Pep's contract situation | 2 year extension confirmed! (pg1817)

[Coatigan]

There’s no proof of that
The issue for me, and it’s the same for all the clubs playing in Europe, is the time the coach has on the training pitch with his players Playing twice a week, more in this month, allows no time to spend on tactics, we know that Pep’s system takes a lot of leaning so it’s compounded. He’s also had to bed new players and cope with the loss of David Silva and the ageing Kun and Ferdy

There really is a bigger picture here that many just don't look at, and it really Is affecting all teams and leagues, and seems to in particular the top ones.

My biggest issue with pep just now is, his stubbornness. I get that we are in a rut, i get we are extremely unfortunate, and going through a patch when things just aren't going our way. And i can be patient with the belief we can get out of that and get back to winning with confidence. Part of me even thinks, when we do, it will be even more dominant then when we were at our best, as we would have been through crap, got out of it, and mentally will feel that 'this is now our time' belief (which seemed to carry liverpool last season).

What would however help me, and possibly the players too, is seeing pep try anything and everything to win games, when things seem stuck, heck even desperate moves let alone any mildly alternative ones. But he doesnt. same formation starts and finishes, not all subs get used, sometimes none at all. Fuck me, i'd even take him throwing bloody zinchenko forward, or having all of jesus sergio mahrez and sterling on in the last 10 minutes when chasing it, but no, he can't even bring himself to bring foden on late in the derby, Bernardo at all at any point, or Torres who has been our best finisher when we desperately need a goal, never mind a hail mary on Delap.

And that is when a feeling of 'unlucky' turns into frustration. with fans, definitely, with players, potentially, and the media build their story, and the whole thing risks escalating.

I think that is his way of trying yo help reinstate the confidence, beleive in what we are doing, keep doing things right, and the margins will shift back and we'll get through it. Maybe he thinks that will mentality strengthen the players resolve. Maybe he just wants to prove a point. I certainly doubt he bloody lacks alternative ideas or creativity. But whatever his reasons, it isn't helping and the longer it goes on the more the pressure builds. At some point, just roll some dice and try something, and deal with the footballing science/philosophy once we are on top (of our game rather than the table) again.

 

[mancity1]

We have far too many 'nice" personalities on this team, and we are far too soft.

David Silva was the nicest, most gentle human being off the pitch but when he crossed that white line he was a hard, tough little bastard who did not like to lose.

We need some winners and tough guys in this squad, backroom staff and execs.

Ruben Dias is a good start , now let's get a few more with his desire and attitude.

Agreed you have to hate losing more than enjoying victory to start the road to success.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

Agreed, we have some serious talent now coming through the academy, they should be the backup players and as you say, spend the big money on the very best players to make us title challengers again.

We are desperate for a world class striker and central midfield player.

While I agree with this to some extent, when will our serious talent get game time in the league. Even Foden, Bernardo and Laporte are struggling to start a game in the positions they are best suited to.

 

[BillyShears]

Has no answers so far, the squad we've dismantled and rebuilt in his image is an ideological shortfall I don't think he'll overcome. He's pissed off but whatever he's trying isn't getting through to these players.

By ideological shortfall you mean he signed Rodri to replace Ferna right? Because that's pretty much the only place where I could see dismantling and rebuilding in his image? For the most part the rest of what we have/have bought is the same group that got 198 points in two seasons.

I agree to some extent that he may not be getting through to certain players, but ultimately the bigger picture as I said in my previous post, is that there isn't a magic wand manager who is going to come in and massively improve results/performances in the medium term. You might get a new manager bounce but when it comes to putting the work in on the training pitch, Guardiola's methods are second to none. You don't need to look at his results to know that, you need only listen to what players who have worked under him have said.

Obviously things aren't great right now, but I'd be very very wary of simply writing Pep off. As I said the board need to hold their hands up too and accept that their recruitment since summer 2018 has been far too reactive and whilst they like to pat themselves on the back for being smart, you're not smart when your smartness ends up with players who aren't quite what you need.

With the amount already invested in Guardiola (and Txiki and Ferran) by the owners, I fail to see anything other than him being backed with big money in the summer to buy 3 or 4 players who he can drop straight into the best XI. It's really not THAT surprising that players who did 198 points between 2017 and 2019 would have a drop off subsequently. The group needs refreshing and competition arriving.

My guess is that they'll sell a 'big' player from the group in the summer too. A shot across the bows of those who are left.

 

[Keeper!]

While I agree with this to some extent, when will our serious talent get game time in the league. Even Foden, Bernardo and Laporte are struggling to start a game in the positions they are best suited to.

Get rid of the dross, we have half a squad of average players on big money and getting little game time.

Stones, Mendy, Bernardo, Mahrez, Jesus, Zinchenko could all go tomorrow for me, we would save a fortune in wages, have foreign squad player places for the serious talent we need and have room for our top young players to be integrated into the first team squad.

 

[Keeper!]

While I agree with this to some extent, when will our serious talent get game time in the league. Even Foden, Bernardo and Laporte are struggling to start a game in the positions they are best suited to.

Bernardo is more down to form, his team is crying out for the Bernardo of two seasons ago.

1 great season in 3 is simply not good enough sadly, who is the real Bernardo Silva?

 

[Ric]

Get rid of the dross, we have half a squad of average players on big money and getting little game time.

Stones, Mendy, Bernardo, Mahrez, Jesus, Zinchenko could all go tomorrow for me, we would save a fortune in wages, have foreign squad player places for the serious talent we need and have room for our top young players to be integrated into the first team squad.

You would sell Stones, just when it looks like he's getting back to his best?!

 

[Keeper!]

You would sell Stones, just when it looks like he's getting back to his best?!

Not the John Stones of the last few weeks, that John Stones is a wonderful asset, but will that John Stones go MIA again?

Where was he on Tuesday?

 

[Ric]

Not the John Stones of the last few weeks, that John Stones is a wonderful asset, but will that John Stones go MIA again?

Where was he on Tuesday?

Rested, presumably.

 

[waspish]

You would sell Stones, just when it looks like he's getting back to his best?!

Yep stones going no where and for me I’d played stones and Dias at the back every game if those two were our partnership against West Brom I feel we would of won that to nil but pep likes changing the team every game and to be fair it’s worked but now we are in poorish form we need a settled back four more than ever.