On 08/05/2024 at 02:27, Bob stark said:

I watched  Guardiola team in his 1st season got smashed by Everton because he insisted on playing crazy tippy tappy ball with two slow fb. 

Defend deep, long ball to Lukaku on the RW and it was chances after chances 

He adapted by spending 130m on fb in the summer and suddenly his system just magically works. 

 

 

 

That's right Bob. He actually spent a quarter of a billion on the entire defence in that period and not a disparaging word said. Certainly no quarter of a billion blue bottle jobs them.

5 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

That's right Bob. He actually spent a quarter of a billion on the entire defence in that period and not a disparaging word said. Certainly no quarter of a billion blue bottle jobs them.

Let's be honest though - despite the defeat against the likes of Everton that has been highlighted - there was visible progress for city in Peps first season. I admit that they were not perfect, and money of course helped the problems go away - but there was certainly a distinct evolution in how they played and a clear identity forming, even early on in this first season.

We have not had the same under Poch, where at times, we have looked like the same team, playing the same system as we had for the past few years - only worse and unable to defend a cross.

7 hours ago, JM7 said:

The Conference league would not satisfy Chelsea’s ambitions. (@Matt_Law_DT)

In fact it’s a negative from a financial perspective. 

7 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

That's right Bob. He actually spent a quarter of a billion on the entire defence in that period and not a disparaging word said. Certainly no quarter of a billion blue bottle jobs them.

Nobody will deny that pep is a brilliant manager but city has clearly backed him big time. 

He wanted a st and city tried to get Kane and then Haaland. 

Edited May 10, 20242 yr by Bob stark

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

Let's be honest though - despite the defeat against the likes of Everton that has been highlighted - there was visible progress for city in Peps first season. I admit that they were not perfect, and money of course helped the problems go away - but there was certainly a distinct evolution in how they played and a clear identity forming, even early on in this first season.

We have not had the same under Poch, where at times, we have looked like the same team, playing the same system as we had for the past few years - only worse and unable to defend a cross.

Forming identity depend more on the sd than the manager because how your team play depend a lot on the player. 

If all of your attacker and midfielder are very direct, it is very difficult to play slow controlled ball. If your defender are not comfortable under pressure you can't play slow and shoer build up. 

Edited May 10, 20242 yr by Bob stark

 

This is quite an interesting answer, sounds like he could end up going at the end of the season.

Yes, them quotes do not sound positive at all. Here’s us thinking that the club might get rid of him but in fact Poch might walk. 
 

Hopefully he’s just making a general point that it’s not all one way. 
 

He did confirm that he has been planning pre-season with the SD’s though. 

It does feel more and more that there might have been a rift between Poch and the SD’s. I wonder if he’s told them that they’ve wasted most of £1b on average players. 

3 minutes ago, JM7 said:

It does feel more and more that there might have been a rift between Poch and the SD’s. I wonder if he’s told them that they’ve wasted most of £1b on average players. 

Or he has suggested that he walks if Gallagher and Chalobah are sold.........

1 hour ago, timetowaste said:

This is quite an interesting answer, sounds like he could end up going at the end of the season.

Would be surprised if he’s still here at the start of the next season. Seems like he knows what’s coming and is trying to get a bit of a narrative out there.

7 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Forming identity depend more on the sd than the manager because how your team play depend a lot on the player. 

If all of your attacker and midfielder are very direct, it is very difficult to play slow controlled ball. If your defender are not comfortable under pressure you can't play slow and shoer build up. 

So here is a thought.....

If the players you have are very direct, the manager should not direct them to play slow controlled football!

Managers do tend abit salty in their interviews once they know it’s over. 

I said the same after the Everton win, that he seemed strangely on edge when asked about his job security. 

I think the only other explanation is that he is fed up of the constant questioning about an end of season review and is trying to remind the media (and the board) that his fate is in his hands to an extent.

Would be ironic if he was sacked after finally getting us to play some good football, given that he was allowed to stay after months of dross.

 

I'm guessing there might be a clause in his contract that allows a cheap termination at the end of the season if we miss top 6.

Hard not to drawer the conclusion from his last couple of interviews that he won’t be here next season.

And after all that hard work through the season to finally be half decent for 2.5 games.

I actually read this a sign that he will be here next season.

I think his words were posturing before the upcoming end of season review with Boehly/Eghbali/etc., spoken from his newly-strengthened position of recent good form.

"Don't just think I'll be grateful to keep my job - you need to fully back me in the window too".

Read a report athletico Madrid might look at him. 

Wouldn't be surprised if he walks, he should have been backed this week. 

After so much change and turbulence over the last 2/3 years, we very much need stability over the summer and going into next season. The club would be bonkers to sack him. 

49 minutes ago, JM7 said:

After so much change and turbulence over the last 2/3 years, we very much need stability over the summer and going into next season. The club would be bonkers to sack him. 

I'm actually starting to feel this is another Sarri situation and he will walk. 

To be honest the more that comes out the more it seems like there could be a mutual termination situation. To be honest I think it's for the best, as much as I want stability for the club I don't see Pochettino being the man to get us to where we want to be.

12 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

So here is a thought.....

If the players you have are very direct, the manager should not direct them to play slow controlled football!

Absolutely. 

Now, Can your front line be clinical and not lose the ball at will? Can your midfield and backline keep up with the amount of transition that they have to defend? 

I saw this as him posturing .. he looked very relaxed while answering. Looked like a man who knows he has decent cards.

he will be here next season.. hopefully he builds on the last couple of performances.

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

Absolutely. 

Now, Can your front line be clinical and not lose the ball at will? Can your midfield and backline keep up with the amount of transition that they have to defend? 

One thing at a time. First a system and identity that suits the players. Then the rest can follow 

9 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

One thing at a time. First a system and identity that suits the players. Then the rest can follow 

If you focus on identity, you will end up like united. 

Last identity with this team is irrelevant. It is about getting mudryk, madueke, Enzo Caicedo, jackson game time

 

Edited May 11, 20242 yr by Bob stark