I don't think it's that important personally but it's definitely a factor, true. Think Guardiola's test is adapting to the quality of the City players who are (generally) a step down from his previous sides rather than adapting to the league.
Our Rivals' squads next year - Manchester City (2016/2017)
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I don't think it's that important personally but it's definitely a factor, true. Think Guardiola's test is adapting to the quality of the City players who are (generally) a step down from his previous sides rather than adapting to the league.
Pellegrini, Ancelotti, Mourinho and Wenger (his first full season) winning the PL in their first season shows that it's not that crucial to know the league.
Any half decent side would have given them a game. It was very fortunate for him that a managerless (yeah Moyes came late) hopeless Sunderland became the first fixture at home. He will be found out soon.
Its away at stoke next week, Hammers at home and then the derby for Pep. Would be very interesting how he copes with the upcoming fixtures.
Its away at stoke next week, Hammers at home and then the derby for Pep. Would be very interesting how he copes with the upcoming fixtures.
I think I overestimated Pep's ability to adapt to the Prem. I honestly thought he wouldn't be as dogmatic as LVG, and set in his ways. That he'd tailor his approach to a league and a City side who don't fit his idea of beautiful football at all... Yet, what does he do in his first game? Play his absurd inverted fullbacks, and almost get tactically dealt with by David fecking Moyes... Just let that sink in: David. Moyes.
Granted, it's very early to say, but City won't be wowing anyone if Pep continues to on this road. Even the style of his Bayern side, which was markedly more direct than his Barca side, would be a dodgy fit for the Prem and this City side. It's definitely a conundrum for him, IMO
Granted, it's very early to say, but City won't be wowing anyone if Pep continues to on this road. Even the style of his Bayern side, which was markedly more direct than his Barca side, would be a dodgy fit for the Prem and this City side. It's definitely a conundrum for him, IMO
All those teams apart from Wenger's literally bought the title. Those days are long gone in the PL, unless city surprise us all and buy another £150m worth pf players by August end.
I think United/Mourinho have a big edge due to this being guardiola's first season.
Teams that were better fit for Pep than City: Arsenal, PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, and Spurs......
Today's game was so subpar from City. I've said it before and I'll say it again, KDB, GUndogan and Silva won't start together.
Today's game was so subpar from City. I've said it before and I'll say it again, KDB, GUndogan and Silva won't start together.
I'd add LVG's Utd to that list too. The fundamentals of possession play were set, all he would have needed to do was let the shackles off the attackers, and with his name + Utd's worldwide appeal, he'd have been able to attract anyone he wished much like Jose did this year.
Had a little read through and I'm not quite sure what people were expecting to see today. You're taking a team that's had no tactical input since Mancini left and asking them to play in a completely new system that relies on movement to the minor detail. I certainly took far more positives than the negatives being focused on in here, and fully expect the team to push on from here and improve game by game. It's about getting points in these early games and we've come away with three. We controlled the game like I've not seen us do in a long time.
I took three positives; two players in Sterling and Stones - both played very well and you can see they'll both feature heavily and benefit from the system we now play. The third was attacking and defending like a team, there was a moment in the game where Silva looking to press forwards and realised the team were still getting into shape and instead just dropped back - they move forward and backwards as a 10, and it's the responsibility of all to press together. The big question marks are what we'll do with the keeper, but more importantly for me the fullbacks - they aren't equipped with the right skillset to cause damage from those central areas, and both gave the ball away in key areas a couple of times, which is a shame because their movement was excellent to get the ball into the midfield area quickly, just an inability to execute the next step.
All in all, quite pleased if I'm honest. Over to you (sounds like most of you are expecting Mourinho to have you fully firing already).
I took three positives; two players in Sterling and Stones - both played very well and you can see they'll both feature heavily and benefit from the system we now play. The third was attacking and defending like a team, there was a moment in the game where Silva looking to press forwards and realised the team were still getting into shape and instead just dropped back - they move forward and backwards as a 10, and it's the responsibility of all to press together. The big question marks are what we'll do with the keeper, but more importantly for me the fullbacks - they aren't equipped with the right skillset to cause damage from those central areas, and both gave the ball away in key areas a couple of times, which is a shame because their movement was excellent to get the ball into the midfield area quickly, just an inability to execute the next step.
