Pep's Purpose

[PrezIke]

So the next wave of "Pep out" cries is set to come, but here's the problem...

This squad is not enough of his team for it to work and is it more important to scrape wins or build something? It's Pellegrini's team that he took over and is in the process of changing. Just like when Klopp came in to Liverpool that was not his team either. We lack the right players just yet to do things as he wants to in enough positions:

• Stones is a Pep player, but who else really is of our defensive core? Hard to have to spend time teaching 30+ year old defenders who won't be around very long, but that's what he has to do. He has his way, and when the right players are there it has worked.
  
• Even wide players like Navas, who are left over, is not really his type of player. Sane and Sterling, yes, but Sane is hurt so he could not play today.
  
• Silva is fantastic, but he's also at edging towards the end of his career and has his flaws. KDB is the future.
  
• Gundogan is a Pep player, but he's out now, so we now have to deal with that and slot in a 33 year old Yaya back from the dead, or a squad-level player like Fernando. Fernandinho is, and hopefully he can keep it up as he is over 30, but this is why we need another centre midfielder as well.
  
• Aguero needs better service than he is getting now, but he won't last forever...However, Jesus is coming.

However the future could be:

• A front 3 of Sane-Jesus-Sterling within the next 3 years or maybe Nacho in there as well. They are all between 19-22 years old under his tutelage.
  
• With our youth, we have Garcia in the squad (Tosin, Gunn) and those out on loan with a real chance...Zinchenko, Yunal, Maffeo, Moreno, Ntcham (back now after a drop in performance following a great 1st year at Genoa).

One can go on and on with other positions/players now, but we are in more of a transition than some appear to acknowledge, whilst Liverpool pretty much have their team now other than a better defence and keeper under Klopp for 8 months.

Conte's Chelsea are basically the same team that won the title 2 seasons ago, and we are seeing, arguably, a similar reaction players had here when Pellegrini replaced Mancini, desperate to prove their naysayers wrong and show up their ex-manager. Yet Conte is a better manager than Pellegrini, then they added Kante, and by having less depth in defense and no injuries, play the same 3 every game. Oh, and then they have no CL football to balance priorities, as clearly PL performance is #1. This also allows pretty much a week of training, and rest, to prepare for every league match.

Point is the man needs more time than this to pass true judgement. We are also a top, top destination for world class players with him in charge.

We are beyond fortunate to have him as our manager, and you pretty much have to be mad, high or quite pissed to be asking for him to go now. I get the reasons for criticism, but I also see the reasons he needs to stick to his way for the most part to build things here.He has made some adjustments, but he also can't turn back the clock or teach such old dogs new tricks.

Top 4 will be a priority still, and I believe the rules will change so 4th will be just as good as 2nd-3rd. Do well enough in the CL again and that also helps our co-efficient, and should keep us in the 2nd pot. Maybe Chelsea go through an injury crisis in January and February with all of the games. Liverpool ain't all that so we shall see.

Buckle up and do your best to enjoy the ride. It's clearly bumpy now, but hard to see it lasting.

[Original Dub]

Pretty reasonable.

Mods. Please remove him. There is no room for reasoning on here.

[City64]

Good poster but thread way too technical just like Peps philosophy of the English Premier League throwing points away at an alarming rate and having faith in "certain" players who are fucking shite . Liverpool were shown up for what they are tonight to the whole Premier League very average , Klopp knows that so he protected a 1 -0 at anfield for 80 minutes ??? just what the fuck did Pep do ???? got too fucking technical yet again and another 3 points gone ??? WE are far better than Liverpool the world has just seen that but Pep again has come up short ??? I am sure in time the penny will drop with Pep BUT is this cunt fucking us up (Pep) bigtime ??? youth policy ??? great young players loaned out ??? faith in shite like Kolarov and Bravo ????

Serious fucking issues folks and more bad than good ......... goodbye 2016 you were wank !!!!

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Good post, Prezlke. We need patience (hard as it is to say after today's poor showing).

[PrezIke]

Good poster but thread way too technical just like Peps philosophy of the English Premier League throwing points away at an alarming rate and having faith in "certain" players who are fucking shite . Liverpool were shown up for what they are tonight to the whole Premier League very average , Klopp knows that so he protected a 1 -0 at anfield for 80 minutes ??? just what the fuck did Pep do ???? got too fucking technical yet again and another 3 points gone ??? WE are far better than Liverpool the world has just seen that but Pep again has come up short ??? I am sure in time the penny will drop with Pep BUT is this cunt fucking us up (Pep) bigtime ??? youth policy ??? great young players loaned out ??? faith in shite like Kolarov and Bravo ????

