What the hell is wrong with sterling’s hair. I can’t quite work out whether he’s going bald and trying to cover it up or he’s actually picked that haircut. Awful!
'Pep' Guardiola sack watch
- Thread starter Classical Mechanic
- Start date
What foundations are you even talking about?
The reason they are struggling is Pep hasnt been able to replace the old guard, how do you build a new team that way? Throwing money at defenders trying to solve the defense isnt a foundation for anything, really.
City isnt a club build on "solid foundations" regardless, they dont need it, they will get by simply by the wealth of the owners at the end of the day, Pep is not going to be their SAF.
Clubs get compensation when managers move to another club right? Surely fresh contract ensures more compensation for city at the end of the season?
8 games into the season, City below Southampton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Back to good ol' times I hope
They have forgotten how to score
What in the world has happened to his teams finishing?
Just hate his kind of football. Bunch of pussies on a pitch. Horrible to watch.
They'll have Messi next season to sort that out.
I expected a bounce from Pep's contract. Maybe not, City look out of ideas and as frail as ever at the back.
I dunno. Barca are better than City and Messi cant pull them up anymore
They're really in a terrible place in the league at the moment. That's why I said against Liverpool it's weird they didn't go all out for it.
Not sure how he'll manage to solve this, he's one of those that when he gets bored, he usually fecks off on his own, which made this contract extension weird from his own perspective. Why tie yourself to the club this early ? City would be all over it and it's expected they would want him to stay but for him it felt more logical to wait.
Not sure how he'll manage to solve this, he's one of those that when he gets bored, he usually fecks off on his own, which made this contract extension weird from his own perspective. Why tie yourself to the club this early ? City would be all over it and it's expected they would want him to stay but for him it felt more logical to wait.
Feck off I'm trying to jinx it
Biggest problem that has been coming is replacing those very savvy buys from a few years ago with 50-60 million per player now. The talent is not that readily available and could take a lot more to prise some of the better players to City.
A scandalous amount of money is my guess.
Mistake giving him a new contract. His cycle at City seems over.
A single system manager that will only work brilliant if you have Messi, Xavi, Iniesta or prime Aguero, Silva & KDB in the team. Losing Aguero & Silva really shows you he’s nowhere near among the greatest as manager. A top manager not just about coaching but also build and manage the team, he hasn’t really show that he’s capable to do something what Sir Alex built at United and what Klopp built at Liverpool aka working from scratch to build winning team. After all, it’s called football manager not a head coach.
A specific system requires complex training means needs specific players. He was lucky that he already had KDB, Silva & Aguero when he first came at city, otherwise he would need to spend double than he already spent and probably failed to find the right players.
A specific system requires complex training means needs specific players. He was lucky that he already had KDB, Silva & Aguero when he first came at city, otherwise he would need to spend double than he already spent and probably failed to find the right players.
Yeah, they have a lot of resources and throw money like crazy but I think they pretend the team to be something like Barcelona 2.0 where they want to adopt a style of football that can be replicated even if they change players and/or manager. At least I think that's the idea in keeping him around although he also needs to be competitive in the league again with all the amount of investment.
Its a good job he has such a good brand-name, he deserves to be under much more pressure than he is.
SAF is a different beast altogether, but Klopp lucked out on some players for sure. He apparently wasn't sold on Salah, who then becomes a revelation. Robertson has become better than anyone expected and Alexander-Arnold was free and happens to be their most creative player. Add to that they spent a fair bit of money on van Dijk and Alisson, who were sure bets (much like the players Pep buys).
Also, in Pep's defense, I'm not sure any other manager would have had that Barca team play to that level, which I think was comfortably the best football played by a club side in the last 20-30 years.
No manager will be great at all levels. He's a fantastic manager but with limitations.
It’s because he had Xavi, Iniesta, Messi. I remember there were times when Luis Enrique went to hospital for months due to illness and they still won games. It shows you Barcelona had unbelievable team and he wasn’t the one who built the team, players were already there before he took over. What he does is brilliant if it works but it requires brilliant players and specific attribute too.
Pep is one of the top 5 best managers ever but his problem is he's simply not long term one. He's one of those that 3-4 years later on he gets really bored, all his players get bored and he just wants a new team with new atmosphere. He's similar to Mourinho in this regard. He'll leave a solid base behind him for the upcoming manager but he himself can't get himself to stay that long. It all makes it a little bit weird why he decided to tie himself to City this early instead of waiting to see his position comes the end of the season.
Not disputing that one bit. But it takes a very special manager too.
