14 Jan 2020 11:25:21
I feel City winning back to back league titles has suppressed their hunger. Coupled with Guardiolas management style and one or two key injuries they look like a team who aren't as hungry as before.
I'm not taking anything away from the achievements of our team as they have been fantastic. The 30 year wait has played heavy on our shoulders and the hunger I see in the squad and fan base hasn't been seen since the Gerrard slip but we now have a far better team than under Rodgers.
I can't see anything stopping us and results this season when things haven't been going our way like last minute winners prove that the boys are fighting with everything they have to make it happen.
We are a juggernaut that cannot be stopped until we reach our destination!
Jump on and enjoy the ride to the promised land.

1.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 16:47:29
OP, I disagree a bit regarding City's hunger even tho your points on this topic are valid. IMO, We ran City down to the wire and yes, that can take its toll on a team's psyche. Where my issue is here is that Pep had to have kn own that after winning the CL, we would be coming for them again for another round. He had to have known that with Kompany leaving, they would need a CB. Pep had to have known that Klopp would not relent this season and could kick it up another notch. So why did he not get his boys ready mentally and make the necessary effort to replace Kompany with a better CB that the dross he has bar Laporte? That is a Dear Pep Guardiola question.

IMO, it is either a sign of arrogance or the height of incompetence on Pep's part for not signing a capable CB or getting his boys ready to go full pelt this season. Instead IMO, he deluded himself into thinking that playing Fernandinho or Rodri could fill in there even tho he spent 150m in the summer buying players they did not need. And when Laporte got injured, his whole plan collapsed. IMO, this is where his frustration and meltdowns come from. He screwed up and he knows it and since he is a control freak, he is pissed he can't control the outcome of games (or VAR) when they get away from him. That is all his fault and his only.

2.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 18:52:33
Thanks for the response RM, I appreciate it is going to be a whole spectrum of reasons why they are where they are but to me they had the same desire and fight last season to prove they can win back to back titles as we appear to have this season to win our first Prem title. Guardiolas micro management style must have an almost suffocating effect on some players and It must be so hard to motivate the players to go again and again each season.
The lack of a leader (Kompany like player) on the pitch has also cost them.

3.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 19:36:55
I fully agree with you here, OP. Pep is known to wear his players out with his suffocating, micro-management schstick and after a few years, it starts to wear thin and players start to tune his message out. That much is well-known. I still come back to my main point tho that him not addressing the CB position when Kompany left is criminal, IMO.

I say this cos Pep is the same guy who kept moaning that his team were not playing well cos Laporte was out which is a distraction cos their issues actually go way deeper than that. I mean, that is a croc of nonsense. He had a chance to fix the situation, had the dough to spend, spent it and did not address that position and now he is moaning about it? Again, abject nonsense and the media is busy carrying his water for him cos were it Klopp, they would be smashing him for doing the same thing.

For me and in addition to what you have posted, Pep screwed up and he knows it and since Klopp beat his head in so badly that he has tapped out, PL-wise. We will see if he and his team can regroup BUT for now, Klopp has done him once again and not for the first, second, third, fourth or fifth time.

{Ed025's Note - perhaps you should apply for the managers job at city RM?, you seem to know far more than pep and im sure you would be considered, i would think that if pep read these pages he would be chomping at the bit to meet you because your experience could be vital to his future cereer mate..

4.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 20:48:13
To be fair to Pep, Kompany wasnt exactly playing huge numbers of games towards the end there and certainly couldn't be relied upon. However I wonder how much City are missing the dressing room presence of someone like Kompany. I willing to bet Milner adds a lot more to the team than his efforts on the field and I reckon Kompany has left a big hole. can't underestimate the importance of a player who has achieved and the example he sets in training and keeping people focussed.

5.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 22:09:12
Ed25, so cos we are not managers nor cos we are not Pep therefore, we are not allowed to give our opinions (backed up by facts and valid/ cogent points) about him, his record at City or or his career as whole? Sorry, that is a strawman argument I have no time nor brain power to waste on so have at it, bro.

{Ed025's Note - opinions are fine RM, but you are suggesting that pep has not got a clue what hes doing, the guy will go down as one of the best coaches ever and rightly so, you dont back up anything im afraid its speculation and jealousy that fuels your apparent hatred of the man and nothing you say are facts just opinion mate..peace..

6.) 14 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 23:00:04
*Jurgen-naut :)

7.) 15 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 23:09:56
Ed25, where did I say he had no clue what he was doing? Also, you are right. I posted opinions, not facts so we agree there. Also, calling me jealous or hateful for what a guy I could not be arsed about, has achieved does not deserve a response cos you know NOTHING about me. I am very comfortable in my skin and don't need to engage in such nonsense, okay bro? Awesome.