Serious fucking issues folks and more bad than good ......... goodbye 2016 you were wank !!!!

You did notice that we gave away the goal because Zaba had to stay off of Lallana? How is that Pep's fault? He can't make Zaba 28 again. He has to give space to a player like that that because he lacks pace. All of his skills now come from intelligence and experience. Also, Kolarov, who can head the ball, was slow to react, and isn't a great athlete anyway either. Is that Pep's fault as well?

You all screamed for 4 at the back. Well there you have it, unless you prefer another scape goat favourite who is far worse in the air than Kola, Clichy.

We started to threaten Liverpool when we pushed our fullbacks up in the 2nd half. However, if we did that in the first half Mane or Firmino would have exposed our slow paced fullbacks and Yaya, in particular. We also have a wildcard in Nico who might run out of position and leave Stones exposed on his own.

Some seem to forget that Pep started the season using 4 at the back, but then I believe in at least one game Zaba and Kola were BADLY exposed several times and we either lost of looked vulnerable. We also had the injuries to Sagna and Kompany I believe so he may have been forced to switch to 3 at the back clearly with hopes of gaining possession, and using the pace of Sterling (put on the left) and Navas to help with cover as wing backs.

This, to me, is more about a squad makeup problem than tactics. We are old and slow at the back, and in the middle with Yaya today, who has been working harder, but isn't Fernandinho out there. He saved us a few times with last gasp tackles, but he was surrounded.

Pep took the risk of using our summer kitty on potential players like Sane and Jesus, as well as Stones and then Gundogan who is now out. We tried for Laporte but got nixed by the player in the end. The same with Bonucci. We could use either of them badly right now.

We need 3 defenders who can play either centrally or 1 central and at least one who's comfortable on the left side somewhere, as Stones seems better on the right.

Sorry, is that too technical?

[City64]

Good poster but thread way too technical just like Peps philosophy of the English Premier League throwing points away at an alarming rate and having faith in "certain" players who are fucking shite . Liverpool were shown up for what they are tonight to the whole Premier League very average , Klopp knows that so he protected a 1 -0 at anfield for 80 minutes ??? just what the fuck did Pep do ???? got too fucking technical yet again and another 3 points gone ??? WE are far better than Liverpool the world has just seen that but Pep again has come up short ??? I am sure in time the penny will drop with Pep BUT is this cunt fucking us up (Pep) bigtime ??? youth policy ??? great young players loaned out ??? faith in shite like Kolarov and Bravo ????

Serious fucking issues folks and more bad than good ......... goodbye 2016 you were wank !!!!

You did notice that we gave away the goal because Zaba had to stay off of Lallana? How is that Pep's fault? He can't make Zaba 28 again. He has to give space to a player like that that because he lacks pace. All of his skills now come from intelligence and experience.

We started to threaten Liverpool when we pushed our fullbacks up in the 2nd half. However, if we did that in the first half Mane or Firmino would have exposed our slow paced fullbacks and Yaya, in particular. We also have a wildcard in Nico who might run out of position and leave Stones exposed on his own.

Some seem to forget that Pep started the season using 4 at the back, but then I believe in at least one game Zaba and Kola were BADLY exposed several times and we either lost of looked vulnerable. We also had the injuries to Sagna and Kompany I believe so he may have been forced to switch to 3 at the back clearly with hopes of gaining possession, and using the pace of Sterling (put on the left) and Navas to help with cover as wing backs.

This, to me, is more about a squad makeup problem than tactics. We are old and slow at the back, and in the middle with Yaya today, who has been working harder, but isn't Fernandinho out there. He saved us a few times with last gasp tackles, but he was surrounded.

Pep took the risk of using our summer kitty on potential players like Sane and Jesus, as well as Stones and then Gundogan who is now out. We tried for Laporte but got nixed by the player in the end. The same with Bonucci. We could use either of them badly right now.

We need 3 defenders who can play either centrally or 1 central and at least one who's comfortable on the left side somewhere, as Stones seems better on the right.

Sorry, is that too technical?

