Guardiola - Official Manager of Manchester City

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Fucking love Pellers. Goodbye boss, hello Pep.

[Spurge]

I have a lot of time for Pellers and what he has done but Pep is a huge upgrade. Its not acceptable that we have already lost 6 games before the end of January and some of our play away from home has been inept. Can you really see that happening under Pep, I personally cant.

Last season was also a right off and a massive disappointment which I don't think the owners will have forgotten. Pep is the best that you can get and I am buzzing about this appointment. Who would have thought the club with the biggest floodlights and Curly Watts as a fan would be causing such waves...

"this is how it feels to be city......."

I get the excitement about guardiolas appointment of course - his managerial record speaks for itself and his pulling power cannot be underestimated exciting times ahead, but exciting times right now as well.

Surprised with your comments about Pellers to be honest. You say you've got a lot of time for Pellers but to me it reads a bit like the patronising classic 'don't think I'm being rude' followed by the word 'but'.

Two trophies in his first season , sure last season by comparison was a disappointment, domestic cups particularly but a 'write off' I'm not so sure.

What point do you write a season off? This season for example you could havereasonably written off Chelsea's domestic season by the end of October perhaps relegation has been something closer on their minds than a champions league spot. Last season we finished 2nd, lost just 1 more game than in our title winning season and kept 14 clean sheets more than any other club. An extraordinary and exciting come back in our last 2 champs league games against Bayern and Roma saw us qualify for the last 16 of the champs league under Pellers for the 2nd successive season under his tenure, only to come up against Barca again. I found it exciting if not sometimes frustrating (reeling Chelsea in and letting them off the hook), but a write off - jesus!

So you point out we've lost in the league 6 times already and that its unacceptable, yes it's disappointing and I keep hearing how we should be walking away with it with our squad etc etc. We don't have a divine right to walk away with the title, we've had injuries to key players, we've not performed in certain games, teams set up to negate our threat, other teams are improving their squads. But in this season of unacceptable results, we find ourselves 2nd in the league, in the league cup final, in the FA Cup 5th round with another away draw against premiership opposition (7 goals scored 0 conceded) and topped our group in the champions league in what was considered another tough draw for us.

I really hope Pep doesn't let you down, sounds like you've set the margins for error incredibly tight. Conversely I really hope Pellers leaves the premier league and manages elsewhere in Europe or back in South America where he cant come back to haunt us

[Socrates]

I have a lot of time for Pellers and what he has done but Pep is a huge upgrade. Its not acceptable that we have already lost 6 games before the end of January and some of our play away from home has been inept. Can you really see that happening under Pep, I personally cant.

Last season was also a right off and a massive disappointment which I don't think the owners will have forgotten. Pep is the best that you can get and I am buzzing about this appointment. Who would have thought the club with the biggest floodlights and Curly Watts as a fan would be causing such waves...

"this is how it feels to be city......."

I get the excitement about guardiolas appointment of course - his managerial record speaks for itself and his pulling power cannot be underestimated exciting times ahead, but exciting times right now as well.

Surprised with your comments about Pellers to be honest. You say you've got a lot of time for Pellers but to me it reads a bit like the patronising classic 'don't think I'm being rude' followed by the word 'but'.

Two trophies in his first season , sure last season by comparison was a disappointment, domestic cups particularly but a 'write off' I'm not so sure.

What point do you write a season off? This season for example you could havereasonably written off Chelsea's domestic season by the end of October perhaps relegation has been something closer on their minds than a champions league spot. Last season we finished 2nd, lost just 1 more game than in our title winning season and kept 14 clean sheets more than any other club. An extraordinary and exciting come back in our last 2 champs league games against Bayern and Roma saw us qualify for the last 16 of the champs league under Pellers for the 2nd successive season under his tenure, only to come up against Barca again. I found it exciting if not sometimes frustrating (reeling Chelsea in and letting them off the hook), but a write off - jesus!

So you point out we've lost in the league 6 times already and that its unacceptable, yes it's disappointing and I keep hearing how we should be walking away with it with our squad etc etc. We don't have a divine right to walk away with the title, we've had injuries to key players, we've not performed in certain games, teams set up to negate our threat, other teams are improving their squads. But in this season of unacceptable results, we find ourselves 2nd in the league, in the league cup final, in the FA Cup 5th round with another away draw against premiership opposition (7 goals scored 0 conceded) and topped our group in the champions league in what was considered another tough draw for us.

