Topic: General Manchester City thread

[idontknow]

Exactly!

Keyword "spoilt".
They are suddenly in a situatiuon where everything is not rolling their way.

Joe Corrigan getting a bottle thrown from the Kop at him back in the 80s was mentioned a couple of pages back.
A lot of you will remember it. The Kop immediately identified him and ejected him.

We could have acted spoilt.
Champions of Europe, but finished 5th the previous season, written off at the start of the season because 3 points for a win, which was new, would put paid to our 'defensive' football.
The game the bottle was thrown in was, ironically, at home to Man City. It was late December, maybe Boxing Day, not sure, and we lost, 1-3. We were 13th. Anfield was no longer a fortress. If any group of fans had been 'spoilt', it was ours. But almost 40 years ago, in a city suffering severe abuse from an inhumane Tory government, the supporters threw the bottle-thrower out themselves.
Without looking, I bet the attendance was 35-6,000, I'd be surprised if it was more, because a couple of quid for a ticket was too much for a lot of people.

Nothing was rolling our way, and we had trophy after trophy for years.

I don't really know what I'm trying to say.
Has society really changed so much, or is it that Liverpool really is different, and knows that you get your highs from fighting through the lows, and that, whatever happens, we have something socialist on our hearts, all pulling together, looking out for one another, not putting up with anything that will hurt or betray the reputation of our club and city.

I should have put a question mark.

My conclusion is that we are different from other clubs, and their supporters. That's what I love most about this club.


(Apologies if that doesn't make much sense).

[Flaccido Dongingo]

A Liverpool fan lost an eye after being hit by a coin thrown by an Abu Dhabi 'fan' at the Emptyhad a few seasons ago. Throwing things were all City were good at before Abu Dhabi bought their name. Anyone who ever stood on the away side of the Kippax fence will testify to that.

Maine Road was a shithole

[Flaccido Dongingo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50707809

Pep's clearly been smoking too much of the wacky baccy...... he's gone and put us, Barca, Juve AND Man U in the same bracket!

He's also said that they are struggling to compete with the big teams (!).

Reverse psychology? Mind games on another level?

I'm not a fan of City (obviously), but they are arguably in the top 5 teams in world footy right now.

That defeat to Utd has certainly dislodged a few of his brain cells.

This is all new to Pip, he's used to having more money than anyone and virtually no competition, how dare anyone challenge his team!

[ScouserAtHeart]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50707809

Pep's clearly been smoking too much of the wacky baccy...... he's gone and put us, Barca, Juve AND Man U in the same bracket!

He's also said that they are struggling to compete with the big teams (!).

Reverse psychology? Mind games on another level?

I'm not a fan of City (obviously), but they are arguably in the top 5 teams in world footy right now.

That defeat to Utd has certainly dislodged a few of his brain cells.

So he's saying Oxford United is more their level. Fair enough

[Dim Glas]

Quotes from that BBC article deserve to be actually posted here, just for the utter hilarity of Guardiola's comments, especially the bolded bit:

"[Manchester] United have the quality to defend and the quality to attack on the counter-attack and you have to accept that," he added.

"That is the level we face against Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus. They are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them.

"Maybe we need to live that as a club to improve, to accept the reality now and improve."

[rhysd]

Quotes from that BBC article deserve to be actually posted here, just for the utter hilarity of Guardiola's comments, especially the bolded bit:

"[Manchester] United have the quality to defend and the quality to attack on the counter-attack and you have to accept that," he added.

"That is the level we face against Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus. They are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them.

"Maybe we need to live that as a club to improve, to accept the reality now and improve."

Unbelievable.

Can't compete? Need another half a billion pounds do you? You poor baby.

[thaddeus]

Sterling scored 18 goals in 20 games before coming to Anfield in November.

He's scored 1 in 6 since (or 1 in 7 if you include the game against us).

Gomez really messed him up!

[nuts100]

Maine Road was a shithole

The entire area was a shithole. The kippax was a fucking gruesome place

Went to watch them one year as my mate was a massive city fan. Went when they beat huddersfield 10-1 back in the 80's i think.
We'd been to Deansgate beforehand. Now that was a decent place to go to, good pubs and shops, stepping into maine road was like going inot a 3rd world country back then. However 3rd world countries have good people with wit and intelligence, none to be found in that area, gruesome

[Morgana]

This is all new to Pip, he's used to having more money than anyone and virtually no competition, how dare anyone challenge his team!

This is what riles me up: He's supposed to be one of the best managers in the world, and he's basically saying to his employers here: "Look at what I have.... It is not enough to compete with the best in Europe. You need to buy me more stuff so I can do my job." Talk about a spoilt brat. He is one of those managers who either inherit great teams or buys a bunch of top notch players at the start, all earning shitloads of money, run them into the ground, develop next to nobody from the youth set up, and then bugger off once the champion horses are knackered and ready for the glue factory. How about you reason with your impatient gobshite spoilt brat fanbase/owners, take the time to rebuild your team, inspire your mega-multi-millionaire squad, and develop some more youth players FFS!

