Guardiola to be found out in the premier league

[Tin-Tin]

He went into this season with ONE good defender and put his eggs in the Fernandinho basket which has had mixed results. For a manager with practically infinite resources that’s very poor. Has his recruitment over his entire career actually been that good?

I would say undoubtedly, a few dodgy defensive buys though as quite rare to find exceptional defenders who can play football (which Pep demands) and Laporte isnt just and old defender.

Mendy you cant criticise as he has had 2 serious injuries so never really got going. Stones showed so much promise but hasnt developed and Walker has served his purpose but they need an upgrade now.

Laporte was a superb signing, along with Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Sane.

The biggest mistake they have made under Pep is not paying the money for Van Dijk. Not only didnt they improve their own defence, they helped a rival along the way by claiming that they were not going to be held to ransom.

 

[havrey0123]

I would say undoubtedly, a few dodgy defensive buys though as quite rare to find exceptional defenders who can play football (which Pep demands) and Laporte isnt just and old defender.

Mendy you cant criticise as he has had 2 serious injuries so never really got going. Stones showed so much promise but hasnt developed and Walker has served his purpose but they need an upgrade now.

Laporte was a superb signing, along with Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Sane.

The biggest mistake they have made under Pep is not paying the money for Van Dijk. Not only didnt they improve their own defence, they helped a rival along the way by claiming that they were not going to be held to ransom.

Tbf a lot of people laughed and thought they overpaid which is why city never went in for him. Same as when we paid 45m for richarlison, seemed high at the time but now is worth double

 

[Deckard2049]

I would say undoubtedly, a few dodgy defensive buys though as quite rare to find exceptional defenders who can play football (which Pep demands) and Laporte isnt just and old defender.

Mendy you cant criticise as he has had 2 serious injuries so never really got going. Stones showed so much promise but hasnt developed and Walker has served his purpose but they need an upgrade now.

Laporte was a superb signing, along with Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Sane.

The biggest mistake they have made under Pep is not paying the money for Van Dijk. Not only didnt they improve their own defence, they helped a rival along the way by claiming that they were not going to be held to ransom.

Fair comments. I would still argue though it’s clear his attacking signings are much superior to his defensive ones, Laporte aside and maybe Walker. Personally never been convinced by Mendy. He also lost Kompany and has persisted with Stones and Otamendi to his detriment. Don’t know what’s happened to Bernardo Silva this season either (not saying thats Pep’s fault).

I’m just very surprised he didn’t go big for someone like Koulibaly; even people like Gimenez, Skriniar and de Ligt would have been good signings and better than what they have. I know that sounds very Fifa, but let’s face it, it’s City, they have the money. Obviously he couldn’t have predicted Laporte’s injury but there’s no way either Stones, Otamendi or Fernandinho should be starting games regularly at centre back for a team that wants to win the league. Also their apparent targeting of Maguire was bizarre- a) because he’s not that good and b) they obviously knew they needed a centre half and when they missed out/weren’t prepared to pay, surely they should have gone elsewhere?

 

[Frank1981]

To say he's been found out is ridiculous.

Just think City have had a mixture of bad luck with their best defender and one of the best in Europe out nearly half a season, and their replacements either being poor quality or error prone. Think now they know the title has gone, focus has slipped.

I think that Laporte excuse is a really tired & lame one, a club with City's riches should not collapse because of one injury, City have just dropped off after 2 incredible domestic seasons, they've ran out of steam & need a reboot.

Kompany leaving was more significant than Laporte being injured.

 

[Tin-Tin]

I think that Laporte excuse is a really tired & lame one, a club with City's riches should not collapse because of one injury, City have just dropped off after 2 incredible domestic seasons, they've ran out of steam & need a reboot.

Kompany leaving was more significant than Laporte being injured.

Imagine Liverpool losing Van Dijk. Yes they would still win most games (like City have) but there would be a few games that they would struggle, or be all over the place because he is the one that reads the game, has the composure and brings assurance to the rest of the defence. Thats Laporte

City are so good that even with Fernandinho and Rodri/Otamendi/Stones etc playing makeshife partnerships, they still have enough quality to beat most teams comfortably as they have most of the ball. Its just every now and then they struggle - mainly against pace or a big powerful striker.

