Official: Pellegrini to leave/ Pep to join Man City

Not surprising at all. Deep down we all knew, even if we didn't want to admit. It's harsh on Pellegrini, but you can't feck around with these things. When a manager of that caliber is available, you have to take it.
 
I'm surprised at the reaction. It's just confirmation of what seemed to be widely known.

The biggest problem with this is that Woody will look an even bigger plonker now if LVG isn't in charge next season.
 
CL within 3 years, I think. He can attract top, top players on reputation.

I've read a few similar comments, but where's the logic behind it? Madrid, Bayern, PSG and especially Barca would spank them this year and I cannot think of any ready made world class talents available right now that would strengthen them beyond those clubs in the next couple of years. Also Toure is declining, Silva will be 31-34, Aguero is always injured and so is Kompany.

For me apart from a fit Aguero and De Bruyne they're average compared to those teams mentioned above. That's not City hate either, they're still the best team in our league by a mile but the standard of the Premier League now is awful.
 
CL within 3 years, I think. He can attract top, top players on reputation.
Yep. It's said both us and them are trying to sign Neymar. In the unlikely event he decides to leave, it's not even going to be a contest.
 
CL within 3 years, I think. He can attract top, top players on reputation.

Not that I feel any hate towards Pep - I rate him very highly - but if he can't win a CL in three years at Bayern (third season hasn't been played yet, obviously - but Bayern aren't the stand out favourites to win it either) why would it be any more certain that he wins it with City? Bayern were probably the perfect setup for him, because they already played in a way that was very close to his own and the squad is/was miles better than City's. At his new job he will probably have to do a lot more tactical ground work and some major squad rebuilding. So while I think he's a great signing for City in many ways I don't necessarily expect him to work miracles (at least not in Europe).

I can't help feeling sorry for Pellegrini. What kind of twat takes a job when somebody is still in the job.

City seem to have been working for a very long time towards signing Pep, I doubt that this is a surprising development for Pellegrini. And even if it was those communication issues would be on City's side and not Pep's imho.
 
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Not that I feel any hate towards Pep - I rate him very highly - but if he can't win a CL in three years at Bayern (third season hasn't been played yet, obviously - but Bayern aren't the stand out favourites to win it either) why would it be any more certain that he wins it with City? Bayern were probably the perfect setup for him, because they already played in a way that was very close to his own and the squad is/was miles better than City's. At his new job he will probably have to do a lot more tactical ground work and some major squad rebuilding. So while I think he's a great signing for City in many ways I don't necessarily expect him to work miracles (at least not in Europe).

Pretty much agree, but he will improve them and thus their chances. However I would expect Bayern & Barca to be ahead of them.
All depends though if City can lure some of their top players, you never know.
 
I think many are overlooking the bigger picture, CL titles are great but I also think City & their owners are trying to instill a philosophy and establish a playing legacy as evidenced by many efforts to mirror Barcelona's setup.
 
I think many are overlooking the bigger picture, CL titles are great but I also think City & their owners are trying to instill a philosophy and establish a playing legacy as evidenced by many efforts to mirror Barcelona's setup.

Obviously Pep will give them a kind of credibility that would've taken many years to build otherwise. But I'm not that sure about terms like philosophy and legacy: Pep likes to toy around with pretty extreme tactics and there aren't really a lot of coaches who I'd see as a logical follow-up to build on his style. Bayern went for Ancelotti as his replacement, who (imo) while being a great coach is not likely to continue down Pep's path and Enrique's Barca doesn't look like a Guardiola side (in terms of style) to me either.
 
Obviously Pep will give them a kind of credibility that would've taken many years to build otherwise. But I'm not that sure about terms like philosophy and legacy: Pep likes to toy around with pretty extreme tactics and there aren't really a lot of coaches who I'd see as a logical follow-up to build on his style. Bayern went for Ancelotti as his replacement, who (imo) while being a great coach is not likely to continue down Pep's path and Enrique's Barca doesn't look like a Guardiola side (in terms of style) to me either.