The goal came from Kolarov giving the ball away on the edge of Liverpools penalty area a player who Pep continues to show faith in but is utterly shite and
a total fucking liability plus I wouldn't trust the current spafia to spend another £1 nevermind another £50 million on another crock of shite . Klopp just did the basics today with a very average team he hasn't done that once this season ........ Pep went too technical yet again and fucked up despite dominating the game this should tell you everything you need to know pal without getting too technical ............. get my drift !

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Good post, Prezlke. We need patience (hard as it is to say after today's poor showing).

I'd like to echo that PD, but I wonder if I could ask a daft, but potentially relevant, question (or questions) ??

If we didn't finish in the top four this season, would it be better for us not even to finish in the top eight, or so, in order for us not to be saddled with the distraction of the Europa Cup Competition ??

Furthermore if we 'did' a Chelsea and finished out of all the European places, would this actually help Pep in any way, with regard to his thorough overhaul and rebuild of the team, or would this hinder him by top players not wanting to come to a side not competing in Europe.

Would our owners happily, or otherwise, accept such a situation ?? Would we, as fans, be happy to accept such a season (personally, I would accept it, not that I, or we, have any say in the matter).

Apologies for asking this, but I can't make up my mind how we would be affected, as there are so many imponderables and I'm curious as to other people's thoughts.

[City64]

Good post, Prezlke. We need patience (hard as it is to say after today's poor showing).

I'd like to echo that PD, but I wonder if I could ask a daft, but potentially relevant, question (or questions) ??

If we didn't finish in the top four this season, would it be better for us not even to finish in the top eight, or so, in order for us not to be saddled with the distraction of the Europa Cup Competition ??

Furthermore if we 'did' a Chelsea and finished out of all the European places, would this actually help Pep in any way, with regard to his thorough overhaul and rebuild of the team, or would this hinder him by top players not wanting to come to a side not competing in Europe.

Would our owners happily, or otherwise, accept such a situation ?? Would we, as fans, be happy to accept such a season (personally, I would accept it, not that I, or we, have any say in the matter).

Apologies for asking this, but I can't make up my mind how we would be affected, as there are so many imponderables and I'm curious as to other people's thoughts.

So Peps lickers are happy for him to take us backwards and a million miles from where we were ? fallout of the top 4 ? the rags to overtake us again after all the hard work we put into overtaking them ?

I think I have had enough of this shit for one year .

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Good post, Prezlke. We need patience (hard as it is to say after today's poor showing).

I'd like to echo that PD, but I wonder if I could ask a daft, but potentially relevant, question (or questions) ??

If we didn't finish in the top four this season, would it be better for us not even to finish in the top eight, or so, in order for us not to be saddled with the distraction of the Europa Cup Competition ??

Furthermore if we 'did' a Chelsea and finished out of all the European places, would this actually help Pep in any way, with regard to his thorough overhaul and rebuild of the team, or would this hinder him by top players not wanting to come to a side not competing in Europe.

Would our owners happily, or otherwise, accept such a situation ?? Would we, as fans, be happy to accept such a season (personally, I would accept it, not that I, or we, have any say in the matter).

Apologies for asking this, but I can't make up my mind how we would be affected, as there are so many imponderables and I'm curious as to other people's thoughts.

So Peps lickers are happy for him to take us backwards and a million miles from where we were ? fallout of the top 4 ? the rags to overtake us again after all the hard work we put into overtaking them ?

I think I have had enough of this shit for one year .

I'm only asking the questions No 64.

It's theoretically possible it could happen.

[PrezIke]

You did notice that we gave away the goal because Zaba had to stay off of Lallana? How is that Pep's fault? He can't make Zaba 28 again. He has to give space to a player like that that because he lacks pace. All of his skills now come from intelligence and experience.

We started to threaten Liverpool when we pushed our fullbacks up in the 2nd half. However, if we did that in the first half Mane or Firmino would have exposed our slow paced fullbacks and Yaya, in particular. We also have a wildcard in Nico who might run out of position and leave Stones exposed on his own.

Some seem to forget that Pep started the season using 4 at the back, but then I believe in at least one game Zaba and Kola were BADLY exposed several times and we either lost of looked vulnerable. We also had the injuries to Sagna and Kompany I believe so he may have been forced to switch to 3 at the back clearly with hopes of gaining possession, and using the pace of Sterling (put on the left) and Navas to help with cover as wing backs.

