What's everyone's thoughts on Benitez possibly going to City?

That would be awesome BUT they will probably progress a little more than they usually do in Europe. They'll have no chance in the league though.

Not the worst move they could make but stinks of a short-term fix. They need a long-term strategy to completely rebuild that ageing squad and develop some form of identity. 

 

They basically need a Mourinho or Pep and they need to give them time.

 

 

It's more than that though. There are deeper issues at that club.

They already have a long term strategy, they purposely bought players in their prime with the intention of using the Barca model of integrating youth players into the team. Pellegrini would be the best person they could get to carry that out, no doubt something they factored when they hired him in the first place. 

What youth players have they integrated so far?

My sources are telling me that Ancelotti will be at City next season. You heard it here first.

What youth players have they integrated so far?

Original plan was something like 4 years of hard spending, then youth integration and some supplement spending. 

 

Seems like they underestimated how long it would take to reap the benefits from their new improved academy or maybe the players didn't develop as quick as they hoped but they are now getting some really good players like Marco Lopes, Rekik, Denayer and Pozo. I think Pozo will probably go out on loan but I would expect the other three to be brought into the squad next season, assuming Pellegrini stays that is.

They already have a long term strategy, they purposely bought players in their prime with the intention of using the Barca model of integrating youth players into the team. Pellegrini would be the best person they could get to carry that out, no doubt something they factored when they hired him in the first place. 

 

Because Pellegrini has a track record of winning trophies whilst developing young talent? 

 

He's tactically limited and on his way out without having never really developed much of an identity in his time there. Benitez would be a quick fix when they seem set on getting Guardiola sooner or later.

"...the Spaniard has also been linked with Manchester City and is renowned as a brilliant tactician."

 

Are you kidding? He is a brilliant tactician...for his opponents. 

My sources are telling me that Ancelotti will be at City next season. You heard it here first.

 

Let's hope Madrid win the title.

Pellegrini is a goner in the Summer

Because Pellegrini has a track record of winning trophies whilst developing young talent? 

 

He's tactically limited and on his way out without having never really developed much of an identity in his time there. Benitez would be a quick fix when they seem set on getting Guardiola sooner or later.

City knew what they were getting when they hired him in the first place, someone who can remain competitive, even win the league, while bringing through young talent. 

 

What short memories people have. City's identity was attacking football born from fast transitions which saw them thrash many teams last season and even at some stages this season as well. I don't agree he is tactically limited, he is stubborn like most managers but the real problem for me is that he can't seem to motivate the players.

City knew what they were getting when they hired him in the first place, someone who can remain competitive, even win the league, while bringing through young talent. 

 

What short memories people have. City's identity was attacking football born from fast transitions which saw them thrash many teams last season and even at some stages this season as well. I don't agree he is tactically limited, he is stubborn like most managers but the real problem for me is that he can't seem to motivate the players.

 

So that tactic stops being as effective or teams follow our blueprint on how to neutralise it - where does he go? How does it change?

 

What young talent has he brought through this season? Pozo has about 140 minutes of playing time. He'll be sacked in the summer and deservedly so.

When Kompany made the call regarding when a subsitution was to take place the other night it was all but done for Peli...

 

He's really nothing special. Lets be honest, city should have run away with the league last season. Liverpool conceded over 50 goals and almost got it and we didn't have a striker to speak of and ran them close. I'm happy for him to stay though 

So that tactic stops being as effective or teams follow our blueprint on how to neutralise it - where does he go? How does it change?

What young talent has he brought through this season? Pozo has about 140 minutes of playing time. He'll be sacked in the summer and deservedly so.

I can't agree that he will be deservedly sacked, just shows how spoilt football fans are nowadays. He isn't gonna bring through youth overnight and despite their form they're gonna finish in a CL spot and I think it will still be either second or third. He won two trophies last season that should be enough to give him another season after a trophyless season.

I can't agree that he will be deservedly sacked, just shows how spoilt football fans are nowadays. He isn't gonna bring through youth overnight and despite their form they're gonna finish in a CL spot and I think it will still be either second or third. He won two trophies last season that should be enough to give him another season after a trophyless season.

 

The man was a short-term hire and when you're that you either win or you move on. The fact that he seems to have lost key players in the dressing room doesn't help the cause of a 61 year old who before City had won very little. 

 

It's just the reality of modern football. I hope he does stay because he's out of his depth, but the people who run City will surely not be that sentimental...hope I'm wrong though.

The man was a short-term hire and when you're that you either win or you move on. The fact that he seems to have lost key players in the dressing room doesn't help the cause of a 61 year old who before City had won very little.

It's just the reality of modern football. I hope he does stay because he's out of his depth, but the people who run City will surely not be that sentimental...hope I'm wrong though.

I don't think he was a short term hire at the time, Infact I think he was brought in to build the team up for the future.

