Pep Guardiola at City next?

Tincanalley said:
Guardiola is on record as saying he is attracted to the atmosphere at United, I believe.
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I'm not saying that's wrong but is there a direct quote available or just the usual 'sources close to Pep'?

I pretty much second what others said about Kicker. It's not that they get it always right but for the big names, they double-check before they release anything as bold as this article.

KingMinger22 said:
He is City bound. I think that can be said with about 95% certainty.

Anyone who is questioning the attractiveness of managing City this summer is being stubbornly biased behind reason.

They have a very good, currently under-performing, squad. Comfortably has the most talent in the league in it.

Second, they have the dream owners with unlimited resources and a desire for success that they are showing no signs of changing, both short and long term.

Pep, with City's money, will be able to attract the absolute top bracket of player to the club. 2 or 3 top additions and they can rival the big euro 3.

Currently, it looks like United are flat footed and aren't chasing Pep. He may have considered us, though we are in a fairly dire state, in terms of the quality of our squad. We need huge investment in to the team. Several top players in today's market will cost an absolute fortune. I am sure we will fall short of the amount we need to spend, though we will invest. We are a for-profit business. City are not.
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I'd fully agree with your first paragraph but would argue that most importantly, United would need to get a top manager on board before investing into the squad. Ideally, you'd get a DoF who appoints a head coach but this may still be unrealistic by now.
 
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Bild is calling Pep to City a done deal too, without mentioning any sources though.

The rumour is going on for so long already, he will certainly join City.
 
Bild
Kicker
Bein Sports
Paul Smith quoting Demichelis.

Looking pretty certain?
 
MrPooni said:
Another figure inflated by City's kind and generous owners with their 40000 subsidised season tickets or are you going to argue that we're all imagining those routinely empty seats and relatively laughable trophy parades?
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Not worth rebutting such a childish post. You can rest assured though that for certain City have the 3rd highest average attendance in the league, regardless of what you believe.

Kraftwerker said:
A little misleading. Sunderland probably feature high on this list too on account of having a larger than most stadium. Doesn't mean they're a particularly well supported club or that you don't often see swathes of empty seats at their games.

I'd also take the club's official attendance figures with a pinch of salt. It's based on tickets sold rather than bums on seats. I'd wager the average attendance rate circulated officially by the club is about 98%, neglecting to mention that 10,000 of those were sold to the Abu Dhabi Blue Plastics corporation at a price vastly inflated beyond their value to compensate for the tickets the club has to throw away for peanuts to actually get people in the gates.

I'm joking of course, but the point is, club's official attendance figures are worthless, and yes, even United's!
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It's not misleading at all though in the context, you can't call a club's attendance "dire" when it's the 3rd highest in the league, it doesn't mean City have more fans than Liverpool or Chelsea though, but we're talking strictly about attendance. And Sunderland still deserve praise for having a solid set of fans who turn up week after week in spite of the shower of shit they get served up and countless mercenaries they have playing for them, so I'd argue they're one of the better supported clubs in the league for sure.

The tickets sold figure can't be based only on tickets sold otherwise attendance figures for games that sell-out would always be recorded as the same but they aren't so I'm not sure how they're done however I'm willing to accept they're not always accurate.
 
Gentleman Jim said:
Bild
Kicker
Bein Sports
Paul Smith quoting Demichelis.

Looking pretty certain?
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Demichelis' wife denied that on Twitter. Of course she could just be covering for him but I don't believe Demichelis would have told a random journalist that to be honest.
 
BobbyManc said:
Not worth rebutting such a childish post. You can rest assured though that for certain City have the 3rd highest average attendance in the league, regardless of what you believe.



It's not misleading at all though in the context, you can't call a club's attendance "dire" when it's the 3rd highest in the league, it doesn't mean City have more fans than Liverpool or Chelsea though, but we're talking strictly about attendance. And Sunderland still deserve praise for having a solid set of fans who turn up week after week in spite of the shower of shit they get served up and countless mercenaries they have playing for them, so I'd argue they're one of the better supported clubs in the league for sure.