This, to me, is more about a squad makeup problem than tactics. We are old and slow at the back, and in the middle with Yaya today, who has been working harder, but isn't Fernandinho out there. He saved us a few times with last gasp tackles, but he was surrounded.

Pep took the risk of using our summer kitty on potential players like Sane and Jesus, as well as Stones and then Gundogan who is now out. We tried for Laporte but got nixed by the player in the end. The same with Bonucci. We could use either of them badly right now.

We need 3 defenders who can play either centrally or 1 central and at least one who's comfortable on the left side somewhere, as Stones seems better on the right.

Sorry, is that too technical?

The goal came from Kolarov giving the ball away on the edge of Liverpools penalty area a player who Pep continues to show faith in but is utterly shite and
a total fucking liability plus I wouldn't trust the current spafia to spend another £1 nevermind another £50 million on another crock of shite . Klopp just did the basics today with a very average team he hasn't done that once this season ........ Pep went too technical yet again and fucked up despite dominating the game this should tell you everything you need to know pal without getting too technical ............. get my drift !

True, that was how the goal was first created, and I agree Kolarov is a problem for us. Pep "shows faith" because, again, who again should replace him in the squad? Clichy? He also is ridiculed by our fans, this season in particular. You seem to be admitting here, like me, that we lack the players. So what is Pep supposed to do there? That play had little to do with "being too technical" other than you would think Kolarov is better with the ball than that.

I hear your point, but that's about execution.

Liverpool also didn't just do "the basics." They pressed us with players capable of doing so, and have Milner, who has turned into a pretty good left back somehow who I would trade for Kolarov any day sadly, and Clyne who has the pace Zaba lacks. Their attacking players also pressed very hard in the middle where we wanted to use the ball.

We tried to go out wide more, but it was after the goal. Liverpool weren't exactly spectacular, let's be honest.

[sheblue]

5 of todays team.
Zabba
Silva
Kolarov
Yaya
Aguero
All mancini players or in zabbas case pre mancini era.

We need to build a new team. That takes time.

Difficult but we need to start getting the signings right. We need fresh blood.

Trying to carry out a major squad overhaul and stay at the top at the same time. Impossible.

[Spurge]

So the next wave of "Pep out" cries is set to come, but here's the problem...

This squad is not enough of his team for it to work and is it more important to scrape wins or build something? It's Pellegrini's team that he took over and is in the process of changing. Just like when Klopp came in to Liverpool that was not his team either. We lack the right players just yet to do things as he wants to in enough positions:


One can go on and on with other positions/players now, but we are in more of a transition than some appear to acknowledge, whilst Liverpool pretty much have their team now other than a better defence and keeper under Klopp for 8 months.
.

As mentioned in previous thread I think pellegrini's team was being shaped for pep way before he arrived. Pellegrini was a 442 man first and foremost, the arrival of kdb and sterling did not fit in with this ideal though it's true to say pellegrini was playing 451 before their arrival, was it his choice or under instruction?

I also said it's a transitional phase, an ageing squad and acknowledge that whilst there were plans in place ahead of peps arrival the majority of the squad were from mancini/pellegrini eras.

So a period of change signalling the end of an era and a successful one at that making it all the more critical that it managed carefully. Are we in safe hands? Only time will tell. Hold on tight!

[City64]

You did notice that we gave away the goal because Zaba had to stay off of Lallana? How is that Pep's fault? He can't make Zaba 28 again. He has to give space to a player like that that because he lacks pace. All of his skills now come from intelligence and experience.

We started to threaten Liverpool when we pushed our fullbacks up in the 2nd half. However, if we did that in the first half Mane or Firmino would have exposed our slow paced fullbacks and Yaya, in particular. We also have a wildcard in Nico who might run out of position and leave Stones exposed on his own.

Some seem to forget that Pep started the season using 4 at the back, but then I believe in at least one game Zaba and Kola were BADLY exposed several times and we either lost of looked vulnerable. We also had the injuries to Sagna and Kompany I believe so he may have been forced to switch to 3 at the back clearly with hopes of gaining possession, and using the pace of Sterling (put on the left) and Navas to help with cover as wing backs.

This, to me, is more about a squad makeup problem than tactics. We are old and slow at the back, and in the middle with Yaya today, who has been working harder, but isn't Fernandinho out there. He saved us a few times with last gasp tackles, but he was surrounded.

Pep took the risk of using our summer kitty on potential players like Sane and Jesus, as well as Stones and then Gundogan who is now out. We tried for Laporte but got nixed by the player in the end. The same with Bonucci. We could use either of them badly right now.

