pep to resign...

[Tokyo Blue]

England job? ;-)

[DoomMerchant]

Future director of city youth development.

This would be my dream & although it sounds like a joke, it's not impossible that Guardiola doesn't actually like being a manager.

Either he doesn't enjoy being a manager or he doesn't enjoy being Barca's manager imo. We shall see.

There is of course another scenario.

If it's purely that he wants to get away from Barca then it's not impossible he could do a 'Mancini' to either Wenger or Mancini; take time off, watch football, make your move when the time comes.

I am watching to see if Bob is offered or requests a new contract. His latest interview kind of comes accross as if the agreement is he's here for next season & then 'anything can happen'. Bob won't wait til then with no contract, he'll agree with another club.

I wouldn't like to see Bob go through next season without signing an extension as otherwise it will become nailed on that Guardiola is taking over & it will ruin everything.

Going back to the original idea though; if Pep has had enough of management, give him the academy job. He could even come through & be manager in ten years if he wanted, he's young enough !

he's apparently a very sensitive man, who was crushed by being let go from Barca as a footballer, and seeing his career end seemed to spark something in him...he had a lot to prove. Nothing else to prove there now, and it would seem that he's the kind of character who would look upon their season as abject failure of which he can't abide, so it's better to move on and see what's next.

Ultimately, the mythology of Mourinho being the one who vanquished the manager of the best team in recent history is interesting i suppose.

I hope Pep manages again just to see what he can do...he's clearly got the passion and style to lead world class players to success and that's honestly i think half the battle. You can debate it, given the Ibra video i saw about how he "Mancinied" him, but results don't lie.

Bob gets a new contract in two weeks i think....regardless of us winning or losing the league.

cheers

[Swales4ever]

Interesting thread.

I'm convinced some folk can't reply without writing fucking essays on each subject but I'll give my tuppence...

Pep is a very good manager. As long as the english press don't get their hands on him.

If we had him right now and results were the same, I'd say stick with him. But if the guy can't stick with them, then how in God's name could we expect him to stick with us?

We have our guy. He is fucking mint and right now, I wouldn't change him for any manager in the world.

His biggest fault imo has been tevez. Pure and simple. Whether its his fault or kia's or whoever... If they were bezzies, we would have walked this league.

So, if a player can be so instrumental in how you are determined in the premier league then ok, I'll take pep over bob. But only if lionel comes too.

I'm very glad this thread finally started as I tried a couple of times to draw attention on that Pep seemed by late to get sick of football - not of Barca, not of la Liga, of football, imho -
that was my personal outer from the view of their recent performances and I dared to write that Pep's [not Barca, Pep's] performance of el Clasico has been a blatant cry to Barca Board: please let me out! You can't otherwise explain such clueless picks/options taken by such a clever manager, perhaps the most complete one along with Mancini, when You take into account his overall features (intellectual humility needed to leave his legendary status of Barca skipper and move to a shit low table Serie A Club to experience the most tactical league, integral comittment to the Club rather than his ego, pattern of football) rather than results only, of course.

I've enjoyed a belated but carefull reading and I reckon I've nothing to add to a great debate, finding myself quite much in agreement with what dissertated by Brite.

I'd just only add that I find Ronan's wondering on whether Guardiola might come and eventually fit with the Prem pretty academic because I cannot see Guardiola managing anywhere in the next 2/3 years, at least. I reckon he should need some special challenge like the original (before Mancini) City project or the PSG's quest.
It would be very intriguing, though, to check out how Pep might shape his pattern of football to match the roughness and directness of the English game and I can't help myself thinking it would possibly be surprising.

[Ted Hughes]

England job? ;-)

If I was at the FA I would give him enough money to build Wembley again, on a 20 year contract, & the powers of God, in order to rebuild the whole football system from scouting kids to managing the team.

Hopefully City will offer him more to head our academy though ;-)

[Esky]

Barcelona's most successful manager Pep Guardiola will walk away from the Catalans at the end of the season and will be replaced by his assistant Tito Vilanova.

Guardiola's decision to quit and recharge his batteries ends a remarkable trophy-laden four-year spell built on a passing style of unmatched fluidity and control.

"I'm sorry for the confusion in recent weeks. I've always wanted short contracts because the demands at Barcelona are so big," the 41-year-old told a news conference at the Nou Camp with players present in the audience.

"Now we were out of the two main competitions, it was a good time to announce it.

"The reason is simple. Four years, that gets everyone tired. The new coach will give things that I can't give anymore."

Speculation about Guardiola's future intensified after holders Barca were knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea 3-2 on aggregate in their memorable semi-final on Tuesday when world player of the year Lionel Messi missed a penalty.

