Is it fair to worship Guardiola at this point? | The Ball Did It

[Dancfc]

I know it cost's a lot to asemble but Pep's way of playing is like no other in football, when fully applied you simply can't stop his team's, you say City have a weak defense? Ok, well you need to be able to get at his defense first. PL defenses have always been overrated, as shown by Pep and City in the last few week's, no defense outside high quality one's have a hope in hell of living with City, there results this season so far mirror mine on career mode, it's insanity. Bar another manager pulling a Conte 16/17 City will likely win the league for the duration of Pep's tenure, what the rest of us need to cling onto is City balls up appointing his successor like Bayern did.

So in answer to the OP question, yes it is fair to worship Pep, and anyone who think's he's overrated are either blinded by hate or know nothing about football.

 

[whatwha]

The new thread title

 

[notcool]

@El cagrejo
Good quote. I agree with that.

 

[TheRedScot]

I know it cost's a lot to asemble but Pep's way of playing is like no other in football, when fully applied you simply can't stop his team's, you say City have a weak defense? Ok, well you need to be able to get at his defense first. PL defenses have always been overrated, as shown by Pep and City in the last few week's, no defense outside high quality one's have a hope in hell of living with City, there results this season so far mirror mine on career mode, it's insanity. Bar another manager pulling a Conte 16/17 City will likely win the league for the duration of Pep's tenure, what the rest of us need to cling onto is City balls up appointing his successor like Bayern did.

So in answer to the OP question, yes it is fair to worship Pep, and anyone who think's he's overrated are either blinded by hate or know nothing about football.

Thats the thing though. We dont need to beat city to win the league. We just need to beat everyone else. That's why yesterdays cowardly approach infuriates me more. Liverpool were there for the taking yesterday. had we showed some courage in our tactics and performance we could have got at that shaky defense of theirs.

 

[Sarni]

They have been in amazing form for the last month but season is long. Their start was far from impressive and City teams under Pellegrini and Mancini also steamrolled teams due to their offensive power. City love is strong on here but I would wait at least another couple of months before giving them title.

 

[Seveneric]

Probably most favourite thread backfire so far on here It's a pity that the thread backfiring=City playing well, but still hilarious.

 

[Treble]

They have been in amazing form for the last month but season is long. Their start was far from impressive and City teams under Pellegrini and Mancini also steamrolled teams due to their offensive power. City love is strong on here but I would wait at least another couple of months before giving them title.

I might be completely wrong but they will get even better. They will have a dip in form but this will hapen to the other contenders as well. The notion that United will keep amassing points at the same rate and will take advantage when they go through a crisis strikes me as a bit naive.

 

[Needham]

Just read he's been given until 2024 to save his job.

 

[theralyst]

Reckon they'll make at least the CL semi-final this year.

 

[TotalFootballOne]

I might be completely wrong but they will get even better. They will have a dip in form but this will hapen to the other contenders as well. The notion that United will keep amassing points at the same rate and will take advantage when they go through a crisis strikes me as a bit naive.

Indeed, United have as much of a chance going through a bad form, as City do and I personally believe they have a higher chance of having a bad pathc compared to City because if Lakuku gets injured it'll hit United hard, but City if Aguero they have Jesus (possibly Sanchez in Jan) KdB/Silva (they have Gundo/B. Silva), Sane/Sterling (B. Silva, Jesus and again possibly Sanchez).

 

[adexkola]

I might be completely wrong but they will get even better. They will have a dip in form but this will hapen to the other contenders as well. The notion that United will keep amassing points at the same rate and will take advantage when they go through a crisis strikes me as a bit naive.

It's wishful thinking, based on City's last season's form. This thinking ignores how poorly we performed in the league last season, mind.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

The starting point was similar: 66 pts season 2015/16. City had more star players but also more old/crap players. Apart form Kompany who was injured most of the time their defenders were a laughing stock. And they had also Navas and Sterling on the wings - both pretty unproductive. Hart wasn't good enough. It's a myth that their squad was better. Their record vs the top 10 teams in 15/16 was absolutely atrocious. Even if Jose had the current Cit squad he would still have parked the bus vs Liverpool. He doesn't know how to play differently in big games away.

Sorry @Treble but this is nonsense.

Pep had this when he joined:

Kompany
De Bruyne Fernandinho
Silva
Aguero
​

These players can be the basis of a Champions League winning side. Due to this, he’s been able to focus a shit load of his 420m spend on problem areas. For example spending 100m on two full backs this Summer.

Mourinho, had just one ”non-problem” area, the keeper position and possibly left forward and he’s spent 100m less. I expect the next window for Jose to be similar to the one Pep just had, full backs and final touches.

City and Pep look cracking so far though, fair play.

