The grass was too high

[Boydesque]

Ahh didums pep
We let you win every time you play us yet still you moan about the grass
You re on a par with that German c….. down the road

[Spike]

The man is a fool

[RVclaret]

The man is a fool

One of the best managers the world has ever seen, genius

[MrTopTier]

City have three game pitches, where the grass is cut at different lengths depending on who they play.
Last 6 games v Burnley 6 wins 19 scored nine conceded. No problem with the grass.

[MACCA]

City have three game pitches, where the grass is cut at different lengths depending on who they play.
Last 6 games v Burnley 6 wins 19 scored nine conceded. No problem with the grass.

That doesn't seem right to me, that's an average of 1.5 goals a game for us, and I'm sure I'd read we had only scored 1 in the last 8 against them the other day

[ClaretTony]

One of the best managers the world has ever seen, genius

I'd love to see him managing a team that wasn't overflowing with money to buy who he wants. He's had an outstanding managerial career but I would not put him in the category of one of the best the world has ever seen.

[RVclaret]

I'd love to see him managing a team that wasn't overflowing with money to buy who he wants. He's had an outstanding managerial career but I would not put him in the category of one of the best the world has ever seen.

But isn’t the point of him being a world class manager the fact he won’t ever be in charge of such a team? That’s why he’ll always a job at an elite level, as he keeps performing at that level. United have spent more money on players than him since his appointment, yet the gulf has arguably never been wider. Sterling was looking pretty poor before his appointment, now he’s one of the most dangerous attackers in the world. His coaching is very very good.

That City team when he was appointed was barely top 4 with a lot of players coming to the end of their time. Aside from that he’s revolutionised English football’s tactics, look how many teams try to play more attractive football now.

[ClaretTony]

That City team when he was appointed was barely top 4

He's been there six years. In the six years prior to that they won the Premier League twice, finished second twice with one finish in third and fourth. I would very definitely not call that barely top four.

[burnmark]

Gave one of the groundsmen who was forking the pitch an earful on the way to the dugout before the match yesterday.

[Somethingfishy]

I'd love to see him managing a team that wasn't overflowing with money to buy who he wants. He's had an outstanding managerial career but I would not put him in the category of one of the best the world has ever seen.

This.
He has always had the money to buy whoever he sees fit to slot into the system he wishes to play. The true test of a top top manager is being able to coach players who are not neccessarily the right fit and make them into what you want simply because you can't just go out and buy the exact fit.
Tactically he is a genius. No doubting that.

[Jamesy]

This.
He has always had the money to buy whoever he sees fit to slot into the system he wishes to play. The true test of a top top manager is being able to coach players who are not neccessarily the right fit and make them into what you want simply because you can't just go out and buy the exact fit.
Tactically he is a genius. No doubting that.

I’m not sure he was a tactical genius against Chelsea in the Champions League Final?

[Somethingfishy]

I’m not sure he was a tactical genius against Chelsea in the Champions League Final?

They didn't treat Chelsea with enough respect that night. It came back to bite them.

[MrTopTier]

That doesn't seem right to me, that's an average of 1.5 goals a game for us, and I'm sure I'd read we had only scored 1 in the last 8 against them the other day

Thanks Macca it should have read none. Nine would’ve been awesome.

[Silkyskills1]

They didn't treat Chelsea with enough respect that night. It came back to bite them.

What do you mean by 'enough respect'? Always intrigued by the phraseology when I've nothing better to do. Do you mean he got it wrong, made mistakes, chose the wrong team? Or is it just another euphemism excusing inadequacy?

[IanMcL]

Grass too high?

I agree. I am sure city played with 16 on the pitch, at different times!

[Quickenthetempo]

This.
He has always had the money to buy whoever he sees fit to slot into the system he wishes to play. The true test of a top top manager is being able to coach players who are not neccessarily the right fit and make them into what you want simply because you can't just go out and buy the exact fit.
Tactically he is a genius. No doubting that.