I really hope Pep doesn't let you down, sounds like you've set the margins for error incredibly tight. Conversely I really hope Pellers leaves the premier league and manages elsewhere in Europe or back in South America where he cant come back to haunt us

Totally with you, those who arrogantly expect us to be walking an ever-more competitive league are delusional and completely out of touch with changes that are happening around us. The whole league is awash with cash and some have spent it well and on players they could only have dreamed of attracting a couple of years ago. The days of a Sky 4 may be well and truly over and I for one am delighted by that. It does mean there will be a bit more randomness to our results too and that won't necessarily change just for a change of coach. Guardiola will have to work a lot harder for consistent results than he ever has before. I hope the fans will be more patient than they have sometimes shown. It particularly surprises and disappoints me when it comes from fans that were around when we were 12th in the 3rd tier. I don't get how they can not just enjoy the ride rather than setting ridiculous expectations that would actually make us as boring as fuck if they were ever met!

Pellegrini has delivered exciting football and has delivered way beyond my expectations when he first started. Total respect to him as a decent and dignified human being and for what he's done as our coach. I hope those singing Guardiola's praises are right and that he will rise to the new challenge, let's not hamstring him with ridiculous expectations though, a trophy a year on average should still be the bar we set. Pellegrini still has 4 months left, let's show him some love during that time and get behind his team.

[Tokyo Blue]

Danny Murphy doesn't believe David Silva will suit Pep Guardiola's pressing game, with the current Bayern Munich boss taking over at Manchester City at the end of the season.

Hahaha.

So let me guess, murphy thinks he should move to liverpool?

Ho ho ho. This is going to be a lot of fun.

[Socrates]

Danny Murphy doesn't believe David Silva will suit Pep Guardiola's pressing game, with the current Bayern Munich boss taking over at Manchester City at the end of the season.

Hahaha.

So let me guess, murphy thinks he should move to liverpool?

Ho ho ho. This is going to be a lot of fun.

Silva may actually be a problem for Guardiola, though not for the reason Murphy suggests.

Guardiola's system of players holding a position and waiting for the ball will not work well with Merlin as he roams the pitch seeking space, particularly when he nominally starts in a wide position. Does he accommodate him in the centre or make him stay wide?

[PrezIke]

Happy days ahead for us.

Love how the announcement came from Pellegrini casually mentioning he's leaving at the end of the season right at the end of his normal press conference prior to a match. On deadline day throwing all other stories into the dust.

Have been a big supporter of The Engineer, but this is how we move to the next level. Going to be a very exciting next 6-7 months to follow as a fan. I really hope the team wants to let Pellegrini go out with a bang and win some trophies for that Charming Man!

Pep's presence means we might actually have a chance to sign Pogba now. Not so sure Messi is coming, but now the chances have increased, surely. He will attract the best players, not the echelon just below who we have shown the ability to be a leader in attracting, but this can be something else. Either way, his style of play the fans will be happy with I believe, and the Henry comments I saw on Sky today were spot on and telling of what we are getting. It will mean some are shown the door, and it will be quite interesting to see how that plays out over the next close season.

Meanwhile the media are generally hilarious trying to say it was a "done deal" given that since he announced he was coming to England the speculation has been rampant about Utd hijacking our deal, or Chelsea and even those trying to suggest he's a "better fit at Arsenal than City" and could see that happening, also considering London is the "cosmopolitan" centre of England, given his stylish lifestyle, etc.

They can all enjoy the taste of crow now anyway, because we're movin' on up!

[PrezIke]

Utd is surely one who would want Pellegrini, but he would know better than to do that.

I hate to think this but I think the lesser evil is going to Chelsea, and I think that's where he will end up. It would a similar situation to him coming in following Mancini. Being more of a manager players get along with, which we responded to very well in his first season.

[Dameerto]

I have a lot of time for Pellers and what he has done but Pep is a huge upgrade. Its not acceptable that we have already lost 6 games before the end of January and some of our play away from home has been inept. Can you really see that happening under Pep, I personally cant.

Last season was also a right off and a massive disappointment which I don't think the owners will have forgotten. Pep is the best that you can get and I am buzzing about this appointment. Who would have thought the club with the biggest floodlights and Curly Watts as a fan would be causing such waves...

"this is how it feels to be city......."

I get the excitement about guardiolas appointment of course - his managerial record speaks for itself and his pulling power cannot be underestimated exciting times ahead, but exciting times right now as well.

Surprised with your comments about Pellers to be honest. You say you've got a lot of time for Pellers but to me it reads a bit like the patronising classic 'don't think I'm being rude' followed by the word 'but'.