Yeah, that's the unfortunate thing about him and Jose. And most nowadays it seems.
I seen him in an interview a while back and when he was asked who had the best hair in the league his reply was something like ''me when I get my new cut''
This is what he came up with
I really don't think he is. Top 5 now, maybe.
Manchester City owners want Guardiola to be their Cruyff. Not only to win few trophies while playing proactive and attacking football but to instill his own philosophy as the main principle, the DNA of this club. That was the plan from the very beginning. Thats why they hired Begiristain and Soriano years before Pep to settle things up for his arrival. So the contract extention from City's point of view makes perfect sense. It seems that Guardiola after 4 seasons at City started to believe in the project as well. Thats why he signed the new contract. He believes he can be that man so he will stay there as long as he think he can provide to the project...not 1 or 2 more years but may be even 5 more years there. And after that he will stay in some capacity at the club - as a director or adviser..just like the Dutchman did at Barcelona..
Kind of feel hes underachieving badly with the players at his disposal. Really think he needs to adjust and freshen up his system, just think its become an obstacle to winning matches more than a strength. Kind of feel if they got a boring, competent manager like Ranieri playing a more conservative, traditional game they'd run away with the league
And what you are arguing here?
I'm not wrong though. According to UEFA scoring systems, we were ranked number 1 in Europe. I don't think for one minute we were the best team though. Even just in England, sadly you lot and Chelsea were better than us during those years
Man. City just look tired, not just the schedule but they lack punch upfront now Aguero is declining (I know Gabi Jesus scores at a decent rate but he simply isn't the all round threat). And everytime I watch them I think Rodri is a real disappointment for them as a DM. I do wonder whether they'll come in for Douglas Luiz in next 6 months given they've got the buyback clause and he's been excellent for us in that position since we stayed up.
Actually think Pep going might've been best and they get in a fresh Poch or perhaps Allegri if they want to challenge for CL with conservative style.
Not sure getting in Messi a year later will solve everything bar their revenue off the pitch going mad.
Actually think Pep going might've been best and they get in a fresh Poch or perhaps Allegri if they want to challenge for CL with conservative style.
Not sure getting in Messi a year later will solve everything bar their revenue off the pitch going mad.
Ha. My bad. Got distracted and didn't really complete that comment. Point was, for those players to really maximise their potential they needed a manager who allowed for that to happen. Not like 40 years ago where it's just "pass to the best player" type of deal. His work at Bayern was also very impressive, he was just a bit unfortunate that they won everything the season before he joined
And to get to a 100 points in the league...I mean, do you think most managers in the league would achieve what he has with the admittedly great teams he's managed? I don't.
I know, it’s just an interesting kind of “accolade” to bring up that I’ve never really heard anyone use in a debate. I’m sure you could say they were the number one ranked team in Europe and find a ranking that says just that, but no one thought Liverpool were the best team around that year, regardless of what that ranking says, so it just seemed a bit of a reach. But fair enough, not gonna argue with you that you had a decent team that season.
Has been backed like no other manager in football history but is currently making City play worse than we did under Mark Hughes. Needs a big change to his system and he needs to make it quickly, otherwise all that 2-year extension will have guaranteed him is a massive payout.
Was willing to let it slide last season because we still won a major trophy and the Community Shield, Liverpool were unstoppable no matter what we'd have done, and we were adjusting to life after Kompany (and Sané to an extent). It looked like a transitional season by all accounts.
But the same problems are cropping up and they all come down to his decision making and managerial process. Keeps picking Rodri when he's been a massive problem for over a year now; persists with the same system when it's clearly not benefiting some incredibly talented players and is actually taking them backwards; seems desperate to make further expensive changes to the squad when he's already spent millions.
Either this is a serious fall before another rise or it might be time to admit that keeping him after the 19-20 season was a mistake.
Was willing to let it slide last season because we still won a major trophy and the Community Shield, Liverpool were unstoppable no matter what we'd have done, and we were adjusting to life after Kompany (and Sané to an extent). It looked like a transitional season by all accounts.
But the same problems are cropping up and they all come down to his decision making and managerial process. Keeps picking Rodri when he's been a massive problem for over a year now; persists with the same system when it's clearly not benefiting some incredibly talented players and is actually taking them backwards; seems desperate to make further expensive changes to the squad when he's already spent millions.
Either this is a serious fall before another rise or it might be time to admit that keeping him after the 19-20 season was a mistake.
