Players from the past that you think would have thrived under Pep

[yeseye]

Gláuber Leandro Honorato Berti

 

[M12Blue]

IIRC early in Pep confidential one of the assistants says Pep will work with a player as much as they are prepared to work with him.

He’s not wasting his time trying to coach someone who can’t be bothered, but if you’re willing to listen and learn he will give you as much as you want. I think players like Zinchenko, Sterling, Delph are good examples and maybe Gonzalez is the newest.

That would explain some recent head scratchers

 

[rabby]

Asa Hartford,he was a pep style player while pep was still a muchacho.
He had the close control,body movement and vision,top player but Pep could have elevated him to greater heights.

 

[traditionalleesy]

Me

Gerry Gow

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Gaz Baz played the Fernandinho / Rodri role before we even knew Fernandinho / Rodri played "that" role.

I've got an Everton supporting mate who, when they signed Barry, sent me a text saying "cheers for giving us your cast offs".......after watching him play he sent me a text that read "Cheers for giving us Barry"!!!

Pep would love Gareth Barry

A brilliant player 99% of the time if watching him live, TV did nothing for him. The other 5%, you could tell in the first minute he was going to be absolutely shite.

 

[KS55]

Darren huckerby

Yep. Pep could have taught him the offside law.

 

[Tarzan Pancake]

Gerry Gow

Gerry Gow eats three shredded wheat!

 

[audenshaw blue]

Definitely Tevez, perfect Pep player.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Tommy Booth was one of the most versatile players we've ever had. Pep would've loved Tommy. Glyn Pardoe probably another.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

All of them.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

All of them.

Lee Bradbury?

 

[BillCarlisle]

Lee Bradbury?

TBF I reckon that Pep would have improved him from shite to mediocre.

 

[Grassland Blue]

Negouai
Bony
Jo

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

Paul Lake (without the injuries)

Would have been a latter day Rodri...

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Would have been a latter day Rodri...

Maybe
But I think Lake excelled at surging at speed,with incredible ball control from centre midfield.
Ie v Forest and Watford at Maine Road season 87/88.

Another stand out performance was of course the Maine rd Massacre n 89 where again ,his supreme dribbling skills completely destroyed utds ,ex England right back Viv Anderson,here Lake played out wide on his weaker left foot but still reached the byeline to setup up chances.

None of the above examples.in arguably Lakes best ever games for City,demonstrate any Rodri like attributes.imo.

 

[Pubteam Lomas]

Yep. Pep could have taught him the offside law.

Not sure he could; he hasn't taught Marmoush the offside law yet!!!

 

[mattcity5]

Interesting discussing what Lakey would have been under Pep. It's all hypothetical of course with any of these players.

Probably every single player we have now is better technically than the players we had 20 or more years ago. I don't mean that disparagingly to any of them, but Pep is so particular about how players receive the ball and turn etc.

As such, I think a lot of our better technical midfielders back then, would have most chance if being used as defenders.

Gareth Barry could certainly move back into defence (where he started at Villa) and play a similar game to Laporte. Lake with his energy and athleticism feels a better fit a right-back, where he could both overlap and invert into midfield comfortably.

Other than them... SWP could do a passable Doku impression on the left I reckon. Probably with better shooting too.

 

[Sky Blue Thinking]

Pep hasn't got the best out of every player he has managed, and no manager ever has. Some players are mavericks and too independent in their mindset to take advice on board.

The world of football is littered with unfulfilled talent.

Would Pep have improved Mario Balotelli?

I don't think he would, because Pep would realise he couldn't work with him, so wouldn't even try.

He picks players he can manage, and not those that don't want to listen.

Nasri is another example, Pep could have taken him to another level had Nasri let him.

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

Maybe
But I think Lake excelled at surging at speed,with incredible ball control from centre midfield.
Ie v Forest and Watford at Maine Road season 87/88.

Another stand out performance was of course the Maine rd Massacre n 89 where again ,his supreme dribbling skills completely destroyed utds ,ex England right back Viv Anderson,here Lake played out wide on his weaker left foot but still reached the byeline to setup up chances.

None of the above examples.in arguably Lakes best ever games for City,demonstrate any Rodri like attributes.imo.

Yeah, I'm probably envisioning him fitting into the current side. 2 highly creative 10s (Foden and Cherki) would just get fed and fed by someone who has the game intelligence and athletcism to be where is needed to receive, tidy and link, - while also doing the box to box Yaya thing if necessary to create panic in the oppo and spec for our other attackers.
A Rodri and Yaya meld/I've probably got him doing it all!

 

[bluetonium]

Quite a few. It would come down more to application and attitude I think, if that fits with Pep then progress is usually inevitable.

In addition to the obvious in Lakey and Ali B, I'd suggest Distin, Tiatto (Bernie with anger issues!), Kinky, Alfons Groenendijk, Garry Flitcroft, Paul Walsh, Wanchope, Terry Phelan, Keith Curle, Berkovic, David White, Sweep, Paul Stewart and Nicky Summerbee. Also think he'd like working with Wiekins and Bosvelt. Possibly also Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland.

Hmm, that's pretty much a full team and subs! Just need a goalie. David James?