Two trophies in his first season , sure last season by comparison was a disappointment, domestic cups particularly but a 'write off' I'm not so sure.

What point do you write a season off? This season for example you could havereasonably written off Chelsea's domestic season by the end of October perhaps relegation has been something closer on their minds than a champions league spot. Last season we finished 2nd, lost just 1 more game than in our title winning season and kept 14 clean sheets more than any other club. An extraordinary and exciting come back in our last 2 champs league games against Bayern and Roma saw us qualify for the last 16 of the champs league under Pellers for the 2nd successive season under his tenure, only to come up against Barca again. I found it exciting if not sometimes frustrating (reeling Chelsea in and letting them off the hook), but a write off - jesus!

So you point out we've lost in the league 6 times already and that its unacceptable, yes it's disappointing and I keep hearing how we should be walking away with it with our squad etc etc. We don't have a divine right to walk away with the title, we've had injuries to key players, we've not performed in certain games, teams set up to negate our threat, other teams are improving their squads. But in this season of unacceptable results, we find ourselves 2nd in the league, in the league cup final, in the FA Cup 5th round with another away draw against premiership opposition (7 goals scored 0 conceded) and topped our group in the champions league in what was considered another tough draw for us.

I really hope Pep doesn't let you down, sounds like you've set the margins for error incredibly tight. Conversely I really hope Pellers leaves the premier league and manages elsewhere in Europe or back in South America where he cant come back to haunt us

Totally with you, those who arrogantly expect us to be walking an ever-more competitive league are delusional and completely out of touch with changes that are happening around us. The whole league is awash with cash and some have spent it well and on players they could only have dreamed of attracting a couple of years ago. The days of a Sky 4 may be well and truly over and I for one am delighted by that. It does mean there will be a bit more randomness to our results too and that won't necessarily change just for a change of coach. Guardiola will have to work a lot harder for consistent results than he ever has before. I hope the fans will be more patient than they have sometimes shown. It particularly surprises and disappoints me when it comes from fans that were around when we were 12th in the 3rd tier. I don't get how they can not just enjoy the ride rather than setting ridiculous expectations that would actually make us as boring as fuck if they were ever met!

Pellegrini has delivered exciting football and has delivered way beyond my expectations when he first started. Total respect to him as a decent and dignified human being and for what he's done as our coach. I hope those singing Guardiola's praises are right and that he will rise to the new challenge, let's not hamstring him with ridiculous expectations though, a trophy a year on average should still be the bar we set. Pellegrini still has 4 months left, let's show him some love during that time and get behind his team.

It's not arrogance to expect more from the squad we have - it's not arrogance to be concerned over our inconsistency this season either - we're lucky the rest of the league has been dropping as many points as we have or things could be worse. It's been a strange season in the league for sure. (and for me when I talk about our season I mean the league).

[Ray78]

Utd is surely one who would want Pellegrini, but he would know better than to do that.

I hate to think this but I think the lesser evil is going to Chelsea, and I think that's where he will end up. It would a similar situation to him coming in following Mancini. Being more of a manager players get along with, which we responded to very well in his first season.

No chance of Pellegrini going to the rags. Chelsea maybe a decent call but they have a similar type of manager in place and they may go for a younger manager. He will probably try another league (Napoli wanted him as Benitez's replacement) or will have another crack at trying to win La Liga.

[edge275]

A statement of intent that has echoed throughout the world.

Thank you Sheikh Mansour.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

This could not have been handled better. Fair play to pellers and if he wants to coach in England it's his right to do so. Obviously prefer he didn't but what a class act the guy is.

[Chopper]

Does anyone really think that Pellers will manage a team in the premier league for the next few years? Peps been in the works for at least two years.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Does anyone really think that Pellers will manage a team in the premier league for the next few years? Peps been in the works for at least two years.

If the right offer came then yes he would. As gracious as he's being, he's managing in the premier league right now so is clearly still capable if he chooses.

[kennyboy]

Utd is surely one who would want Pellegrini, but he would know better than to do that.

I hate to think this but I think the lesser evil is going to Chelsea, and I think that's where he will end up. It would a similar situation to him coming in following Mancini. Being more of a manager players get along with, which we responded to very well in his first season.

No chance of Pellegrini going to the rags. Chelsea maybe a decent call but they have a similar type of manager in place and they may go for a younger manager. He will probably try another league (Napoli wanted him as Benitez's replacement) or will have another crack at trying to win La Liga.

