***Real vs City official match thread***

[carl_feedthegoat]

What we have all got to come to the terms with is that we are never going to win the CL under Pep, does that mean I am a Pep hater and want him gone? Absolutely not, Pep is great at managing a team over a season adjusting for the number of games and player rotation etc.
But when it comes to one off games he is often found wanting, look how many semi finals we have lost against teams we should have beaten. We even got to the final of the CL and Pep fucked up. Do I think we would have beaten the dippers if we had got to the final in Paris? Definitely not, in the unlikely event that we would have put our best team out, Klipperty would manage the game better, it was posted the other night how Klipperty changed the game against Villarreal when they were 2-0 down at ht, subs were made different approach and dippers battered them.
When was the last time Pep did that in a one off? Usually the pattern is set, we know from the start if we are going to win, likewise not win.
In other words we know the pattern of the game is not going to be changed by a thoughtful sub and or sweeping tactical approach.
In summary Pep is a great, if not the greatest PL manager, in one off knock out games not so much.

I actually think he has done well without a top class striker. And yes he makes mistakes, but he is the right man going forward.
Give him the personnel he needs.

Pep has spent over a billion Euros on players he wanted , how much more does he need till he gets it right ?
Do we just allow him to waste millions on players like cancelo and , up to now , Grealish ?
There is ZERO excuse we have no Left back , no forward , no depth in the CB department - Zero excuse at all - that’s down on him , not the City hierarchy.

[blues2win]

We have four CBs; Dias, Stones, Laporte and Ake. Two Right footers two left footers.

[Tokyo Blue]

We have four CBs; Dias, Stones, Laporte and Ake. Two Right footers two left footers.

I don't see what their religion has got to do with anything.

[Nick]

What we have all got to come to the terms with is that we are never going to win the CL under Pep, does that mean I am a Pep hater and want him gone? Absolutely not, Pep is great at managing a team over a season adjusting for the number of games and player rotation etc.
But when it comes to one off games he is often found wanting, look how many semi finals we have lost against teams we should have beaten. We even got to the final of the CL and Pep fucked up. Do I think we would have beaten the dippers if we had got to the final in Paris? Definitely not, in the unlikely event that we would have put our best team out, Klipperty would manage the game better, it was posted the other night how Klipperty changed the game against Villarreal when they were 2-0 down at ht, subs were made different approach and dippers battered them.
When was the last time Pep did that in a one off? Usually the pattern is set, we know from the start if we are going to win, likewise not win.
In other words we know the pattern of the game is not going to be changed by a thoughtful sub and or sweeping tactical approach.
In summary Pep is a great, if not the greatest PL manager, in one off knock out games not so much.

There is something more here, IMHO.
We are a team, but I think we miss individuals, individuals that have the balls to decide a game with a spark of magic. I think as a collective we are incredible, but can't remember the last time one of our players was trying to win the goalscorer of the league award or produced something incredible.

I keep on going everytime to Vinnie scoring vs Leicester and everyone was saying don't shoot. It's a mentality thing.
Is it Pep responsible? Are the players? No idea.

You make a couple of really interesting pointe there, the individual magic bit and the don’t shoot Vinnie, maybe they are linked, but think you have something there.

Very true sometimes we need a yaya to go on a run. Only one who somwetines does is mahrez.

[salford city]

I actually think he has done well without a top class striker. And yes he makes mistakes, but he is the right man going forward.
Give him the personnel he needs.[/quote]

Pep has spent over a billion Euros on players he wanted , how much more does he need till he gets it right ?
Do we just allow him to waste millions on players like cancelo and , up to now , Grealish ?
There is ZERO excuse we have no Left back , no forward , no depth in the CB department - Zero excuse at all - that’s down on him , not the City hierarchy.[/quote]

For me, Pep has been given everyrhing that he has asked for. It is on him that we don't have a striker or a recognised left back. Have we got by without - yes we have but it has come back to bite us in the games that matter.
I'm all for him solving the striker and left back issues but the jury is out on whether he can evolve with those purchases. If we go into next season without a new reliable left back we will end up back here

[carl_feedthegoat]

We have four CBs; Dias, Stones, Laporte and Ake. Two Right footers two left footers.

Stones is always injured , Laporte is shit , ake is a good back up , Diaz is fine so we had more than enough justification to get rid of Laporte (who wanted out ,I might add ) and bring in someone else in .

[Dimples]

No CF: Not Pep's fault. Pep wanted Kane. Club did not get it over the line. Lukaku approached the previous season. Club did not get it over the line.
No LB: Not Pep's fault. Mendy in prison awaiting trial.
People demanding we buy players and simultaneously demanding we bring on the youngsters - mutually exclusive.

