Sterlings hair 
Manchester City under Pep Guardiola | Pep on City v Liverpool ref: "He likes to be special"
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
I think you've scored the one chance you've had? You are dominating possession I'll give you that. We did a lot of that last year.
Only watched the second half so can't comment on the first, but possession wise it's been pretty even, though Dortmund having the ball in City's half more and making plenty of quality chances, just not taking them. Not surprising considering they are far ahead in their pre season anyway, but I wouldn't say you were dominating this half at all. Goal went against the run of play if anything.
No, we've had two one on ones. Bony could have squared to an unmarked Silva for one. First half we didn't create much, I'll give you that.
Different game, the second half has been pretty much even. Both teams have had pretty much the same amount of decent opportunities, Dortmund missed their best chance and City scored theirs.
Wow, cashed out my bet on city to win with one minute to go!
Bony is fecking Pony, I'll give you that
So this fixture is a complete red herrring in the Jose vs Pep show, right? How many United first XI players featured in the equivalent fixture? How many City first XI players featured today?
It depends. If City lose its relevant as its an international cup final. If they win, it's a meaningless friendly
HANG ON 1-1 so City wont win the league, wow bottlers, hope they have 300m to fix all the issues like Sterlings hair.
That's tiredness that. Always a moment for typical city.
Bony is fecking Pony, I'll give you that
Haha and I'd agree!
City had a mix of young players in the first half with some older average squad players like we did. Second half they brought on Silva/Aguero and a few others, while the only players we have like that are Martial/Ibra who weren't there and Mkhitaryan who just joined, and Pogba soon enough. Not sure what Dortmund had in the first half but I didn't see Aubamayeng or Dembele in the second and those 2 tore us up when we played... So there's that too.
Anyway, I wouldn't read anything from friendlies either way. Van Gaal is the best pre season manager in the world results wise and we all know how that turned out
City will do well imo
Guardiola for me is the best manager in the league...better than Jose imo. I think they will win the league.
Guardiola is bald man, IMO. Her head looks like a glans.
Our list of likely starters who didn't feature is longer than theirs, surely? DDG, Smalling, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Rooney, Martial and Ibra. Seven players.
£49 million pounds.
Oh dear.
Yeah, just looking at their subs on and off, Otamendi, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Silva, Clichy, Toure, Delph, Fernando, Navas, Kolarov, Nolito, Bony, Toure and Sterling all played. Hart, Sagna, Zabaleta, Mangala, Nasri, De Bruyne and Gundogan were all missing, though a few of those are merely squad players and Gundogan is injured for a while anyway.
Closer than I thought, so.
I still feel the spine of their team that's been there for years now constitutes their best and most consistent players. The likes of aguero, toure, silva, hart, and kompany will be irreplaceable. Toure always gets a lot of flack but keeps producing in big games despite not turning up away from home and against lesser weaker opposition. Silva and aguero remain top class. They'll definitely be very strong next season with pep getting the best out of them.
Nasri has been available all pre-season, Pep just hasn't even played him for one minute, which I think tells you all you need to know about his plans for him. A little surprised to be honest, I had a feeling Nasri would be given a chance.
No. Just no. If anything, the 5 games a season that Toure turns up in are the easy games where City blow teams out of the water and rack up the goals. Any big game and he's a liability. Also Aguero and Silva at their best are class, sure, but both are injured for large parts of every season, and Silva hasn't had a great season in a few years now. Been very inconsistent the last 2 and to be honest, hasn't made much of an impact.
This
I also thought he was a Guardiola player as he is good on the ball and retaining possession.
He's definitely off then. I was just looking at the list of players in your squad so not sure which ones are injured or what not, but the main players missing from those seem to be Hart, De Bruyne and Gundogan. Sagna too. Mangala, Zabaleta and Nasri I'm not sure if they will play a big role at all under Pep.
Pep players also need to have a good attitude and be really hard working and consistent, reliable players, Nasri really isn't.
I'm not really. I thought he was easily one of the players on the way out, history of terrible attitude & effort
He didn't look very fit.
Taking away last season I dont think this is true of Yaya. He was a better performer than any city player in big games bar Aguero a few seasons back. He tends to be thier driving force in midfield. But his performances have declined and I cant see him getting any better this season. Sure Aguero and Silva have had injury problems but I would have them both in a heartbeat at united when fit.
He only returned for pre-season training a few days ago, he's not going to be in peak physical condition. He definitely didn't look overweight though.
I certainly didn't watch your team as much as you did, but I beg to differ. City, especially under Pellegrini, kept the ball with much better purpose than most PL clubs. Not at all close to tiki-taka, Pep, or LVG-style possession, but I was always impressed with your team's ability to move the ball with pace and maneuver out of tight spaces with passing rather than hoofing it Rt. 1.
Same sentiments on my pressing comment. Not world class pressing, but in my eyes City was one of the better PL teams at winning the ball back higher up the pitch and quicker after losing possession. That said, I cede to your authority as I only saw maybe half your matches last season (maybe I missed the really bad ones!)
It's been true of him for a few years now. He's 33 and the age has had it's impact. 13/14 he had a great season of course, 14/15 and 15/16 he was largely ineffectual and went missing for most of the season apart from a handful of performances where he shows up. He has good technique and a great shot these days, but that's about it. Does nothing defensively.
That would explain things then. In that case looks like Pep will give him a chance then. The absence of any talk in the media suggests Nasri does not have an issue with Pep's choice so hopefully he is working hard to get in shape.
I think the most frustrating match I've probably ever watched was City in the semi-final against Madrid. Pressing was none existent, we allowed them to play and dominate possession and ultimately they won.
I think City have been the best attacking side in the league over Peller's reign so yeah I definitely agree we have good attacking intent and use possession well, just stylistically I think we were more direct than, as you say, tiki-taka (although Pep hates that term in relation to his style!)
Show him the ball and he'll take it off you just don't expect him to chase it
Ah the good old Chelsea myth, how many penalties is it today? 5.2 million?
Barcelona got more decisions against them over two legs than Chelsea.
Would comfortably walk into any team in this league.