With Pellegrini pushing a 100 years old, i hope he will retire. Surely he cant go up from our club. Deserves a nice shout next game..

[carl_feedthegoat]

I have a lot of time for Pellers and what he has done but Pep is a huge upgrade. Its not acceptable that we have already lost 6 games before the end of January and some of our play away from home has been inept. Can you really see that happening under Pep, I personally cant.

Last season was also a right off and a massive disappointment which I don't think the owners will have forgotten. Pep is the best that you can get and I am buzzing about this appointment. Who would have thought the club with the biggest floodlights and Curly Watts as a fan would be causing such waves...

"this is how it feels to be city......."

I get the excitement about guardiolas appointment of course - his managerial record speaks for itself and his pulling power cannot be underestimated exciting times ahead, but exciting times right now as well.

Surprised with your comments about Pellers to be honest. You say you've got a lot of time for Pellers but to me it reads a bit like the patronising classic 'don't think I'm being rude' followed by the word 'but'.

Two trophies in his first season , sure last season by comparison was a disappointment, domestic cups particularly but a 'write off' I'm not so sure.

What point do you write a season off? This season for example you could havereasonably written off Chelsea's domestic season by the end of October perhaps relegation has been something closer on their minds than a champions league spot. Last season we finished 2nd, lost just 1 more game than in our title winning season and kept 14 clean sheets more than any other club. An extraordinary and exciting come back in our last 2 champs league games against Bayern and Roma saw us qualify for the last 16 of the champs league under Pellers for the 2nd successive season under his tenure, only to come up against Barca again. I found it exciting if not sometimes frustrating (reeling Chelsea in and letting them off the hook), but a write off - jesus!

So you point out we've lost in the league 6 times already and that its unacceptable, yes it's disappointing and I keep hearing how we should be walking away with it with our squad etc etc. We don't have a divine right to walk away with the title, we've had injuries to key players, we've not performed in certain games, teams set up to negate our threat, other teams are improving their squads. But in this season of unacceptable results, we find ourselves 2nd in the league, in the league cup final, in the FA Cup 5th round with another away draw against premiership opposition (7 goals scored 0 conceded) and topped our group in the champions league in what was considered another tough draw for us.

I really hope Pep doesn't let you down, sounds like you've set the margins for error incredibly tight. Conversely I really hope Pellers leaves the premier league and manages elsewhere in Europe or back in South America where he cant come back to haunt us

Totally with you, those who arrogantly expect us to be walking an ever-more competitive league are delusional and completely out of touch with changes that are happening around us. The whole league is awash with cash and some have spent it well and on players they could only have dreamed of attracting a couple of years ago. The days of a Sky 4 may be well and truly over and I for one am delighted by that. It does mean there will be a bit more randomness to our results too and that won't necessarily change just for a change of coach. Guardiola will have to work a lot harder for consistent results than he ever has before. I hope the fans will be more patient than they have sometimes shown. It particularly surprises and disappoints me when it comes from fans that were around when we were 12th in the 3rd tier. I don't get how they can not just enjoy the ride rather than setting ridiculous expectations that would actually make us as boring as fuck if they were ever met!

Pellegrini has delivered exciting football and has delivered way beyond my expectations when he first started. Total respect to him as a decent and dignified human being and for what he's done as our coach. I hope those singing Guardiola's praises are right and that he will rise to the new challenge, let's not hamstring him with ridiculous expectations though, a trophy a year on average should still be the bar we set. Pellegrini still has 4 months left, let's show him some love during that time and get behind his team.

It's not arrogance to expect more from the squad we have - it's not arrogance to be concerned over our inconsistency this season either - we're lucky the rest of the league has been dropping as many points as we have or things could be worse. It's been a strange season in the league for sure. (and for me when I talk about our season I mean the league).

I agree - also , to answer the point JF made on would he allow Silva to roam, yes he would...he allowed Messi the same when at Barcelona.

[Sister of fu]

I have a lot of time for Pellers and what he has done but Pep is a huge upgrade. Its not acceptable that we have already lost 6 games before the end of January and some of our play away from home has been inept. Can you really see that happening under Pep, I personally cant.

Last season was also a right off and a massive disappointment which I don't think the owners will have forgotten. Pep is the best that you can get and I am buzzing about this appointment. Who would have thought the club with the biggest floodlights and Curly Watts as a fan would be causing such waves...

"this is how it feels to be city......."

I get the excitement about guardiolas appointment of course - his managerial record speaks for itself and his pulling power cannot be underestimated exciting times ahead, but exciting times right now as well.