The tickets sold figure can't be based only on tickets sold otherwise attendance figures for games that sell-out would always be recorded as the same but they aren't so I'm not sure how they're done however I'm willing to accept they're not always accurate.
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The publicly released figure isn't close to how many fans are in the stadium. All clubs talk shite on that one. From what I've seen on the box, it doesn't look like your ground is regularly full which seems odd given the club's unprecedented success and collection of talent. If that's the case, why is that? Are fans protesting at high ticket prices? Are there just not that many fans?

For instance, these are photos from the Swansea game a couple of weeks ago. Attendance published at 53,052, just under capacity and 1.5k under the stadium record. But plenty of empty blue seats.
manchester-city-wilfred-bony.jpg


BPI_PG_Manchester_City_v_Swansea_City_32.3457537.jpg

Bafetimbi_Gomis.jpg
 
Gio said:
The publicly released figure isn't close to how many fans are in the stadium. All clubs talk shite on that one. From what I've seen on the box, it doesn't look like your ground is regularly full which seems odd given the club's unprecedented success and collection of talent. If that's the case, why is that? Are fans protesting at high ticket prices? Are there just not that many fans?

For instance, these are photos from the Swansea game a couple of weeks ago. Attendance published at 53,052, just under capacity and 1.5k under the stadium record. But plenty of empty blue seats.
manchester-city-wilfred-bony.jpg


BPI_PG_Manchester_City_v_Swansea_City_32.3457537.jpg

Bafetimbi_Gomis.jpg
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Stadium was still pretty full. From those pictures the only one with a considerable amount of empty seats is the Gomis one, and that was right near the end when plenty of fans had already left. There were empty seats but the figure seems reasonable from when I watched the game, around 2500 under capacity. I can't explain why some games have less empty seats, I was at the Watford game and that was packed, while we set the record for a game v Bournemouth so it's not down to the magnitude of the game and the demand for tickets certainly exists. I'd guess it's mainly an economic issue, as the fixture list piles up as it has started doing fans have to pick and choose which games they can afford to go to, and City are yet to attract enough day-trippers to cover for when the regulars decide they can't go.
 
BobbyManc said:
Not worth rebutting such a childish post. You can rest assured though that for certain City have the 3rd highest average attendance in the league, regardless of what you believe.
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I'll concede that the trophy parade jibe was a tad unnecessary but the point remains - relatively speaking, for a side that contains a plethora of world class attacking talent who are considered Champions League stalwarts and regularly challenging for the title in the most widely distributed league on the planet, Manchester City's real world attendance and atmosphere is dire, even more so when you factor in how heavily their tickets are subsidised. What's childish about that? I've admitted the club have a fantastic infrastructure in place on a number of other levels but your atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired.

BobbyManc said:
The tickets sold figure can't be based only on tickets sold otherwise attendance figures for games that sell-out would always be recorded as the same but they aren't so I'm not sure how they're done however I'm willing to accept they're not always accurate.
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Last I read there wasn't a set standard for reporting football attendances in the UK so the method whereby figures are calculated is left entirely down to the clubs themselves hence why there's so much confusion around the subject. There have been numerous exposes on the matter but they're usually met with a lackadaisical shrug.
 
MrPooni said:
I'll concede that the trophy parade jibe was a tad unnecessary but the point remains - relatively speaking, for a side that contains a plethora of world class attacking talent who are considered Champions League stalwarts and regularly challenging for the title in the most widely distributed league on the planet, Manchester City's real world attendance and atmosphere is dire, even more so when you factor in how heavily their tickets are subsidised. What's childish about that? I've admitted the club have a fantastic infrastructure in place on a number of other levels but your atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired.


Last I read there wasn't a set standard for reporting football attendances in the UK so the method whereby figures are calculated is left entirely down to the clubs themselves hence why there's so much confusion around the subject. There have been numerous exposes on the matter but they're usually met with a lackadaisical shrug.
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The atmosphere at the Etihad is not great, I've not denied that, of course it has good days and bad days for the atmosphere. However it's a criticism you could apply to the majority of Premier League teams including yours, home crowds generally are vocally poor and it's commonplace for the away fans to be making most of the noise. You've used the word dire again to refer to attendance, it's simply untrue, take off the red-tinted specs if you're going to make comments about what you perceive as inadequate attendances. And yes City have cheap season tickets available but the price for matchday tickets remains very high and many fans, myself included, cannot afford to attend every home again, then you've got to factor in those who focus on away games instead (applicable to all clubs though).