To judge Pep, the unfair treatment of City should be factored in. Casimiro should have got a yellow early on, if so then he would not have pulled Foden's shirt, for which he did not get a (2nd) yellow. Stuff like that has a huge bearing on the outcome of a game. RM were allowed waste most of the second period of extra time, etc...
Same against Liverpool, Milner in the first game, Sterling's goal in the second game. If we had won both games, we would have with fair decisions, the PL would be wrapped up and we could have rested players and fielded a stronger team in the FA cup, etc...
Given the handicap Pep has to work under, I think he is an amazing manager.

[stupot]

No CF: Not Pep's fault. Pep wanted Kane. Club did not get it over the line. Lukaku approached the previous season. Club did not get it over the line.
No LB: Not Pep's fault. Mendy in prison awaiting trial.
People demanding we buy players and simultaneously demanding we bring on the youngsters - mutually exclusive.

To judge Pep, the unfair treatment of City should be factored in. Casimiro should have got a yellow early on, if so then he would not have pulled Foden's shirt, for which he did not get a (2nd) yellow. Stuff like that has a huge bearing on the outcome of a game. RM were allowed waste most of the second period of extra time, etc...
Same against Liverpool, Milner in the first game, Sterling's goal in the second game. If we had won both games, we would have with fair decisions, the PL would be wrapped up and we could have rested players and fielded a stronger team in the FA cup, etc...
Given the handicap Pep has to work under, I think he is an amazing manager.

Spot on. They were talking about the best managers ever yesterday on TS and they were going on about Fergie, Mourinho, Ancellotti and Klopp. Someone asked about Pep and that fountain of knowledge Jim White said you can't be considered unless you've won the CL.
i'm sure he's won it as many times as Fergie and Mourinho and more than Klopp.

[Harry Dowd scored]

No CF: Not Pep's fault. Pep wanted Kane. Club did not get it over the line. Lukaku approached the previous season. Club did not get it over the line.
No LB: Not Pep's fault. Mendy in prison awaiting trial.
People demanding we buy players and simultaneously demanding we bring on the youngsters - mutually exclusive.

To judge Pep, the unfair treatment of City should be factored in. Casimiro should have got a yellow early on, if so then he would not have pulled Foden's shirt, for which he did not get a (2nd) yellow. Stuff like that has a huge bearing on the outcome of a game. RM were allowed waste most of the second period of extra time, etc...
Same against Liverpool, Milner in the first game, Sterling's goal in the second game. If we had won both games, we would have with fair decisions, the PL would be wrapped up and we could have rested players and fielded a stronger team in the FA cup, etc...
Given the handicap Pep has to work under, I think he is an amazing manager.

Spot on. They were talking about the best managers ever yesterday on TS and they were going on about Fergie, Mourinho, Ancellotti and Klopp. Someone asked about Pep and that fountain of knowledge Jim White said you can't be considered unless you've won the CL.
i'm sure he's won it as many times as Fergie and Mourinho and more than Klopp.

Can you remember (because I can’t) whether Ferguson had all this pressure to win the CL before he was accepted as a great manager? At the end of the day he won it twice, once after being outplayed by Bayern for 90 minutes and another because John Terry slipped and missed a penalty, talk about the victorious writing history doesn’t touch it

[Hazy2]

You need killers and if we had them the first leg was 7-3 being fair. 2nd half at Wembley scored 2 from 8 chances. If we take our chances the games are a cake walk.

[Scatman]

You need killers and if we had them the first leg was 7-3 being fair. 2nd half at Wembley scored 2 from 8 chances. If we take our chances the games are a cake walk.

If we had a striker then we would have been confortably ahead after the first leg v Athletico and able to rest players ahead of the FA Cup Semi. We would have been out of sight after the first leg of the Real semi and Tuesday would never have happened. As good as they are, if Liverpool win the quadruple the blame lies at the door of whose job it has been to get a striker at least last summer and possibly the one before.

[s1ty m]

No CF: Not Pep's fault. Pep wanted Kane. Club did not get it over the line. Lukaku approached the previous season. Club did not get it over the line.
No LB: Not Pep's fault. Mendy in prison awaiting trial.
People demanding we buy players and simultaneously demanding we bring on the youngsters - mutually exclusive.

To judge Pep, the unfair treatment of City should be factored in. Casimiro should have got a yellow early on, if so then he would not have pulled Foden's shirt, for which he did not get a (2nd) yellow. Stuff like that has a huge bearing on the outcome of a game. RM were allowed waste most of the second period of extra time, etc...
Same against Liverpool, Milner in the first game, Sterling's goal in the second game. If we had won both games, we would have with fair decisions, the PL would be wrapped up and we could have rested players and fielded a stronger team in the FA cup, etc...
Given the handicap Pep has to work under, I think he is an amazing manager.

Spot on. They were talking about the best managers ever yesterday on TS and they were going on about Fergie, Mourinho, Ancellotti and Klopp. Someone asked about Pep and that fountain of knowledge Jim White said you can't be considered unless you've won the CL.
i'm sure he's won it as many times as Fergie and Mourinho and more than Klopp.