All in all, quite pleased if I'm honest. Over to you (sounds like most of you are expecting Mourinho to have you fully firing already).
City have spent as much as anyone this transfer window, so how did the other teams who won it in their first season "buy the league"?
Think they will improve with time and players coming back. One thing, I notices was that once Sunderland got past the first press, there was acres of space.
Their biggest problem is still that too many of their players are prone to make individual unforced errors. Stones and Sagna were guilty of giving the ball away in ridiculous positions today.
Still think they will win the league.
Their biggest problem is still that too many of their players are prone to make individual unforced errors. Stones and Sagna were guilty of giving the ball away in ridiculous positions today.
Still think they will win the league.
Why not?
It's one game. He had an awful start at Barca as well.
...I guarantee if all three are fit for a decent period of time there will be at least one game where they start together. If Gundogan was fit he'd have started today alongside them.
One of De Bruyne or Silva won't play regularly this season when Gundogan returns. My money's on KDB since Pep seems to prefer 433.
How was match attendance? Read elsewhere they were still selling tickets yesterday.
In whose place?
Kolarov's possibly, pushing Fernandinho back, or Nolito's, pushing de Bruyne/Silva forward. Guardiola will be fully aware de Bruyne and Silva are two of City's best players easily, and Gundogan if fit should be too, he'll almost certainly have some idea of how he can play them all together. Obviously it will depend on the opposition but he loves his midfielders and players who keep the ball, so I find the notion that he simply will not ever start them at the same time a bit silly.
Can't actually recall Stones giving the ball away, certainly not in a position of any note, so I'm going to assume you meant Clichy alongside Sagna, in which case I'd agree. They both gave it away needlessly without any kind of pressure. The fullbacks have the longest journey ahead of them to get to where they need to be, they are the biggest threat to this style of play not succeeding. Stones was very calm on the ball and had a good game.
Credit to Kolarov today for a relatively sound CB performance (largely only due to the fact that he's good in the air) but I do not wish to see him there too much, and I've not come to terms with the thought of Fernandinho there instead personally. Do you think he's got what it takes there? I'd still sooner see Kompany, Stones, Otamendi and Mangala at CB than him in my head for now.
How would you want to see City line up in most games?
It isn't just Moyes. It is cultural on this continent and it doesn't translate well to excessive amounts of controlled possession. Teams will sit back just like they did last year against us, City might produce a bit more bite in the final third to get themselves further over the line but only time will tell.
It is horrible to watch though, "beautiful" football in this case is in the eye of the master and the beholder, "beautiful" football is not always the most effective football.
To be fair I am amazed at how competent Kolarov looks at CB. His only redeeming features for us have been his ability to get forward and whip in a good cross, so I'm surprised he's looked ok there in pre-season and today. As you say, no chance he stays there though once everyone is fit, thank feck. Do not think Fernandinho will play there either with any regularity. A lot of people jumped onto the quote Pep made about him playing there, but he said it in response to a specific question about which of our midfielders could play CB, and tellingly he had to pause for a couple of seconds! He could do a job there for sure (did so in the derby last season for 30+ minutes) but he's too valuable in midfield to play there, plus we have better CBs in Otamendi, Kompany and Stones.
Hard to say until I see all the players settle in and how they adapt to Pep's ideas, but on paper, right now I'd say something like this:
Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Stones Clichy
Gundogan Fernandinho
Sterling de Bruyne Silva
Aguero
All depends on how Pep can fit Silva and de Bruyne into the same side to be honest.
Ideal Pep team?
Zab-Otamendi-Stones-Kolorav
Fernandinho
Gundogan-Silva
Sane-Aguero-Sterling.
As of now, if Gundogan is completely healthy, Gundogan>Silva>KDB.
Zab-Otamendi-Stones-Kolorav
Fernandinho
Gundogan-Silva
Sane-Aguero-Sterling.
As of now, if Gundogan is completely healthy, Gundogan>Silva>KDB.
