The are we allowed the "it's quiet" thread yet? thread.

[Akiva]

City haven't even played a game yet, and there are a few people here suggesting Pep Guardiola is headed for disaster because his style won't work here and his signings aren't physical enough. You couldn't make it up.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

City haven't even played a game yet, and there are a few people here suggesting Pep Guardiola is headed for disaster because his style won't work here and his signings aren't physical enough. You couldn't make it up.

You couldn't make it up, but, erm, you did......

Anyway, things I haven't seen on this thread:
1. Anyone suggesting we're headed for disaster.
2. Anyone claiming Pep's style won't work here (not that there's any evidence yet that it will or won't anyway, just opinion)

What I have seen though is:
1. People, not unreasonably, pointing out the uniquely combative nature of this league, and the associated need for balance.
2. People suggesting, again not unreasonably, that there is no harm in being prepared for all eventualities and that we should guard against complacency and arrogance.

It really is Land of the Cnuts on this site sometimes and despite having only been here 5 minutes, you're already the King. Kudos

 

[MillionDollarDream]

What we need is balance, and physicality is an important ingredient in that, particularly in a league like the Premiership. The trouble is you can't mention words like tackle and header on here without some puritanical high sparrow of the beautiful game assuming that you are advocating a return to the John Beck days of clubbing some seals to death in the warm up before breaking all the opposition's legs and then strapping the ball to a Soyuz test rocket and firing it 90 miles into outer space.

We came up short against virtually any team that wanted a scrap last season, with our most tragic performances coming against those prepared to operate a high press. Liverpool twice, Southampton, Stoke, Spurs etc etc. We didn't just lose, we got battered and it got to the point that you could foretell the outcome of certain fixtures just by looking at the team sheet. We played the dippers at Wembley with Ya Ya giving it his last hurrah alongside Fernando, and Fernandinho inside right to stop that little fucker Coutinho ripping us to shreds and we totally had their number. We went to Klanfield 3 days later with Aguero, Silva, Sterling and Navas as a front four and served up one of the most spineless surrenders of my life time, all of them levered off the ball non-stop for 90 minutes.
When you play teams who contest games with such intensity you have to be able to compete physically. It's not rocket science. It's why Watford (Deeney, Igalo), Newcastle (Sissoko, Cisse, Wijnaldum), the rags (Rashford, Martial, Valencia, Carrick, Bog brush), Palace (Sakho, Zaha) and West Ham (half the fricking team) beat the dippers comfortably whereas our diddymen got torn apart. They deployed any number of strapping midfielders and forwards, didn't get muscled out of possession and stung Liverpool on the counter attack. Doesn't mean that those teams represent the way forward - they all have their own Achilles Heels - but against particular teams playing a particular way they were very very effective, just as we were for example against a fair few of those very teams mentioned courtesy of the way we played.

Pep might be a great manager, but there's too much opinion on here (not yours I should stress) rooted in arrogance. This is a fucking gruelling league we're in, way more competitive than any other in Europe, and we will have our work cut out if we think that all we have to do is turn up and play champagne football, simply because half the teams won't let us. Pointing that out is not evidence of a fanny that needs a wipe or bed sheets that need changing, just a fact.

The defence will be alright as long as Kompany stays fit. What it is about any 2 from Otamendi, Stones and Mangala as a pairing that fills you with confidence I'm not sure though. In the swaggering out of defence with the ball under control stakes, Otamendi and Stones will excel. When questions are asked of them defensively well that might be another matter. Mangala isn't good enough full stop, and I will be surprised (as I will with Sterling) if he proves able to do the things Pep asks of him on a consistent enough basis to hold down a place in the squad long term, never mind the team.

How much Bundesliga do you watch normally? Just because at the end of the season you saw Pep walk away with the title every season he was there, including the 19 point gap against Dortmund... Doesn't mean it's not one of the more competitive leagues compared to the PL. Also if you remember we got battered by Stuttgart in pre season, a team that went on and got relegated last season. A lot of teams in that league press just as much as the team's in the PL and Pep was able to get the job done just fine with his "champagne football". You know.. Tactics that were adjusted from his time at Barca, expect the blueprint to be adjusted to accommodate the challenges Pep might face with us. This is why it was key to get Arteta in the staff, someone he trusts and knows the league well. He and Brian Kidd will help him with the adjustments.