I remember one of the exposes revealed Manchester United routinely exaggerated attendance levels did it not? It probably does happen and at every club so using it as a way of deriding City is unmerited.
 
FCBarca said:
That equates to either having Pep's ear or privy to what Txiki will do? Not even remotely possible
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Well the whole of the German press seems to know where Guardiola is going. There are people on forums with legitimate contacts at clubs, I'd find it harder to believe that there was not at least one member of the City squad who was able to get news on what was happening higher up at City. The same applies to any team.
 
Bild also reporting he'll earn £18m per year... that's £365k a week!

Yikes. No pressure, Pep.
 
FCBarca said:
That equates to either having Pep's ear or privy to what Txiki will do? Not even remotely possible
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I would say having Pelligrini as coach most of the non-Bayern-time could be important here, too. Or that his son is not just for fun named Bastian - means that the direct contact into Bayern's headquarters is very good... (nobody can tell me that the Bayern captain's weren't informed...)

Let's just say - Micho sits in between all...
 
Blackwidow said:
I would say having Pelligrini as coach most of the non-Bayern-time could be important here, too. Or that his son is not just for fun named Bastian - means that the direct contact into Bayern's headquarters is very good... (nobody can tell me that the Bayern captain's weren't informed...)

Let's just say - Micho sits in between all...
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So BFS knows too?:angel:
 
Meh! I haven't checked this thread in ages. This ship has sailed.
 
acrebo said:
Bild also reporting he'll earn £18m per year... that's £365k a week!

Yikes. No pressure, Pep.
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Insane. He already earns over £16m a year I believe and is the highest paid manager by some distance.
 
Seems done deal to Citeh then.

So that's Klopp, Ancelotti and Now Guardiola off the market.


Anyway, makes Pellegrini's position this season kind of tricky. Title seems Arsenal' to lose this season.
 
BobbyManc said:
Well the whole of the German press seems to know where Guardiola is going. There are people on forums with legitimate contacts at clubs, I'd find it harder to believe that there was not at least one member of the City squad who was able to get news on what was happening higher up at City. The same applies to any team.
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A player though? Far fetched, IMHO. Perhaps it could get leaked from the German club but that's assuming they actually know. I think the next several months will be a distraction due to this question
 
Blackwidow said:
I would say having Pelligrini as coach most of the non-Bayern-time could be important here, too. Or that his son is not just for fun named Bastian - means that the direct contact into Bayern's headquarters is very good... (nobody can tell me that the Bayern captain's weren't informed...)

Let's just say - Micho sits in between all...
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You're assuming Bayern or City players would be in the know, would be illogical. Players aren't involved in these sort of negotiations and Pep isn't going to leak it. I am also fairly confident that Txiki & Pep know quite well that keeping it under wraps until the end of the season is vital.

I would then contend that leaks that might occur would be nothing more than conjecture
 
FCBarca said:
You're assuming Bayern or City players would be in the know, would be illogical. Players aren't involved in these sort of negotiations and Pep isn't going to leak it. I am also fairly confident that Txiki & Pep know quite well that keeping it under wraps until the end of the season is vital.

I would then contend that leaks that might occur would be nothing more than conjecture
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How do you know how City choose to handle the handover?
They have had plenty of time to decide their strategy for this. When to break the news to the staff and manage the press.
When is the least detrimental to the season? When would make commercial sense?
They are paid handsomely to deal with such questions and usually get it right.
 
Gentleman Jim said:
How do you know how City choose to handle the handover?
They have had plenty of time to decide their strategy for this. When to break the news to the staff and manage the press.
When is the least detrimental to the season? When would make commercial sense?
They are paid handsomely to deal with such questions and usually get it right.
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I am certain Pep wouldn't be party to his employment being the fodder for journalists to dissect and distract for the remainder of the current season. That would serve no one's best interests. And considering Txiki & Soriano are cules as well, I have no doubt they respect that about Pep as well.