Surprised with your comments about Pellers to be honest. You say you've got a lot of time for Pellers but to me it reads a bit like the patronising classic 'don't think I'm being rude' followed by the word 'but'.

Two trophies in his first season , sure last season by comparison was a disappointment, domestic cups particularly but a 'write off' I'm not so sure.

What point do you write a season off? This season for example you could havereasonably written off Chelsea's domestic season by the end of October perhaps relegation has been something closer on their minds than a champions league spot. Last season we finished 2nd, lost just 1 more game than in our title winning season and kept 14 clean sheets more than any other club. An extraordinary and exciting come back in our last 2 champs league games against Bayern and Roma saw us qualify for the last 16 of the champs league under Pellers for the 2nd successive season under his tenure, only to come up against Barca again. I found it exciting if not sometimes frustrating (reeling Chelsea in and letting them off the hook), but a write off - jesus!

So you point out we've lost in the league 6 times already and that its unacceptable, yes it's disappointing and I keep hearing how we should be walking away with it with our squad etc etc. We don't have a divine right to walk away with the title, we've had injuries to key players, we've not performed in certain games, teams set up to negate our threat, other teams are improving their squads. But in this season of unacceptable results, we find ourselves 2nd in the league, in the league cup final, in the FA Cup 5th round with another away draw against premiership opposition (7 goals scored 0 conceded) and topped our group in the champions league in what was considered another tough draw for us.

I really hope Pep doesn't let you down, sounds like you've set the margins for error incredibly tight. Conversely I really hope Pellers leaves the premier league and manages elsewhere in Europe or back in South America where he cant come back to haunt us

Last season, we didn't even challenge, no where near. How many points off Chelsea were we? Not arrogant enough to think we should win everything but I do expect us to make a fist of a challenge, last season we didn't which is a fact. I thought it was a write off and that's my opinion, clearly you have a different one.

At times this season we have been very poor, did you see us play Spurs and Liverpool. Two of the worst displays I have seen in recent times. I would say we started the season on fire with 5 wins out of 5 and then for some reason have dropped off, alarmingly at times. Seville apart I have not been impressed with our play. Is that the gaffer or the players? There are no guarantees this season that we win anything so it's all well and good saying we are in four competitions, how confident are you that we will any? With the squad we have I feel we should be doing better but again that's just my opinion.

I just think at times we lack intensity, under Pep I don't see that being an issue. Heard a lot about how he pushes and pushes his players to be the very best, i think that it just what this squad needs.

[Wonderwall]

For some strange reason I have a feeling that Pochettino will go to Chelsea with pellers taking over at spuds.

[john@staustell]

I have a lot of time for Pellers and what he has done but Pep is a huge upgrade. Its not acceptable that we have already lost 6 games before the end of January and some of our play away from home has been inept. Can you really see that happening under Pep, I personally cant.

Last season was also a right off and a massive disappointment which I don't think the owners will have forgotten. Pep is the best that you can get and I am buzzing about this appointment. Who would have thought the club with the biggest floodlights and Curly Watts as a fan would be causing such waves...

"this is how it feels to be city......."

I get the excitement about guardiolas appointment of course - his managerial record speaks for itself and his pulling power cannot be underestimated exciting times ahead, but exciting times right now as well.

Surprised with your comments about Pellers to be honest. You say you've got a lot of time for Pellers but to me it reads a bit like the patronising classic 'don't think I'm being rude' followed by the word 'but'.

Two trophies in his first season , sure last season by comparison was a disappointment, domestic cups particularly but a 'write off' I'm not so sure.

What point do you write a season off? This season for example you could havereasonably written off Chelsea's domestic season by the end of October perhaps relegation has been something closer on their minds than a champions league spot. Last season we finished 2nd, lost just 1 more game than in our title winning season and kept 14 clean sheets more than any other club. An extraordinary and exciting come back in our last 2 champs league games against Bayern and Roma saw us qualify for the last 16 of the champs league under Pellers for the 2nd successive season under his tenure, only to come up against Barca again. I found it exciting if not sometimes frustrating (reeling Chelsea in and letting them off the hook), but a write off - jesus!

So you point out we've lost in the league 6 times already and that its unacceptable, yes it's disappointing and I keep hearing how we should be walking away with it with our squad etc etc. We don't have a divine right to walk away with the title, we've had injuries to key players, we've not performed in certain games, teams set up to negate our threat, other teams are improving their squads. But in this season of unacceptable results, we find ourselves 2nd in the league, in the league cup final, in the FA Cup 5th round with another away draw against premiership opposition (7 goals scored 0 conceded) and topped our group in the champions league in what was considered another tough draw for us.