The difference is that City looked to duplicate Barcelona in many aspects and it's their acknowledged goal to create a playing philosophy that even the youth teams would play like the 1st team - like Barcelona.

Even if Lucho's Barcelona is different to Pep's, Guardiola's legacy lives in the team - his fingerprints are all over the team and even Lucho would agree. Even with Bayern, we'll see what his legacy will be a few years from now and how much of that passing & technical approach remains even after Carlo.
 
The difference is that City looked to duplicate Barcelona in many aspects and it's their acknowledged goal to create a playing philosophy that even the youth teams would play like the 1st team - like Barcelona.

Even if Lucho's Barcelona is different to Pep's, Guardiola's legacy lives in the team - his fingerprints are all over the team and even Lucho would agree. Even with Bayern, we'll see what his legacy will be a few years from now and how much of that passing & technical approach remains even after Carlo.

But Bayern and (afaik) Barca too had a passing & technical approach before Guardiola? And how muhc will Pep really affect City's youth setup when he's likely to "only" stay three years as a coach? Isn't the shaping of such an identity the job of a DoF(-like figure).
 
But Bayern and (afaik) Barca too had a passing & technical approach before Guardiola too? And how muhc will Pep really affect City's youth setup when he's likely to "only" stay three years as a coach? Isn't the shaping of such an identity the job of a DoF(-like figure).

Pep's impact on the youth academy might very well be predicated on staying longer than his usual 3 year committment and as I have mentioned elsewhere, if he were to stay longer City would the most likely place he would do that considering how ideal the circumstances are for his requirements

Barcelona & Pep's passing & movement philosophy stems from Cruyff so it's always been there but Guardiola refined it. It's different under Lucho but that's largely down to the trident of Neymar, Suarez & Messi - without them, this would be a far inferior side. I'd also contend that Bayern are a much better passing & movement team today than they were before his arrival. Whether that lives on remains to be seen.
 
Pep is going to find it different in the premier league, the assumption that he's guaranteed success is ridiculous.

Silva 30, toure 32, kompany 30 in april, sagna 32, zabaleta 31, Kolarov 30 and Clichy 30 are all integral parts to this city squad and other than them only KDB and aguero are at a good enough age to build around them a world class team. For city to be a european force they'll need to invest heavily and even if they have the money the players might not be available.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if city actually start declining next season, pep had incredible players at barca and bayern and that's not the same with city, people just assume they're going to land the likes of messi, pogba, stones and what not, but in reality it's very difficult and not all signings work out, mangala and otemendi were bought for close to 80m and it's not working out.

Pep is a great manager, maybe the best currently, but i think people overrate his impact without factoring how competitive the premier league is and how hard it is to land world class players these days.
 
If Guardiola succeeds at City, the only reason will be that van Gaal had come to the league two years before him and prepared the league for Pep. All the success City will have from now will be because of van Gaal.
 
If Guardiola succeeds at City, the only reason will be that van Gaal had come to the league two years before him and prepared the league for Pep. All the success City will have from now will be because of van Gaal.
:lol:
 
If Guardiola succeeds at City, the only reason will be that van Gaal had come to the league two years before him and prepared the league for Pep. All the success City will have from now will be because of van Gaal.

But what would make the PL the bestest league in the world ever and truly forever, if Pep comes and takes its competitiveness away?
 
But what would make the PL the bestest league in the world ever and truly forever, if Pep comes and takes its competitiveness away?
If that happens, it will only be because City will have by far the best team in the league. And when they get trashed in Europe, it would be only because they were fatigued because of the incredible competition in EPL.

I mean just look at the quality of the top team. If they were playing in Germany or Spain, they would have won every match while Vardy would have become the first player e
ver to score a hunded goals per season.
 
Don't know if it's been asked....Not going trawling through the thread but....

Why doesn't Luis Enrique get the same God like praise and fawning that Pep Guardiola does after he equaled Pep's greatest achievement in his first season in the job and will probably do it again this year?
 
Don't know if it's been asked....Not going trawling through the thread but....

