Guardiola to be found out in the premier league

[the golden visionary]

Even their victory parades are embarrassing. You'd think after being irrelevant for so long they'd turn out in their thousands to celebrate. & if you go on their Bluemoon website all they seem to do is moan about not getting recognition for their achievements. As we showed on Sunday, a show of passion from the supporters can make a massive difference to a game of football.

I work in Manchester down Salford ways and 90% of the city fans there don't go the match anymore, my boss says it feels staged and he prefers the old days when they were down in the lower divisions

It goes a bit like 'don't get me wrong scouse, it's mint winning all the trophies and knocking the rags off their perch but it doesn't feel like City anymore, going to Rochdale away all dressed up and that was a proper laugh, now it's gone'

That pretty much sums up to top end of football for me

 

[Ron Swanson]

I don't agree that their fanbase is plastic, its mostly local just like ours hence why they don't always sell out games. City still have a stigma attached to them and thus plastics are more drawn towards traditional glamour clubs like United and Liverpool.

Nah. They’re nothing like us. Can you imagine us not selling out Wembley for a semi final?

 

[Sharpies volley]

This 110%.

Getting bought by Gulf states saps any fan culture and passion out of those clubs, yes you win trophies but it all feels fake like the clubs have a feel of a corporation or business, everything about City and PSG is to executive, blingy, slick and pristine.

Be interesting to watch those passionate Geordies evolve into something of a sterile support in the coming years.

Don't care how fake it is if they finish above the RS.

 

[Sharpies volley]

City have four games remaining, against none top 6 opposition, no other distractions, if they win them all it’s a fourth title in five years.

Not bad for a bald fraud who gets found out.

That's the problem though innit. They're all massive games now. That's when they blow it. When there's pressure on. If they where 4 or 5 points clear they'd be fine. But I'm worried.

 

[EverTheOptimist]

.

His worst mistake last night was taking off De Bruyne.

Possibly the worlds best midfielder and he takes him off ????

It changed the game in Madrid`s favour.

KDB is on weekly injections and painkillers since the Euros, he played in that tournament coming off a injury plagued season and he's suffering from it now, he can't play 90 mins consecutively anymore.

Did you see the sprint race with him and 37 year of Luca Modric in the 1st half, KDB looked like he was running in treacle, he cannot go full pelt anymore or he'll risk injury again, Walker looks done for the season after being rushed back, Laporte and Dias have aggravated injuries now from what i've read on a few City Twitter accounts, Stones was rushed back after the break and has broken down again, Pep has utlilised his massive squad awfully.

 

[Saint Domingo]

That's the problem though innit. They're all massive games now. That's when they blow it. When there's pressure on. If they where 4 or 5 points clear they'd be fine. But I'm worried.

They saw it home in 18/19, they’re capable of beating those 4 teams. If anything the fact that he doesn’t need to keep De Bruyne fit for any other cup final is probably a benefit now. He can play his best team every game for four games and it’s quite simple that they have to win all four to get anything out of the season. Nothing like a bit of pressure to focus the mind.

Far more likely they dropped points through Pep needlessly rotating defenders or midfielders than through the first team just not doing the job.

 

[Blueboy57]

I work in Manchester down Salford ways and 90% of the city fans there don't go the match anymore, my boss says it feels staged and he prefers the old days when they were down in the lower divisions

It goes a bit like 'don't get me wrong scouse, it's mint winning all the trophies and knocking the rags off their perch but it doesn't feel like City anymore, going to Rochdale away all dressed up and that was a proper laugh, now it's gone'

That pretty much sums up to top end of football for me

Yeah, going to the match in my younger days was all about living for the moment. If we won, great, it set you up for the week. Even better if the rs lost as you could give them stick in work. But it was never nasty, just good old fashioned banter. If we lost, it was disappointing but there was always the next game to put it right. Winning trophies was a bonus, a by-product of the lads hard work throughout the season. But it's all about one-upmanship now, a kind of footballing snobbery where supporters of other clubs look down on those who are struggling. In a way it kind of reflects modern - money driven - society. You get Mancunians singing about 'feeding the scousers' when their own city has massive poverty issues. What's that all about ? If you're one of the haves then success is the low hanging fruit that's easily plucked from the tree. If you're one of the majority of the have-nots, then you have to settle for the odd rotten apple that's been lying on the floor for weeks. The level playing field I used to love is well gone. Torn up & discarded by foreign men with big bucks to throw away as an afterthought. It's why I very rarely go to the match now. The tension back in my day was created when we were chasing a game & the euphoria when it all worked out. The whole footballing industry at the top end is shrouded by this insidious, toxic gas where fans, if they're lucky, get to enjoy the occasional gasp of clean air once in a while. But you know for sure, it doesn't last long. It's poisonous & it's endemic, & it's not going away anytime soon.

 

[Blueboy57]

City have four games remaining, against none top 6 opposition, no other distractions, if they win them all it’s a fourth title in five years.