 

[Treble]

Sorry @Treble but this is nonsense.

Pep had this when he joined:

Kompany
De Bruyne Fernandinho
Silva
Aguero
​

These players can be the basis of a Champions League winning side. Due to this, he’s been able to focus a shit load of his 420m spend on problem areas. For example spending 100m on two full backs this Summer.

Mourinho, had just one ”non-problem” area, the keeper position and possibly left forward and he’s spent 100m less. I expect the next window for Jose to be similar to the one Pep just had, full backs and final touches.

City and Pep look cracking so far though, fair play.

Kompany barely plays though. 4 players do not make a CL contender when the other playes are Hart, Sagna, Clichy, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Otamendi, Navas, Sterling (piss poor before Guardiola), Iheanacho, and so on. They had a lot of deadwood mate.

BTW, how many of those 4 playes would start for Real/Barca? KDB on current form?

 

[Draconifire]

I like how people here can go from one hyperbole to the other in a matter of hours. From pep being a fraud to already have one the league. Scrape that, no team will ever win the league now.

I know it cost's a lot to asemble but Pep's way of playing is like no other in football, when fully applied you simply can't stop his team's, you say City have a weak defense? Ok, well you need to be able to get at his defense first. PL defenses have always been overrated, as shown by Pep and City in the last few week's, no defense outside high quality one's have a hope in hell of living with City, there results this season so far mirror mine on career mode, it's insanity. Bar another manager pulling a Conte 16/17 City will likely win the league for the duration of Pep's tenure, what the rest of us need to cling onto is City balls up appointing his successor like Bayern did.

So in answer to the OP question, yes it is fair to worship Pep, and anyone who think's he's overrated are either blinded by hate or know nothing about football.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Kompany barely plays though. 4 players do not make a CL contender when the other playes are Hart, Sagna, Clichy, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Otamendi, Navas, Sterling (piss poor before Guardiola), Iheanacho, and so on. They had a lot of deadwood mate.

Agreed, but it’s 3 less CL contender standard players than what Mourinho needed when he joined.

And Pep has spent 100m more.

Makes sense then that City are slightly ahead of us in their current recruitment drive. Mourinho has had to buy an entire new midfield and strike force, hasn’t even had chance to look at full back yet.

 

[Litch]

Worship?? Only when I see them holding up the PL or CL trophy. I don't think they'll win the CL as the strength of their football is more equalised by top European football than PL. The interesting thing about the PL is despite how well they are playing, it's still only 2 points in front.....

 

[padr81]

Agreed, but it’s 3 less CL contender standard players than what Mourinho needed when he joined.

And Pep has spent 100m more.

Makes sense then that City are slightly ahead of us in their current recruitment drive. Mourinho has had to buy an entire new midfield and strike force, hasn’t even had chance to look at full back yet.

I think we needed different things, you guys needed those top, top players for huge money to compliment the depth you had there. City needed depth and to get shot of some old legs. I would say we started from a very slightly higher level because we could afford to add to things and as you say it was outside of our core we had issues. You guys had good depth in most positions but were missing a top spine of the team.

Pep neglected Cities FB's last year and paid the price I feel. This season we look a much better team so far and the only real new player starting is Walker and Ederson. I think next summer will see you guys finally finish Jose's team, again like Pep he seems to have neglected fullbacks and of course a big chunk of his budget had to go on Lukaku because of Zlatan's injury. I think our real advantage is we were able to buy game changers from the bench where as you haven't had that luxury yet having to spend so much on Pogba and Lukaku. Yesterday we had Aguero, Toure, Gundogan, B. Silva and Danilo. 4 of that 5 would probably start at most big clubs.

Despite the similar starting position as you rightly say Pep had the chance to buy quantity to supplement what we already had while United had to spend big on quality to boost the current XI.

That said there wasn't a huge difference in starting positions and I think there still isn't a huge difference atm. You guys need a fullback or two and maybe another CM.

 

[Sarni]

I might be completely wrong but they will get even better. They will have a dip in form but this will hapen to the other contenders as well. The notion that United will keep amassing points at the same rate and will take advantage when they go through a crisis strikes me as a bit naive.

They are two points ahead of us. Two mere points. The idea that they are amazingly wonderful and will only get better while United will get worse is something that baffles me even more than assuming that City won't keep winning games by 5 goals forever.

They are favourites but it's far from over. Very far. Funny thing is if roles were reversed and we were getting the results they are getting, there would be half the same hype from United fans on here.

 

[Skills]

De Bruyne being at City is Mourinhos own fault tbf. Genuinely looks a worse decision by every season that goes by, one of the biggest tit ups of all time. I bet it'll be painful for him if De Bruyne wins them the title. He was frighteningly good yesterday.