He might as well resign now and bugger off back to Barcelona to help Messi win his 5th Champions League.

[Red Giant]

https://twitter.com/GrizzKhan/status/1203645708932390912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportbible.com%2Ffootball%2Fnews-noel-gallaghers-predictions-for-manchester-city-this-season-20191208

Unluckeeee

[Statto Red]

https://twitter.com/GrizzKhan/status/1203645708932390912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportbible.com%2Ffootball%2Fnews-noel-gallaghers-predictions-for-manchester-city-this-season-20191208

Unluckeeee

Well de does have a point, we are nowhere near City this season, [we're miles ahead of them]  .

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

I just can’t agree.


Expecting Sterling to condemn each and every racist act in the same way and style risks holding him to a deferent standard to everyone else..  which could of course be racist

Reacting to racism in Italy, and not saying a word about racism in your own ground where he saw the incident with his own eyes - that is hypocrisy. We Liverpool fans know that, it's nothing new for us, we're just making sure that everyone understands that too.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

This is brilliant https://youtu.be/7rMC7yFXMy8

[ScouserAtHeart]

Whatever happens, City are forward planning — this column previously reported a sense in the game that for the first time the club are preparing for life with or without Guardiola — and The Athletic is aware of a position they have been looking to fill that may raise further questions.

It is understood that candidates have been approached about a high-performance role and it was made clear during those conversations that this might be the last campaign of Guardiola’s tenure. City worked with headhunters to find the right hire and in meetings it was suggested that year one of the post would be low-key — largely spent in the background, gaining information and familiarity — but with a regime change then likely, the successful candidate should enjoy greater prominence thereafter.

It was apparently explained that making an external appointment would initially lead to internal distrust and scepticism from existing staff who themselves coveted the opportunity, as well as from Guardiola and his inner circle who might be wary of somebody from outside coming in.

An exact title was not specified but it was essentially described as a job to audit and oversee the first-team medical and fitness departments on behalf of the club, rather than Guardiola. At no point was it guaranteed he would be exiting next summer and City have not commented.

https://theathletic.com/1440713/2019/12/09/ornstein-on-monday-city-planning-for-life-after-pep-koscielny-and-ozils-goodbyes-to-emery-and-contract-talks-for-leicesters-maddison-and-soyuncu/

[Red Beret]

What does any of that even mean? If I'm understanding it right, its saying they were looking to hire a manager before Pep leaves who would stay in the background and basically hang around the club learning the ropes so they can have a smooth transition?

As an aside, all clubs go through transitions and rebuilds. It bugs me no end that City  - from Pep down to their fans - think they're entitled to just spend shedloads of cash to perpetually cling to top spot.

As a fan I'd find that do dull. Eventually teams figure you out and develop tactics to counter you; your players age and need replacing. And yes, you can do a Fergie if you're canny with transfers and know how to bring the youth on, so you can minimize the disruption. City just don't want to face any of those challenges.

They don't just want success  - they want easy success. Maybe its because of a lifetime in the wilderness, but they just don't want to fight for it.

The irony is they're kicking off because they're failing to reach the bar THEY set.

[McSquared]

Bunch of entitled c*nts from top to bottom

[SerbianScouser]

Their ability to stop the counter-attacks this season has almost completely evaporated.

Wonder if Klopp's mind games regarding tactical fouls played a part in it. I reckon they did.

[boots]

Fook off Noel, Mr eyebrow. You made one truly great album, then dropped into mediocrity. Knobbled yer own band getting rid of Bonehead and Guigsy. Liam is right, youre a fucking knob. Now you make music for middle class twats who think Coldplay is edgy. Fucking do one with your plinky plonky safe rock. Liam may be a knobhead, but hes an honest knobhead. You're just a snidey and bitter has-been.

[Yosser0_0]

A Liverpool fan lost an eye after being hit by a coin thrown by an Abu Dhabi 'fan' at the Emptyhad a few seasons ago. Throwing things were all City were good at before Abu Dhabi bought their name. Anyone who ever stood on the away side of the Kippax fence will testify to that.

At least you felt well protected by the netting that they had fitted between the opposing fans, it was virtually bullet proof! What exciting times they were!
 

[Yosser0_0]

Mate of mine got hit by a golf ball there, got hit by a meat pie once as well, the pie was rock hard and did more damage than the golf ball, come to think of it the pie incident may have been on the kop, things are a bit hazy but the golf ball deffo happened at maine road

Umm, are you sure that wasn't at Wigan Athletic?

