Pep

[Paddy]

Needs to change his tactics, cannot keep changing the team week in week out. Premier much more intense than Spanish and German leagues, they play a more open game and have only four or five competing teams in each league

[Ludo]

I think we can put this season down to experience, even top 4 might be a stretch at this point, and concentrate over the next couple of transfer windows on bringing in tried and trusted defenders and getting rid of the deadwood in the squad. At the minute our defence lacks pace, composure and a leader.

I'm not sure it's the tactics that are wrong we simply lack the personnel to cope with them.

[gavin]

We can get on a good run again and challenge. He had to make three changes this week because of suspensions. We might not win the title this year but we'll certainly improve from this. It could be a good time of the season to struggle really. If can get going again over Christmas we'll get back in it.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

I'm not sure it's the tactics that are wrong we simply lack the personnel to cope with them.

Exactly that IMO.

And like Gavin, I don't think this season is a lost cause yet.

[Mike]

I've no doubt huardiola and his plans will come good when he's bought nearly a whole new team. What i want in the meantime is for him to show some flexibility and adapt the system to fit the players we have and the opponent we're facing. That is to say 'real world' old-school football management, not fantasy league.

[Mike]

'Guardiola' even!

[Swiss]

I'm not sure it's the tactics that are wrong we simply lack the personnel to cope with them.

I agree too. Out of our current squad, I reckon you could reduce it by half!

Pep's Long term plan after this season???


Sterling ------Aguero------G.Jesus
----------KDB---------(CCM)----------
----------Gundog---(ARCM)------------
(LWB)-------------------------------(RWB)
----------Stones--------(CB)------------
-----------------(GK)-----------------

Squad utilisation
Sané
Otamendi
Iheanacho
Silva (30+)
Fernandinho (30+)
Nolito (30+)
Bravo (30+) - (Cause Pep loves him! but only as a second choice from next season!)

13 x First Teamers in 25 man squad. Room for 12 more players o_O

Youth team players that could possibly be used but don't count for the 25 man squad rules.
Maffeo
Angelino
M. Garcia
A. Garcia
T. Adarabioyo
B. Diaz
A. Gunn


So that's 1 more CCM (Creative CM) - (Passer/ Mover and Creator) - Unless we can utilise B. Diaz next season.

With Fernandinho turning 32 before the start of next seaon, we need to start thinking of a long term solution for the ARCM (All-Round CM) but still keep him in the squad. The Garcia's could be utilised, but another CM or two is on the cards for Pep!

2 to 4 new Wing backs depending on budget

A new CB with OTa and Tosin providing backup

And a new GK please

[Victoria]

I said last week that Pep should change his tactics and he has not! You all criticize the players and hope things change when he buys new players: got news for you: it won't. The players City have are good enough, it is PePs system that is all wrong. I shall be blunt: Pep is ignorant of the strength of the Premier League and too arrogant to change his system. Pep is vastly becoming and expensive white Elephant. the last five home games have resulted in four draws and one defeat: that's a red flag if ever there was one. The last two league games: defeats! no way is this system working! his system confuses the players, City do not need new players, City need a new manager that is not arrogant or ignorant of the premier league.

[Gareth]

I agree too. Out of our current squad, I reckon you could reduce it by half!

Pep's Long term plan after this season???


Sterling ------Aguero------G.Jesus
----------KDB---------(CCM)----------
----------Gundog---(ARCM)------------
(LWB)-------------------------------(RWB)
----------Stones--------(CB)------------
-----------------(GK)-----------------

Is that a proposed line-up for the long-term plan? Twelve players seems like a good idea.

[Ludo]

City do not need new players, City need a new manager that is not arrogant or ignorant of the premier league.

I don't think it's arrogance on Pep's behalf, maybe a bit of pigheadedness yes, but it's a simple enough philosophy - pass the ball to someone in the same coloured shirt and move in order to get it back again then, when don't have it, work hard to get it back.

Our passing is far from sharp and our work rate is poor off the ball. But he can't improve a lot of that while players like Kolarov and Fernando still get game time and others, like Zabba, have seen better days.

[andy1966]

Needs to change his tactics, cannot keep changing the team week in week out. Premier much more intense than Spanish and German leagues, they play a more open game and have only four or five competing teams in each league

The one change he needs to make ,but doesn't is Claudio Bozo

[andy1966]

I said last week that Pep should change his tactics and he has not! You all criticize the players and hope things change when he buys new players: got news for you: it won't. The players City have are good enough, it is PePs system that is all wrong. I shall be blunt: Pep is ignorant of the strength of the Premier League and too arrogant to change his system. Pep is vastly becoming and expensive white Elephant. the last five home games have resulted in four draws and one defeat: that's a red flag if ever there was one. The last two league games: defeats! no way is this system working! his system confuses the players, City do not need new players, City need a new manager that is not arrogant or ignorant of the premier league.

