Surely he's too smart and experienced for that Regardless of his press conferences there's an 800 page book that details his first year at Bayern and still rival managers have not figured him out Not to mention the pundits and journalists who still haven't got a clue
I don't think he gives too much away. People know the overall philosophy he has but it's the subtle tweaks to the formation of playing style they can't work out. He managers throughout the game and makes minor adjustments that can't be picked up. And he throws the odd curve ball from time to time by resorting to a completely different formation from time to time.
He made adjustments twice against United, first to reshape and still have an extra man in midfield, then went to a 541 and have an extra man in defence for the last ten minutes.He does not just make the adjustments in the match - he prepares his players with different plans prior to the match. Atleast he did at Bayern who were prepared to work in different shapes - but that is a question of time until he will get your team to be able to do that, too.
And - again in regard to Pep Confidential. It is about the first year - in Pep's first year he looked at Bayern mainly with the experiences he had made at Barcelona - until he recognized that this team has different weaknesses - and different strengths.
You have the advantage now that he probably has learned out of his mistakes he has made before. He has his main idea - that does not change. He will not be a coach that does not like ball possession and let's his team start hoofing - but he will try to adapt it to the players and the situation.
Well we have had some easy games in hindsight but have picked up 8 more points from the same games than we had last season.We've played some lovely stuff at times but Pep isn't stupid, he knows we've had a fairly easy start to the season and much tougher games are coming up.
We WILL have to improve and I've no doubts that we will
Do you mean the second question when the hack called him Jose?The hack @1:35 calls Pep "PEG". Clown.
Like the twat that called us United rather than City in his first press conference.Do you mean the second question when the hack called him Jose?
Maybe looking for an "I'm not Jose" reaction and easy headline.... or could be a simple mistake
He made adjustments twice against United, first to reshape and still have an extra man in midfield, then went to a 541 and have an extra man in defence for the last ten minutes.
This allowed a full back to attempt to stop the cross and still allow our defense to have a numerical advantage in the middle.
The above two formation changes may not seem a great deal but having a manager that reacts to things in a game is a revelation after three years of Manuel.