Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

Remember when he became our manager and Sorino said we want to average 2 trophies a season and everyone thought that is mad standard! Guess what he has!

Oh and I’ve listened to all pep post press conferences and a few players, plus the parade the co-op event and rushing to get the new stand open! That is enough evidence for me to say he is going and if we dont get the win Tuesday he will announce it then!

I’ve changed my mind again he is staying ;)
 
Tbf I think a lot of the actual football has become boring. Not because of Pep or City but because of so many teams willingness to park the bus as well as the refereeing of the game allowing for all the dark arts bullshit. Champions Leagues games nowadays tend to be far more interesting because they're refereed differently.

It's annoying that Pep catches the blame for it though. People will pay however much to sit in the away end at the Etihad while their team plays an 8-2-0 formation and then say Pep has ruined football with a straight face.
I agree. It is up to the managers at the bigger clubs that face the parked buses so often to find a way to score more goals. It might be certain tactics or certain types of player or certain type of skills or certain type of mystical witchcraft but hopefully an answer will be found. I want the manager that finds it or perfects at City. Hopefully that is Pep asap. If not then our next manager asap.
 
Marmoush had 10 touches in that first half. We were playing with 10 men
We were even worse after half time until Kova came on, couldn't even keep the ball, like I said if there was a mistake in the starting lineup it was starting a half fit Rodri.
 
If Pep was leaving at the end of the season then we would know the identity of his successor by now

Otherwise everything drifts and the preferred candidate gets sick of waiting

Just look at Liverpool and their assumption that Alonso would go to Anfield
If Pep does go, Maresca will be appointed.

Pep is playing games with the media so it is hard to be sure one way or another, which is why he is doing it.

We will find out soon enough what his intentions are.

I watched all the post match stuff today and it really hit me how much I want Pep to stay. Supporting City for almost 60yrs has been an incredible journey and the most fantastic part has been the last decade. I do not believe it will ever be as good again after Pep goes; that doesn’t mean it will be bad but Pep is so very special. I loved the fact that he was so genuinely concerned about the guys who could not play yesterday.
 
I agree. It is up to the managers at the bigger clubs that face the parked buses so often to find a way to score more goals. It might be certain tactics or certain types of player or certain type of skills or certain type of mystical witchcraft but hopefully an answer will be found. I want the manager that finds it or perfects at City. Hopefully that is Pep asap. If not then our next manager asap.

It really is not easy if a team is well organised and has decent quality players that give maximum effort when they stick five at the back, four in midfield and crowd their box with a low block.

I don’t think there is one magic formula.

I think you have two main options:

Fire lots of balls into the box and try to create some chaos - which potentially increases the risk of them getting possession and breaking on you. Or,

Keep the ball and use precision and patience to try and create openings (by trying to move the opponent about or wait for them to lose a bit of discipline in their movements).

Pep prefers the latter approach and so do I. He likes to pin his opponent in their final third and doesn’t like the ball near City’s goal - that’s one of the many reasons I like Pep’s football.
 
It really is not easy if a team is well organised and has decent quality players that give maximum effort when they stick five at the back, four in midfield and crowd their box with a low block.

I don’t think there is one magic formula.

I think you have two main options:

Fire lots of balls into the box and try to create some chaos - which potentially increases the risk of them getting possession and breaking on you. Or,

Keep the ball and use precision and patience to try and create openings (by trying to move the opponent about or wait for them to lose a bit of discipline in their movements).

Pep prefers the latter approach and so do I. He likes to pin his opponent in their final third and doesn’t like the ball near City’s goal - that’s one of the many reasons I like Pep’s football.
I know it's not easy but I do hope that there is a magic formula because it has been dire to watch this season and last.

Maybe it is better executing the 2 options you said. Maybe we are just missing 1 or 2 new signings. I don't know.

Fingers crossed for whatever it is.
 
I know it's not easy but I do hope that there is a magic formula because it has been dire to watch this season and last.