We need 3 defenders who can play either centrally or 1 central and at least one who's comfortable on the left side somewhere, as Stones seems better on the right.

Sorry, is that too technical?

The goal came from Kolarov giving the ball away on the edge of Liverpools penalty area a player who Pep continues to show faith in but is utterly shite and
a total fucking liability plus I wouldn't trust the current spafia to spend another £1 nevermind another £50 million on another crock of shite . Klopp just did the basics today with a very average team he hasn't done that once this season ........ Pep went too technical yet again and fucked up despite dominating the game this should tell you everything you need to know pal without getting too technical ............. get my drift !

True, that was how the goal was first created, and I agree Kolarov is a problem for us. Pep "shows faith" because, again, who again should replace him in the squad? Clichy? He also is ridiculed by our fans, this season in particular. You seem to be admitting here, like me, that we lack the players. So what is Pep supposed to do there? That play had little to do with "being too technical" other than you would think Kolarov is better with the ball than that.

I hear your point, but that's about execution.

Liverpool also didn't just do "the basics." They pressed us with players capable of doing so, and have Milner, who has turned into a pretty good left back somehow who I would trade for Kolarov any day sadly, and Clyne who has the pace Zaba lacks. Their attacking players also pressed very hard in the middle where we wanted to use the ball.

We tried to go out wide more, but it was after the goal. Liverpool weren't exactly spectacular, let's be honest.

Liverpool are very average , Southampton are very average , Middlesborough are very average , Leicester are very average . Chelsea were very average but now are pissing the title with a new manager and the same ageing squad . Your just going around in circles licking Peps arse .

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

We aren't progressing, he's not solving the same old problems. That's it in a nutshell.

[petrov]

We still have the same old holes and Stones has added another where Komps used to be but what we're really lacking is belief. We start against any of the top teams like rabbits in the headlights just waiting to lose. We play tense and don't have any killer instinct till we actually get 1 up. Arse and today are the perfect example. had we not got that lucky enough goal against Arse we would have seen another game like today.

We need belief and swagger and a leader on the pitch during bad spells which none of our top players are.
All Pep really needs is the same as Pellers (though Pep is better), a team who believe they can win and aren't afraid.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Good post, Prezlke. We need patience (hard as it is to say after today's poor showing).

I'd like to echo that PD, but I wonder if I could ask a daft, but potentially relevant, question (or questions) ??

If we didn't finish in the top four this season, would it be better for us not even to finish in the top eight, or so, in order for us not to be saddled with the distraction of the Europa Cup Competition ??

Furthermore if we 'did' a Chelsea and finished out of all the European places, would this actually help Pep in any way, with regard to his thorough overhaul and rebuild of the team, or would this hinder him by top players not wanting to come to a side not competing in Europe.

Would our owners happily, or otherwise, accept such a situation ?? Would we, as fans, be happy to accept such a season (personally, I would accept it, not that I, or we, have any say in the matter).

Apologies for asking this, but I can't make up my mind how we would be affected, as there are so many imponderables and I'm curious as to other people's thoughts.

It wouldn't bother me if it meant coming back stronger. I'd imagine it'd bother Pep and the owners, though.

[freshie]

Good post, Prezlke. We need patience (hard as it is to say after today's poor showing).

I'd like to echo that PD, but I wonder if I could ask a daft, but potentially relevant, question (or questions) ??

If we didn't finish in the top four this season, would it be better for us not even to finish in the top eight, or so, in order for us not to be saddled with the distraction of the Europa Cup Competition ??

Furthermore if we 'did' a Chelsea and finished out of all the European places, would this actually help Pep in any way, with regard to his thorough overhaul and rebuild of the team, or would this hinder him by top players not wanting to come to a side not competing in Europe.

Would our owners happily, or otherwise, accept such a situation ?? Would we, as fans, be happy to accept such a season (personally, I would accept it, not that I, or we, have any say in the matter).

Apologies for asking this, but I can't make up my mind how we would be affected, as there are so many imponderables and I'm curious as to other people's thoughts.

It wouldn't bother me if it meant coming back stronger. I'd imagine it'd bother Pep and the owners, though.

Me neither. Doesn't seem to have done chelsea any harm

[nottsblue]

Peps purpose is to win the CL. End of. That is why he has been brought here. I hope he stays longer than his three year contract as I am not sure we are ready to win it this or possibly next year with the playing staff we have which doesn't leave much room for manoeuvre.

