the FA Cup Final and falls asleep on their goal. Ya can't make this shit up...Main problem with the high line compared to past seasons we’ve played it. Is there’s no chemistry between the defenders. Dias is the main centre back but he needs a partner.
It’s hard to gain chemistry when we don’t have a recognised right back and a partner for Dias. Injuries have affected this as well.
My opinion too. At least 1 of our CBs per game needs to be excellent at passing from deep (like Laporte years ago) or in midfield (like Stones at his best). Ideally both CBs are also lightening quick and hard as nails (like Kompany years ago). Leadership etc can come from further forward if that is the reason why we play the slower minded guys at CB.He underestimated Al-Hilal again , he need to start playing 1 touch football . Dias and Akanji are too slow in thinking , Gvardiol needs to replace one of them and Stones if he is not leaving .
Or maybe if he was a bit more ‘practical ‘we’d have lost some of those many games we won and have less titles. He is who he is you take the good with the the bad,as you do with every single coach in the world ever, the number of trophies suggest the good far out weighs the bad, more than most. Thats all you can ask.I don't know if Pep is arrogant but Capello has a point there. In the game where the dippers destroyed our team coach, I still don't understand how we used Gundo as a left sided wide midfielder, the Lyon game with Eric Garcia still traumatizes me, going up against RM and failing to make substitutes to protect the defence in the dying minutes of the game. If he was just a little bit more practical, we would have at least 2 more UCL titles.