Now back to the topic at hand, so cos Pep has had a great managerial career, he cannot be criticized if some of us think he may have screwed up? Or his record cannot be challenged, questioned or critiqued? Your own manager Ancelloti has won more than Pep has and he still gets sacked at jobs hence, gets questioned and challenged so what makes Pep so special?

You of all people talk, trash about managers or players all the time and when have I called you hateful and jealous cos you critiqued their records?
And YES, my OPINION remains that Pep screwed up BIG TIME and is paying the price for it right now. N btw, Klopp OWNS him, period. That is what I think and it will stay that way UNTIL you can actually argue the points I made instead all the other rubbish insults you posted.

{Ed025's Note - i dont know where i posted insults RM?, and i dont know why when liverpool are doing so well that instead of whooping it up and rejoicing in the reds glory you would rather stick the knife into pep?, concentrate on liverpool and stop wallowing in the demise of others...it makes you look an arse my friend...peace..

8.) 15 Jan 2020
14 Jan 2020 23:37:56
If he was criticising his tactics maybe Ed025 you would have a point, however i don’t think that you need to understand Pep’s bamboozling algorithm based football to appreciate what is common sense. City have all the money in the world and are probably the only team in the history of the game who cannot moan about a lack of strength in depth. Every man and his dog knew that Laporte was the only centre back City could rely on, in terms of both form and injuries, and not buying at least one new centre back is Pep’s fault and Pep’s fault alone.

{Ed025's Note - i just dont get the obsession with pep AW?, just be happy with what the reds are doing mate because you are doing exceptionally well, dont become like one of those nasty curtain twitching neighbours who are so overcome by jealousy that they dont celebrate what they have but gloat at what others have not, its all very sad imo..

9.) 15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020 01:45:43
They would be right about top spot in a normal season (pre 18/ 19) things have changed. Us. Too good for them. They might play prettier football but we win more games. We are the all round better team and are simply astonishing atm.

10.) 15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020 04:56:28
Football is fine margins and city haven't gone too far back and their defence has cost them in big moments which has seen them less feared than last 2 years. Their attack is still lethal while midfield also quality. I think the big difference is they haven't the group of players who were going to improve and an ageing squad mixed with players who've reached peak in comparison to us always improving has made it look like a drastic change. They never strenghtened their squad and players were bound to lose form at some time. I don't think they've lost hunger but our relentless charge has no doubt dented their confidence and if it was tighter between us I'd be fearful. Many games we snatched late winners and never gave them a sniff to close the gap. Last season if we had beat them at etihad and gone 10 points clear I don't think they would have gone on that winning streak.

11.) 15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020 07:59:17
Interesting topic at hand, must admit both are sides are making valid points. Liverpool has just gone a level or 2 above every one else and as fans we should just enjoy the moment. No what happens Pep is has and is doing great job but like every one else is not perfect. If it was an opposing fan saying the same things we would call the obsessed. It's not over yet and like the players and stuff we need to remain humble and hungry until it's all done.

12.) 15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020 10:05:00
In all fairness to the poster, pep is a p***k. It's obvious from his sideline antics and his post match interviews. Also his former players have called him one (eto for one)

Good manager though. Achieved big things (with big money)

Also I think otemendi is well thought of at city.

13.) 15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020 10:36:21
would have been pretty amazing had City kept up the same pace of the last 2 PL seasons. We are in season 2 now of this pace, wonder how long we can keep this up?

14.) 15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020 11:30:13
As long as Jordan Henderson is on the field the pace won't drop. Been absolutely amazing. Easily his best season. His intensity gets me wet.

15.) 15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020 16:02:43
If it's going to be suggested that Eds know everything (and can basically say anything to any poster) and that posters know nothing (and therefore should keep quiet and suppress their "jealousy"), then it's the beginning of the end of these (really amazing, wonderful) pages.

Peace, out.

{Ed025's Note - no one is suggesting anything of the sort ArAy, if you read the post then you would know that it was about concentrating on your own team rather than anyone elses...but hey if it makes you unhappy mate...dont let the door hit you in the arse on your way out..

16.) 15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020 17:11:23
Don't say that aray. Great poster, know your football mate. I can see both sides, ed025 has a valid point in concentrating on our team and not speculating. But then again, we are on our way to the title. I think its only natural that we should be looking down (nice to say that) at our nearest rival. Leicester are still there abouts and although I think they will continue to slip up, there's no guarantee they will and could fight til the end.

It feels weird talking about battling for the title when we have a 16 point gap! Any other season and it's done but city are amazing.

People have said that city will prioritise the cl but what if they get knocked out early and we go deep with big games against juve and madrid?

That'd be great. Its our trophy. The two clubs I really don't want to take it are city and real Madrid.

17.) 16 Jan 2020
16 Jan 2020 14:41:40
Hahaha. Many thanks Ed025. But I already know where the exit is. Because it's the same as the entry. Which I've been using for well over 10 years now on a daily basis. But thanks for the assistance anyways.

{Ed025's Note - im always here to help mate.. :)