On that subject I once heard a story about an aerobics class being held in Wigan. The instructor told the class to put their 'hands on thighs' and the entire class responded by covering their eyes with their hands.
 

[ScouserAtHeart]

What does any of that even mean? If I'm understanding it right, its saying they were looking to hire a manager before Pep leaves who would stay in the background and basically hang around the club learning the ropes so they can have a smooth transition?

As an aside, all clubs go through transitions and rebuilds. It bugs me no end that City  - from Pep down to their fans - think they're entitled to just spend shedloads of cash to perpetually cling to top spot.

As a fan I'd find that do dull. Eventually teams figure you out and develop tactics to counter you; your players age and need replacing. And yes, you can do a Fergie if you're canny with transfers and know how to bring the youth on, so you can minimize the disruption. City just don't want to face any of those challenges.

They don't just want success  - they want easy success. Maybe its because of a lifetime in the wilderness, but they just don't want to fight for it.

The irony is they're kicking off because they're failing to reach the bar THEY set.

Think they basically want to hire a manager a year early, and spend that year learning everything from the great and powerful Pep before leaving

[Red Beret]

Think they basically want to hire a manager a year early, and spend that year learning everything from the great and powerful Pep before leaving

Great. He'll learn all the shortcomings too.

[Skeeve]

Up against £8m for ours who are essential undroppable components of our team.

Be fair that £210m includes the ones that would also be the backups so you have to include the cost of our backups too.

Since they are Milner and Gomez, that'd take the total up to a massive £10.25m.

[Musketeer Gripweed]

He'll learn to count to two anyway.

[gazzalfc]

Funny how quiet the Liverpool thread is over on Blue-moon

[L8Craig]

He's a brilliant manager Pep is.
The city side he inherited was brilliant but also the players he has signed have been brilliant too.

They let Kompany go leaving Laporte, Ottamendi and Stones. Even if Kompany was a bench player for them last season, not replacing him was stupid. An injury was bound to happen to Fernandinho or one of the CBs leaving the defensive set up looking fragile.

Aguero and Sane, as brilliant as they are, are replaceable due to the sheer amount of world class technical attacking players they have accrued over the years.

Putting Fernandinho into defence rather than letting him being his snidey self in the centre of the park isn't the greatest move. Rodri looks good but he isn't Fernandinho and playing two 10s either side of him doesn't help the fragility they have behind the midfield.

They've lost that killer instinct that made teams concede the game before the game had even kicked off.

Lovely.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

I honestly don't get why they don't just swap Rodri and Fernandinho around. Fernandinho is obviously a better midfielder, and Rodri is built like a centre back and knows how to play there.

[vicar]

Umm, are you sure that wasn't at Wigan Athletic?

On that subject I once heard a story about an aerobics class being held in Wigan. The instructor told the class to put their 'hands on thighs' and the entire class responded by covering their eyes with their hands.
 

 

I am going to steal that!

[L8Craig]

I honestly don't get why they don't just swap Rodri and Fernandinho around. Fernandinho is obviously a better midfielder, and Rodri is built like a centre back and knows how to play there.

I think it's because Stones and Ottamendi are jokes defensively too, so Fernandinho is quite senior at the back.

[Red Beret]

Their ability to stop the counter-attacks this season has almost completely evaporated.

Wonder if Klopp's mind games regarding tactical fouls played a part in it. I reckon they did.

Since they moved Fernandinho their ability to tactically foul themselves out of trouble has greatly diminished.  Saw a suggestion online the other day that they plan to keep him at CB as he's likely to be off in the summer, so they'd rather bloody someone else in DM as a replacement.

[Medellin]

A Liverpool fan lost an eye after being hit by a coin thrown by an Abu Dhabi 'fan' at the Emptyhad a few seasons ago. Throwing things were all City were good at before Abu Dhabi bought their name. Anyone who ever stood on the away side of the Kippax fence will testify to that.

Yep & not just a City thing back when they were at Maine rd..Utd fans done exactly the same during the FA cup replay there, everything got hurled at us that night including a huge lump of coal..yeah coal of all things for fucks sake.

[Dave D]

Heads have completely gone, it's only December.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/11882040/pep-guardiola-says-manchester-city-struggling-to-match-elite-clubs-at-current-time

"That is the level we face against Liverpool, United, Barcelona, Madrid, Juventus - they are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them"

[killer-heels]

They are done this season.

They wont be winning the CL either. Their only trophies could be in the domestic cups.

[El Lobo]

He's a brilliant manager Pep is.
The city side he inherited was brilliant but also the players he has signed have been brilliant too.

They let Kompany go leaving Laporte, Ottamendi and Stones. Even if Kompany was a bench player for them last season, not replacing him was stupid. An injury was bound to happen to Fernandinho or one of the CBs leaving the defensive set up looking fragile.