We are in good hands now, it's not arrogance that many believe in Pep. It's proven to be wise to do so. Those who go against it are believing the weak narratives journalists are trying to sell. I've only seen Pep battered in league play twice, 1 team was led by a star man that he's now managing in KDB and the other was against BMG after Bayern had started the 15/16 season's 1st 14 games of the season 13-1-0 and got caught slipping.

 

[Larry Stranger]

City haven't even played a game yet, and there are a few people here suggesting Pep Guardiola is headed for disaster because his style won't work here and his signings aren't physical enough. You couldn't make it up.

Not a disaster, but I don't think it will be a bed of roses either. The Bundesliga has a lot of teams which do a high press and I know he's prepared for that. However because he liked to play out from the back he chose to use Alaba and Kimmich a left back and midfielder as his CB's when Boetang was injured. Benatia wasn't trusted as much and made a lot of mistakes when he did play. However that pairing found it difficult when opponents used to lump long balls because of their height. To me the hardest thing he's going to have to deal with is in the PL there are forwards with a lot of pace and height. I'm sure he's aware of this as to why he wants Stones, but make no mistake about it we will get caught at times and it will lead to opponents getting a quick counter attacking goal no matter who's in defence. That's just how Pep sets up and likes to play. It happened to him against Atletico and should have lost that game against Juve in the CL. It happened when we played them last season. Pep will adapt to the PL and we'll be okay, but it won't be a total cake walk.

 

[SPIDERBOY]

City haven't even played a game yet, and there are a few people here suggesting Pep Guardiola is headed for disaster because his style won't work here and his signings aren't physical enough. You couldn't make it up.

I ain't seen any posts to suggest he's "heading for disaster"!

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

How much Bundesliga do you watch normally? Just because at the end of the season you saw Pep walk away with the title every season he was there, including the 19 point gap against Dortmund... Doesn't mean it's not one of the more competitive leagues compared to the PL. Also if you remember we got battered by Stuttgart in pre season, a team that went on and got relegated last season. A lot of teams in that league press just as much as the team's in the PL and Pep was able to get the job done just fine with his "champagne football". You know.. Tactics that were adjusted from his time at Barca, expect the blueprint to be adjusted to accommodate the challenges Pep might face with us. This is why it was key to get Arteta in the staff, someone he trusts and knows the league well. He and Brian Kidd will help him with the adjustments.

We are in good hands now, it's not arrogance that many believe in Pep. It's proven to be wise to do so. Those who go against it are believing the weak narratives journalists are trying to sell. I've only seen Pep battered in league play twice, 1 team was led by a star man that he's now managing in KDB and the other was against BMG after Bayern had started the 15/16 season's 1st 14 games of the season 13-1-0 and got caught slipping.

Fair enough, and for the record I thought Bayern played some great stuff against us under Pep. They are the only show in town though, having won 12 of the last 18 titles, so not sure how that is indicative of the Bundesliga's competitive nature. The German rags annually relieve any potential rivals of their best players, and their squad is always vastly superior to any of the other teams. City by contrast have a lot to do based on last season's downward trajectory, in a far more cut throat environment. The stuff about Arteta and Kidd is undeniable, and I expect us to fair far better this season than last, but it won't be the procession you or anyone else thinks

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

Not a disaster, but I don't think it will be a bed of roses either. The Bundesliga has a lot of teams which do a high press and I know he's prepared for that. However because he liked to play out from the back he chose to use Alaba and Kimmich a left back and midfielder as his CB's when Boetang was injured. Benatia wasn't trusted as much and made a lot of mistakes when he did play. However that pairing found it difficult when opponents used to lump long balls because of their height. To me the hardest thing he's going to have to deal with is in the PL there are forwards with a lot of pace and height. I'm sure he's aware of this as to why he wants Stones, but make no mistake about it we will get caught at times and it will lead to opponents getting a quick counter attacking goal no matter who's in defence. That's just how Pep sets up and likes to play. It happened to him against Atletico and should have lost that game against Juve in the CL. It happened when we played them last season. Pep will adapt to the PL and we'll be okay, but it won't be a total cake walk.

