United (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[bobbyowenquiff]

Wanting a small squad when we probably expect to play the most games is bizarre.

If we go all the way in the cups and CL - plus our league games, that's 60 odd games a season. Not including international games.

I think this is fair comment. There is a compromise between having to keep too many players happy and flogging the smaller squad to death. Pep's methods have brought tremendous success everywhere but he has always operated on the "high risk, high reward" strategy. Sometimes this has come unstuck. But over the long-term he has been the best Manager of all time. When you look at other major clubs across the world they have all struggled with player unrest at times caused by those who can't get a game.

 

[Lavinda Past]

You sound like a ‘real’ expert so if Oep went are you do enlightened to suggest a replacement that could even lace Peps boots? I doubt that very much actually - we have the best there is currently

This makes me laugh. Shit happens and you get on with it. You make Pep leaving sound like the end of the world.

It won't be.

 

[blue by birth]

Bring it on, I say. I've been through enough managers at City to always look at any new appointment in a positive manner.
Change is good for fans. The downs can be as much fun as the ups. Whatever happens, we go with it - there's no alternative other than support another club. Unthinkable!
If the new boss is no good, just hope that the next one will be. It's nice to follow a winning team, but at the end of the day, it's only a game.

The biggest concern for City when Pep leaves will be retaining as many 'Pep fans' as possible. Whether it be match attendees or internet followers. There are no doubt many thousands who are City followers simply because Pep is the boss.
Remember the Bosnian Diamond followers on here? They disappeared overnight when Edin left. It will be hundreds of times worse on here when Pep leaves - Imagine the i.pact on the club's social media!

That's what the Board will worry about. Pep attracts players, sponsors, investors...

He also attracts trophies..check out his record
I will support City whoever is our manager but it will be a downgrade when he leaves

 

[Winchester]

Some of the Reactions on here are Comedy
Ok City lost,
Nothing anyone can do about it
FFS Move on

 

[wolviedinho]

Expectations…

City have been immense, best in class for a long sustained period of time.

Best thing we can do is look at the situation again.

We have struggled to replace some world class players and it shows. We have struggled badly with injuries and it must be sickening. No other team can survive without its mains CBs. Stones never available is a nightmare.

Far too many players aging and injured. New players are expected to perform at the level we have become accustomed to but are either not good enough or struggling to adapt.

So realistically we are at a decent level. Not great, not bad but somewhere in the middle.

Pep? I don’t know he seems to be struggling with the amount of changes. He likes a small squad, where he relies in a certain amount of players but he has had to manage a lot of outgoing and incoming. The settled squad inherited does not exist currently.

Nothing we can do about it unfortunately but let it play out. We have signed some good players in January. Good players seem to be the main point. How good are the new players? Jury is out.

The system that served us so well is busted. We are so poor in possession now I would love a change to counter attacking football. Everyone now accepts a pale imitation of what we used to be.

Playing out from the back, it’s shocking. Putting aside the keeper change for a second,edie played a big role but Donna saves more so it evens out. The defenders can’t be trusted to break the lines, can’t pass more than once without a mistake.

The midfield is not solid with only nico or rodders holding it together. Haaland due to these issues can’t get into the game. New winger now will be interesting.

Sorry for rant, defence and midfield is solely to blame. Pep also for persisting on playing out with players who can’t do it to a high level leaving us vulnerable. Wingers also have issues, 8/10 also is an issue. Camping out with no solution only for a quick break against the high line is again a walking disaster.

We are clearly a team in transition. To what tho? It’s confusing and not identifiable as a pep team, more like a mixture of Klopp and pep but doing neither to a high level and thus play crap.

Make your mind up time. Personally the players are not capable of possession football that is effective. Pep can’t let it go as that’s his philosophy, the club buy seemingly with one eye on the future.

Need to decide what way we want to go. This stuck in the middle is why results like yesterday happen often.

 

[Norbert D]

Bring it on, I say. I've been through enough managers at City to always look at any new appointment in a positive manner.
Change is good for fans. The downs can be as much fun as the ups. Whatever happens, we go with it - there's no alternative other than support another club. Unthinkable!
If the new boss is no good, just hope that the next one will be. It's nice to follow a winning team, but at the end of the day, it's only a game.

The biggest concern for City when Pep leaves will be retaining as many 'Pep fans' as possible. Whether it be match attendees or internet followers. There are no doubt many thousands who are City followers simply because Pep is the boss.
Remember the Bosnian Diamond followers on here? They disappeared overnight when Edin left. It will be hundreds of times worse on here when Pep leaves - Imagine the i.pact on the club's social media!

That's what the Board will worry about. Pep attracts players, sponsors, investors...

In fairness we never thought we would get over Sun Jihai leaving, all those shirt sales in China, a dozen at least !