Is there any examples of top class managers doing this?
Certainly in modern times clubs just buy, but we can't be sure if it's the managers or clubs buying the players.

Pep is the best coach I have seen, who improves players dramatically. Has certainly influenced British football since he has been here. Passing GKs, short goal kicks and receiving the ball on the half turn rather than the old 'play the way your facing' method.
He's raised standards so high it's untrue. The points totals they achieve are something else.

[Stayingup]

Gave one of the groundsmen who was forking the pitch an earful on the way to the dugout before the match yesterday.

Pity he didnt hit him the fork or told him to eff off. I think I would have done.

[pushpinpussy]

I'd love to see him managing a team that wasn't overflowing with money to buy who he wants. He's had an outstanding managerial career but I would not put him in the category of one of the best the world has ever seen.

You can always rely on this board to cheer you up with some tripe on a cloudy dull Sunday afternoon.

[Quickenthetempo]

I'd love to see him managing a team that wasn't overflowing with money to buy who he wants. He's had an outstanding managerial career but I would not put him in the category of one of the best the world has ever seen.

You can always rely on this board to cheer you up with some tripe on a cloudy dull Sunday afternoon.

Who are the best in the world then and why?

[KRBFC]

Pep is the best coach I have seen, who improves players dramatically. Has certainly influenced British football since he has been here. Passing GKs, short goal kicks and receiving the ball on the half turn rather than the old 'play the way your facing' method.
He's raised standards so high it's untrue. The points totals they achieve are something else.

Nailed it, he's absolutely transformed English football, that's how good of a coach he is. Man United and Arsenal have spent fortunes too and look how shite they are. The consistency from Pep's side to not stop, they're absolutely relentless year after year, they don't take a year off, Liverpool are also a special side atm and they're kinda in City's shadow domestically.

[Vino blanco]

I would have him at Turf Moor tomorrow.

[Hibsclaret]

When you get more than 100 points at a time when another team gets nearly 100 points in the same season makes you pretty special irrespective of how much you have spent. Sterling and De Bruyne have improved immeasurably under Guardiola and the likes of Foden coming through with his ability says it all about his coaching ability. However, I would caveat that a brilliant coach does not necessarily make the best manager. Ferguson was a way better manager but Guardiola is the better coach of the two, for example.

[dushanbe]

Pity he didnt hit him the fork or told him to eff off. I think I would have done.

I saw that and he shook his hand and had a word. Didn't look like an earful to me, I assumed he was congratulating him on the state of the pitch, but perhaps he was making a sarcastic point.

[Hipper]

Sterling was looking pretty poor before his appointment, now he’s one of the most dangerous attackers in the world. His coaching is very very good.

I'm not sure he or his coaches are such geniuses.

A couple of years ago they had a bad start to the season. It took him about a dozen games to do something about it. When he did the MotD pundits were fawning over this coaching genius, including how he had turned John Stones into a master defender.

Two points from that:

1. John Stones was already a top defender when they bought him. What were they doing for the previous four years? What they did was change tactics so he actually defended rather then act as some sort of midfield player bringing the ball out.

2. His team had lost de Bruyne and Aguerro through injury, and most importantly, David Silva. The latter two particularly caused all sorts of problems in the penalty area and they had no such players to replace them. Yet he only seems to have done something about it once the season was well underway.

To be fair to Guardiola his team looks very fit, motivated and organised so he must be doing something right!

[Milltown1882]

Nailed it, he's absolutely transformed English football, that's how good of a coach he is. Man United and Arsenal have spent fortunes too and look how shite they are. The consistency from Pep's side to not stop, they're absolutely relentless year after year, they don't take a year off, Liverpool are also a special side atm and they're kinda in City's shadow domestically.

It’s probably harder to manage a side of that stature. People that think it’s just a plug in and play exercise have played too much Football Manager. The man will go down in history as one of the best managers ever.

