Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

oldius said:
KDB, Kompany, Fern, Silva, Haaland, Aguero.

Non were prem-proven.
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All coming into strong teams, some title winning teams. We don't have the squad to carry players who need time to adapt for their potential to hopefully come through. We did with others in the past.
 
Ken92 said:
Who says players signed have high potential? You never know that most of the time and a lot of players never hit their so called potential. Should have brought in more world class players ,rather than try to hit jackpot for lesser money. You are right that this is history now ,but that doesn´t change the facts.
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Our scouting team and data analysts will identify potential.
 
thegoatsthegoat said:
All coming into strong teams, some title winning teams. We don't have the squad to carry players who need time to adapt for their potential to hopefully come through. We did with others in the past.
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Other than our most recent (summer) signings, all the others came into title-winning teams.
I won't bandy semantics with you though, I respect your view and it is clear that we both want our club to be successful.
 
oldius said:
Other than our most recent (summer) signings, all the others came into title-winning teams.
I won't bandy semantics with you though, I respect your view and it is clear that we both want our club to be successful.
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Yeah I am bowing out as you clearly think we are recruiting well (we aren't) and you are happy for us to continue to buy potential from lesser leagues, whilst we desperately need proven quality to hit the ground running. You will enjoy the next couple of years more than me to be fair.
 
Pep has his faults but the reality is that the quality isn’t there. Even the Pep of old wouldn’t coach this squad to a title. There’s too many uncertainties.

Defensively,
Our right back options are Nunes and Lewis which you can only laugh at. Stones and Ake haven’t played consistent high level football for 2 years. Dias has regressed. Jury still out on Ait-Nouri but I think he’ll be fine. Gvardiol is top class.

In midfield,
Bernardo’s legs are long gone. His cameo vs Spurs in particular was laughable. Reijnders was great against Wolves but the other 2 games show that he doesn’t look like he’s up to speed with the pace of the Prem. Suspect it’ll improve after the break but jury is still out.
Nico G another one who I think deserves time but at the minute he’s a backup at best. Kovacic is a squad player. Rodri is top class.

In attack,
Doku/Savinho are talented sure but the production isn’t where it needs to be.
Marmoush brings a spark no doubt, but to me he’s a downgrade from what Alvarez and Mahrez were in terms of being that secondary forward.

Foden needs to prove himself again and is quietly starting to become a sick note. Cherki still needs time but now out for 2 months. Haaland of course will score goals but he’s not dragging you to a title.

The likes of Bobb, Khusanov, Lewis, O’Reilly haven’t proven anything consistently yet to be relied upon heavily in a title charge.

We have far too many players who need to prove themselves again or the jury is still out on. It’s not a title winning squad.
 
thegoatsthegoat said:
Yeah I am bowing out as you clearly think we are recruiting well (we aren't) and you are happy for us to continue to buy potential from lesser leagues, whilst we desperately need proven quality to hit the ground running. You will enjoy the next couple of years more than me to be fair.
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It seems that way.
I have always enjoyed the journey just as much as the trophies.
The chance to watch a new team build is exciting to me.
It isn't without pitfalls though, and this particular time is tough given the success we have had.
 
oldius said:
KDB, Kompany, Fern, Silva, Haaland, Aguero.

Non were prem-proven.

It isn't pointless to debate, but I can agree or disagree.

Those of a different opinion to me have failed to note that I have already stated that we kept our legends too long and failed to invest earlier as we should. The club have stated that also.
I am interested in what happens now, that is all. I acknowledge that we have erred, as every business will have done in a twelve year cycle.
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It’s not about the players it’s about how the manager plays them and atm pep is getting it way wrong .
 
