[Albion] Oh Pep

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Well.. it is a requirement if you want to be managing at this level. All of the managers at this level, even the "shite" ones, are compulsive perfectionists who want to climb out of their skin when things don't go well.

Even so, I don't like to see evidence of self-harming. The still has been 'enhanced' but the marks are visible in the video. The last time I saw anything like that was after nine year old with ADHD and autism had a meltdown.

 

[herecomesaregular]

That's a manager who should quit immediately for his mental health. Needs a year off and then return. Klopp recognised the stresses, it seems Pep has stayed on too long. I used to love his meltdowns as a "bad loser" but now I feel a bit concerned about him tbf.

Also the players will look at him like this and he'll lose the dressing room (King Kev stylee).

 

[dangull]

Seems a bit pathetic to me. Someone who has had incredible success over his managerial career loses a few games and a draw and seems to be losing his mind over it.
I would like to see Pep at Palace next. That may test his mental health as well.

 

[GJN1]

What really irks me about Pep is his little spitting habit. Drives me nuts.

 

[Giraffe]

There is something not right about this. Something is going on with Pep or the club or both. Too many things going wrong. And this latest thing is really odd.

 

[jcdenton08]

Two points;

1. City hahahahahahahahaha.

2. Very harsh social media pile-on on Guardiola over his off-hand comments about self harm.

Isn’t it far more likely he was very stressed speaking to the media immediately another on-pitch debacle, and perhaps tried to play off what was an inappropriate question with what felt like to him in that moment, a lighthearted reply. Isn’t that more likely than, say, trying to offend people with mental illness who self harm?

Reminded of Stewart Lee’s bit about Gordon Brown making a mistake when writing a letter and the media pouncing on him for causing deliberate offence, when it’s surely a lot more likely he made an innocent mistake due to his vision.

There are armies of people out there desperate to take offence at something - anything.

 

[dazzer6666]

As expected people are now popping up with the "is Pep any good?" question.

Quite literally EVERY manager on the planet who has had a career for 10+ years at some point or another had a spell where they lost a couple of games or didn't win for a while.


I don't think the players give a shit about that stuff as long as they get their money tbh. Doubt they even know how things are going. Phil Foden won't be home twisting and turning in bed about City having a fake sponsor.

Nah I think its down to a mix of injuries and saturation. They're all quite well fed with titles by now and it becomes more difficult each season you win to get the right energy.

Also they have consistently had one of the smallest squads in the league. 16-17 top class players and a handful of yoof.

They only need a few injuries until they're fielding players that aren't good enough at this level. Players like Simpson-Pusey and McAtee aren't the required level and the 13-14 established players that are still fit barely get any rest.

City has been playing Russian Roulette and this time they lost. When Rodri got injured it was immediately gg, imho. They literally don't have another defensive midfielder.

….just hope they don’t go all out to buy one in January

 

[Swimboy64]

That's a manager who should quit immediately for his mental health. Needs a year off and then return. Klopp recognised the stresses, it seems Pep has stayed on too long. I used to love his meltdowns as a "bad loser" but now I feel a bit concerned about him tbf.

Also the players will look at him like this and he'll lose the dressing room (King Kev stylee).

I think that may have happened already

 

[Mr Bridger]

What really irks me about Pep is his little spitting habit. Drives me nuts.

Same!

Surely next year our cheeky admin can position a spittoon in the technical area next season to catch his little gob pellets.

 

[US Seagull]

Genius tactics can make very ordinary players look world class. World class players can make risky tactics look like genius.

Now I wouldn't call Pep naive, he didn't get where he is without being brilliant, but maybe he's been sniffing his own farts for so long that he's lost touch with how much his players have been covering the risks he's taken. And now with a few key players out or underperforming, it's been exposed just how inherently risky the tactics have become.

Maybe he needs this to "stay humble" and tactically reset?

 

[Is it PotG?]

There is something not right about this. Something is going on with Pep or the club or both. Too many things going wrong. And this latest thing is really odd.

Rodri was SO important to this side, and Pep is so used to winning.

Funny as you like.

 

[schmunk]

Rodri was SO important to this side,

I have never understood, with him being so good for City, why he's never been picked for Wales.

 

[Han Solo]

….just hope they don’t go all out to buy one in January

Despite indications of the contrary, I think they are actually quite good at business... meaning they don't buy things from Tony Bloom.

 

[7dialssouthpaw]

There is something not right about this. Something is going on with Pep or the club or both. Too many things going wrong. And this latest thing is really odd.

It does have the hallmarks of a stressful work environment - speculating here, but maybe with the financial stuff, the owners are thinking of selling up?
And, on the pitch, losing Alvarez and bringing back half a Gundogan are all negatives and smack of reduced ambition. Throw in the loss of Rodri, and then there's the Manchester weather/food effect on a Spaniard...

 

[Gazwag]

What really irks me about Pep is his little spitting habit. Drives me nuts.

This, every time the camera is on him, why, the whole crowd at games can get as animated as him during games but very very few need to spit everywhere

 

[Triggaaar]

With the title gone, will City try and do a deal with the PL for a points deduction, that drops them to 17th by the end of the season? Then concentrate on the FA cup to qualify for Europe.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Looks like City won't be punished this season

Man City case could drag on beyond end of the season

Any appeal following the conclusion of the club’s hearing into 115 alleged breaches of financial rules is unlikely to be resolved before the end of May

www.thetimes.com