Just look at the honours https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/pep-gua ... ainer/5672

[Guitargeorge]

I could see over the grass and I’m only on the front row of the upper tier

[JohnMac]

Plenty of Clubs spend money on players without achieving much. I would think Pep would transform any Club with his coaching team. They wouldn't hit the heights of Man City for obvious reasons but the quality would be better and I suggest he would vastly improve us.

Pep is a cut above the rest and is closely followed by Klopp who has a better strike force at his disposal.

[Spijed]

As yet to deliver the one prize the owners crave.

[RVclaret]

As yet to deliver the one prize the owners crave.

If they crave it that much why do they want to renew his contract? Champions League is very tough to win, one off games against another world class elite team, can go either way. Consistency is the domination of domestic football.

[Silkyskills1]

'he's absolutely transformed English football'

Well, he has transformed Manchester City, of that there is no doubt but whether or not he has influenced English football is up for debate. I'm currently watching Rotherham v Sutton on TV and it's an exciting tussle with not a 'dive' or 'roll' in sight. I find it a far better spectacle of entertainment than what I endured yesterday. Just one game, granted but he's not had any influence as far as I can see on these two teams. God forbid that yesterday's experience becomes the 'norm' rather than the exception I hope it was.

[KRBFC]

'he's absolutely transformed English football'

Well, he has transformed Manchester City, of that there is no doubt but whether or not he has influenced English football is up for debate. I'm currently watching Rotherham v Sutton on TV and it's an exciting tussle with not a 'dive' or 'roll' in sight. I find it a far better spectacle of entertainment than what I endured yesterday. Just one game, granted but he's not had any influence as far as I can see on these two teams. God forbid that yesterday's experience becomes the 'norm' rather than the exception I hope it was.

English football at the top he's influenced without a doubt, long gone are the days of sides hoofing it, we're a dying breed about to be fazed out. People on here like to say ''Dyche fit'', what about ''Pep fit''? I've never ever seen a side work so hard without the ball to win it back.

[IanMcL]

Anyway, does he realise how much our pitch cost?

The more grass we can accumulate, the better the value!

[RVclaret]

English football at the top he's influenced without a doubt, long gone are the days of sides hoofing it, we're a dying breed about to be fazed out. People on here like to say ''Dyche fit'', what about ''Pep fit''? I've never ever seen a side work so hard without the ball to win it back.

Absolutely. Almost all teams now that have gone away from the Allardyce, Hughes, Hughton, Bruce, Pulis, Dyche etc mould towards a more possession based, play out from the back style - this was largely influenced by Pep.

What I find incredible about him is his tactical flexibility and evolution. The styles he played at Barca, Bayern and City all share similarities in dominating possession, but all systems very different positionally. Even at City he’s changed systems over the past few years, more so this year to create a striker less system, and still dominate!

[Milltown1882]

English football at the top he's influenced without a doubt, long gone are the days of sides hoofing it, we're a dying breed about to be fazed out. People on here like to say ''Dyche fit'', what about ''Pep fit''? I've never ever seen a side work so hard without the ball to win it back.

Dyche fit hasn’t been a thing since about 2017

[KRBFC]

Absolutely. Almost all teams now that have gone away from the Allardyce, Hughes, Hughton, Bruce, Pulis, Dyche etc mould towards a more possession based, play out from the back style - this was largely influenced by Pep.

What I find incredible about him is his tactical flexibility and evolution. The styles he played at Barca, Bayern and City all share similarities in dominating possession, but all systems very different positionally. Even at City he’s changed systems over the past few years, more so this year to create a striker less system, and still dominate!

the innovation to use his fullbacks as more central midfielders to squeeze and dominate the ball was revolutionary. I remember he actually used to play midfielders at fullback, with Delph and Zinchencko.

[Nonayforever]

Pep, in my view is easily the best manager in the world.
Man City have had money for years but not the success Pep has brought to the club.
If Dyche was given unlimited amounts of money would he transform PL football ? I doubt it. He would still have 2 wingers and a big centre forward.