I tend to agree , & just to think we can keep buying our way out of trouble is not the answer , we have world class players , that gradually have stop playing

[Victoria]

the players have not stopped playing, it is that they are confused as they play, left and right backs up field, central midfield up field, both leaving large gaps at the back which have been exploited. the commentators here call Prep's strategy "at risk' it sure as hell is and is failing. City cannot buy buy their way out of trouble, Pep's strategy needs tweaking or more understanding -better communication? the Rag bastards have spent big these past years and look where they are - buying players is not the answer here  however, getting rid of Bravo would be a step in the right direction.

[gavin]

Pep must persevere with his overall plan in my opinion. It seems to me that it can and will work. A mixture of poor play and poor fortune is costing us at the moment. You could be right about the keeper, but I don't think getting Joe back is the answer either. We need someone who can save and do what Pep wants with his feet.

We were better than Chelsea who are the best team in the division at the moment but didn't finish them off. Same with Everton and Boro. With those points we'd be at the top. You can't convince me that we didn't have the chances that should have won those games.

Pep is right, we just aren't good enough in both boxes at the moment. We had an outright stinker in those first few minutes at Leicester. But we are also having a spell where everything that leaves the opposition boot in the box flies in.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

Too many people panicking.

[zacc]

think the popular expression is "it's a work in progress"

[Ludo]

Too many people panicking.

Yes you're right.

Pep should tell the back 4 to calm down.

[Rowley Birkin QC]

 

[Paul lakes knee]

Not sure about that-  we played very badly for large parts of the Leicester game, large parts of the Spurs game and the last half an hour of the Chelsea game usig Pep's tactics.

Look at it in the cold light of day that's not too bad for a manager taking over a new team, no?

We should have 7 points more than we do ( Everton's goalie had the game of his life against us and has been shite ever since) we should have been 2 or 3 up vs Chelsea before De Bruyne's miss and Boro should never have gotten that equaliser.

As usual City fans look or a scapegoat and it is Bravo at the minute- seems to take keepers a longer time to assimilate to the Prem than outfield players maybe? Joe Hart- goodish shot stopper but very poor down to his left hand side and atrocious distribution, never really gonna be a Pep player.

I guess there were very good reasons that he tried hard for Laporte and Bonucci (in addition to Stones) in the summer.

[goat]

.

As usual City fans look or a scapegoat and it is Bravo

guessing your twitter is full of the bring back hart bellends too

[gavin]

I don't doubt that Joe Hart would have done better with some of the goals of late actually. Though many of the people saying that he should be brought back were not long since complaining that his distribution is shite. Either Bravo must improve his shot stopping incredibly, Joe must improve with his feet immensely, or we must find another keeper.

[goat]

bravo is wrong side of 30 anyway so a keeper must be on shopping list

odd we even got bravo seeing as we went to get ter stegen.wouldnt send this lot to the spar for me, fuck knows what they would bring back

[Ludo]

Even with a Nectar card they'd have trouble picking up 3pts

[Neil Mcnab]

To say we dont need to buy big in the tranfermarket is clearly wrong. We have one OK CB and a good CB, but still learning. The rest is a crock and the U21s.

Full/wing backs are all energy these days, just as ours are losing theirs.

Short of cover in CM.

The GK at the very least needs competition for the place. There are some problems with Bravo. He isnt as good with his feet as expected. His positioning isnt great either, a sweeper keeper, struggling. As for shot stopping, could improve there as well. Organising the defence, errr.

Thats just the start.

In the upcoming window a CB would be a start. They need to hit the ground running, with no settling in period of 6 months or a season. They will need to be available for the chumps league as well.

[gavin]

Looks like you could could be disappointed. Apparently we only need the already incoming striker...

http://www.mcfcwatch.com/2016/12/12/txiki-begiristain-confirms-manchester-citys-january-transfer-plans/

[Lekos]

Looks like you could could be disappointed. Apparently we only need the already incoming striker...

http://www.mcfcwatch.com/2016/12/12/txiki-begiristain-confirms-manchester-citys-january-transfer-plans/

I watched that interview on BT Sport. He's not exactly going to say "yeah, we want lots of players, in particular left back because clichy and kolarov are shit".

[gavin]

I actually think that Pep genuinely rates Kolarov.

[Neil Mcnab]

I hope its the "keeping the cards close to the chest", rather than its all perfect and we are done.

[Lekos]

I actually think that Pep genuinely rates Kolarov.

Maybe, but just not as a player that needs to defend anything at any time I hope.