Paul1970 said:
It’s not about the players it’s about how the manager plays them and atm pep is getting it way wrong .
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I know you think that way. Results say you are correct.
I think we are in a transitional moment and we will not see consistency for some time.
Whether Pep sees it through or not is another matter.
 
problem is I dont think he knows how to stop this rot.

he is watching from the sideline teams taking us apart more or less the same methods since about October last season.

he has tried many different things, Lewis in midfield, Lewis inverted fullback, then Nunes, then Gvardiol LB, Gvardiol CB, then new transfer in January, then brought back KDB and played him every game, then Kovacic at 6, Gundo at 6, let fullbacks attack but invert the wingers, or wingers stuck to byline but invert fullbacks etc.
none of it worked before he had to change again.

one thing didnt change our panic when opponent decides to press us and run more and quicker than us and the massive errors just keep happening and our high line defence is crushed. it all made our players who won so much look amateurs at times.

and Spurs and Brighton showed none of it was fixed over the summer yet. Brighton only had about 40 mins of it that was enough for them.

are the players not listening to him? or is he asking things they cannot do? even vs Wolves we had to have that offside line to be inch perfect otherwise they score 2/3 goals. but its not going to be inch perfect most games. and we arent playing opponents that weak in most weeks either.
 
If we keep Pep we won’t get top 4. If we don’t let him go soon I think he will walk around the turn of the year. He’s done not all his fault. He’s ran out of ideas clubs know how to attack his favoured tactic and he’s been let down by the club signing well below par players
 
thegoatsthegoat said:
Yeah I am bowing out as you clearly think we are recruiting well (we aren't) and you are happy for us to continue to buy potential from lesser leagues, whilst we desperately need proven quality to hit the ground running. You will enjoy the next couple of years more than me to be fair.
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It is far too early to say that we are not recruiting well. There is a hell of a lot of talent in the likes of Cherki, Reijnders, Ait-Nouri and Khusanov...they could end up as fantastic buys in the future. We must remember that Rodri, David Silva and more took a long time to settle into English football. They were actually written off by many fans on this forum as poor buys.

The one killer for me in this transfer window is not getting a right back. Both Lewis and Nunes are not up to standard defensively and, in particular, against the top teams with top class wingers. It seems incredible that, with City's worldwide scouting expertise, we could not find a proper defender. Maybe Khusanov, our one defender with real speed, could be used here.
 
br88 said:
It is far too early to say that we are not recruiting well.
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I totally agree with that. There is probably information overload and uncertainty with regards to the league, the role in team, new team mates, new home ground, new type of grass, how to press, where to be (position), when to make runs etc for the new players. The list goes on for far too many players in the squad to say we are now settled. This will essentially be a bedding in season for new players, where there could be hopes for a good cup run if lucky. But not chance competing on all fronts like in the treble season.

Players I could easily see making it here are: Reijnders, Cherki, Bobb, Khusanov, Ait Nouri and Savinho. And Marmoush (he is nor Alvarez, but has the potential to be a deadly finisher. Not gelling too well with teammates at the moment)

I am little more on fence when it comes to some of the other newcomers:
- Nico Gonzalez (excellent defensive contribution, but is he the sought after deep-lying playmaker?)
- Rico Lewis (lack of pace, strength and defensive positional awareness. Offensive space awareness and technical ability very good)
- Doku (obvious extreme abilities 1v1. Too little vision and poor finishing for my taste)
- Nico O'Reilly (has physical attributes, a nick for a goal. Just giving the ball away a bit easily or not confident enough at the moment. Jury is still out)
- Trafford (too soon to judge)

As for players like Nunes, Kovacic and all the older, more established players - we know their qualities and weaknesses. They can all contribute or even dominate from time to time.
 
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thegoatsthegoat said:
Yep, all from the position of strength being the current Champions on top of that. It isn't good enough. A downfall was expected at some point. The disaster that followed wasn't. It's ok though, we won the second half of the league form table. Get the open top bus ready.
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So finishing 3rd in the League was a disaster after all the injuries we had last season ?
 
Gorton_Tubster said:
Something I don't believe (because I'm not so shallow) is that pep suddenly can't manage a winning team.

It's not something you learn, or lose. It's more about managing people, inspiring them, than juat tweaking tactics and having magical players.

But I think the drive is gone, from the club maybe because its from the manager. Maybe anyway. If be amazed if Pep can turn this around.

Whatever though, it's going to make zero sense sacking him in his last year when he's setting us up for the next guy.
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I hope the new assistants will give him a lift but there’s little evidence so far. Hopefully early season teething and the other guys influence will start to show soon. But we’re doing the same plan every week and it’s poor.
 
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