I really hope Pep doesn't let you down, sounds like you've set the margins for error incredibly tight. Conversely I really hope Pellers leaves the premier league and manages elsewhere in Europe or back in South America where he cant come back to haunt us

Last season, we didn't even challenge, no where near. How many points off Chelsea were we? Not arrogant enough to think we should win everything but I do expect us to make a fist of a challenge, last season we didn't which is a fact. I thought it was a write off and that's my opinion, clearly you have a different one.

At times this season we have been very poor, did you see us play Spurs and Liverpool. Two of the worst displays I have seen in recent times. I would say we started the season on fire with 5 wins out of 5 and then for some reason have dropped off, alarmingly at times. Seville apart I have not been impressed with our play. Is that the gaffer or the players? There are no guarantees this season that we win anything so it's all well and good saying we are in four competitions, how confident are you that we will any? With the squad we have I feel we should be doing better but again that's just my opinion.

I just think at times we lack intensity, under Pep I don't see that being an issue. Heard a lot about how he pushes and pushes his players to be the very best, i think that it just what this squad needs.

It's good we are now wholly disappointed with second., Sis

Spurge - there's a big picture here mate which you aren't seeing. Pellegrini was only ever a caretaker. He hasn't been disposed of because of his record.

[gillie]

I have a lot of time for Pellers and what he has done but Pep is a huge upgrade. Its not acceptable that we have already lost 6 games before the end of January and some of our play away from home has been inept. Can you really see that happening under Pep, I personally cant.

Last season was also a right off and a massive disappointment which I don't think the owners will have forgotten. Pep is the best that you can get and I am buzzing about this appointment. Who would have thought the club with the biggest floodlights and Curly Watts as a fan would be causing such waves...

"this is how it feels to be city......."

I get the excitement about guardiolas appointment of course - his managerial record speaks for itself and his pulling power cannot be underestimated exciting times ahead, but exciting times right now as well.

Surprised with your comments about Pellers to be honest. You say you've got a lot of time for Pellers but to me it reads a bit like the patronising classic 'don't think I'm being rude' followed by the word 'but'.

Two trophies in his first season , sure last season by comparison was a disappointment, domestic cups particularly but a 'write off' I'm not so sure.

What point do you write a season off? This season for example you could havereasonably written off Chelsea's domestic season by the end of October perhaps relegation has been something closer on their minds than a champions league spot. Last season we finished 2nd, lost just 1 more game than in our title winning season and kept 14 clean sheets more than any other club. An extraordinary and exciting come back in our last 2 champs league games against Bayern and Roma saw us qualify for the last 16 of the champs league under Pellers for the 2nd successive season under his tenure, only to come up against Barca again. I found it exciting if not sometimes frustrating (reeling Chelsea in and letting them off the hook), but a write off - jesus!

So you point out we've lost in the league 6 times already and that its unacceptable, yes it's disappointing and I keep hearing how we should be walking away with it with our squad etc etc. We don't have a divine right to walk away with the title, we've had injuries to key players, we've not performed in certain games, teams set up to negate our threat, other teams are improving their squads. But in this season of unacceptable results, we find ourselves 2nd in the league, in the league cup final, in the FA Cup 5th round with another away draw against premiership opposition (7 goals scored 0 conceded) and topped our group in the champions league in what was considered another tough draw for us.

I really hope Pep doesn't let you down, sounds like you've set the margins for error incredibly tight. Conversely I really hope Pellers leaves the premier league and manages elsewhere in Europe or back in South America where he cant come back to haunt us

Last season, we didn't even challenge, no where near. How many points off Chelsea were we? Not arrogant enough to think we should win everything but I do expect us to make a fist of a challenge, last season we didn't which is a fact. I thought it was a write off and that's my opinion, clearly you have a different one.

At times this season we have been very poor, did you see us play Spurs and Liverpool. Two of the worst displays I have seen in recent times. I would say we started the season on fire with 5 wins out of 5 and then for some reason have dropped off, alarmingly at times. Seville apart I have not been impressed with our play. Is that the gaffer or the players? There are no guarantees this season that we win anything so it's all well and good saying we are in four competitions, how confident are you that we will any? With the squad we have I feel we should be doing better but again that's just my opinion.

I just think at times we lack intensity, under Pep I don't see that being an issue. Heard a lot about how he pushes and pushes his players to be the very best, i think that it just what this squad needs.