 

[Norbert D]

Foden didn't play well last season bit neither did the rest of the team l. Fodens gorm has been patchy this season...so has tge teams

Your solution based on the above is to get rid of the best manager in world football ( and replace him with who btw?) and to bench one of the most technically gifted players we have!!! Unbelievable...all of this while criticising the capt of the club who is one of the very few who shows any fight week in and out....is gectge player he was...no...but he is leaving this summer and he still leaves everything on the pitch for the club

Name any player we can get that is fit to lace KDBs boots? Go on! There were probably Chelsea fans on their forums like you calling him shitvwhen he was there....that's your level

Maybe do a spell check before pressing send.

 

[Lee won pen]

He's been fantastic so far and you're slating him for one bad 45 minutes? FFS.

Bad day, everybody needs to get over it and move on because many on here are making themselves look really stupid.

Jury is out for me……He’s done some fantastic things and obviously has tremendous skill. I’m concerned that he may be a bit of a show pony.

 

[Norbert D]

Lewis to Ake, Ake to Foden, Foden back to Nathan Ake, Haaland makes a run but no fucker sees him but we boosted our possession stats, oh oooooooh we’re the sideways team, oh oooooooh we never take a shot….

 

[Lee won pen]

Pep's style is pretty unique. It needs World class player to pull it off. Sadly they're a bit thin on the ground nowadays I think we'll do pretty well against slower tempo European sides, but will struggle against the more rough arse kick and rush sides.

Then maybe he should be able to adapt?

 

[Lavinda Past]

He also attracts trophies..check out his record
I will support City whoever is our manager but it will be a downgrade when he leaves

That's basically what I've written.

It's not just going to be a downgrade, it's a bloody cliff edge. It's just going to happen two or three years too late, probably because the Board haven’t really prepared for the eventuality.

 

[TFC]

I think we get a bit of tunnel vision when it comes to Pep’s tenure. Truth is, we are way closer to saying goodbye than we were saying hello. Whenever it happens, personally I’m hoping for a slight shift in playing style, I think it could be a mistake to state “this is the City blueprint, stick to it” to the new fella. Might be time to evolve a bit ourselves.

 

[simon23]

Maybe do a spell check before pressing send.

Maybe learn something about football before posting on a football forum

 

[BlueNomad]

That's basically what I've written.

It's not just going to be a downgrade, it's a bloody cliff edge. It's just going to happen two or three years too late, probably because the Board haven’t really prepared for the eventuality.

There are countless top teams in Europe, with good managers, squads and facilities. What makes ours so special?

Pep is not a God. He is fallible…at times, eye-wateringly so. So, we get another top manager and support that manager with a strong squad.

I’m not sure what people expect?

Pep and Soriano and Khaldoon and Mansour have built a great club from the ashes of what Shinawatra left them. They’re not about to throw it all away because Pep decides to leave!

 

[Ken92]

I think we get a bit of tunnel vision when it comes to Pep’s tenure. Truth is, we are way closer to saying goodbye than we were saying hello. Whenever it happens, personally I’m hoping for a slight shift in playing style, I think it could be a mistake to state “this is the City blueprint, stick to it” to the new fella. Might be time to evolve a bit ourselves.

no Simeone or Mourinho style and its all good.

 

[BlueNomad]

I’d bet a find to a dollar they’ve talked to any number of potential top managers about City, as it feels clear that Pep will drop the news when he’s good and ready…and probably without warning, unless we get to Christmas 2026 and he re-ups…which might not be the greatest idea, if I’m being totally honest.

 

[Lavinda Past]

There are countless top teams in Europe, with good managers, squads and facilities. What makes ours so special?

Pep is not a God. He is fallible…at times, eye-wateringly so. So, we get another top manager and support that manager with a strong squad.

I’m not sure what people expect?

Pep and Soriano and Khaldoon and Mansour have built a great club from the ashes of what Shinawatra left them. They’re not about to throw it all away because Pep decides to leave!

I agree with you but with a word of caution...

Our Board consists of businessmen who have little or no experience or attachment to football beyond being on City's Board.

The owners were 100% reliant on Soriano and Bergiristain to attract their old friend Pep to the club, and have paid out over £20m a year to keep him here.

They'll probably go for Enrique as a safe bet.

 

[waspish]

There are countless top teams in Europe, with good managers, squads and facilities. What makes ours so special?

Pep is not a God. He is fallible…at times, eye-wateringly so. So, we get another top manager and support that manager with a strong squad.

I’m not sure what people expect?

Pep and Soriano and Khaldoon and Mansour have built a great club from the ashes of what Shinawatra left them. They’re not about to throw it all away because Pep decides to leave!

Some don’t get it? if Pep wants to stay another ten years Khaldoon will back him fully! Pep will leave when Pep wants to leave he won’t be sacked..

 

[TinFoilHat]

 

[wolviedinho]

Some don’t get it? if Pep wants to stay another ten years Khaldoon will back him fully! Pep will leave when Pep wants to leave he won’t be sacked..

Rightly so and if that’s the case, the club has let him down badly on recruitment. He doesn’t have the players required to dominate and win games.