Good post

 

[Bill]

Fair enough, and for the record I thought Bayern played some great stuff against us under Pep. They are the only show in town though, having won 12 of the last 18 titles, so not sure how that is indicative of the Bundesliga's competitive nature. The German rags annually relieve any potential rivals of their best players, and their squad is always vastly superior to any of the other teams. City by contrast have a lot to do based on last season's downward trajectory, in a far more cut throat environment. The stuff about Arteta and Kidd is undeniable, and I expect us to fair far better this season than last, but it won't be the procession you or anyone else thinks

you wash your mouth out.

we are going to win the league by October and the rags are going to get relegated. zlatan wont score a goal .

 

[Akiva]

You couldn't make it up, but, erm, you did......

Anyway, things I haven't seen on this thread:
1. Anyone suggesting we're headed for disaster.
2. Anyone claiming Pep's style won't work here (not that there's any evidence yet that it will or won't anyway, just opinion)

What I have seen though is:
1. People, not unreasonably, pointing out the uniquely combative nature of this league, and the associated need for balance.
2. People suggesting, again not unreasonably, that there is no harm in being prepared for all eventualities and that we should guard against complacency and arrogance.

It really is Land of the Cnuts on this site sometimes and despite having only been here 5 minutes, you're already the King. Kudos

Honestly you're talking to the wrong audience mate. Pep Guardiola picks the team and the signings, maybe you ought to let him know he's barking up the wrong tree?

You cry arrogance for those who believe in Pep but you can't accept he might actually do things differently. Otherwise, why bring in Pep at all? Surely another manager more tactically suited to the PL would be better than the living epitome of Johan Cruyff styled tiki taka?

Here we are, a few weeks into the transfer window, without even a ball being kicked and you're busy showing, with evidence from last season under Pellegrini, why he needs to take a different approach. I think confidence in the best manager in the game is only fair at this point.

But sure, for all your reasonable arguments you finish with some good old fashioned ad hominem. Classy.

 

[BillyShears]

What we need is balance, and physicality is an important ingredient in that, particularly in a league like the Premiership. The trouble is you can't mention words like tackle and header on here without some puritanical high sparrow of the beautiful game assuming that you are advocating a return to the John Beck days of clubbing some seals to death in the warm up before breaking all the opposition's legs and then strapping the ball to a Soyuz test rocket and firing it 90 miles into outer space.

I'm not really interested in the extremes. Like I said in terms of having physicality and dynamism in midfield, Gundogan, Fernandinho, and Delph all offer that. We can argue the toss about the quality of some of them but none of them have been coached by Pep so until they have we need to wait and see. There's also the question of whether any of the young lads genuinely catch his eye. Maybe one of Manu or Alex Garcia makes the step up. Again we can't hide from the fact that he's the type of coach who likes to give youth it's head but there has to be room for that. If you add in Toure and Fernando, again I imagine if Pep uses them it's because he believes that he can make good use of them, then I think you have the balance you're looking for.

It's important when it comes to the squad to keep an open mind. There will be surprises in terms of which players excel. From a coaching standpoint you and I both know they're coming from a pretty low starting point in terms of the last two seasons. But they now have the best coach in the world. There's plenty more cause for optimism than there is cause for concern, and honestly don't really see the point in using our worst performances in the last couple of seasons as a barometer for what the existing squad is capable of.

There's also a wider point within this too about Pep and about what he's come here to do. He was asked in his first press conference about whether he could bring his 'style' to the league, and he didn't shirk the question. He said that that's what he'd come to prove. That he can come and win doing it his way. It was clear though. He didn't say "i have to change my way of thinking" or "i have to adapt my style".

Again this isn't a conversation about extremes. It's not about having four little guys versus four big guys. It's about a team which has the characteristics the manager wants. He will know better than me or you what he needs to win the Premier League. I'm pretty surprised at how many people seemingly aren't even giving him a chance and are already at close to full on panic mode. It might not be easy in the first season, but I've got little doubt that Guardiola is going to make us dream in a way we've never dreamt before watching City.