PrezIke wrote:Beefymcfc wrote:PrezIke wrote:See Pep chose to respond to media criticisms about being a "chequebook manager." Good for him with his answers...yet...
I was watching our last game (FA Cup v. Sweansea) broadcast here in the States on ESPN.
After we were up 3-0 dominating with the match commentors with little to discuss about the game itself, Taylor Twellman, the colour commentor, perhaps triggered by boredom thought it wise to create some interest in a game that was clearly over by raising questions about the validity of Pep's attributes as a manager under the guise of this critique.
He began musing with the return of cliche'd questions about whether Pep could manage a lower level side.
Pushing the idea through questions, that he would like to to see if Pep could do what he does at a lower level club without the money.
Suggesting this would be a true test of whether he was truly a great manager. We've heard this before, but not for at least a year. It's part of the deal for us, we all know as City fans.
We don't have the alleged "background" of Liverpool to some, and/or sized fanbase as other sides so it is the primary critique.
No one asks this of Real Madrid and whilst United can be critiqued, it's often portrayed under the cloack of xenophobia against those Yank owners ruining football, so the club, its "history" and reputation remain intact. Even criticisms at Liverpool and of course Arsenal are thrown in the same manner, so there's no real way to criticise the club itself.
We are not given the benefit of this "luxury."
The funny thing is every time this point about being a "chequebook manager" is made to jab at Pep no one ever considers how MANAGING a large squad of "big players" is a HIGHLY underrated skill that other "good" managers who can take a lower quality side and win more than normal may lack.
This bit has forever been the biggest flaw of the "chequebook manager" claim.
Zidane and even Ole also may have man management skills with with top players.
Yet, Pep is also a tactical icon. Go see Swansea's manager and how he worships him. In the pre-game on ESPN they referenced this. Do these other managers get such love? Hardly.
"Questioning" of Pep's quality, frequently masked as asking if he can manage a weaker side has always been been a false narrative as a result of this, but it goes unchequed on the regular.
The man is a genius, a top human being from what I see and hear, and is a brave man to take the job with us and stay even after he has been ridiculed by the media since day 1 he joined because he's THAT good and has had some difficult spells.
I beyond appreciate the man for everything he has given us as fans, and every fan of the game.
Those seeking some kind of "narrative" to jab at him may not really be looking for a "story" but simply don't like City and what we represent.
He's going to be associated with that (if he took the job at United I HIGHLY doubt he would get the same criticism) and he has stayed with us and fought through the storm of ups and downs and for that I am appreciative and grateful.
The rest is just smoke or hot air, which always dissipates with time.
Nice post, mate.
Cheers Beefy.
Was something I've been thinking about, for a while, so that Telegraph story, after hearing the commentary this past weel triggered me to finally write it out.
I know others have surely thought the same but the concept seems to be completely missing in the discussion about Pep's tenure here for reasons we are all too familiar with.
Like all things in football, the way managers are treated are very knee-jerk as it’s all very emotional. What is said in a match thread or soon after should always be taken with a pinch of salt as things can change very quickly. Sometimes fans try continuing the argument even in the face of evidence to the contrary which is more to do with personal traits than anything else, but it doesn’t mean their opinion wasn’t right at the time.
My personal opinions on Pep is that he is a truly honourable man who, unlike many other managers, has a real backbone. We’ve seen other managers throw players under the bus, blame the officials or, even worse, blame the conditions, yet Pep never does this. Yes, he may mention certain elements of the game but is always honest and says when we aren’t good enough, even if we have been shafted and ‘Not good enough’ meant we were actually playing to beat the ref as well.
There are many cowards in life, let alone football, but Pep is not one of them. He has always faced up to the challenge and if he feels that he can do no more, for whatever reasons, faces the music instead of just hiding in the shadows hoping nobody will question him.
Some of the shit he has had to put up with at City would have seen many top manager run and hide whereas Pep has just come out fighting. The guy has courage and even though Mancini is my favourite manager for standing up to the old Govan Piss Can, Pep is the best manager our club has ever seen.