 

[minoo-utd]

He made them unstoppable, with the players he bought and the philosophy he wants them to play and done it finally, think they will win the league this year, hopefully we give them a good challenge though. We still need lots of work to match their current squad tbh.

 

[Litch]

The way people are talking, we might as well give them the trophy now....

 

[VeevaVee]

You're right. Being a manager is easy: just play quick, accurate football. Why haven't I thought of that before?

Where did I say it was easy? Or did you just want to offload a years worth of sarcy shite in one sentence?

If we don't have the ability to play quicker football then something is wrong with the standard. We couldn't string a pass together yesterday.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I think we needed different things, you guys needed those top, top players for huge money to compliment the depth you had there. City needed depth and to get shot of some old legs. I would say we started from a very slightly higher level because we could afford to add to things and as you say it was outside of our core we had issues. You guys had good depth in most positions but were missing a top spine of the team.

Pep neglected Cities FB's last year and paid the price I feel. This season we look a much better team so far and the only real new player starting is Walker and Ederson. I think next summer will see you guys finally finish Jose's team, again like Pep he seems to have neglected fullbacks and of course a big chunk of his budget had to go on Lukaku because of Zlatan's injury. I think our real advantage is we were able to buy game changers from the bench where as you haven't had that luxury yet having to spend so much on Pogba and Lukaku. Yesterday we had Aguero, Toure, Gundogan, B. Silva and Danilo. 4 of that 5 would probably start at most big clubs.

Despite the similar starting position as you rightly say Pep had the chance to buy quantity to supplement what we already had while United had to spend big on quality to boost the current XI.

That said there wasn't a huge difference in starting positions and I think there still isn't a huge difference atm. You guys need a fullback or two and maybe another CM.

Excellent post.

I think both have done enough to make sure they mount a title challenge, minimum, although I have City as slight favourites due to what we have mentioned earlier.

I think Pep is more or less satisfied with his first eleven now, I think Mourinho still wants 2-3 players. Full back might be the thing that stops us this season as it did for City last year.

 

[notcool]

Where did I say it was easy? Or did you just want to offload a years worth of sarcy shite in one sentence?

If we don't have the ability to play quicker football then something is wrong with the standard. We couldn't string a pass together yesterday.

You said there was no secret formula as if the way of doing it was exoteric.

 

[Treble]

They are two points ahead of us. Two mere points. The idea that they are amazingly wonderful and will only get better while United will get worse is something that baffles me even more than assuming that City won't keep winning games by 5 goals forever.

They are favourites but it's far from over. Very far. Funny thing is if roles were reversed and we were getting the results they are getting, there would be half the same hype from United fans on here.

It is far from over. The race is just beginning. But performances mean something. And their performances are far better than everything they showed last season or under previous managers. Meanwhile, United are not very convincing in away games. Stoke, Soton and Liverpool were nothing special, even Swansea for 80 min. wasn't particularly good.

And you are quite wrong. If United were playing like City and were getting such results, the forum would absolutely explode. Tell me when was the last time when United dominated in a big game away like City did vs Chelsea? That was great footbal from start to finish.

 

[AshRK]

Jeez, some of our fans can be irritating as feck. One bad game in which we didn't even lose and jose becomes the worst manager and pep is the messiah because he beat a Stoke city.

 

[GiddyUp]

The Christmas period will always be an issue for Pep but with the players they have at their disposal they should rightfully be favorites for the league. I find that city under pep have the skill to rip you apart but could easily go five games without a win when the pressure is on and there is an obvious lack of mental fortitude. Goals scored are impressive and can make the ultimate difference, City are the prime example of this but points are paramount and will leave no doubt. Rodger's Liverpool decided to go for the nine goals against palace but ended up losing two points which lead to their hilarious capitulation. So to guarantee success, be like Leicester and not like Liverpool, Mourinho understands this and this season we will see if Pep does.

 

[Gibb11]

Only 8 games of the season have been played....

 

[adexkola]

Only 8 games of the season have been played....

That's over 20% of the season done.

Extrapolations to May are premature, but enough has been seen, in results and the quality of their performances, to say that City are the frontrunners for the title (barring injury).

 

[AshRK]

It is far from over. The race is just beginning. But performances mean something. And their performances are far better than everything they showed last season or under previous managers. Meanwhile, United are not very convincing in away games. Stoke, Soton and Liverpool were nothing special, even Swansea for 80 min. wasn't particularly good.

And you are quite wrong. If United were playing like City and were getting such results, the forum would absolutely explode. Tell me when was the last time when United dominated in a big game away like City did vs Chelsea? That was great footbal from start to finish.

You are very biased when judging us (and I am not surprised) . To say we gave not improved but only city have improved is a joke. I bet you would not have said that in August when city were grinding out results. Both the teams have improved significantly but you only choose to look at city. Yes they have improved more than us, but it was bound to happen.

