Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

[Gumzy97]

I'm going to ask this, who's in charge? Because we don't look like a Pep team, we don't play like a Pep team there's no triangles slow possession in attack, against Brighton, Tottenham even Wolves. It was rush , flicks and tricks, boot long etc. Instead of death by thousand passes. 1 touch passes instead, quickly getting the ball into finals third on the counter instead of controlled possession.

We look nothing like a Pep team we look like this is Pep Lijnders team. Pep lijnders has put his stamp on this team. The quick press the kick long the quick counters all Pep lijnders philosophy. I genuinely struggling to see Pep Guardiola stamp on the team. Apart from the inverted fullback

 

[B\connellblue]

I have to agree, I think last year (off the field) was tougher for him than we know. In most other fields of employment you could be given an extended leave of absence but when you're involved in every aspect of one of the highest profile sports teams in the world it's not that easy. He must be drained - I really feel for him. I don't want him to go, I want him to succeed again and again and again but that's me being selfish. Whatever happens, I wish him well

What kind of employment gives you a leave of absence because of marital difficulties?
Just curious here by the way.

 

[waspish]

Now the window is ended am excited by what pep will coach tactics with this total new squad of players will do! Feel now it’s definitely a transitional season just because all the new players we have now and the a lot of the experience has gone..

 

[blueparrot]

I'm going to ask this, who's in charge? Because we don't look like a Pep team, we don't play like a Pep team there's no triangles slow possession in attack, against Brighton, Tottenham even Wolves. It was rush , flicks and tricks, boot long etc. Instead of death by thousand passes. 1 touch passes instead, quickly getting the ball into finals third on the counter instead of controlled possession.

We look nothing like a Pep team we look like this is Pep Lijnders team. Pep lijnders has put his stamp on this team. The quick press the kick long the quick counters all Pep lijnders philosophy.

No such thing as a Pep team, apart from being a posession team which we still are, his teams evolve.Linders was brought in by Pep for a reason so any changes we do see over the next months are because Pep wants them.

 

[Norman kneejerk]

Reinders seems like the kind of player where if he plays well the team plays well.but he's been snuffed out the last 2 games
I'd push him up to 10 especially as the other options are injured and play a stronger 2 behind him, Rodri and Nico to cover him and the team.. Or Nico OReilly with Rodri talking him through it.
Would prefer that, better balance imo.

 

[alexmcity]

I'm going to ask this, who's in charge? Because we don't look like a Pep team, we don't play like a Pep team there's no triangles slow possession in attack against Brighton, Tottenham even Wolves. It was rush , flicks and tricks, boot long etc. Instead of death by thousand passes.

We look nothing like a Pep team we look like this is Pep Lijnders team.

We are building a new team and are trying new things. Also, we had a very short pre-season.

To want to see a proper Pep team that early in the season is unrealistic. Pep is the best but not a miracle worker. Yet we completely outplayed Brighton in the first half (xG 0,04 vs 1.22) or even the first 60 minutes. Maybe we got a bit tired after that or lack confidence or both. We were a bit poor in the 2nd halves vs Wolves and Spurs as well. Maybe we aren't ready fitness wise yet.

 

[waspish]

I'm going to ask this, who's in charge? Because we don't look like a Pep team, we don't play like a Pep team there's no triangles slow possession in attack, against Brighton, Tottenham even Wolves. It was rush , flicks and tricks, boot long etc. Instead of death by thousand passes. 1 touch passes instead, quickly getting the ball into finals third on the counter instead of controlled possession.

We look nothing like a Pep team we look like this is Pep Lijnders team. Pep lijnders has put his stamp on this team. The quick press the kick long the quick counters all Pep lijnders philosophy.

We know pep system it takes time for some players to understand his tactics his coaching methods. Years gone by when one or two players come in and not getting peps tactics pep could bring them out the team like his did with Rodri first season! Now with so many new players he can’t do that he has to play them not understanding fully the tactics throw in the new back room coaching team it is going to take time, it’s a transitional season season if we like it or not, so we need patience, somethings us fans don’t have anymore!

 

[Craig]

It's like saying: not happening (100 pts, breaking all-time records), look at our record in 16/17.

We had a declining team with many injuries. Now we have a much younger team. It will need time to gel: 3 months or 13 months, nobody can be sure. But if the key players stay fit, we are going to improve. Only time can tell, but I think we'll watch a very strong team come April.

Well, if you want to play devils advocate you could say that. I’d say i was confident as we finished that season we’d win the league the next. You could see what he was building with 2 flying wingers. Prime David Silva and KDB as 8’s with Dinho behind them. We then went and signed a keeper to suit Pep’s style better than anyone and signed the best right back in the league.

Contrast that to this side! I’d be happy if we can scrape top 4 again but i hope you’re right that we look good by April.

 

[oddfellows]

I've picked up in his media interviews that he has reverted to a go to cliche more and more these days.

Not sure if it's to pacify them or whether it's because he's genuinely losing interest.

Listen out for "It is was it is" and how often it gets rolled out.

Admittedly, it does grate on me.

 

[alexmcity]

Well, if you want to play devils advocate you could say that. I’d say i was confident as we finished that season we’d win the league the next. You could see what he was building with 2 flying wingers. Prime David Silva and KDB as 8’s with Dinho behind them. We then went and signed a keeper to suit Pep’s style better than anyone and signed the best right back in the league.

Contrast that to this side! I’d be happy if we can scrape top 4 again but i hope you’re right that we look good by April.

I'm sure nobody did expect City to win 100 pts and break several records before the start of 17/18. Yes, some/many expected we would compete for the title.

Also, after we drew with WBA in December 2020 many were very pessimistic about the rest of the season. We won the next 21 games in all competitions.