It's good we are now wholly disappointed with second., Sis

Spurge - there's a big picture here mate which you aren't seeing. Pellegrini was only ever a caretaker. He hasn't been disposed of because of his record.

I have to agree with Andie last season was a write off and even though I think we got fucked over by the officials against Spurs the Scousers game was an abomination.Take the Sevilla game I don't think we have matched that level since and it baffles me why as the reports from Spain had the Sevilla fans saying we were the best team they had played in years at their place.I was disappointed to finish 2nd last season but only because we never challenged and I think the players should put their hands up for that.

[edge275]

I think the below is an excellent article on the arrival of Guardiola.

I have highlighted what I felt was very important compared to what other morons are assuming.

Article

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Speculation had followed him for years, but now it was ramping up even further. "I have said time and time again that we will say something after our final game in Hannover," said Pep Guardiola in December, as the world demanded answers on his future.

The world had waited a long time, but it wouldn't have to wait much longer. Only 18 days later, Guardiola, still midway through a season and already at the game's pinnacle with a colossus in Bayern Munich, uttered the words so many had wanted to hear: "I want to coach in the Premier League."

On their own, those seven words were extremely significant; in context, they were immeasurably so.

This was Guardiola's "LeBron" moment, they said, his rendition of The Decision. Technically it wasn't quite that—there were no one-hour television slots here, nor statements like "I'm going to take my talents to the Etihad"—but in essence it was the same thing. This was the world's most in-demand figure in his field picking his next job like you and I pick groceries.

Because he can.

In the history of football management, the clamour for Guardiola might be unprecedented. In the age of the Super Club, the Catalan has become the game's Super Manager, his reputation so far beyond his peers' he now, as a coach, has reached a different plane of existence: Clubs don't get to pick him, he picks them; clubs don't name their price, he names his. No other man in his field can do the same, and soon, tantalisingly, he'll be on his way to the Premier League.

Change will be coming with him, too.

For more than half a decade now, Premier League clubs have watched Guardiola's sides take all before them while concurrently watching their own supremacy fade.

It's almost two years now since England last had a representative in the Champions League semi-finals; almost four since it had one in the final; almost eight since the Premier League reached its on-field zenith when Manchester United and Chelsea met in the 2008 finale.

In that time, the Premier League has progressively lost some its lustre despite its own billing. Year after year, an exodus of top-end talent to La Liga's giants has eaten away at the division's quality, the world's finest players nowhere to be seen in the world's self-proclaimed finest league.

Revered managers have been just as scarce. In the aforementioned period, the bulk of Jose Mourinho's time was spent away from England. Ditto for Carlo Ancelotti. Ditto for Jurgen Klopp, despite his recent arrival. Elsewhere, Diego Simeone has eluded the Premier League to date, and so too, of course, has Guardiola. Among the game's pre-eminent thinkers, only the long-term icons in Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have really called the Premier League home.

Inescapably, then, the Premier League has been left with a superstar vacuum.

And it's this that Guardiola will change.

When the Catalan puts pen to paper with one of England's elite ahead of next season—and it will almost certainly be at one of the two Manchester clubs—the Premier League will be welcoming its biggest signing of any description in years. In a way the competition hasn't since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009, the league will possess a man who's undoubtedly at the peak of his profession. A leader. A face. A reference point.

Guardiola won't kick a ball next season but might be the league's biggest drawcard anyway.

In an immediate sense, the change brought by Guardiola's arrival will be most visible at his new club as precedent has shown.

When the former midfielder took over from Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona in 2008, he didn't inherit the world's greatest side as his cynics like to believe; he created it.

In a post-European Cup hangover, Barcelona wore the scars of decadence and dysfunction when Guardiola took the job, the club having watched its standards and professionalism fall to pieces as a rather unspectacular Real Madrid won back-to-back league titles—the second of which was won in a canter, 18 points clear of Barcelona.

At the time, the world wasn't aware that Lionel Messi was the world's greatest player in waiting. Nor had it anticipated that Xavi and Andres Iniesta would form the world's greatest midfield. Nor had it heard of a guy called Sergio Busquets.

After one season, it had and it was. After one season led by Guardiola's obsessiveness and furious, unparalleled attention to detail, Barcelona were 20 points better off in the league and finished it as treble winners; after two seasons, they were 32 points better off. Thirty-two.

What's more, they weren't just improved; they were utterly relentless. Durable. Disciplined. Tactically superior beyond anything previously seen—all after being the antithesis of those things prior to this arrival.