That followed a 2-1 home loss to arch rivals Real Madrid on Saturday that meant they are likely to miss out on a fourth straight La Liga title.

The Nou Camp hierarchy have moved quickly to name a successor and have continued in the mould of Guardiola, who was previously their B team coach.

"We chose Tito because he represents the idea and the image," sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said. "He has commitment and personality."

Guardiola has enjoyed a hugely successful stint at the helm of the Catalan club, winning 13 trophies in four seasons while playing a style of football that has been widely acclaimed as the best in the world.

However, the longer he delayed a decision on his future the more speculation grew he might quit and even be lured to another club,
with reports linking him to the Chelsea and Inter Milan jobs among others.

Some suggested he was in line to become the next England manager but he implied at the news conference that he was planning to take a sabbatical.

He has preferred to renew his Barca contract on an annual basis and waited until February 8 last year before agreeing a new deal.

He then went on to capture a third consecutive La Liga title and a second Champions League crown, as well as the Spanish and European Super Cups and the Club World Cup. Their success was built on ball retention with teams fortunate to enjoy 30 percent of
possession against them.

Barca have a chance to claim more silverware this season in the Copa del Rey and play Athletic Bilbao in next month's final.

[Ted Hughes]

Future director of city youth development.

This would be my dream & although it sounds like a joke, it's not impossible that Guardiola doesn't actually like being a manager.

Either he doesn't enjoy being a manager or he doesn't enjoy being Barca's manager imo. We shall see.

There is of course another scenario.

If it's purely that he wants to get away from Barca then it's not impossible he could do a 'Mancini' to either Wenger or Mancini; take time off, watch football, make your move when the time comes.

I am watching to see if Bob is offered or requests a new contract. His latest interview kind of comes accross as if the agreement is he's here for next season & then 'anything can happen'. Bob won't wait til then with no contract, he'll agree with another club.

I wouldn't like to see Bob go through next season without signing an extension as otherwise it will become nailed on that Guardiola is taking over & it will ruin everything.

Going back to the original idea though; if Pep has had enough of management, give him the academy job. He could even come through & be manager in ten years if he wanted, he's young enough !

he's apparently a very sensitive man, who was crushed by being let go from Barca as a footballer, and seeing his career end seemed to spark something in him...he had a lot to prove. Nothing else to prove there now, and it would seem that he's the kind of character who would look upon their season as abject failure of which he can't abide, so it's better to move on and see what's next.

Ultimately, the mythology of Mourinho being the one who vanquished the manager of the best team in recent history is interesting i suppose.

I hope Pep manages again just to see what he can do...he's clearly got the passion and style to lead world class players to success and that's honestly i think half the battle. You can debate it, given the Ibra video i saw about how he "Mancinied" him, but results don't lie.

Bob gets a new contract in two weeks i think....regardless of us winning or losing the league.

cheers

I hope so.

Imo, if Guardiola was to take over at City or rags now, he would struggle like fuck. If however he watched the Premier League for a year or so & then did it, I think it would be very different. That may well be what he does.

[PeterParker]

Guardiola in 2008 :



Guardiola in 2012



I don't know what those guys from Barcelona are doing, but it looks like they took every breath from this man.

[Swales4ever]

England job? ;-)

If I was at the FA I would give him enough money to build Wembley again, on a 20 year contract, & the powers of God, in order to rebuild the whole football system from scouting kids to managing the team.

Hopefully City will offer him more to head our academy though ;-)

nice shout there... :-)

but seriously, we all know that the [strike]only[/strike] main problem which prevented FA to acheive according to quality and tradition of English footy is the hugely wearing season, which, in turn, is all what we love.
hard to change things there... and I reckon even Pep would struggle unless capable to make the english days last 48 hours...

[lets all have a disco]

Meanwhile our boss is slowing turning into John68.

[john68]

Meanwhile our boss is slowing turning into John68.

Where did you get that picture of me Mate? Handsome chap!!!

[DoomMerchant]

Meanwhile our boss is slowing turning into John68.

jesus h christ...i nearly pissed my pants/spat my tea, etc...good fucking call. Wow....

Who knew John was driving style as much as he is? Never would have guessed. Can Roberto do calligraphy? No. Case closed.

cheers

[Blue Since 76]

If I was at the FA I would give him enough money to build Wembley again, on a 20 year contract, & the powers of God, in order to rebuild the whole football system from scouting kids to managing the team.

Hopefully City will offer him more to head our academy though ;-)

Agree Ted. We don't need a manager for now, we need a strategy to win something in twenty years or we'll all be here moaning about how Walcott should be the next manager as he could turn this team of under achievers into something.

[john68]

What a wonderful dream. Pep Guardiola attracting the World's best youth and churning them out into City's 1st team.