Guardiola is obsessed with anonymity when it comes to his work. That won't change now although you have to imagine there is a contingency plan in place to address the rumour mill until the end of the season (Or when/if City & Bayern get eliminated from the CL)

Either they make it public or they don't, although I don't doubt that the speculation will undoubtedly persist without a confirmation. However, I don't buy for a second that it's been leaked

I recognize that it's still December and we can see how much coverage there is already on this, not sure how long they can maintain this posture of denial until May - but it will be Pep who decides when
 
1) If he wanted to manage Chelsea there is an opening and he could take it.
2) If he wanted to manage City, there would be an opening and he could take it.
3) If he wanted to manage Utd, there scradabbly woo chunk mapster the neesh.
Spot the odd one out?
 
Well Kicker is reporting it as well and they usually don't run these stories unless they are certain the deal is done.

That leaves us with LvG, Giggs or Mou. Unless we manage to wait too long and end up without the option of hiring the Portuguese egomaniac.
 
NoLogo said:
Well Kicker is reporting it as well and they usually don't run these stories unless they are certain the deal is done.
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I recognize that Kicker is pretty reliable but that may very well just be what Bayern believe is likely as even KRH says he thinks he knows, which is not the same as confirmation. Let's not forget he also said a few months ago he couldn't envision Pep choosing City over Bayern. Moreover, Pep isn't under any obligation to inform Bayern of where he is going next, only that he isn't renewing. The rest is speculation, even if its long been plenty obvious where. I just cannot believe Pep would divulge it to anyone who could potentially leak it, he simply doesn't operate like that.
 
Rooney in Paris said:
FCBarca seems to be the only one in here who doesn't believe this is already done and dusted! :lol:
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Gab Marcotti and another guy said the same thing on Football today last night. They said, it's far from done. Everyone seems to assume that Pep will go there because of Tiki and Frank but he hasn't decided his next destination yet. Chelsea, Arsenal, City and United - are all still possibilities.
 
FCBarca said:
I recognize that Kicker is pretty reliable but that may very well just be what Bayern believe is likely as even KRH says he thinks he knows, which is not the same as confirmation. Let's not forget he also said a few months ago he couldn't envision Pep choosing City over Bayern. Moreover, Pep isn't under any obligation to inform Bayern of where he is going next, only that he isn't renewing. The rest is speculation, even if its long been plenty obvious where. I just cannot believe Pep would divulge it to anyone who could potentially leak it, he simply doesn't operate like that.
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I agree with everything you are saying. My feeling is that Bayern having lost their man are trying to make mischief. They are almost certainly the source despite what Kicker say. There is no way Txiki or Pep are leaking this.

Having said that I believe that Pep will be at City next season.
 
If Pep is allowed to go anywhere else but United, the board should take their hats and leave. Honestly. There's been enough feckups on a boardroom level to accompany the managerial failure of Moyes and what increasingly looks like the managerial failure of LVG.

Shouldn't they be held accountable? After all, they hired the managers - shouldn't their jobs be under scrutiny? Two horror appointments in a row and letting Pep leave for our local rival? That's sackable in my book.
 
Polite Poster said:
I agree with everything you are saying. My feeling is that Bayern having lost their man are trying to make mischief. They are almost certainly the source despite what Kicker say. There is no way Txiki or Pep are leaking this.

Having said that I believe that Pep will be at City next season.
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Yeah, we're brilliant. Create mischief around our current coach to make his job as hard as possible for the coming months. Just what a well run club would do.
 
I have a theory that the only reason why LVG has not been sacked for Jose is that we are in serious negotiations with pep to take over in the summer.
 
Rooney in Paris said:
FCBarca seems to be the only one in here who doesn't believe this is already done and dusted! :lol:
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One of few here who understands how Pep works, clearly

And only faulty logic would conclude I don't believe he's going to City, I've only been saying his next probable destination is City for more than 3 years. I've merely pointed out its unlikely its been leaked
 
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