For me the PL is the number one priority, always has been, but for the owners that has passed onto winning the CL. We can't afford to drop out of the top4 and not qualify

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

So the next wave of "Pep out" cries is set to come, but here's the problem...

This squad is not enough of his team for it to work and is it more important to scrape wins or build something? It's Pellegrini's team that he took over and is in the process of changing. Just like when Klopp came in to Liverpool that was not his team either. We lack the right players just yet to do things as he wants to in enough positions:

• Stones is a Pep player, but who else really is of our defensive core? Hard to have to spend time teaching 30+ year old defenders who won't be around very long, but that's what he has to do. He has his way, and when the right players are there it has worked.
  
• Even wide players like Navas, who are left over, is not really his type of player. Sane and Sterling, yes, but Sane is hurt so he could not play today.
  
• Silva is fantastic, but he's also at edging towards the end of his career and has his flaws. KDB is the future.
  
• Gundogan is a Pep player, but he's out now, so we now have to deal with that and slot in a 33 year old Yaya back from the dead, or a squad-level player like Fernando. Fernandinho is, and hopefully he can keep it up as he is over 30, but this is why we need another centre midfielder as well.
  
• Aguero needs better service than he is getting now, but he won't last forever...However, Jesus is coming.

However the future could be:

• A front 3 of Sane-Jesus-Sterling within the next 3 years or maybe Nacho in there as well. They are all between 19-22 years old under his tutelage.
  
• With our youth, we have Garcia in the squad (Tosin, Gunn) and those out on loan with a real chance...Zinchenko, Yunal, Maffeo, Moreno, Ntcham (back now after a drop in performance following a great 1st year at Genoa).

One can go on and on with other positions/players now, but we are in more of a transition than some appear to acknowledge, whilst Liverpool pretty much have their team now other than a better defence and keeper under Klopp for 8 months.

Conte's Chelsea are basically the same team that won the title 2 seasons ago, and we are seeing, arguably, a similar reaction players had here when Pellegrini replaced Mancini, desperate to prove their naysayers wrong and show up their ex-manager. Yet Conte is a better manager than Pellegrini, then they added Kante, and by having less depth in defense and no injuries, play the same 3 every game. Oh, and then they have no CL football to balance priorities, as clearly PL performance is #1. This also allows pretty much a week of training, and rest, to prepare for every league match.

Point is the man needs more time than this to pass true judgement. We are also a top, top destination for world class players with him in charge.

We are beyond fortunate to have him as our manager, and you pretty much have to be mad, high or quite pissed to be asking for him to go now. I get the reasons for criticism, but I also see the reasons he needs to stick to his way for the most part to build things here.He has made some adjustments, but he also can't turn back the clock or teach such old dogs new tricks.

Top 4 will be a priority still, and I believe the rules will change so 4th will be just as good as 2nd-3rd. Do well enough in the CL again and that also helps our co-efficient, and should keep us in the 2nd pot. Maybe Chelsea go through an injury crisis in January and February with all of the games. Liverpool ain't all that so we shall see.

Buckle up and do your best to enjoy the ride. It's clearly bumpy now, but hard to see it lasting.

I agree with most of that. Good post.

However Pep needs to evolve as well. He really needs to tweak his precious system. He and Txiki have made misjudgements on how to defend in Premier League and what kind of players that demands. Replacing Hart with Bravo really was MAJOR fuck up and are costing us points week in week out. We should have put all our efforts and resources on replacing Kompany ages ago (this is purely on Txiki). Vinnie was not only one of the top three central defenders in the world, one time clearly THE best imo, but also absolute heart and soul of the team. However, unfortunately, his body hasn't hold up for years now and you could see that getting worse years ago.

On a brightside IF we get better central defenders, goalkeeper and true number 8 I think we have team and coaching set up in place to challenge in all fronts.

Honestly though, I'm LOT more worried about Txiki than Pep. Regardless of manager it's his job to identify talent and has he really been able to do that at all regarding defensive players.

[patrickblue]

I wasn't really sure where to post this, hence resurrecting this thread, but I found this rather interesting, and on the whole accurate.
Mase might not be too impressed though, as the author obviously doesn't share his views on Kolorov.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/01/13/analysing-pep-guardiolas-tactical-mistakes-manchester-city/