When Guardiola went to Bayern, his impact was similar. Though he inherited a treble-winning outfit, the Catalan—on a week-to-week basis—made the Bavarians better again.

Under his management, they cliched the Bundesliga title in record time and set new league benchmarks for consecutive wins, longest-ever unbeaten streak, longest unbeaten start to a season, most consecutive away wins, longest run of two-goal performances in winning matches and most away goals in a season.

This is what he does. And this is what he's capable of doing at a new club in England.

At Manchester City, Guardiola would be capable of steering the club away from its existence in which points aren't yet reflective of talent. At the Etihad, a soft underbelly continues to hold back Manuel Pellegrini's team, as does an often-observed sense of tactical simplicity that's been emblematic of the league as a whole.

Across town at Manchester United, Guardiola's presence would almost certainly be just as transformative. Engulfed by monotony, United need releasing and unshackling, invention allowed to exist alongside instruction—just the way Guardiola allows it to.

"He used to say to us," said Thierry Henry in December to Sky Sports' Monday Night Football programme when breaking down his former manager's philosophy, "'my job is to take you up to the last third, your job is to finish it.'"

As such, it's not unreasonable to think that whoever lands Guardiola for next season will become a different beast.

And yet, gradually, thanks to Guardiola's arrival, so might the Premier League as a whole.

In recent seasons, and particularly in the current one, the football of England's top division has grown increasingly entertaining but also increasingly unsophisticated. Carrying chaos and freneticism, the Premier League has become the Wild West of the European game, home to, as neatly put by the Guardian's Barney Ronay, "muscular island nation football."

Right now, the league is led by a prone-to-being-flaky Arsenal, who finished Wednesday night's stylistically symbolic clash with Liverpool effectively playing a 6-0-4; next is nuts-and-bolts Leicester City; behind them, it's the paradoxical City; another spot further back, it's the still-building Tottenham Hotspur; West Ham United are after them.

This is a league there for taking but one in which everyone is deeply flawed, each club increasingly becoming a product of its immediate environment. A product of the Wild West.

And this is where Guardiola comes in.

In the Catalan, one of the Premier League's elite will soon have a boss unprepared to accept such a status quo.

Under his watch, City or United—or Arsenal or Chelsea, if you want to entertain the idea of the outsiders in this race—won't allow chaos to upset effectiveness. His team's preparation and planning will prevent that. His side will operate with control, with precision and with tactical flexibility. There will be flair, an abundance of it perhaps, but it won't come at the cost of balance and principles. It never has.

What Guardiola will bring to the Premier League is a level of sophistication, innovation and versatility that's been absent for some time—the sort his current adversaries haven't been able to live with.

"You prepare to press and stop their passing and they play it long," said Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel not long after his side's 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Guardiola's Bayern earlier this season, per Graham Hunter of the Daily Mail. "You adapt to that mid-game and they simply start passing through you again—they just have so many recourses and their players are so adept at switching from one tactic to another that it's very hard to play against. We didn't have the answers."

Thus, Guardiola will likely set a new standard in the Premier League. A new method. A new way of thinking. In response, his rivals will be forced to react and adapt, both on the field and off it.

Off it, the losers in this race for his signature will likely enter the transfer market with added urgency.

City or United will undoubtedly throw millions around; Chelsea will definitely try; Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool will surely recognise they're not built to compete if Guardiola is given one of the country's best squads as well as the funds to reshape it as he pleases.

After all, his presence alone could help his new club lure players that might have previously been out of reach, one coach perhaps able to influence an entire transfer window on his own.

On the pitch, meanwhile, the changes could be just a significant.

Like all sports, football has a follow-the-leader nature. If Guardiola comes to the Premier League and successfully implements his world-renowned approach, ruthlessly exposing the deficiencies of others, the attitudes and approaches of rivals will adapt as the league's rugged, chaotic and island-mentality-driven status quo is challenged and toppled.

Opposing teams will be forced to get smarter. They'll need to embrace added sophistication. They'll need to take elements from Guardiola's example or risk being left behind domestically as well as on the continent, because precedent suggests there's a very real chance they will be.

"For me, he is already one of the greatest coaches of all time," wrote Henry of Guardiola in the Sun. "His teams don't just win the league, they totally dominate it."

Guardiola—the cult figure, the Super Manager, the man who'll soon become a superstar in a Premier League short of them—might actually be set to drive the standard of the division north. Set to give the league a new benchmark. A new emphasis.

A new complexion.

It might not be just his new club that Guardiola changes. It might be everything.