What's the problem(s)?

[r.soleofsalford]

The Barca model is no longer fit for purpose.

I hate to say this but Klopp and his like have changed the game, pace, power and energy have to be no1 to win the title.

Possession based football is no longer the answer.

Pep has been sussed out and will have to change.

Unfortunately we have been sussed.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

Three years of dreadful recruitment.

This.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

The Barca model is no longer fit for purpose.

I hate to say this but Klopp and his like have changed the game, pace, power and energy have to be no1 to win the title.

Possession based football is no longer the answer.

Pep has been sussed out and will have to change.

Yep, totally agree.

 

[DMA's]

The Barca model is no longer fit for purpose.

I hate to say this but Klopp and his like have changed the game, pace, power and energy have to be no1 to win the title.

Possession based football is no longer the answer.

Pep has been sussed out and will have to change.

I made a post similar to this highlighting the same happened to Jose when pep came along and other Teams then started implementing similar ideas to pep and mourinho really struggled as his defensive football is perfectly suited to a pep system.

Now as you say football has evolved to a more German way of playing which other teams are starting to implement and it is no surprise our possession based game is struggling as this system is peps kryptonite (his record v Klopp shows this).

He needs to evolve or We will be left behind

 

[Keeper!]

I made a post similar to this highlighting the same happened to Jose when pep came along and other Teams then started implementing similar ideas to pep and mourinho really struggled as his defensive football is perfectly suited to a pep system.

Now as you say football has evolved to a more German way of playing which other teams are starting to implement and it is no surprise our possession based game is struggling as this system is peps kryptonite (his record v Klopp shows this).

He needs to evolve or We will be left behind

The Germans are leading the footballing world for sure, they have regrouped and are back.

Spain and La Liga are in free fall, the Spanish model is old and broken.

 

[Keeper!]

I made a post similar to this highlighting the same happened to Jose when pep came along and other Teams then started implementing similar ideas to pep and mourinho really struggled as his defensive football is perfectly suited to a pep system.

Now as you say football has evolved to a more German way of playing which other teams are starting to implement and it is no surprise our possession based game is struggling as this system is peps kryptonite (his record v Klopp shows this).

He needs to evolve or We will be left behind

Great managers evolve and reinvent themselves, not nice to say but Fergusson did this often, and hence his period of success.

Mourinho, Venger and now Pep stuck to their guns and becamer parodies of themselves.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

The truth is we aren’t good enough at the moment in any area of the pitch to even finish within 15 points of Liverpool. Our defence can’t defend, our midfield doesn’t control and our attack is predictable and fairly static by previous standards. The malaise is right across the whole team. And our manager doesn’t know his future, or at least hasn’t communicated it, doesn’t inspire the team and has created uncertainty at the club. There is no immediate solution to this. It’s several years of work that needs to be done. And if Pep is leaving before completing that rebuild, then it’s better that he leaves now and let the rebuild be 100% with a consistent vision and tactical approach. That’s just the reality. Pep won’t leave now of course, and nor will he commit, which only adds to the likelihood of a disastrous season. We need something new, either from Pep or from someone else. Something to freshen it up.

 

[alexmcity]

Great managers evolve and reinvent themselves, not nice to say but Fergusson did this often, and hence his period of success.

Mourinho, Venger and now Pep stuck to their guns and becamer parodies of themselves.

Pep's already a parody of himself?

So, his methods won the first ever domestic treble in England and 6 trophies in a row from 6 on offer just 15 months ago. Now, 15 months later, his methods and understanding of the game are already left behind and he has to reinvent himself? That looks very stupid to me.

How can you be sure that it's not injuries and the difficulty of replacing aging legends that causes the current crisis but precisely the manager's understanding of the game?

 

[Keeper!]

Pep's already a parody of himself?

So, his methods won the first ever domestic treble in England and 6 trophies in a row from 6 on offer just 15 months ago. Now, 15 months later, his methods and understanding of the game are already left behind and he has to reinvent himself? That looks very stupid to me.

How can you be sure that it's not injuries and the difficulty of replacing aging legends that causes the current crisis but precisely the manager's understanding of the game?

We are going backwards, can you not see that?

The formidables season is now history, it's gone, remember it with pride but it's history.

We now are not good enough, end of story.

 

[alexmcity]

The truth is we aren’t good enough at the moment in any area of the pitch to even finish within 15 points of Liverpool. Our defence can’t defend, our midfield doesn’t control and our attack is predictable and fairly static by previous standards. The malaise is right across the whole team. And our manager doesn’t know his future, or at least hasn’t communicated it, doesn’t inspire the team and has created uncertainty at the club. There is no immediate solution to this. It’s several years of work that needs to be done. And if Pep is leaving before completing that rebuild, then it’s better that he leaves now and let the rebuild be 100% with a consistent vision and tactical approach. That’s just the reality. Pep won’t leave now of course, and nor will he commit, which only adds to the likelihood of a disastrous season. We need something new, either from Pep or from someone else. Something to freshen it up.

Overdramatic generalisations done in vacuum, i.e. without taking into account the context.

First, it makes sense to generalise like that only if we play with our best available team and still struggle like that. You've completely ignored injuries, covid and no-pre-season.

Second, it's not clear at all that we will need years to get strong again. My prediction is that it will take us months and not years. We beat Real twice without Silva and Aguero and with a makeshift CB pair. Things are not that bad at all.

 

[Keeper!]

Two seasons ago the spirit on that pitch and in the stands was magnificent.

The players would have run through a brick wall for the manager and club.

Do you seriously feel the same way today?

Pep looks a shadow of himself, and so does his team.