[Hibsclaret]

Pep, in my view is easily the best manager in the world.
Man City have had money for years but not the success Pep has brought to the club.
If Dyche was given unlimited amounts of money would he transform PL football ? I doubt it. He would still have 2 wingers and a big centre forward.

When you’re working with a Mercedes team you can win at F1. If you are working with Skodas you won’t win. A manager makes the best of their resources and both Pep and Dyche have done that consistently with vastly different resources. Hard to distinguish the better manager when you’re comparing apples with pears

[The Enclosure]

According to Dyche the grass has to be cut to a maximum length of 30 mm. to meet Premier league regs, the Turf on Saturday was cut to 28mm..
Players on 150 grand a week should be able to play on any surface...jog along Pep.

[Hibsclaret]

Looks like that extra 2mm would have given us more of a chance. We need to learn from this for next seasons games against the big teams. Get the grass cut to 30mm.

Lord on earth knows what today’s bleating big 6 managers would have made of Luton or QPR’s plastic back in the day.

[Terrier]

And next season he and klopp get 5 supersubs to make it even harder to beat them!

[RalphCoatesComb]

When I saw the post, I thought someone was having a larf. Then I saw Pep's interview. Perhaps he should have played ont' Turf back before these snooker table pitches!

Pep, it helps when you can afford to leave the like of Jesus, Stones, Zinchenko, Silva, Fernandinho and Mahrez on the bench. You can't complain about the length of the grass or the fact that it hasn't been watered!

Come back when your most expensive signing is less that £16m!

Bring on The Championship and a level playing field, where no one gives a flying fig about the length of the grass!

[RalphCoatesComb]

And next season he and klopp get 5 supersubs to make it even harder to beat them!

The whole game is a joke. No wonder people are turning away from the beautiful game !

[Silkyskills1]

the innovation to use his fullbacks as more central midfielders to squeeze and dominate the ball was revolutionary. I remember he actually used to play midfielders at fullback, with Delph and Zinchencko.

I don't understand this. Can you explain it for me please?

[Quickenthetempo]

I don't understand this. Can you explain it for me please?

When City have the ball they tend to overload the central midfield area with full backs so they have the numerical advantage over everyone.
Knowing that rigid teams like ours would never allow their players to follow, to mark.

[aggi]

I'd love to see him managing a team that wasn't overflowing with money to buy who he wants. He's had an outstanding managerial career but I would not put him in the category of one of the best the world has ever seen.

True, he's no Eddie Howe. There was a manager who showed how to succeed with no money.

[BillyHamilton9]

Dyche has used this tactic against every top 3 or 4 side ever since we've been in the Premier League and it's barely ever paid off. He seems to think it will give us a good advantage but I know for a fact he never even tells his own players what the plan is and they only find out when they start warming up. The only players that it affects are our own but he's never learnt.
Also the training pitch is cut shorter so work that one out.

[jojomk1]

I'd love to see him managing a team that wasn't overflowing with money to buy who he wants. He's had an outstanding managerial career but I would not put him in the category of one of the best the world has ever seen.

He is managing a team that is overflowing with money because City, and others before, have seen him as the guy who can deliver the goods

Dyche has always said he would play better football with better players

I doubt that

[Spijed]

He is managing a team that is overflowing with money because City, and others before, have seen him as the guy who can deliver the goods

Dyche has always said he would play better football with better players

I doubt that

So we didn't play good football with Defour in the team then?

[Spijed]

Dyche has used this tactic against every top 3 or 4 side ever since we've been in the Premier League and it's barely ever paid off. He seems to think it will give us a good advantage but I know for a fact he never even tells his own players what the plan is and they only find out when they start warming up. The only players that it affects are our own but he's never learnt.
Also the training pitch is cut shorter so work that one out.

What about the great results we've had against Liverpool for example?
The only team to take points off them at Anfield when they won the league.
The first team to beat them at Anfield in quite a few seasons.
And we've also drawn three times and won once away at Chelsea.
I'd say that's a far better record than most other sides in the bottom half of the table.

[Wile E Coyote]

Anyone got any images of pep with our groundsman ?