That's the back 4 I'd go with. I'd push Lewis deep on the bench.
Pep Guardiola - 2025/26
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PeterBarnesShorts
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…just reminded me,..why/how have we let Kev leave,if he wanted to stay?!The club have either dropped the ball,or had a collective frontal lobotomy since the treble.Was f’kin great while it lasted tho eh?!!..hey ho..
super_city_si
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Kevs not good enough to play premier league at the highest level anymore, sadly. His legs have gone.
VinceYoungisaBLUE
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I'm having a hard time seeing how we score goals without a change in shape when attacking
Kippax Street 1880
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Letting Kev go was not a mistake imo it was time, shadow of the player he was at his best and he didn't want a bit part role he wanted extending on big wages.
It's funny that you think that I think what you (seem to) think: namely, we will finish nowhere near what's acceptable (6th?).
I wrote weeks ago what I think: IF we are 7-8 pts off the top come January (or even February), which isn't highly improbable, we have a good chance to win the title this season, not just to compete. So, I don't know deep down that we won't compete for the title. That's what you think you know.
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BillyShears
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A lot of talk around the transfers this summer that Pep is very likely to stay beyond the next 2 year contract cycle. The average age of the side has plummeted this summer and sounds like the manager wants to oversee the development of the next cycle of players. In football terms, we probably lucked out by having such a poor season last season as it's put a fire in Pep to climb the mountain again.
TFC
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Makes me chuckle that people think we have a squad full of shitbags. These are highly paid professionals, more than capable of doing the basics of the game (defending for a start). Absolutely baffles me that they cant.
Not sure why I've posted that in the Pep thread tbh, I'm sure it annoys him just as much as it annoys us ffs.
Not sure why I've posted that in the Pep thread tbh, I'm sure it annoys him just as much as it annoys us ffs.
I agree when we look back at this period like mid 2010s to mid 2020s there will be bit of feeling like how we only won a single CL.
we were one of the best side overall in this period maybe after Real, but won same amount of CLs as Bayern, Liverpool, PSG, Chelsea etc.
that Chelsea final still irks me, in a way that we had much better season while they had a shit one resulting mid year manager firing and Tuchel took them over like in January. also we were building towards a dominant side and a CL winner side while Chelsea did fuck all since Conte's first year in 2017 when they won the title but completely rebuit that side by 2021. and took Tuchel about 4 months to turn them into CL winners. bit like if we fire Pellegrini 6 months before he left and new manager delivers CL trophy ffs straightaway.
we also were the better side in semis vs Real Madrid when they had to score two in last 5 minutes to pull it back and should have played that final vs Liverpool.
at least karma gave it back a bit when we won it it was part of a Treble but overall we should have done better in CL.
better not to talk about last season, that was not worthy of the players and the management either or Pep. lets hope that was a one off and our worst CL run for the next decade or more. certainly was oru worst in last decade.
I wouldnt mind to aquire that skill tho that we can win trophies when we dont really deserve it. for us its like we need to be the best to win it while there are times when others get there being second best. its also strange we didnt have one Premier League year when we came close second. Like within 2-3 points still alive in closing rounds but lose out. we werent eve within 10 points mostly when others winning it. despite when we won it quite a few times we had a must win game in last round to clinch it. Mancini's one was even openn until last minute. :)
we either won it in these fights or the years we didnt we were not even at the races. same in CL there are hardly any knockout ties I recall where we were second best and went to next round. opposite happened few times like losing out on away goals vs Monaco, Spurs, we were not worse than them for sure, some of the ties vs Real too etc.
we were one of the best side overall in this period maybe after Real, but won same amount of CLs as Bayern, Liverpool, PSG, Chelsea etc.
that Chelsea final still irks me, in a way that we had much better season while they had a shit one resulting mid year manager firing and Tuchel took them over like in January. also we were building towards a dominant side and a CL winner side while Chelsea did fuck all since Conte's first year in 2017 when they won the title but completely rebuit that side by 2021. and took Tuchel about 4 months to turn them into CL winners. bit like if we fire Pellegrini 6 months before he left and new manager delivers CL trophy ffs straightaway.
we also were the better side in semis vs Real Madrid when they had to score two in last 5 minutes to pull it back and should have played that final vs Liverpool.
at least karma gave it back a bit when we won it it was part of a Treble but overall we should have done better in CL.
better not to talk about last season, that was not worthy of the players and the management either or Pep. lets hope that was a one off and our worst CL run for the next decade or more. certainly was oru worst in last decade.