Key players like Toure who are prima donnas and spit their dummy out when they don't get what they want. They need a change in players not management in my opinion. It reminds me of Ancelotti in many ways he was unfairly sacked here and yet no one ever blames the players.

Edited April 8, 201511 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

I don't think he was a short term hire at the time, Infact I think he was brought in to build the team up for the future.

Key players like Toure who are prima donnas and spit their dummy out when they don't get what they want. They need a change in players not management in my opinion. It reminds me of Ancelotti in many ways he was unfairly sacked here and yet no one ever blames the players.

 

Then they need a manager they trust to build a whole new team. Again, that ain't Pellegrino. 

 

They need their own Jose, someone who builds an identity that lasts more than a couple of seasons and permeates every level of the club rather than it being a cheap knock-off of Barcelona.

Then they need a manager they trust to build a whole new team. Again, that ain't Pellegrino.

They need their own Jose, someone who builds an identity that lasts more than a couple of seasons and permeates every level of the club rather than it being a cheap knock-off of Barcelona.

They thought it would be and tbh he's had one off season so far what's to say he can't turn it around next season? Nothing that's what.

They thought it would be and tbh he's had one off season so far what's to say he can't turn it around next season? Nothing that's what.

 

Because he's not 'the man'. He's not the guy with the long-term potential that you give another season to. He's not a big-time manager. He's not a Jose.

 

But I hope I'm wrong because I'd love for him to stick around and lead the re-building process.

If they want one last crack at a few trophies with the squad they have they could do worse than to appoint Guus Hiddink for a year or two...

I think it's easy to point the finger at Pelligrin, but it's not entirely his fault.

 

Some performances from the players have been shocking.

 

Toure didn't start the season until October

 

Silva & Nasri have been in & out of form all season

 

Kompany has been poor by his standards

 

Aguero has struggled with fitness (not his fault)

 

Hart is not a great goalkeeper

 

Thats pretty much half his team who are not on top form all season.

 

The buys last summer were poor, not sure how much input Pelligrini has in that though.

 

I can see him being sacked, but I'm not sure it's totally deserved.

I think it's easy to point the finger at Pelligrin, but it's not entirely his fault.

Some performances from the players have been shocking.

Toure didn't start the season until October

Silva & Nasri have been in & out of form all season

Kompany has been poor by his standards

Aguero has struggled with fitness (not his fault)

Hart is not a great goalkeeper

Thats pretty much half his team who are not on top form all season.

The buys last summer were poor, not sure how much input Pelligrini has in that though.

I can see him being sacked, but I'm not sure it's totally deserved.

Help me out here SP, there's been a lot of chat about Jose and lack of rotation, am I right thinking City have rotated quite a bit; if they have it hasn't worked has it. Despite players like Aquero and others they don't look cohesive at times imho.

Edited April 8, 201511 yr by Droogba

Because he's not 'the man'. He's not the guy with the long-term potential that you give another season to. He's not a big-time manager. He's not a Jose.

But I hope I'm wrong because I'd love for him to stick around and lead the re-building process.

Because he's not 'the man'. He's not the guy with the long-term potential that you give another season to. He's not a big-time manager. He's not a Jose.

But I hope I'm wrong because I'd love for him to stick around and lead the re-building process.

I think City brought him in thinking he would be able to nurture their younger players and build a side that challenges for many years. You nor I have no clue if he'd be able to turn it around next season but he did enough last season for the club to give him the benefit of the doubt. They probably won't but he doesn't deserve to be sacked.

I think City brought him in thinking he would be able to nurture their younger players and build a side that challenges for many years. You nor I have no clue if he'd be able to turn it around next season but he did enough last season for the club to give him the benefit of the doubt. They probably won't but he doesn't deserve to be sacked.

 

He's paying the price for failure and for not having a strong enough track record to buy him another season. Yes the Barca boys deserve a huge amount of criticism and should probably be out too, but Pellegrino is simply not a top manager. He never has been and he never will be.

 

They wanted Pep, they still want Pep and they may well eventually get Pep because that's where their aspirations lie. Until they get him, any manager will be subject to the same treatment Pellegrino gets.

Help me out here SP, there's been a lot of chat about Jose and lack of rotation, am I right thinking City have rotated quite a bit; if they have it hasn't worked has it. Despite players like Aquero and others they don't look cohesive at times imho.

 

I don't think it's been rotation for the sack of it, but I don't think he has the same level of trust Jose has in his first choice 11.

I don't think it's been rotation for the sack of it, but I don't think he has the same level of trust Jose has in his first choice 11.

 

I don't think he knows who his first choice 11 is to be honest. Hart, Silva, Aguero and maybe Toure are the only guaranteed starters aren't they? Even Zaba and Fernandinho have been dropped this year.