 

[Keeper!]

Overdramatic generalisations done in vacuum, i.e. without taking into account the context.

First, it makes sense to generalise like that only if we play with our best available team and still struggle like that. You've completely ignored injuries, covid and no-pre-season.

Second, it's not clear at all that we will need years to get strong again. My prediction is that it will take us months and not years. We beat Real twice without Silva and Aguero and with a makeshift CB pair. Things are not that bad at all.

Covid, injuries and no preseason.

Every club is affected by the above, EVERY CLUB

 

[alexmcity]

We are going backwards, can you not see that?

The formidables season is now history, it's gone, remember it with pride but it's history.

We now are not good enough, end of story.

'End of story' is a daft way to conclude when your argument is as weak as it gets.

Let's ignore objective circumstances like injuries, aging players, covid, no preseason and blame the manager for all the problems.

Think a little bit more before generating posts like a mindless bot.

 

[Keeper!]

'End of story' is a daft way to conclude when your argument is as weak as it gets.

Let's ignore objective circumstances like injuries, aging players, covid, no preseason and blame the manager for all the problems.

Think a little bit more before generating posts like a mindless bot.

Injuries are part and parcel of the game.

We have a 33yr old striker , whom has always had injury issues and due to age that will only get worse.

We have a LB who has had 2 ACL injuries.

We have a CM player who has had ACL and major back issues.

We have failed as a cash rich club with enormous resources to build our squad to an acceptable level.

We have been arrogant and complacent in the extreme.

 

[vasan]

Great managers evolve and reinvent themselves, not nice to say but Fergusson did this often, and hence his period of success.

Mourinho, Venger and now Pep stuck to their guns and becamer parodies of themselves.

Ferguson was more of a strategist who acted as a president cum dof and building teams rather than a first team trainer, but yes he saw footballing trends and adapting- for ex brought mcclaren during the time wenger came, then during the time of portuguese footballing innovation and mourinho coming brought Carlos Queiroz.
But to be fair wenger to0, saw the rise of influence of spain but had to make trade offs in terms of first team investment because of their stadium financing, could have won more titles had he left for real or barca or dare i say to us at city - mancini and pellegrini during 2008-2015 won playing similar style.
Pep is still the best bet for us and as for evolving, he himself says that he changed after going to germany and had to adapt.Still too early to make rash judgments.

 

[urban genie]

We lost our established spine in the last two summers though them leaving or injury, we were slow to react in the kompany stakes, this led to our midfield back bone moved to CB last year to compensate.

We have addressed kompany going only this week.
Torress/foden are the Silva replacements still young and learning though, the other option bernardo has only just returned to fitness.
Solid if not glamourous midfielder Ilkay also out.
No one expected us to lose Jesus and again some slow reaction from higher up to not anticipate Agueros time is coming to an end and getting in replacements in the close season to bed in for a season.

After this break we should hopefully have the full squad available, in that event I still think we can go on an unbeaten run and be in the top two by christmas.


3 games in with a decimated squad with new additions needing to bed a little and everyone on here is acting like we are relegation fodder..

Though Pep not decicding on his contract isn't a help, some players like stability.

We are not going backwards we are in a process of renewal and yes Txiki is at fault for some of it for being reactive rather than pro-active on long term replacements for the old guard (happened with the full backs 4 years ago too)

 

[Keeper!]

Ferguson was more of a strategist who acted as a president cum dof and building teams rather than a first team trainer, but yes he saw footballing trends and adapting- for ex brought mcclaren during the time wenger came, then during the time of portuguese footballing innovation and mourinho coming brought Carlos Queiroz.
But to be fair wenger to0, saw the rise of influence of spain but had to make trade offs in terms of first team investment because of their stadium financing, could have won more titles had he left for real or barca or dare i say to us at city - mancini and pellegrini during 2008-2015 won playing similar style.
Pep is still the best bet for us and as for evolving, he himself says that he changed after going to germany and had to adapt.Still too early to make rash judgments.

Agree with most of that but "Pep is still the best bet for us and as for evolving, he himself says that he changed after going to germany and had to adapt.Still too early to make rash judgments."

Rash, these issues are 12 months in.

The contract issue is just that, a major, major issue.

IF he wants to rebuild this team, sign a contract, let the players know I am here, I am staying, either stick with me or see you later.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

'End of story' is a daft way to conclude when your argument is as weak as it gets.

Let's ignore objective circumstances like injuries, aging players, covid, no preseason and blame the manager for all the problems.

Think a little bit more before generating posts like a mindless bot.

Those same circumstances haven't stopped the Dippers beating Leeds, Chelsea and Arsenal in their first three games.

 

[alexmcity]

Injuries are part and parcel of the game.

We have a 33yr old striker , whom has always had injury issues and due to age that will only get worse.

We have a LB who has had 2 ACL injuries.

We have a CM player who has had ACL and major back issues.

We have failed as a cash rich club with enormous resources to build our squad to an acceptable level.

We have been arrogant and complacent in the extreme.

Our squad is on a very good level. It's not perfect. It's difficult to replace huge legends instantly. And it's natural to make mistakes in the transfer market. A combination of aging legends and bad injuries to key players makes the transition less smooth than initially hoped.

Ferguson had bad periods at Manure. They weren't even close to competing from 2003 and 2006. Many of their fans thought he was past it.

 

[alexmcity]

Those same circumstances haven't stopped the Dippers beating Leeds, Chelsea and Arsenal in their first three games.

'Same'. Van Dijk has played in all of their last 45 games or so, they started the season with their best forwards available. The circumstances are not being even remotely the same.