Pep: “I’d like more fans to come Saturday”

[Rajiztar]

Conte has crashed out of the group stage in the last 2 editions of the CL. In fact Inter under him finished bottom of the group and didn't even make the Europa League last year. He has won just three of his last 15 games in the CL. His overall record is 12 victories, 11 draws and 11 defeats. His best finish is a QF in 2013 losing 4-0 on aggregate to Bayern. His CL record is atrocious. How is it comparable in anyway to Pep's record Conte is good at winning league titles. But Pep is even better and plays much better football.

There seems to be a clear pattern to most of your posts. Anyone or anything remotely connected to Chelsea is better than everyone else

I knew Conte better because he managed us. He is good tactically not saying he is better than pep but I think he can make city better.

Why you not look into pep s European record with city. With resources and spending pep had I don't think that was glorious record to beat with Conte.

City also gaining Haaland signing with Conte, with pep city can't go near raiola but Conte and Haaland very well made for each other. I think Haaland up top with that city s attack and creativity and add Conte s pragmatism that's one hell of a combo.

It's not about his Chelsea s association once upon a time but accepting the ability of great coach like Conte.

 

[roonster09]

I knew Conte better because he managed us. He is good tactically not saying he is better than pep but I think he can make city better.

Why you not look into pep s European record with city. With resources and spending pep had I don't think that was glorious record to beat with Conte.

City also gaining Haaland signing with Conte, with pep city can't go near raiola but Conte and Haaland very well made for each other. I think Haaland up top with that city s attack and creativity and add Conte s pragmatism that's one hell of a combo.

It's not about his Chelsea s association once upon a time but accepting the ability of great coach like Conte.

Pep is level above Conte in everything, league or cup.

Yes City spent big and they didn't win CL but they made Knock out rounds every year. Inter spent big and crashed out of group stages both years.

2012-13 - QF
2013-14 - Group stage
2017-18 - Round of 16
2019-20 - Group stage
2020-21 - Group stage.

That's a terrible record.

 

[Rajiztar]

Pep is level above Conte in everything, league or cup.

Yes City spent big and they didn't win CL but they made Knock out rounds every year. Inter spent big and crashed out of group stages both years.

2012-13 - QF
2013-14 - Group stage
2017-18 - Round of 16
2019-20 - Group stage
2020-21 - Group stage.

That's a terrible record.

Are you seriously compared inter spending and city spending with both at the stage when they took over. . Don't do this to yourself.

I again say this, pep s too purist and have no plan B or pragmatism in his vision. That's what his undoing in cl competition. Conte will again fail in Europe with city but that won t make him bad either.

For all pep s greatest of all time manager he boasted league titles Conte also not bad in that aspect that is league titles. I am not asking about city s also ran cl pedigree. This quarter final semi final final appearances all are good but winning is only mattered.

 

[roonster09]

Are you seriously compared inter spending and city spending with both at the stage when they took over. . Don't do this to yourself.

I again say this, pep s too purist and have no plan B or pragmatism in his vision. That's what his undoing in cl competition. Conte will again fail in Europe with city but that won t make him bad either.

Conte spent shit loads of money and didn't even qualify from group stage, how does it matter if he didn't spend as much as Pep. Expectations on Pep is to win CL and for Conte it's to qualify from group stage. At this point it would be shocking if he qualifies from group stage as his record in CL is shit.

No one said Conte is bad, he isnt better than Pep in any format.

Bold part doesn't make any sense, if he fails in CL then what's the point of hiring him when Pep is already winning league easily and playing great football.

 

[Rajiztar]

Conte spent shit loads of money and didn't even qualify from group stage, how does it matter if he didn't spend as much as Pep. Expectations on Pep is to win CL and for Conte it's to qualify from group stage. At this point it would be shocking if he qualifies from group stage as his record in CL is shit.

No one said Conte is bad, he isnt better than Pep in any format.

Bold part doesn't make any sense, if he fails in CL then what's the point of hiring him when Pep is already winning league easily and playing great football.

Look I again said I am not saying Conte is better manager than pep.

Despite I think conte is better I don't have any proof other than he took the struggling teams to make them winning league titles.Juve,chelsea and inter. And pep s barca,bayern and city.Lot of difference in that in my opinion. But I don't want to argue over it.

Pep always give me the impression that rabbit in light when his team was struggling. No solution he brought to win matches if things getting tougher.

After pep if city will go to Conte then he only make them better. Yes all pep s european record was impressive but without messi he scored grand 0. I don't think that's massive.

City need to consolidate their domestic dominance as of now and no better bet than conte for that. I am not saying sack pep now and bring conte but after pep scenario conte will be their good option.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

He might of started with a better squad but there is no way he wouldn’t of won the league here spending 900m. There was thread ages ago about it and nearly everyone agreed we would win the league under him

You do a disservice go the amount of deadwood at the club when Ole arrived. In his second summer the board only spent £75M. If that was Pep he would've cried and then left because he couldn't spend over £200M on full backs!