Things can change quickly. Nothing is guaranteed, not even a top 5 finish. But based on the quality of the manager and the potential of the squad, chances are we will be really good.

 

[Gumzy97]

We are building a new team and are trying new things. Also, we had a very short pre-season.

To want to see a proper Pep team that early in the season is unrealistic. Pep is the best but not a miracle worker. Yet we completely outplayed Brighton in the first half (xG 0,04 vs 1.22) or even the first 60 minutes. Maybe we got a bit tired after that or lack confidence or both. We were a bit poor in the 2nd halves vs Wolves and Spurs as well. Maybe we aren't ready fitness wise yet.

I understand that , but I've watched it back , Stones ,Rodri and Bernardo should know how Pep wants to play but they didn't play like they normally play. I just think that Lijnders is having more of say than we think. Peps interviews about him, about how much he respects him etc asking Klopp about him.

the counter attacks if we were more clinical look deadly similar to a klopp team. Mane,salah and Firmino counter that was so effective. That's the one positive I took from Brighton. The quick transition when we win the ball, quickly getting it into the final third if Haaland is more clinical he gets 3 goals.

Defensively we are suspect but that attack showed glimpses of something new.

 

[madloaf]

We need to be patient. Like Arsenal fans or Blackberry stockholders.

 

[alexmcity]

I understand that , but I've watched it back , Stones ,Rodri and Bernardo should know how Pep wants to play but they didn't play like they normally play. I just think that Lijnders is having more of say than we think. Peps interviews about him, about how much he respects him etc asking Klopp about him.

the counter attacks if we were more clinical look deadly similar to a klopp team. Mane,salah and Firmino counter that was so effective. That's the one positive I took from Brighton. The quick transition when we win the ball, quickly getting it into the final third if Haaland is more clinical he gets 3 goals.

Defensively we are suspect but that attack showed glimpses of something new.

We were great defensively before we got tired. Their manager expected our fitness problems and exploited our tiredness by subbing on 4 players at once, who aggressively pressed us, leading to loss of control.

Maybe Pep made a mistake to sub on Rico and especially O'Reilly, we needed someone who could help us regain control in the middle. Arguably, Gonzalez was needed more than O'Reilly.

 

[PuncturedBicycle]

We need to be patient. Like Arsenal fans or Blackberry stockholders.

This blackberry shit will never take off...

 

[meeesh]

In a funny sort of way I'm glad it's the rags next up, the place will be rocking, and a win will restore confidence with everybody,players, staff and fans, a loss however and this could become toxic very quickly for the rest of the season.

We will probably beat them, Napoli and Arsenal now, then complete faith is restored, however...................

 

[Craig]

I understand that , but I've watched it back , Stones ,Rodri and Bernardo should know how Pep wants to play but they didn't play like they normally play. I just think that Lijnders is having more of say than we think. Peps interviews about him, about how much he respects him etc asking Klopp about him.

the counter attacks if we were more clinical look deadly similar to a klopp team. Mane,salah and Firmino counter that was so effective. That's the one positive I took from Brighton. The quick transition when we win the ball, quickly getting it into the final third if Haaland is more clinical he gets 3 goals.

Defensively we are suspect but that attack showed glimpses of something new.

Not sure if it can be judged on the Brighton game. Seen Haaland race clear against Brighton before because they actually push up against us

 

[B\connellblue]

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

Do you genuinely believe the club signed these players without consulting him? That's not how transfers work. He's had a huge input In signing these below par players of that there is little doubt.

 

[blueparrot]

Do you genuinely believe the club signed these players without consulting him? That's not how transfers work. He's had a huge input In signing these below par players of that there is little doubt.

How do you know they are below par ,are you from the future?

 

[Suffolk Blue]

What kind of employment gives you a leave of absence because of marital difficulties?
Just curious here by the way.

Many enlightened organisations would consider a request, especially if you were at the level of Pep (i.e. a respected director grade, who adds value to the organisation). Granted those in the trenches would probably be told to do one.

 

[supercity88]

Reinders seems like the kind of player where if he plays well the team plays well.but he's been snuffed out the last 2 games
I'd push him up to 10 especially as the other options are injured and play a stronger 2 behind him, Rodri and Nico to cover him and the team.. Or Nico OReilly with Rodri talking him through it.
Would prefer that, better balance imo.

He needs to take fewer touches. We don't need him driving the ball up the pitch every time he gets it. Rodri can find him in the pockets of space, then he needs to turn, pass and move and keep doing it. The physicality of the PL compared to Serie A means he's not going to be as effective as he was there simply running with the ball. It worked against Wolves but it won't against the better PL sides.

As for our overall tactics/shape I don't know what we'll see but I'm concerned we seem to have abandoned our possession-dominating approach, other sides are better equipped to deal with us if we try and attack quickly and can counter the space we leave more effectively as well.

In terms of passing/possession look at the change here:


Dippers in 2023 (3-1 win) 754 passes, 69% possession with 91% success rate.
Rags in 2024 801 passes, 73% possession, 91% success.
West Ham when we won the title 782, 72% at 93% success.
Al Hilal loss in the CWC 826, 70% at 92%

We might have had the leaky defence against Al Hilal but with the ball we were playing a similar way.

Now look at this season so far:
Wolves 563, 59%, 90%
Spurs 525, 62%, 86%
Brighton 565, 64%, 87%

Those numbers are miles off where we'd expect to be which shows we're not keeping the ball well enough. I can't believe Pep would be happy for us to abandon possession dominance. He'll want us to attack more quickly, but you can see from the passing accuracy it's less us passing the ball away (though that still needs work), and more us just running into the opposition and getting tackled.