Maybe it is better executing the 2 options you said. Maybe we are just missing 1 or 2 new signings. I don't know.

Fingers crossed for whatever it is.
I am certain there is no magical tactical formula (not that I am an expert on tactics). However, the higher the quality of your players and the manager, the more chance you have of breaking through massed defences. Also, scoring early in a game, especially if you can get a couple of goals, can be very helpful because it can encourage opponents to come out and play; also, it can reduce pressure of the dominant side and make them less tense when trying to finish.

One of City’s biggest problems this season has been wasting chances to create scoring opportunities and also not hitting the target enough.
 
I am certain there is no magical tactical formula (not that I am an expert on tactics). However, the higher the quality of your players and the manager, the more chance you have of breaking through massed defences. Also, scoring early in a game, especially if you can get a couple of goals, can be very helpful because it can encourage opponents to come out and play; also, it can reduce pressure of the dominant side and make them less tense when trying to finish.

One of City’s biggest problems this season has been wasting chances to create scoring opportunities and also not hitting the target enough.
I suspect there is something and it'll only be clear after it happens. And it'll probably be something that we'll all think was obvious and simple in hindsight.
 
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Ya I can't put my finger on what is the missing element. I only said mentally because I wonder if there are times when the players just need to go beyond Pep's tactics and step up in terms of creating effective attacks. Cherki seems to have this. Yaya used to.

Whatever it is I hope Pep finds the answer so we get that amazing football back that was a wonder a few years ago.
Think it's just chemistry and experience (or lack thereof) in some areas.

The 24/25 season was the absolute end of the life cycle for that old core group of Ederson, Walker, Dias, Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Haaland, we've made loads of changes to the squad and have brought in loads of players who haven't built those relationships with each other yet. The new core group of Donnarumma, Guehi, Gvardiol, Rodri, [Anderson], Cherki, Doku, Haaland has just got to grow together and spend more time together.
 
You'll get abuse but you are correct on all of that imo.

Now is the time to celebrate.

Pep deserves great praise and appreciation.

Our football at times is not good.

Pep needs to fix our tactics/style of play/mentality or whatever it is ... somehow.

If he can't hopefully someone else can.

Trophies are great but trophies plus genuinely impressive play is ideal.
Our football is a lot better than nearly all the clubs in this league, if not all of them. We are in the middle of a massive rebuild and I bet nearly all the teams in this league wish they could play some of the football we have played, whilst admittedly we have been patchy. Pep has done a fantastic job to get us where we are at the moment. Our fans have been spoilt over the last ten years and I think some City fans have forgotten about that. It will never be as good after he leaves the man is a freek of a manager.
 
Watching Sunday Supplement and they are all saying the same thing...Pep only said he has a contract, not that he will be be at City next season and that he doesnt want to announce it until the league is beyond us. The BBC lady asked him "Do you reckon you will be here next season?" Pep "Yeah"
What am I missing here? In essence they are saying Pep is lying no?
They choose to ignore what he says because they don't want to believe it. They are almost wishing him into leaving.
 
Our football is a lot better than nearly all the clubs in this league, if not all of them. We are in the middle of a massive rebuild and I bet nearly all the teams in this league wish they could play some of the football we have played, whilst admittedly we have been patchy. Pep has done a fantastic job to get us where we are at the moment. Our fans have been spoilt over the last ten years and I think some City fans have forgotten about that. It will never be as good after he leaves the man is a freek of a manager.

We have played the highest quality football for most, if not all of Pep’s time, aside from an injury induced blip last season. How entertaining we have been has depended on who we had in the squad and bus parking bastard opponents have hampered the entertainment value of many games but give City a bit of space and they will entertain.
 
No disrespect but Stefan bandwagon jumping with a good old “this is my understanding too” is frankly laughable.
Hard to understand this place or many fans. The idea that it is wrong or laughable to tell fellow fans what I believe to be the case based on many conversations (on whatever topic) is just weird. And I am pretty careful what I say and don't say.
 

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