 

[roonster09]

Look I again said I am not saying Conte is better manager than pep.

Despite I think conte is better I don't have any proof other than he took the struggling teams to make them winning league titles.Juve,chelsea and inter. And pep s barca,bayern and city.Lot of difference in that in my opinion. But I don't want to argue over it.

Pep always give me the impression that rabbit in light when his team was struggling. No solution he brought to win matches if things getting tougher.

After pep if city will go to Conte then he only make them better. Yes all pep s european record was impressive but without messi he scored grand 0. I don't think that's massive.

City need to consolidate their domestic dominance as of now and no better bet than conte for that. I am not saying sack pep now and bring conte but after pep scenario conte will be their good option.

That's not true at all. This is like reading generic tweets saying "pep has no plan B" "without Messi, Pep is nothing".

This guy has won league without a CF, won the league playing 2 attacking mids in CM position, won the league playing CM as LB and also attacking mid as LB.

Pep has so many alternatives, not a single one of them is "hoof the ball to tall player".

Also no, he won't improve City than Pep. After Pep, it's all a downgrade.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

Haha. I'd say he's known that from the start. It's probably dawning on him that he's not going to be able to rise above it through sheer personal brilliance, and add the lack of CLs and seeing that electric OT atmosphere the other weekend is grating on him.

I don't think it's a coincidence that he starts complaining about the attendance after that Ronaldo carnival at OT.

I think this is very true. The regret is beginning to creep in. Like the morning after the night before.

 

[Pickle85]

That's not true at all. This is like reading generic tweets saying "pep has no plan B" "without Messi, Pep is nothing".

This guy has won league without a CF, won the league playing 2 attacking mids in CM position, won the league playing CM as LB and also attacking mid as LB.

Pep has so many alternatives, not a single one of them is "hoof the ball to tall player".

Argument could be made that his tactical/transfer market weirdness puts him in a position where he needs to do those things, tbf. Brilliant coach but also not without his flaws.

 

[Fluctuation0161]

Hart Zabaleta Sagna Kolarov Clichy Mangala Fernando Navas Yaya Demichelis Sterling KdB Aguero Silva Kompany Bony Fenandinho

That was rated as the 17th oldest squad in the league before Pep joined. Most of the guys left City for immediate retirement, unfancied leagues or full retirement

And the best players throughout Peps managerial time at City? KDB, Aguero and Sterling. Maybe Silva. Already there when he arrived.

He had the core ready to go and still spent 1 billion.

 

[roonster09]

Argument could be made that his tactical/transfer market weirdness puts him in a position where he needs to do those things, tbf. Brilliant coach but also not without his flaws.

Ofcourse no coach is flawless but not sure what his tactical weirdness that puts him in that position. Mendy was injured and that's why they had to play Delph and Zinchenko as LB. Both did well and Zinchenko has been part of that team all the time now.

Also like with every manager/club, transfers are hit and miss, also they do make mistakes as they are humans. The thing that matters most is, winning the big trophies and he delivers it consistently.

 

[sebsheep]

Hart Zabaleta Sagna Kolarov Clichy Mangala Fernando Navas Yaya Demichelis Sterling KdB Aguero Silva Kompany Bony Fenandinho

That was rated as the 17th oldest squad in the league before Pep joined. Most of the guys left City for immediate retirement, unfancied leagues or full retirement

The core of the squad we're experienced league winners tbf, they'd won the league 2 years before. It was a squad that needed investing in and refreshing but they had some top talent.
You've also missed Otamendi and Delph off that list. He added about £160m worth of players and finished 3rd that year. I knew City fans who wanted him gone at that point.
He then spent another £270m to win the league. The likes of KDB, Aguero, Silva, Sterling, Fenandinho and Kompany were major players in that time.

If you look at United's squad around that time then I don't think you'll believe it was stronger.

 

[11101]

One day far in the future when he is long retired he is going to write a book about his life and career. I can't wait to see what he will say about City.

 

[Pickle85]

Ofcourse no coach is flawless but not sure what his tactical weirdness that puts him in that position. Mendy was injured and that's why they had to play Delph and Zinchenko as LB. Both did well and Zinchenko has been part of that team all the time now.

Also like with every manager/club, transfers are hit and miss, also they do make mistakes as they are humans. The thing that matters most is, winning the big trophies and he delivers it consistently.

I guess by tactical weirdness I was more talking about playing without a CF or not starting Fernandinho in the CL final. He sometimes seems to feel a need to prove himself as tactical Jesus at the expense of the team. Also, having no natural backup for Mendy and having to use zinchenko or delph should surely be used as a point against him? He's the one that builds the squad after all and it's not like they didn't have cash to spend. Not like Delph was a particular revelation there either...he was barely adequate, but no more.