Last edited:
It’s very strange how poor they look this season. Last season (despite results being similar to this one) they were actually playing really well, dominating teams, creating loads of chances but missing them and conceding random goals on the counter. This year they lack any real goal threat and the losses are much more deserved based off the quality of chances. Pretty much every game this season they’ve really struggled to create anything. Tactically they look awful, which isn’t something I’d ever associate with a pep team.
I do not see him ever being this successful managing a spurs or arsenal or team with limited budget. The guy has spent crazy amount on players and his best players in his managerial time at city has been the players he inherited and not bought. He doesn't look that motivated either and if there was no covid I think he would have walked away. I still think he will walk away. Being 11th after 8 games with this bunch of talent is a sackable offence.
He has a game in hand which could put him 5 points off 1st in a crazy season. Of the expected top 8 (last seasons), he also has 5 games out of the way. Liverpool, Leicester, Spurs, Arsenal, Wolves out of the way. And only United and Chelsea to play twice. Games against other top 8 teams so far this season.
City - Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Wolves, Leicester. (5) (9 games left vs top 8)
Liverpool - City, Arsenal, Chelsea (Leicester tomorrow) (3) (11 games left vs top 8)
United - Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs (3) (11 left)
Spurs - City, United (2) (12 games)
Leicester - Wolves, Arsenal, City (3, Pool tomorrow) (11 left)
Chelsea - United and Liverpool (2) (12 left)
Wolves - Leicester and City (2) (12 left)
Arsenal - United, Leicester, City and Liverpool (4) (10 left)
I said before if we're within 5 points of Liverpool after Spurs we'll win it and I'm still confident. When everyone has played everyone once we'll get a truer reflection of his team and how much trouble they are in. But sitting 5 points behind at this stage is not really overly concerning at all. Going into the 2nd quarter of the season, he should be making big gains in the title race. Now after 19 games he's still 5-6 points off the top, then he can be questioned, but for now I'm not overly worried, slightly concerned about the lack of goals but that'll come.
City - Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Wolves, Leicester. (5) (9 games left vs top 8)
Liverpool - City, Arsenal, Chelsea (Leicester tomorrow) (3) (11 games left vs top 8)
United - Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs (3) (11 left)
Spurs - City, United (2) (12 games)
Leicester - Wolves, Arsenal, City (3, Pool tomorrow) (11 left)
Chelsea - United and Liverpool (2) (12 left)
Wolves - Leicester and City (2) (12 left)
Arsenal - United, Leicester, City and Liverpool (4) (10 left)
I said before if we're within 5 points of Liverpool after Spurs we'll win it and I'm still confident. When everyone has played everyone once we'll get a truer reflection of his team and how much trouble they are in. But sitting 5 points behind at this stage is not really overly concerning at all. Going into the 2nd quarter of the season, he should be making big gains in the title race. Now after 19 games he's still 5-6 points off the top, then he can be questioned, but for now I'm not overly worried, slightly concerned about the lack of goals but that'll come.
It's blatantly obvious that City and PSG pay their players far more than the reported figures.It’s very fishy that he’s happy to stay at City longer than Barca & Bayern put together. It’s almost like they are paying him far more money than is officially reported....
Reminds me of how none of their star players ever want to leave despite never coming close to a CL, while ours & Liverpool’s always “dream of Madrid/Barca”
Verratti continues to sign contract extensions with PSG despite endless UCL disappointments for the last 9 years, not a coincidence.
Ha. My bad. Got distracted and didn't really complete that comment. Point was, for those players to really maximise their potential they needed a manager who allowed for that to happen. Not like 40 years ago where it's just "pass to the best player" type of deal. His work at Bayern was also very impressive, he was just a bit unfortunate that they won everything the season before he joined
And to get to a 100 points in the league...I mean, do you think most managers in the league would achieve what he has with the admittedly great teams he's managed? I don't.
Pep wasn’t the only one who managed to get the best out of Xavi & Iniesta and play good football, del Bosque did it and won World Cup.
So your point on Pep is irrelevant and doesn’t mean anything to my post you replied. He’s a fantastic coach but he’s not fantastic manager to even anywhere near among the greatest one. Fantastic manager isn’t only judged on how you coach your players but also how you manage and build the team. He hasn’t shown anything that he’s capable to build a team. He’s just inherited great squad of players and use his coaching ability. His managerial ability is still nothing to be anywhere near great.
So I don’t know what you are arguing here and I asked you the same question but you didn’t really answer the question either.
You know this is COVID time right? People need their job secured, as you see how many people are struggling on the streets just to get basic wage to feed their families.
Do you think Pep has any kind of money problems? He doesnt need to ever worry about job security or feeding his family. Dude was set for many lives long before City started paying him lord knows what a year.