I don't listen to those 2 wankers anymore. White is a cretin and Jordan thinks he's a clever boy. Uses scenario and landscape in every sentence, the clown.

[Mase]

Imagine even putting Klopp in the same sentence as Fergie, Mourinho, Ancellotti He’s the shit on their shoes!

[s1ty m]

Clough is the best manager I've ever seen. Nottingham Forest, 2 European Cups with a team of some talent, some recycled dross and something inbetween. Extraordinary man. Extraordinary manager. Nottingham Forest!

[mr_nool]

I was totally gobsmacked and devastated on Wednesday. We were completely on top until the 89th minute, but I guess shit happens. My biggest fear now is that Liverpool will win the quadruple. That will be fucking unbearable!

Likewise, my biggest hope is (and it doesn't even feel that far fetched) is that they will end up with just the league cup. Wouldn't that be something?

[zuricity]

Clough is the best manager I've ever seen. Nottingham Forest, 2 European Cups with a team of some talent, some recycled dross and something inbetween. Extraordinary man. Extraordinary manager. Nottingham Forest!

the old European Cup simply can not be compared to the demands of the CL.

Crickey Scouse2 even had a bye in the first round of four , needed to get to the final!

they met Dresden , Benfica and Borussia M , before a final at Wembley beating Brugge . 77-78.

Not exactly demanding .

[IanWright]

Clough is the best manager I've ever seen. Nottingham Forest, 2 European Cups with a team of some talent, some recycled dross and something inbetween. Extraordinary man. Extraordinary manager. Nottingham Forest!

Absolutely this.

The greatest manager ever. Proved his managerial skills in the league were not a fluke having done the same with Derby and also that he wasn't a flash in the pan in Europe having retained the European Cup.

It's ludicrous that that cap wearing cunt Klopp is rated so high on TalkShite. I'd put 4 PL era managers above him.

BaconFace
Pep
Wenger
Moron-ho
Cap cunt

(In that order)

[Harry Dowd scored]

Clough is the best manager I've ever seen. Nottingham Forest, 2 European Cups with a team of some talent, some recycled dross and something inbetween. Extraordinary man. Extraordinary manager. Nottingham Forest!

the old European Cup simply can not be compared to the demands of the CL.

Crickey Scouse2 even had a bye in the first round of four , needed to get to the final!

they met Dresden , Benfica and Borussia M , before a final at Wembley beating Brugge . 77-78.

Not exactly demanding .

At least you had to be Champions of your country to qualify, fucking dippers won CL twice before they had even won PL, champions league is a misnomer

[PeterParker]

Clough is the best manager I've ever seen. Nottingham Forest, 2 European Cups with a team of some talent, some recycled dross and something inbetween. Extraordinary man. Extraordinary manager. Nottingham Forest!

the old European Cup simply can not be compared to the demands of the CL.

Crickey Scouse2 even had a bye in the first round of four , needed to get to the final!

they met Dresden , Benfica and Borussia M , before a final at Wembley beating Brugge . 77-78.

Not exactly demanding .

Agree that the route was easier, however I think the teams were miles better.
Imho, the late 70, 80 and 90 we have seen the peak of football talent wise.

Pick one of the European Winners from that period and play them today and I think they will dominat today's game. People are constantly saying those were romantic times, etc, but they tend to forget that those legend played in sand, you can t call those a decent pitch and had close to none recovery similar like today.
Garrincha half of his living time was drunk and still is considered maybe the very best brazilian ever.

Better quality, but easier routes.

[Original Dub]

What we have all got to come to the terms with is that we are never going to win the CL under Pep, does that mean I am a Pep hater and want him gone? Absolutely not, Pep is great at managing a team over a season adjusting for the number of games and player rotation etc.
But when it comes to one off games he is often found wanting, look how many semi finals we have lost against teams we should have beaten. We even got to the final of the CL and Pep fucked up. Do I think we would have beaten the dippers if we had got to the final in Paris? Definitely not, in the unlikely event that we would have put our best team out, Klipperty would manage the game better, it was posted the other night how Klipperty changed the game against Villarreal when they were 2-0 down at ht, subs were made different approach and dippers battered them.
When was the last time Pep did that in a one off? Usually the pattern is set, we know from the start if we are going to win, likewise not win.
In other words we know the pattern of the game is not going to be changed by a thoughtful sub and or sweeping tactical approach.
In summary Pep is a great, if not the greatest PL manager, in one off knock out games not so much.

I actually think he has done well without a top class striker. And yes he makes mistakes, but he is the right man going forward.
Give him the personnel he needs.

Pep has spent over a billion Euros on players he wanted , how much more does he need till he gets it right ?
Do we just allow him to waste millions on players like cancelo and , up to now , Grealish ?
There is ZERO excuse we have no Left back , no forward , no depth in the CB department - Zero excuse at all - that’s down on him , not the City hierarchy.

If pep is indeed guilty of everything you have accused him of since he arrived, there is no way he should be managing this club.

Or probably any other.