 

[roonster09]

I guess by tactical weirdness I was more talking about playing without a CF or not starting Fernandinho in the CL final. He sometimes seems to feel a need to prove himself as tactical Jesus at the expense of the team. Also, having no natural backup for Mendy and having to use zinchenko or delph should surely be used as a point against him? He's the one that builds the squad after all and it's not like they didn't have cash to spend. Not like Delph was a particular revelation there either...he was barely adequate, but no more.

He doesn't have to prove, he is tactical genius and he is a genius as he experiments a lot too.

No having holes in the squad is used against manager but for few managers having holes in the squad is used in their favor as they can't win trophies because of those holes. It's amazing how same point can be twisted both ways.

End of the day, he came up with the solution and wins trophies regularly. That's what matters. Deplh might be barely adequate but he played good enough games in their 100 point team. So they reached 100 points even with just a average LB. Shows how good manager he is.

 

[Zen86]

One day far in the future when he is long retired he is going to write a book about his life and career. I can't wait to see what he will say about City.

I think practically everyone at City past and present will be heavily NDA’d. It’s what businesses with a shady side do at the end of the day.

Unless an ex player has a meltdown in the future, I don’t think we’ll hear anything controversial.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Difficulty if attending a game at 8 pm.

If it was an early k.o. you could understand it due to work commitments, but 8.00 p.m. that is a mad thing to say.

 

[tenpoless]

Empty seats in their DNA.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

You tell him Pep.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

He’s not even in that fecking room

He's waiting for his new kitchen to be fitted.

 

[Zen86]

Because he would make them worse. In the same way I’d love to see the Neville brothers at Chelsea & Liverpool.

If it makes our title rivals worse, then I’m all for it.

Great idea. Let’s get Cantona managing them instead, an even bigger legend. Maybe we can send Bobby Charlton to Liverpool and Fergie to Leeds while we’re at it.

 

[Pickle85]

He doesn't have to prove, he is tactical genius and he is a genius as he experiments a lot too.

No having holes in the squad is used against manager but for few managers having holes in the squad is used in their favor as they can't win trophies because of those holes. It's amazing how same point can be twisted both ways.

End of the day, he came up with the solution and wins trophies regularly. That's what matters. Deplh might be barely adequate but he played good enough games in their 100 point team. So they reached 100 points even with just a average LB. Shows how good manager he is.

I have no idea what you're on about in the second paragraph. There's no situation in which having holes in the squad is a good thing and it's even less excusable when you have limitless pots of money available.

Experimentation doesn't make you a genius - he can be too clever for his own good. Whichever way you cut it, given the sides he's managed and the money he's spent his European record is poor.

 

[::sonny::]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[roonster09]

I have no idea what you're on about in the second paragraph. There's no situation in which having holes in the squad is a good thing and it's even less excusable when you have limitless pots of money available.

Experimentation doesn't make you a genius - he can be too clever for his own good. Whichever way you cut it, given the sides he's managed and the money he's spent his European record is poor.

Having holes in the squad is not a good thing but that doesn't mean it's always manager's mistake. Also its on manager on how he adapts when there is a weakness in the squad, Pep has done brilliantly.

Experiments won't make him a genius. He is a genius, that's why he experiments making decisions that not many would do.

 

[fergosaurus]

I wonder how many actors the Sheikh has hired to pose as fans today

 

[Pickle85]

Having holes in the squad is not a good thing but that doesn't mean it's always manager's mistake. Also its on manager on how he adapts when there is a weakness in the squad, Pep has done brilliantly.

Experiments won't make him a genius. He is a genius, that's why he experiments making decisions that not many would do.

You really like him, huh?! I still think his European record counts against him. He's one of the best, for sure, but he's never worked with anything other than the best squad in a league (or at least had hundreds of millions to chuck at it) and still only had CLs with Barca (and arguably not as many as he should have).

 

[roonster09]

You really like him, huh?! I still think his European record counts against him. He's one of the best, for sure, but he's never worked with anything other than the best squad in a league (or at least had hundreds of millions to chuck at it) and still only had CLs with Barca (and arguably not as many as he should have).

No it doesn't count against him. He has won 2 CLs and the manager with most CLs is Zidane with 3. So he is very high on the list and winning CL depends on lot of factors. League is always the measure of quality as you need to be consistent for 38 games. Well that's for other thread.

Also the reason City are favorites for CL or people expect them to win CL is because Pep is their manager.

Do I like him? No as he is City's manager.
Is he the best manager in the world? Easily.

