Guardiola to be found out in the premier league

Rook · September 18, 2016

MartyMcFly said:
Rubbish. He was the best player on the pitch in both games by a distance. He must have had about 10 shots on target both games. We were very lucky those nights.

McGeady was boss in one of those matches.

MartyMcFly · September 18, 2016

Zatara said:
im looking forward to the xmas fixtures.

Barca/Bayern/Man City....when is he going to join a team that cant buy success?

It's the modern game so of course you need money but even with money and top players which all the top teams have Guardiola's teams are the only ones that dominate like they do.

I do agree it's a bit early. They have also had an easy start.

LinekersLegs · September 18, 2016

RFUS said:
Wonder if Pep is praising KDB so much partly to wind up Jose.

Seem to recall complaints, including from Mourinho, that KdB was very much a confidence player so that, and acknolwedging his performances is probably the primary motive.

But am sure the "hey look what a great player you sold" dig is a welcome bonus!

PhilM · September 18, 2016

Happy to put my hands up and admit that up to now I've been pretty wrong over Pep when I said he'd potentially find the Premier League difficult.

Still a long way to go, but Citeh look so comfortable under him and I can only expect they'll get stronger. Doubt he'll allow complacency either!

LinekersLegs · September 18, 2016

PhilM said:
Happy to put my hands up and admit that up to now I've been pretty wrong over Pep when I said he'd potentially find the Premier League difficult.

Still a long way to go, but Citeh look so comfortable under him and I can only expect they'll get stronger. Doubt he'll allow complacency either!

Next big test will be the winter period, most foreign managers are used to a break but instead in England the frequency of the games goes up with the added difficulty of bad weather. Balancing rest, training and injury cover really tests squad management.

roydo · September 18, 2016

He is no Tony Pullis.

paultheblue · September 18, 2016

Is there anyone else who thinks he doesnt look all that well? I am no doctor but he just looks like a man who isnt really enjoying his job.Time will tell but watch this space when things arnt going so well.

LinekersLegs · September 19, 2016

paultheblue said:
Is there anyone else who thinks he doesnt look all that well? I am no doctor but he just looks like a man who isnt really enjoying his job.Time will tell but watch this space when things arnt going so well.

I think he just lives on his nerves a lot - recall reading that he doesn't eat at all the day of a match he's just too wound up.

Barnfred 55 · September 19, 2016

MartyMcFly said:
Rubbish. He was the best player on the pitch in both games by a distance. He must have had about 10 shots on target both games. We were very lucky those nights.

Wouldn't go as far as very lucky, but certainly both scorelines flattered us. Seem to remember Peresic being very dangerous in both games too. Don't think the current Wolfsburg is a patch on that one.

Barnfred 55 · September 19, 2016

PhilM said:
Happy to put my hands up and admit that up to now I've been pretty wrong over Pep when I said he'd potentially find the Premier League difficult.

Still a long way to go, but Citeh look so comfortable under him and I can only expect they'll get stronger. Doubt he'll allow complacency either!

A number of players seem to have stepped up a level under him, De Bruyne and Kolorov for example. Plus I really thought Sterling would be on his way out of the door under Pep but, give him his due, he's pretty much unplayable at the moment

It's early days but I was one of those who thought he'd struggle in the English game. Looking forward to testing ourselves against them on October 15th as it's looking like being our hardest game of the season. Hopefully it will be on the back of 3 more wins and our confidence is still up. I see it's after an International break too so it will give a good break to the likes of Barry, Baines and hopefully Barks too.

JimEFC · September 19, 2016

Barnfred 55 said:
A number of players seem to have stepped up a level under him, De Bruyne and Kolorov for example. Plus I really thought Sterling would be on his way out of the door under Pep but, give him his due, he's pretty much unplayable at the moment

It's early days but I was one of those who thought he'd struggle in the English game. Looking forward to testing ourselves against them on October 15th as it's looking like being our hardest game of the season. Hopefully it will be on the back of 3 more wins and our confidence is still up. I see it's after an International break too so it will give a good break to the likes of Barry, Baines and hopefully Barks too.

I was another one who thought English football would see him found out. He's brought his style to it tho and it's working. No to do down Leicester's amazing achievement last season, but any of the usual suspects could have won the league last year if they'd been on song.
He's got the attacking players attacking with freedom, it's what he does best. But then defenders seem to love playing under him too because he makes them part of the team more. In defence under Guardiola, you're never just clearing the ball, you're beginning an attack. It's why I think John Stones will thrive there (sadly), and why Gerard Pique became so good after leaving United for Barca. Even the keeper is in on it, unless his name is Joe Hart of course. Sorry Joe, you don't fit, you're out.

The Christmas period will be interesting tho; most foreign 1st timers moan about it. I get the feeling Pep will love it cos he probably hates Christmas breaks, he is too obsessed with his players and team to have 2 weeks off. We'll see how he deals with it, not like City haven't got a strong bench tho, could be more interesting/difficult to see if he was at a mid table club with only 15 good players.

Barnfred 55 · September 19, 2016

JimEFC said:
I was another one who thought English football would see him found out. He's brought his style to it tho and it's working. No to do down Leicester's amazing achievement last season, but any of the usual suspects could have won the league last year if they'd been on song.
He's got the attacking players attacking with freedom, it's what he does best. But then defenders seem to love playing under him too because he makes them part of the team more. In defence under Guardiola, you're never just clearing the ball, you're beginning an attack. It's why I think John Stones will thrive there (sadly), and why Gerard Pique became so good after leaving United for Barca. Even the keeper is in on it, unless his name is Joe Hart of course. Sorry Joe, you don't fit, you're out.

The Christmas period will be interesting tho; most foreign 1st timers moan about it. I get the feeling Pep will love it cos he probably hates Christmas breaks, he is too obsessed with his players and team to have 2 weeks off. We'll see how he deals with it, not like City haven't got a strong bench tho, could be more interesting/difficult to see if he was at a mid table club with only 15 good players.

Kolorov pinging the ball around like Beckham on Saturday. Imagine Jags doing that!!

JimEFC · September 19, 2016

Barnfred 55 said:
Kolorov pinging the ball around like Beckham on Saturday. Imagine Jags doing that!!

Haha! That would be ace, not his head B though! Jags does just fine though, Moyes' DVD collection is Jagtastic

MartyMcFly · September 20, 2016

Barnfred 55 said:
Wouldn't go as far as very lucky, but certainly both scorelines flattered us. Seem to remember Peresic being very dangerous in both games too. Don't think the current Wolfsburg is a patch on that one.

Didn't they finish 2nd in the Bendesliga that year?

Both score lines looking back were a bit of a joke. Ironically even though we won by more at home we were better in Germany. All I remember about the Goodison game is them peppering our goal for the entire 90 mins.