Not bad for a bald fraud who gets found out.

When Pep took over City in 2016 he inherited pretty much a title winning squad. Players like Kompany, Zabeleta, Sterling, Gundogan, Aquero, Kolarov, De Bruyne, Sane, Silva, Stones, Fernandinho, & Jesus. Wherever he's taken over he's always had a big advantage, be it with players, money, & quite often both. If he took over us at the start of next season could you see us challenging for the top trophies anytime soon ? Nah me neither. Not saying he's a fraud, just someone who's enjoyed a more privileged introduction into football management than most.

 

[davek]

That's the problem though innit. They're all massive games now. That's when they blow it. When there's pressure on. If they where 4 or 5 points clear they'd be fine. But I'm worried.

They'll annihilate Newcastle. And the last game at home will be a breeze.

They effectively have two reasonable tests left at Wolves and WHU in the middle of those.

 

[DualityNSNO]

When Pep took over City in 2016 he inherited pretty much a title winning squad. Players like Kompany, Zabeleta, Sterling, Gundogan, Aquero, Kolarov, De Bruyne, Sane, Silva, Stones, Fernandinho, & Jesus. Wherever he's taken over he's always had a big advantage, be it with players, money, & quite often both. If he took over us at the start of next season could you see us challenging for the top trophies anytime soon ? Nah me neither. Not saying he's a fraud, just someone who's enjoyed a more privileged introduction into football management than most.

We will definitely do better but it would take more than a year. No one can take this dumpster fire to competing for anything instantly (obviously hope I'm wrong and Lamps is a magician).

Pep bought Gundogan, Sane, Jesus and Stones btw, as well as Zinchenko. And he inherited a title winning squad... that finished 4th and was on a decline, before changing half the personnel, but that's apparently not a metric and he should've instawon everything.

Utter BS about the money as well - by that same metric no manager ever should be lauded as good. It takes more than just throw money at it. How did Poch and Umery (and the rest tbh) do at PSG, where they threw money at the best players? They didn't even win the league IN FRANCE every year.

Using the same metric - Kendall was just blessed with money and the best players for us, not that he was actually good. We spent a lot more than we received from transfers during those years, is that a coincidence? That's why it makes no sense.

He has a specific brand of very good football that doesn't always work (after all, what does work 100% of the time?), and he has a problem with overthinking. Overthinking is also one of his better traits as a coach ironically - his training and playing methods and philosophies are ridiculously detailed and to put everything down to money is just bizarre.

 

[EverTheOptimist]

 

[wandyr79]

We will definitely do better but it would take more than a year. No one can take this dumpster fire to competing for anything instantly (obviously hope I'm wrong and Lamps is a magician).

Pep bought Gundogan, Sane, Jesus and Stones btw, as well as Zinchenko. And he inherited a title winning squad... that finished 4th and was on a decline, before changing half the personnel, but that's apparently not a metric and he should've instawon everything.

Utter BS about the money as well - by that same metric no manager ever should be lauded as good. It takes more than just throw money at it. How did Poch and Umery (and the rest tbh) do at PSG, where they threw money at the best players? They didn't even win the league IN FRANCE every year.

Using the same metric - Kendall was just blessed with money and the best players for us, not that he was actually good. We spent a lot more than we received from transfers during those years, is that a coincidence? That's why it makes no sense.

He has a specific brand of very good football that doesn't always work (after all, what does work 100% of the time?), and he has a problem with overthinking. Overthinking is also one of his better traits as a coach ironically - his training and playing methods and philosophies are ridiculously detailed and to put everything down to money is just bizarre.

Very good post, I love the 'He has had money argument', as Evertonians you would think our recent predicament would wake people up to the fact that money does not buy you success, it is how you use that money. A manager still has to get the right players, not just talent but mentality, they still have to set up a team to play against different styles and different scenarios, these players are still human and suffer from pressure and need to be managed. It is like people think that Guardiola just watches Netflix all day while some of the worlds best players just have a jog around in training and then turn up to a match and win.

 

[wandyr79]

This is actually a serious quote, not aimed at being a joke. Sometimes your posts come off as very desperate. You may not want pity and I am hesitant to give it but please, please give it up.

 

[BlueStevie35]

Considering they hadn’t played in the competition in either format since 1968, to have 6 quarter finals, two of which led to semis and one a final, in 10 years is no mean feat and something we’d kill to have

 

[EverTheOptimist]

Considering they hadn’t played in the competition in either format since 1968, to have 6 quarter finals, two of which led to semis and one a final, in 10 years is no mean feat and something we’d kill to have

And 1.4 billion spent since they got back into it, don't forget that factoid mate.

And being knocked out by the likes of Lyon, Porto, Spurs and Monaco along the way.

I love seeing the state clubs annually wilt in spring in the most prestigious competition while their owners in palatial gold plated palaces are wondering why this is the only thing on Earth their money cannot buy.