Why doesn't Luis Enrique get the same God like praise and fawning that Pep Guardiola does after he equaled Pep's greatest achievement in his first season in the job and will probably do it again this year?

I think it's because Luis Enrique took over a team that was still very much competitive and came within a point from winning the league, Guardiola came when Barcelona were a bit of a mess. Also, Enrique does not revolutionize to the same extent, he doesn't have the same aura about him either.

Enrique has been widely praised BTW. He's regarded as one of the best managers in the game.
 
Joe Hart post Sunderland game: "we love Manuel" - sounds more and more like Michael McIntyre when he comes on stage 'to his favourite city of them all... (*insert city*)'

That Head & Shoulders loving, dandruff-free cnut can feck off.

 
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Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is set for a summer exit according to his agent Dmitry Seluk.


The 32 year old's future has been up in the air for some time now, due in part to Seluk's outspoken manner of dealing with his client's affairs at the Etihad (See birthday cake fiasco), but it seems the clearest indication of what his next move could be has been given.


“I think Yaya will leave the club. But before leaving I hope he will win again the League and all the cups," Seluk told the Sun.


Seluk was adamant that Toure's future could hinge on whether Pep Guardiola, who is set to take the reins at City this summer, invests the confidence in him that he opted not to at Barcelona when the Ivorian was shunted out to make way for Sergio Busquets.

“It’s not a question of whether Pep likes him or not. It’s life, you know," he added.


“Pep can call Yaya and speak to him to let him know ‘I’m with you’ or ‘I am not with you’.”


Toure's contract expires in 2017 and it remains to be seen whether he'll remain at the Etihad until then.

His agent also hinted that the Citizens, and Guardiola in particular, could hardly afford to lose him if they want to continue to win trophies.


He said: “Yaya won every trophy in England without Guardiola. Will Guardiola win without Yaya?”
 
Pep will have a lot of pulling power and City have the cash. They are building something sustainable there.
 
Pep will have a lot of pulling power and City have the cash. They are building something sustainable there.

Bizarre though it may seem, I am not sure setting the world alight and winning everything is expected nor required at City any time soon. Of course we'd expect to be competitive and to win something or other most seasons, but that's the same at any club with aspirations. But the owner and senior management have shown they are in it for the long haul and this is just another positive step along a 20 year journey.
 
It will be interesting to see how well he can do with City. They are no where as strong as the Barca and Bayern teams he taken over.
 
People will still say he's taken over the best team in England but I think it's a harder job then it seems.

Of course, critics will always look for something but I agree that it's not at all the cakewalk job some are suggesting otherwise they would've been more successful by now
 
Its a massive blow IMO

City and Utd are now heading in opposite directions

This.

United cannot possibly rebuild this squad into top European quality. The investment needed would be mind boggling. The squad is practically worthless and we won't even have CL football.

City, on the other hand, have the makings of what could beasily a great squad. They will attract some absolutely top tier additions in the summer and I think the PL will finally have a club to take on the euro big 3 again.

I don't see much hope at all of United rising to the top again in the next few years.
 
This.

United cannot possibly rebuild this squad into top European quality. The investment needed would be mind boggling. The squad is practically worthless and we won't even have CL football.

City, on the other hand, have the makings of what could beasily a great squad. They will attract some absolutely top tier additions in the summer and I think the PL will finally have a club to take on the euro big 3 again.

I don't see much hope at all of United rising to the top again in the next few years.
That's really all very subjective, hyperbolic and overly negative for dramatic effect. I honestly just saw your tagline while typing this. So fitting.
 
People will still say he's taken over the best team in England but I think it's a harder job then it seems.
The easier option for Pep would be to take the United job. This is going to be the first time that he won't have Van Gaals foundations to start with so he could be a bit lost
 
This.

United cannot possibly rebuild this squad into top European quality. The investment needed would be mind boggling. The squad is practically worthless and we won't even have CL football.

City, on the other hand, have the makings of what could beasily a great squad. They will attract some absolutely top tier additions in the summer and I think the PL will finally have a club to take on the euro big 3 again.

I don't see much hope at all of United rising to the top again in the next few years.

What?