Sadly, it is never likely to happen or succeed, if he did. Guardiiola is not just a manager, he is a football philosopher. His role at Barca was to continue and evolve what had been started. Identical perhaps to the "Boot Room" at Liverpool, where Paisley successfully continued what Shankly had begun. The Boot Room was the "Liverpool Way." The rags have reaped the rewards of "Taggart's Way". Find a successful method and stick to it. 25 years of the same, refined and modernised.

If Guardiola came to City, his philosophy would need to be the club's philosophy. It would be useless him producing great players to play one way, if the 1st team coach had different ideas. Mancini and Guardiola would need to be as one mind.

[DoomMerchant]

What a wonderful dream. Pep Guardiola attracting the World's best youth and churning them out into City's 1st team.

Sadly, it is never likely to happen or succeed, if he did. Guardiiola is not just a manager, he is a football philosopher. His role at Barca was to continue and evolve what had been started. Identical perhaps to the "Boot Room" at Liverpool, where Paisley successfully continued what Shankly had begun. The Boot Room was the "Liverpool Way." The rags have reaped the rewards of "Taggart's Way". Find a successful method and stick to it. 25 years of the same, refined and modernised.

If Guardiola came to City, his philosophy would need to be the club's philosophy. It would be useless him producing great players to play one way, if the 1st team coach had different ideas. Mancini and Guardiola would need to be as one mind.

if he came would he wear your glasses?

cheers

[john68]

What a wonderful dream. Pep Guardiola attracting the World's best youth and churning them out into City's 1st team.

Sadly, it is never likely to happen or succeed, if he did. Guardiiola is not just a manager, he is a football philosopher. His role at Barca was to continue and evolve what had been started. Identical perhaps to the "Boot Room" at Liverpool, where Paisley successfully continued what Shankly had begun. The Boot Room was the "Liverpool Way." The rags have reaped the rewards of "Taggart's Way". Find a successful method and stick to it. 25 years of the same, refined and modernised.

If Guardiola came to City, his philosophy would need to be the club's philosophy. It would be useless him producing great players to play one way, if the 1st team coach had different ideas. Mancini and Guardiola would need to be as one mind.

if he came would he wear your glasses?

cheers

Wear my glasses?...He could wear my underpants Doomie.
You never saw the last pic that LAHAD posted somewhere that looked like me....

[Ted Hughes]

What a wonderful dream. Pep Guardiola attracting the World's best youth and churning them out into City's 1st team.

Sadly, it is never likely to happen or succeed, if he did. Guardiiola is not just a manager, he is a football philosopher. His role at Barca was to continue and evolve what had been started. Identical perhaps to the "Boot Room" at Liverpool, where Paisley successfully continued what Shankly had begun. The Boot Room was the "Liverpool Way." The rags have reaped the rewards of "Taggart's Way". Find a successful method and stick to it. 25 years of the same, refined and modernised.

If Guardiola came to City, his philosophy would need to be the club's philosophy. It would be useless him producing great players to play one way, if the 1st team coach had different ideas. Mancini and Guardiola would need to be as one mind.

Well I'm just on that theme in the 'mind games' thread but imo our philosophy is exactly the same as Pep & Barca's. It just needs tweaking for the Prem.

[DoomMerchant]

What a wonderful dream. Pep Guardiola attracting the World's best youth and churning them out into City's 1st team.

Sadly, it is never likely to happen or succeed, if he did. Guardiiola is not just a manager, he is a football philosopher. His role at Barca was to continue and evolve what had been started. Identical perhaps to the "Boot Room" at Liverpool, where Paisley successfully continued what Shankly had begun. The Boot Room was the "Liverpool Way." The rags have reaped the rewards of "Taggart's Way". Find a successful method and stick to it. 25 years of the same, refined and modernised.

If Guardiola came to City, his philosophy would need to be the club's philosophy. It would be useless him producing great players to play one way, if the 1st team coach had different ideas. Mancini and Guardiola would need to be as one mind.

if he came would he wear your glasses?

cheers

Wear my glasses?...He could wear my underpants Doomie.
You never saw the last pic that LAHAD posted somewhere that looked like me....

the "last" one? as in..two scrolls up, jedi master?

senile old fart.

cheers

[King Kev]

I hear Barca have lined up Harry Redknapp as their replacement

[john68]

No Doomie, the previous one some time ago. Then he and his side kick spent all afternoon outside the Townley laughing and taking the piss.

Must have a think whether I ever forgave them for that.

[DoomMerchant]

No Doomie, the previous one some time ago. Then he and his side kick spent all afternoon outside the Townley laughing and taking the piss.

Must have a think whether I ever forgave them for that.

i'd never forgive them...bunch of pricks.

cheers