I see it totally different, we've won because we had moments of brilliance from individuals and winning mentality under Fergie. This City team is just dominant, class above even without their best player.Annoying how they'll win this title just because, guess that's how many felt about us towards the end of Fergie's time, we didn't have amazing title winning teams in Fergie's last 2 or 3 title wins we were just better than the rest and that's where this City side is
Probably the most formidable city side under pep as they always had the slight potential hiccup defensively but not this season. Like some other I also believe that they gained an advantage with their little break over xmas and at the end of the day they are able to field two strong first 11 sides unlike any other side in the league.
Probably the most formidable city side under pep as they always had the slight potential hiccup defensively but not this season. Like some other I also believe that they gained an advantage with their little break over xmas and at the end of the day they are able to field two strong first 11 sides unlike any other side in the league.
Their form is absolutely flaming hot these days. Great team performance again. 11 wins in a row and 15 unbeaten. Hate to say it but Pep is bringing his mojo back to the game. Gundogan on another level
What's scary is they still need a LB and a striker. Jesus and Zinchenko aren't good enough. You just know they'll get Halaand. They're too good.
It's like an perfectly drilled and oiled machine. You look miles apart and yes this is a very deep squad indeed.Benefits of our squad, the likelihood before the season was our squad depth would see us pull away when others were going down and thats whats happened. We've had more injuries than United and Leicester but our squad depth means we can cope with them much better. Not another team in the world could play without Dias, Aguero and KDB and not look like dropping a percentage in performace. We have pretty much 2 players for each position.
They are being ’gifted’ goals because they have a front foot approach to every game. They force teams to do mistakes due to press and every player follows their gameplan. Easier said than done. I don’t see them stop winning anytime soon unfortunaly. Too much quality in every position even with De Bruyne and Aguero out.The unofficial Winter Break has given them a lift for sure. The unforced errors teams are making against them though is the bigger factor in the current run. They were gifted goals by poor defending & officiating early in the run. Alison throwing the ball into his net last week just confirms that our luck isn't in this year. Lloris was also very poor today & should have saved 2 of the 3 goals.
Other sides have been running players into the ground but Guardiola has played the long game well this year, rotating in his massive squad to good effect. He’s also made the tactical adjustment earlier in the season, as opposed to his usual trait of dropping bombs in Champions League Semi Finals.
Is it massive? There's quality in depth but it's not a particularly big squad. If you don't count Carson (you shouldn't), we only have 22 senior players, and two of those have been injured most of the season. Ederson, Gundogan, Dias, Stones, Rodri, Bernardo, Sterling, Jesus, Zinchenko, Foden and Cancelo is the starting XI for pretty much all of our games at this point with no more than one or two exceptions. It feels like Pep is rotating less than ever, which I think is probably the cause of our good form.
Of course it is, your bench tonight had Jesus, Torres, Laporte, Jesus and Fernandinho even with key players missing and injured.
Pep has done a good job, but you can’t play down the massive advantage he has over everyone else in that regard.
He has top players to step in in every position and doesn’t need to miss a step.
That is because he trusted Zinchenko and Foden to start
Their players' patterns of movement in the box is absolutely extraordinary. I have never seen anything like it. In awe of Guardiola honestly.Obviously they are quality players and well coached, but what gets me every time is how switched on every player seems to be. Just sharper in all ways. Movement, anticipation, decision making. Winning games easily
Nobody can compete with their squad depth. Their B team is still of a much higher quality than anyone else's. Maybe Chelsea and us could if the owners invested more money.Other sides have been running players into the ground but Guardiola has played the long game well this year, rotating in his massive squad to good effect. He’s also made the tactical adjustment earlier in the season, as opposed to his usual trait of dropping bombs in Champions League Semi Finals.
Some teams have a large squad, but only a core of 14-15 players who are generally interchangeable, without much of a drop in quality.Is it massive? There's quality in depth but it's not a particularly big squad. If you don't count Carson (you shouldn't), we only have 22 senior players, and two of those have been injured most of the season. Ederson, Gundogan, Dias, Stones, Rodri, Bernardo, Sterling, Jesus, Zinchenko, Foden and Cancelo is the starting XI for pretty much all of our games at this point with no more than one or two exceptions. It feels like Pep is rotating less than ever, which I think is probably the cause of our good form.
In the same vein, who rated John Stones, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Rodri, Danilo and Foden (as a first teamer) that highly, before this run? It's not just about depth. It's elevating players to reach extremely high heights. Now you're perception of these players is that they're terrific footballers. That's the trick of top class coaching, that KDB and Gundogan can be indistinguishable and are part of the same great squad pool.Some teams have a large squad, but only a core of 14-15 players who are generally interchangeable, without much of a drop in quality.
Tonight, City had KDB injured, Aguero returning, Dias, Mendy, Ake, Mahrez, Torres, Walker, Fernandinho not featuring in the starting 11. With a full squad, you're switching genuine world class quality with others from the bench.
Laporte is the perfect example. A couple of seasons ago he was one of the best in the league. Now, being able to rest Dias for Laport is crazy. Take KDB out of other any other team in the Prem and you'd notice the drop in performance levels. It's not the numbers that matter, but the quality in depth is what's key.
For all the talks of this being a close season, it looks like league is over in February already. This has to be Pep's greatest league win of all. Didnt have a team which was considered overpowered at the start, but built it over the course of the season. Imagine adding Messi and others to this team.
What exactly have they done to improve their defence? Is it all because of Dias? Pep choosing a more conservative style?
What has changed?
Coaching. His teams' bottom level is still fairly decent. They always do the basics right.Obviously they are quality players and well coached, but what gets me every time is how switched on every player seems to be. Just sharper in all ways. Movement, anticipation, decision making. Winning games easily
Not just squad depth but also the versatility of those in the squad.Benefits of our squad, the likelihood before the season was our squad depth would see us pull away when others were going down and thats whats happened. We've had more injuries than United and Leicester but our squad depth means we can cope with them much better. Not another team in the world could play without Dias, Aguero and KDB and not look like dropping a percentage in performace. We have pretty much 2 players for each position.