 

[Freak]

Would be funny if the fans boo him today

 

[Zen86]

No it doesn't count against him. He has won 2 CLs and the manager with most CLs is Zidane with 3. So he is very high on the list and winning CL depends on lot of factors. League is always the measure of quality as you need to be consistent for 38 games. Well that's for other thread.

Also the reason City are favorites for CL or people expect them to win CL is because Pep is their manager.

Do I like him? No as he is City's manager.
Is he the best manager in the world? Easily.

He wins the league with the best squad in the league. To his credit he’s consistent at it. Top teams want him because if you give him the resources, he will more often than not deliver a strong league performance. But he isn’t turning water into wine.

 

[11101]

I think practically everyone at City past and present will be heavily NDA’d. It’s what businesses with a shady side do at the end of the day.

Unless an ex player has a meltdown in the future, I don’t think we’ll hear anything controversial.

Oh I don't expect anything specific. I think he will lay into the fans and the club's culture though, he clearly doesn't have much love for them.

 

[RUCK4444]

Would be funny if the fans boo him today

Doubt he could hear them to be fair.

 

[cyberman]

No it doesn't count against him. He has won 2 CLs and the manager with most CLs is Zidane with 3. So he is very high on the list and winning CL depends on lot of factors. League is always the measure of quality as you need to be consistent for 38 games. Well that's for other thread.

Also the reason City are favorites for CL or people expect them to win CL is because Pep is their manager.

Do I like him? No as he is City's manager.
Is he the best manager in the world? Easily.

The reason City are among the favourites is because of the squad and resources they have and had been before Pep got there.
They reason they haven’t won it is down to Pep himself.

 

[Pickle85]

No it doesn't count against him. He has won 2 CLs and the manager with most CLs is Zidane with 3. So he is very high on the list and winning CL depends on lot of factors. League is always the measure of quality as you need to be consistent for 38 games. Well that's for other thread.

Also the reason City are favorites for CL or people expect them to win CL is because Pep is their manager.

Do I like him? No as he is City's manager.
Is he the best manager in the world? Easily.

Yes it does count against him. He's won two CLs and should have won at least a couple more and the fact that he hasn't is on him. I don't think you'd find many people that would argue he hasn't underperformed in Europe. You really should be evenhanded enough to recognise his faults as well as his positives. The league is important but just because you proclaim it's the measure of quality doesn't make it so. I agree it's easier to fluke a CL win but Pep has also always had the deck loaded in his favour as far as the league is concerned. Look at the amount of money he's had to spend. Over 38 games, that kind of quality is likely to win out. He has been exposed a number of times in Europe, or do you dispute that as well? Saying the reason that city are favourites for the CL is purely because of Pep is utterly laughable and ignores the fact that they have one of the strongest squads in world football. It's like saying that PSG being one of the favourites for CL is because of Poch.

 

[Pickle85]

The reason City are among the favourites is because of the squad and resources they have and had been before Pep got there.
They reason they haven’t won it is down to Pep himself.

This sums it up way more succinctly than my post did!

 

[::sonny::]

He has to resign

 

[Oranges038]

Southampton's mascot for the game revealed.

Spoiler

 

[sangria]

I think practically everyone at City past and present will be heavily NDA’d. It’s what businesses with a shady side do at the end of the day.

Unless an ex player has a meltdown in the future, I don’t think we’ll hear anything controversial.

And even when someone finds actual evidence, City will just lawyer the hell out of them. If there is anything to be learned from City, it is that no governing body in the world can afford lawsuits as much as City can, and that City can bankrupt you through legal costs before you can make the rules stick.

 

[Oranges038]

Difficulty if attending a game at 8 pm.

Clashes with Corrie.

 

[roonster09]

Yes it does count against him. He's won two CLs and should have won at least a couple more and the fact that he hasn't is on him. I don't think you'd find many people that would argue he hasn't underperformed in Europe. You really should be evenhanded enough to recognise his faults as well as his positives. The league is important but just because you proclaim it's the measure of quality doesn't make it so. I agree it's easier to fluke a CL win but Pep has also always had the deck loaded in his favour as far as the league is concerned. Look at the amount of money he's had to spend. Over 38 games, that kind of quality is likely to win out. He has been exposed a number of times in Europe, or do you dispute that as well? Saying the reason that city are favourites for the CL is purely because of Pep is utterly laughable and ignores the fact that they have one of the strongest squads in world football. It's like saying that PSG being one of the favourites for CL is because of Poch.

I said he has his faults, I said he is a genius and easily the best manager in the world.

How many times City were considered favorites before Pep took over? Since he joined City, every year expectation is he should win CL.

 

[Pickle85]

I said he has his faults, I said he is a genius and easily the best manager in the world.

How many times City were considered favorites before Pep took over? Since he joined City, every year expectation is he should win CL.

Do you mean before Pep spent a billion on the squad?