 

[Big_nev]

Problem is you can't just suddenly decide you won't be ''held to ransom'' as a football club after you've just lashed 60m at Rodri, 50m+ at Mendy, 60m at Cancelo, 50m each for Walker and Stones and 30m for Danilo.

It's fine sticking to your principles as a football club but these oil clubs changed the market for everybody and now out of the blue City decide they want to make some sort of stand whilst in the mean time they are pairing up Otamendi and Fernandinho at the back.

 

[Remember-the-name]

Imagine Liverpool losing Van Dijk. Yes they would still win most games (like City have) but there would be a few games that they would struggle, or be all over the place because he is the one that reads the game, has the composure and brings assurance to the rest of the defence. Thats Laporte

City are so good that even with Fernandinho and Rodri/Otamendi/Stones etc playing makeshife partnerships, they still have enough quality to beat most teams comfortably as they have most of the ball. Its just every now and then they struggle - mainly against pace or a big powerful striker.

Lost six games. SIX.

 

[Remember-the-name]

I think that Laporte excuse is a really tired & lame one, a club with City's riches should not collapse because of one injury, City have just dropped off after 2 incredible domestic seasons, they've ran out of steam & need a reboot.

Kompany leaving was more significant than Laporte being injured.

No replacement whatsoever was asking for it.

 

[Tin-Tin]

Lost six games. SIX.

Yes but they havent had VAR helping them out have they?

 

[GP_Monty]

Yes but they havent had VAR helping them out have they?

Helped them out today, Sterling should've been off.

 

[artetas_biggest_fan]

I think that Laporte excuse is a really tired & lame one, a club with City's riches should not collapse because of one injury, City have just dropped off after 2 incredible domestic seasons, they've ran out of steam & need a reboot.

Kompany leaving was more significant than Laporte being injured.

Don’t think it’s an excuse, losing Laporte was massive. Look at this video, and see the stats at the end which shows the points per game won with Laporte and without him.



On one hand they were very unlucky to lose Laporte when they did, weeks after the transfer window had shut, meaning their hands were tied for over four months, but they should have brought in another defender after Kompany left. They gambled on Laporte staying fit. Losing him was a double whammy in weakening both midfield and defence, with Fernandinho having to drop back.

Still think it wouldn’t have altered the title outcome, just made it a closer race. The RS had the perfect storm at the end of last season, 1.losing the title with an incredible 97 points gave them a hunger to win it this season (every game this season they have gone right to the end for the win, rather than ever settle for a draw), and 2.winning the CL three weeks later gave them a belief as winners. That combination of hunger, and being winners, set the tone for what has happened this season. Had they lost that CL final they were finished. Back to back CL finals, 97 points in the league, and empty handed? No way were they coming back from that. Mentally that would have ruined them. There’s only so many times you can get up and work your backside off for no reward before you start to lose belief, and your performance drops off.

 

[havrey0123]

Harsh on guardiola yesterday at the press conference after the wespurs game

Reporter:have you conceded the title
Guardiola nods
Reporter: can you say it

Thought that was harsh

 

[GwladysPhil]

Harsh on guardiola yesterday at the press conference after the wespurs game

Reporter:have you conceded the title
Guardiola nods
Reporter: can you say it

Thought that was harsh

And all the other reporters laughed at him, kick a man when he's down.

 

[KaiserEFC]

I was told City were possibly the best team the PL had ever seen by everyone in the media last season. Not even remotely close to the Arsenal of old and on a different planet to the kind of control Fergies United had over the league. Just goes to show that just because a team look really good they don’t have to be spuriously bigged up to be something they’re not.

 

[havrey0123]

His gone at the end of the season, you can normally tell with his body language and it looks like he ha had enough.

Leading juve to a champions league will be his next feat. Apparently have big money to spend.