[lee]

I actually think that Pep genuinely rates Kolarov.

must admire the ink on his arms

[KunDB]

Look back at the first 10 games and against Barca at the Etihad and for large parts against Chelsea. That is what we can and will achieve. Did fans really expect no bedding in or bumps along the road to improving.

Bravo is a worry because he is 30 and has little room for improvement and is suspect all round, however it may be down to first season syndrome.

Kolarov has reverted to type.

[zacc]

bravo is wrong side of 30 anyway so a keeper must be on shopping list

odd we even got bravo seeing as we went to get ter stegen.wouldnt send this lot to the spar for me, fuck knows what they would bring back

love the fact you still have Spar down your way blast from my past!

[Lekos]

love the fact you still have Spar down your way blast from my past!

Wales isn't it. 30 odd years behind in general.

[zacc]

Wales isn't it. 30 odd years behind in general.

got friends live near Ross on Wye and Spars are down there too mind it is next door to Wales boyo.

back to topic think Pep should show a video of the toffee game played tonight show players what grit & determination is about.

[Gareth]

back to topic think Pep should show a video of the toffee game played tonight show players what grit & determination is about.

Well, seeing as Arsenal visit at the w/e they probably will be watching the video from last night. But do we really think he'll be doing it to show players what grit & determination is about? Seems a bit unlikely to me.

I would've thought he's more likely to be pointing out what Arsenal did wrong in letting themselves get beat by an inferior side who went at it, which might be a handy lesson for tonight...

[zacc]

back to topic think Pep should show a video of the toffee game played tonight show players what grit & determination is about.

Well, seeing as Arsenal visit at the w/e they probably will be watching the video from last night. But do we really think he'll be doing it to show players what grit & determination is about? Seems a bit unlikely to me.

I would've thought he's more likely to be pointing out what Arsenal did wrong in letting themselves get beat by an inferior side who went at it, which might be a handy lesson for tonight...

True but would also like to see more spirit from City players. It did show it upset Arsenal's rhythm which is what other teams have been doing to City lately. Course it's all about opinions eh?

[Gareth]

True but would also like to see more spirit from City players. It did show it upset Arsenal's rhythm which is what other teams have been doing to City lately. Course it's all about opinions eh?

No, I agree with you; I just get the impression that grit and determination are a bit beneath Pep.

[zacc]

No, I agree with you; I just get the impression that grit and determination are a bit beneath Pep.

Maybe,  so far playing the "beautiful" game hasn't required quite that quality, EPL does so like all foreign managers a steep learning curve. I would like to see him be able to convert more of his style of playing to City as it seems other foreign managers are also trying to bring here.
Have to say he did say from the outset he's got to learn see how his style works, but I reckon he's underestimated the likes of Sunderland Stoke or  similar!!

[KunDB]

Maybe,  so far playing the "beautiful" game hasn't required quite that quality, EPL does so like all foreign managers a steep learning curve. I would like to see him be able to convert more of his style of playing to City as it seems other foreign managers are also trying to bring here.
Have to say he did say from the outset he's got to learn see how his style works, but I reckon he's underestimated the likes of Sunderland Stoke or  similar!!

Pep has not underestimated the 'hoof and boot' PL football. The deluded media and closed football ranks just want us all to believe that and that PL football is the best in the world. Absolute marketing tosh.

Pep will come through may take more time and a deep cleanse of some players but his style will win the day.

[zacc]

Pep has not underestimated the 'hoof and boot' PL football. The deluded media and closed football ranks just want us all to believe that and that PL football is the best in the world. Absolute marketing tosh.

Pep will come through may take more time and a deep cleanse of some players but his style will win the day.

ok maybe not underestimated, but games such as ones v WBA, Stoke or Sunderland will be new to him.
Obviously I don't get taken in by the media deluded or otherwise cos their job is to stir.
I agree Pep will come good after all this season he's inherited players so will bring in ones, some from the youth who will improve at producing his style of play.
I'm enjoying the fact we even have a manager like Pep we can discuss, sky blue everywhere love it.

[bry the guy]

Pep wnats a goal keeper that can defend,i want defenders that can defend.

[zacc]

I notice bravo had less to do with four in front of him instead of him having to be the 4th player.
Apparently Bravo would ike to go back to Barca

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/743455/Manchester-City-Transfer-News-Barcelona-Claudio-Bravo-Joe-Hart-Pep-Guardiola-News

Apologies for the phone in video

[goat]

id be more sorry about links from the express

reckon we could nick neuer for a few quid and bony?

[Ludo]

£60m for Neuer

£70m if we'd throw in Bony

[zacc]

id be more sorry about links from the express

reckon we could nick neuer for a few quid and bony?

haha I'm not bothered by any reference to any newspaper, but Lee likes me to source whatever nonsense I refer to
Neuer would be good so we could all call oooer when he kicks the ball.