And it is not a myth that city's squad was better tha us when both the managers took over. And pep spent insane money to add more qualities (credit to him). I don't know why we think us winning the title this season was a given, city were always favourites to win it and they are doing well. We are doing well too.

 

[Ramshock]

Thats the thing though. We dont need to beat city to win the league. We just need to beat everyone else. That's why yesterdays cowardly approach infuriates me more. Liverpool were there for the taking yesterday. had we showed some courage in our tactics and performance we could have got at that shaky defense of theirs.

You do realize Liverpool played well right? I agree Jose showed too much respect to Klopp but feck sake theres 11 players on the other team too.

 

[Red Dreams]

Jeez, some of our fans can be irritating as feck. One bad game in which we didn't even lose and jose becomes the worst manager and pep is the messiah because he beat a Stoke city.

reflects what this place has become.

 

[Dept3942]

I know it cost's a lot to asemble but Pep's way of playing is like no other in football, when fully applied you simply can't stop his team's, you say City have a weak defense? Ok, well you need to be able to get at his defense first. PL defenses have always been overrated, as shown by Pep and City in the last few week's, no defense outside high quality one's have a hope in hell of living with City, there results this season so far mirror mine on career mode, it's insanity. Bar another manager pulling a Conte 16/17 City will likely win the league for the duration of Pep's tenure, what the rest of us need to cling onto is City balls up appointing his successor like Bayern did.

The only team to play a defensive game against City have been Palace. To their credit they only conceded just before half time. They are a bottom 6 PL team so they were always going to get beat anyway. You are not going to be able to play the same way as City but to say you can't do anything to stop them is ludicrous. Many managers seem to think they have to play an expansive game when they play City. just to get a few kind words from Pep in the post match interview. I'm sure Silva must have felt great after Watford shipped 6.

 

[adamwest]

You are very biased when judging us (and I am not surprised) . To say we gave not improved but only city have improved is a joke. I bet you would not have said that in August when city were grinding out results. Both the teams have improved significantly but you only choose to look at city. Yes they have improved more than us, but it was bound to happen.

And it is not a myth that city's squad was better tha us when both the managers took over. And pep spent insane money to add more qualities (credit to him). I don't know why we think us winning the title this season was a given, city were always favourites to win it and they are doing well. We are doing well too.

Stop it with your sense.

 

[bosnian_red]

Holy feck the overreaction. Its a long season. City always start seasons off brilliantly. I do think they'l probably win the title but they wont keep this formup for sure. People saying they'll win it for as long as hes there Get a fecking grip.

 

[VeevaVee]

You said there was no secret formula as if the way of doing it was exoteric.

All good teams pass the ball at considerable pace. Pep's obviously known for quick accurate passing in his. We should be able to do it too. We've improved of course, but the quality isn't there throughout enough of the team imo. I'm not saying it's simple, but we should be able to do it, even with Pogba out.

As a disclaimer, this isn't a kneejerk to yesterday's game. It's something I and others have mentioned before.

 

[adexkola]

The only team to play a defensive game against City have been Palace. To their credit they only conceded just before half time. They are a bottom 6 PL team so they were always going to get beat anyway. You are not going to be able to play the same way as City but to say you can't do anything to stop them is ludicrous. Many managers seem to think they have to play an expansive game when they play City. just to get a few kind words from Pep in the post match interview. I'm sure Silva must have felt great after Watford shipped 6.

What was the Chelsea game then?

 

[theralyst]

We need Brendan Rodgers to save this season.

 

[Treble]

You are very biased when judging us (and I am not surprised) . To say we gave not improved but only city have improved is a joke. I bet you would not have said that in August when city were grinding out results. Both the teams have improved significantly but you only choose to look at city. Yes they have improved more than us, but it was bound to happen.

And it is not a myth that city's squad was better tha us when both the managers took over. And pep spent insane money to add more qualities (credit to him). I don't know why we think us winning the title this season was a given, city were always favourites to win it and they are doing well. We are doing well too.

Did I say such thing? To say that we are not loking very convincig in away fixtures so far (just 4 league games which admittedly is a small basis to make predictions) is not to say that we haven't improved. We look more clinical with Lukaku. With Zlatan from last season we'd have lost more than 4 pts so far. What I'm saying is that the progress made from last season may be not enough to mount a challenge for the league.

 

[AshRK]

reflects what this place has become.

Honestly this time it is too much. I understand being critical of your yesterday's performance, but to just over exaggerate everything and lie to make your point stronger is a joke. You won't see that in RAWK or bluemoon praising us so much even when we were thrashing team. Again, i am not saying act like them, no. I am happy that we are more classy than them in praising them but not at the expense of us.