Aguero and Sane, as brilliant as they are, are replaceable due to the sheer amount of world class technical attacking players they have accrued over the years.

Putting Fernandinho into defence rather than letting him being his snidey self in the centre of the park isn't the greatest move. Rodri looks good but he isn't Fernandinho and playing two 10s either side of him doesn't help the fragility they have behind the midfield.

They've lost that killer instinct that made teams concede the game before the game had even kicked off.

Lovely.

Not sure they are really. Bringing on Sane against tired legs is a massive thing they’ve missed, or him starting and bringing on someone else after he’s ran them ragged. Aguero too is a flat track bully that Jesus isn’t. Sanes been a huge loss for them.

[killer-heels]

He's a brilliant manager Pep is.
The city side he inherited was brilliant but also the players he has signed have been brilliant too.

They let Kompany go leaving Laporte, Ottamendi and Stones. Even if Kompany was a bench player for them last season, not replacing him was stupid. An injury was bound to happen to Fernandinho or one of the CBs leaving the defensive set up looking fragile.

Aguero and Sane, as brilliant as they are, are replaceable due to the sheer amount of world class technical attacking players they have accrued over the years.

Putting Fernandinho into defence rather than letting him being his snidey self in the centre of the park isn't the greatest move. Rodri looks good but he isn't Fernandinho and playing two 10s either side of him doesn't help the fragility they have behind the midfield.

They've lost that killer instinct that made teams concede the game before the game had even kicked off.

Lovely.

Kompany wasnt a bench player. He was a key player that they wheeled out for every big game. If anything they did all they could to protect him.

Aguero and Sane are two of their best 3 out and out attackers, alongside Sterling. Silva is an all rounder but neither Jesus or Mahrez are in the class of Aguero or Sane.

The good thing for us long term is that Aguero doesnt have much left in the tank and Sane may well go and even if he doesnt he may have been curtailed long term due to suffering an ACL.

[SerbianScouser]

Sane may well go and even if he doesnt he may have been curtailed long term due to suffering an ACL.

Plus for some reason Pep was losing his trust in him anyway, was benching him a lot last season with Bernardo practically taking over his spot as wide-forward.

[mkingdon]

Any bets on City breaking the January window spending record....on their own?

Johnny Evans for £300m?  It seems to be Pep's one trick....spend, spend and then spend some more.

Where are all the kids their gabillion pound FFP dodging infrastructure has delivered?

[Nobby Reserve]

What does any of that even mean? If I'm understanding it right, its saying they were looking to hire a manager before Pep leaves who would stay in the background and basically hang around the club learning the ropes so they can have a smooth transition?

As an aside, all clubs go through transitions and rebuilds. It bugs me no end that City  - from Pep down to their fans - think they're entitled to just spend shedloads of cash to perpetually cling to top spot.

As a fan I'd find that do dull. Eventually teams figure you out and develop tactics to counter you; your players age and need replacing. And yes, you can do a Fergie if you're canny with transfers and know how to bring the youth on, so you can minimize the disruption. City just don't want to face any of those challenges.

They don't just want success  - they want easy success. Maybe its because of a lifetime in the wilderness, but they just don't want to fight for it.

The irony is they're kicking off because they're failing to reach the bar THEY set.

From this bit - "An exact title was not specified but it was essentially described as a job to audit and oversee the first-team medical and fitness departments on behalf of the club, rather than Guardiola." - I took it to mean that ADPRFC want to bring in someone to oversee certain aspects of playing squad side of things, who reports to - and whose loyalty is to - the club, rather than the manager. They're using the anticipated departure of Pippy as an opportunity to bring in this change, with the next manager having to work within this set-up.

[PhilV]

Those quotes from Guardiola are so devoid of self awareness of who he is and the team he is managing and their spending power (which they have used frequently)



He can get to fuck, bald c*nt. I have never liked him, reminds me AJ, the fake humbleness bollocks but inside you know they are fucking dickheads.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

He's a brilliant manager Pep is.
The city side he inherited was brilliant but also the players he has signed have been brilliant too.

They let Kompany go leaving Laporte, Ottamendi and Stones. Even if Kompany was a bench player for them last season, not replacing him was stupid. An injury was bound to happen to Fernandinho or one of the CBs leaving the defensive set up looking fragile.

Aguero and Sane, as brilliant as they are, are replaceable due to the sheer amount of world class technical attacking players they have accrued over the years.

Putting Fernandinho into defence rather than letting him being his snidey self in the centre of the park isn't the greatest move. Rodri looks good but he isn't Fernandinho and playing two 10s either side of him doesn't help the fragility they have behind the midfield.

They've lost that killer instinct that made teams concede the game before the game had even kicked off.

Lovely.

Aguero isn't really replaceable. I can't remember him having a bad season (whem fit) in his career since Atletico. He's probably the most consistent striker in the league since 2011.