He also had a quality squad to start out with. They may have only spend £10m or so more than us over Guardiola and Mourinho's first two seasons, but City were spending it on full backs and wingers as they already had De Bruyne, Aguero, Fernandinho, Kompany, Silva etc. as a strong backbone to the team, whereas Jose was buying central defenders, midfielders and strikers. Pep's never really had to truly overhaul a side in crisis and build a spine, it's already been there when he joined. To my mind, that's a greater question than whether he can do without the cash. If he stays at City for another five years or so then he's going to need to replace the likes of Aguero, Silva and Fernandinho, possibly even De Bruyne as well. That'll be the big test - as our last three managers have shown all the cash in the world doesn't necessarily make the difference there.
But then he'll go to another, ready made winning squad, Juve, PSG or whoever are the proven winners of the moment. Pep is the sort of guy who will flit to winning team, to winning team and never put himself in the position of having to do anything other than coach. Good luck to the guy, if you have the talent and other people have the money, why not.
Aye, you're probably right (Stan knows ) Tho' I do think he maybe at the stage of his career where he wants to prove he can handle a rebuild and proper development of his side, and build a real legacy. Whether he will succeed or not is another question.
So I'm carrying on with pulling the previous match thread as it worked so well last time (yes we won because I dredged up the previous match thread)... and because I can't be arsed to create a new one. Anyway what are people's thoughts on this line up? -----------------------------DDG----------------------------- ----------Lindelof---------Axel T----------Shaw----------- Wan-B---------------------Fred----------------------Telles --------------------------Fernandes------------------------- -----Greenwood---------CAVANI-----------Rashford---- Too cavalier? Tbh believe it or not I felt spoilt for choice when you consider who I've left out. We also have our next Champions League game on Wednesday against a very decent RB Leipzig side as well as Arsenal next weekend so the games are coming thick and fast and squad rotation will be inevitable.
Assume it's 3/5 at the back? No way Greenwood playing in that case mate. It looks fine but DVDB or (more likely) Pogba or McTominay instead of Greenwood. Although can't see Cavani getting a random start either.
I'm reading he's fit to play so it was more hope on my part he wouldn't start. Seems like he's made a quick recovery! Yeh playing with 3 at the back. You're right no way Greenwood plays then. How about McTominay with Fred as you say and keep Cavani there. Cavani's 2 week quarantine is over. I think he would relish playing against that Chelsea defence and it could turn out to be the perfect first game for him.
Fred, McTominay and Bruno a likely midfield three, would agree. Much as I'd like DVDB to start. If he did, it would be McTominay who misses out for me, which seems harsh to be honest. Pogba sub. And Mata. Got some pretty decent midfield players, eh.
Why I said earlier I felt spoilt for choice picking a line up. Not a bad squad at all. Just a bit light in central defence.
I like the look of that but it looks very light in midfield. I would be tempted to drop Linelof and go with Wan and Telles as full backs, put McT next to Fred and both of them are more than capable of shielding the defence and linking with the attack as well as helping/linking with Bruno. I might have mentioned this before but for the second half of last season i could see McT developing into a box to box type of mid and this team/selection could help him show that.
At the moment I don't much care what our starting line up is - I'm confident we can get the job done, just so long as Pogba is on the bench and not on the field.
First name that I always want to see on the team sheet is McTominay. The man is a true professional and consistently putting in a shift for the team.
Strange team selection - De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Fernandes, Mata, James, Rashford. Subs: Henderson, Pogba, Cavani, Greenwood, Matic, Van de Beek, Tuanzebe.
I can’t understand why Tuanzebe can’t make the first team over Lindelof. He’s got far better tools to ease pressure on Maguire. Then there’s James in the midfield. I guess he plays on the right which again isn’t his natural position. Why not start Greenwood? And then you have Luke Shaw and no place for Alex. Everyone that we’ve brought in this summer can’t even get good run of games. Yet we bit** about transfers.
It's the team that won 4-1 last week at Newcastle. I don't really see an issue with that myself? The players you mention are on the bench, fairly sure they'll get a run.
At least James starts on the left. Apart from James, I like the midfield and frontline. Shaw don’t bring much to the side in my opinion.
Look at the ****ing bench boys. And Tony Marshall isn't even on it. Nor Telles. The idea we've got a **** squad is clearly nonsense.