I wouldnt mind to aquire that skill tho that we can win trophies when we dont really deserve it. for us its like we need to be the best to win it while there are times when others get there being second best. its also strange we didnt have one Premier League year when we came close second. Like within 2-3 points still alive in closing rounds but lose out. we werent eve within 10 points mostly when others winning it. despite when we won it quite a few times we had a must win game in last round to clinch it. Mancini's one was even openn until last minute. :)
we either won it in these fights or the years we didnt we were not even at the races. same in CL there are hardly any knockout ties I recall where we were second best and went to next round. opposite happened few times like losing out on away goals vs Monaco, Spurs, we were not worse than them for sure, some of the ties vs Real too etc.
This. Rodri's 'hidden' ability is how good he is going forward. He's genuinely clinical when given a chance to shoot. Should be used more often and having Nico next to him allows him to go forward and conserve a bit of energy in his legs - both beneficial.
Too slow to be honest
Kippax Kidd
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As if Bernardo is Usain bolt beside him
You’re in cloud cuckoo land I'm afraid, we’re already 6 points behind with the derby and Arsenal away to come in our next two games and we could easily be another 5 behind in two weeks time given the way we’re playing. Dippers haven’t got out of first gear but have won all of a harder set of opening fixtures than ours. Im going off facts than just blind faith and opinion.
We’ll be nowhere near the title this season if something doesn’t change quickly. Saying 6th is acceptable is another contradiction on your part because that’s not competing for the title is it? Which is what the minimum should always be for us.
I don't envy your comprehension skills and ability to identify contradictions. Still, thanks for your opinion that we can't compete for the title this season.
CΛL
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It feels more likely that Pep will build a winning side over the next two seasons and extend his stay, than that he’d leave in a year or two having won nothing, if history is anything to go by.
With our squad at the moment, we are half way through a rebuild, give it another window or two and some time this season for ideas and players to bed in and I truly believe we’ll be looking at a different animal.
We bought three players in Marmoush, Cherki and Reinjders who were among last seasons standout players in their positions. We’ve secured the world’s best goalkeeper.
I’d be flabbergasted if we don’t end up on more points than last season with the new recruits and a returning Rodri.
With our squad at the moment, we are half way through a rebuild, give it another window or two and some time this season for ideas and players to bed in and I truly believe we’ll be looking at a different animal.
We bought three players in Marmoush, Cherki and Reinjders who were among last seasons standout players in their positions. We’ve secured the world’s best goalkeeper.
I’d be flabbergasted if we don’t end up on more points than last season with the new recruits and a returning Rodri.
I agree with that.
For me, the most telling thing will be our form in the 2nd half of the season. If we look like the best team in the PL form wise, or close to that, and put in some brilliant performances, then things are going pretty well. But if we are still unconvincing, then Pep might decide to leave in the summer. I doubt it, but it is a possibility if we struggle to make the top 4.
I think Rodri is likely to be quite good in several weeks. If that happens, the expected upturn in form may come earlier, say, October. I'd be surprised if we were very strong vs Arsenal in 2 weeks, but who knows?
Donnarumma is going to help massively. Forget shot stopping and playing out from the back. His leadership is crucial. He's also going to have a chip on his shoulder after the way he's left PSG.
The defence has lacked leadership I know Dias does do it. But having a goalkeeper the Italian captain behind you shouting orders and organising. Is going to be a different for our defenders. Pep has someone now out there that can organise that defence.
He also speaks five languages from what ive read. Italian, English , French , Spanish and Portuguese.
The defence has lacked leadership I know Dias does do it. But having a goalkeeper the Italian captain behind you shouting orders and organising. Is going to be a different for our defenders. Pep has someone now out there that can organise that defence.
He also speaks five languages from what ive read. Italian, English , French , Spanish and Portuguese.
come-on-barney
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His other comment was very interesting. Admitted the team just collapses when the opposition scores, and basically has no self belief.
I think if Pep knew how badly the CWC would have upset pre season when we have had a summer of quite some upheaval, he would have pleaded with the club to sacrifice the CWC.
With the the way Pep needs to rebuild the team and start again with something new tactically, in an ideal world he would have had the players off for 4 weeks and had us back 5 weeks before the season started preparing us tactically and fitness wise.
Only having the team back for 2 weeks prior to the season starting and having one game against a second division Italian team has been in part a disaster
With the the way Pep needs to rebuild the team and start again with something new tactically, in an ideal world he would have had the players off for 4 weeks and had us back 5 weeks before the season started preparing us tactically and fitness wise.
Only having the team back for 2 weeks prior to the season starting and having one game against a second division Italian team has been in part a disaster