Apparently, they're buying Claudio Bravo for 25M€. Guess Hart is out the door.
Yep rumours he's off to Everton.
When I said he is often going to use a formation with 3 defenders almost everyone here laughed at me, when I cast doubts over his ability, almost everyone here said I am mad. Well even I could not have predicted that he is going to use his fullbacks as defensive midfielders 
.
The bottom line is that City have the best squad in the league but his tactics will not do them any good in my opinion. They will probably improve but his teams leave so much space and are so vulnerable defensively that if Guardiola does not change, which I highly doubt, they would lose a lot of points against the likes of Sland, West Brom,etc, teams that are happy to sit deep and wait. As someone has already mentioned here, when the opposition gets past the first line of defence of City- the pressing game of their attacking players, there is so much space at the back that any team that is good at counter attacking will hit them hard (how Bayern got eliminated from the Champions League 3 years in a row).
As I have numerously said this is the first time he does not have the best team in the world under his control and in my opinion he will face huge problems because they will not be able to score 5 goals each week and in my opinion they will concede some goals under Guardiola. Only time will show what will happen but in my opinion his tactics are pathetic and city are going to struggle. I am not talking about it because of the first game of the season, of course I am not doing that, but he made the same mistakes with Bayern and he did not change one bit...We shall see what is going to happen...
. The bottom line is that City have the best squad in the league but his tactics will not do them any good in my opinion. They will probably improve but his teams leave so much space and are so vulnerable defensively that if Guardiola does not change, which I highly doubt, they would lose a lot of points against the likes of Sland, West Brom,etc, teams that are happy to sit deep and wait. As someone has already mentioned here, when the opposition gets past the first line of defence of City- the pressing game of their attacking players, there is so much space at the back that any team that is good at counter attacking will hit them hard (how Bayern got eliminated from the Champions League 3 years in a row).
As I have numerously said this is the first time he does not have the best team in the world under his control and in my opinion he will face huge problems because they will not be able to score 5 goals each week and in my opinion they will concede some goals under Guardiola. Only time will show what will happen but in my opinion his tactics are pathetic and city are going to struggle. I am not talking about it because of the first game of the season, of course I am not doing that, but he made the same mistakes with Bayern and he did not change one bit...We shall see what is going to happen...
I can't see Bravo leaving Barca for City.
De bruyne walks in on either wing. Sterling is still sterling, Sane has potential but not a lot should be expected of him because of his size and being so young in a new league. Will be de bruyne right and Nolito left when all are fit I think (though that will rarely happen). Also otamendi wont start probably, not good enough on the ball for pep. Also zabaleta isnt very good these days, thats sagna easily.
Not on a Pep team. Pep likes pace on his wings, hence why Mario Gotze got replaced by Coman and Douglas Costa... Defensively, put KDB on the wings, opposition going to attack that side everytime. It's very similar to Juan Mata in terms of defensive ability. Zab days are definitely numbered, but all 3 are probably not ideal for Pep. However, out of the 3 cbs, I would think otamendi would be the best option, Pep wise.
EDIT : IF KDB really was going to play on the wings, Pep would not have gotten Nolito, Sane and Jesus.
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No way KDB would get dropped. More likely that Gundogan would be used as the deepest midfielder.
I'd be surprised by this, surely it's difficult to pick up any genuine top keeper at this stage in window, and he fits Barca perfectly because he's better than most midfielders outside of Spain with the ball at his feet. I do see the link for Pep, I'd just be surprised if it came off!
The reason why I don't think that will be the team is that, with inverted fullbacks...that would be an incredibly narrow team. I think Silva will be he one to be shoved.
I agree but I don't think Pep will play inverted full backs every game. I imagine that's how he will setup for most home games against weak opposition. In that case though I do think Silva will be the one dropped. I imagine the team will end up being:
Hart/Bravo
Sagna Stones Otamedni Clichy
Gundogan Ferds
Sane De Bruyne Sterling
Aguero
No Kompany?
I hope so, but I don't think we can count on him anymore with his injury problems.
Sane is not as far you wish for. Don't see him as a regular starter. Move De Bruyne to his position, put Silva in the centre and you're closer to reality.