Noisy Neighbours - the Man City thread

[flushthemout]

Nolito has started to look impressive, defo no place for Nasri, Navas probably fringe player but do like his pace but no end product as yet Alex

[flushthemout]

Sterling showing loads more confidence thought he should have scored instead of passing to Nolito, Confidence not at 100% I guess.

[cambridgealex]

As a FF Silva owner, should I consider getting rid?

[flushthemout]

He will get plenty of assists mate.

[hhyftrftdr]

I think Silva should get plenty of game time, but when Gundogan returns I'm not sure how we'll line up in midfield. Merlin has had a decent start, nothing particularly flash but looks to be linking up well with KDB. KDB is the guy you want in fantasy football if you can shoehorn him in your XI, he'll have double figures for goals and assists come May.

I hate international breaks with a passion but looks like this one is coming at a good time for us, should have a full quota to choose from when we go to O/T in September. Tricky tie at home to the Hammers next Sunday first, they inflicted our first defeat on us last season so hoping history doesn't repeat itself. With Pep in charge I have faith

[hhyftrftdr]

Think dependent on form/fitness/opposition, it will be Sterling, Sane, Nolito and Navas battling for 2 spots on the wings, Sane and Nolito having a slight advantage in that both can play central or up front too. Can envisage Fernandinho moving to right back when Gundogan is fit, also wouldn't be surprised to see Stones playing in midfield a few times this season.

If nothing else, Pep keeps us guessing with selection and formations! Might draw the line at Bony in goal, though.

[Archer]

Overall a brilliant 1st week in what is only very early days under Pep. There would have been meltdown on Bluemoon if Pelle had  picked that starting line-up  for Stoke away last season.  All of Caballero, Zabba, Kolorav, Navas  were not really expected to feature this season because they are perceived to be not good enough or past it. But then there is the Pep effect and the difference he has made in such a short time is immense and bodes so well for the future. Odds on for exciting times ahead.

And then there is the “scapegoat”. Over the 3 games Sterling has been the standout player for me and for those over on Bluemoon with 2 MOTM and 2nd to Stones yesterday. Brilliant start for him as he is clearly encouraged to do what he is best at. His pressing has been the best of the front 5 as well. Hopefully the goals will come as well. Now looking like a steal at £44m

Stones was outstanding yesterday in his hardest test to date and a great integration into a new team for him. Let’s see how he fares against sterner opposition.

[DungBeetle]

It does feel like Pep is the nuts wherever he rocks up.  Good 5 years for City ahead in my opinion.

[swinebag22]

Really liking what I'm seeing so far. Been on my hols so Stoke was the first game I got to see properly.

Sterling looks re invented. Would have liked to see him try and score that last one there. Could you imagine Kun passing there?

Silva seems to really have bought into the pep way and he made a load of tackles. Think he will give Pep a selection headache when Gundogan returns.

The whole "wide central defenders/full backs in midfield when attacking is fascinating to watch. Not sure it is a flawless system but we'll see...

As for the Hart situation, he was dead to me when he blanked my mates daughter last season when she asked him for an autograph. Not sure he is the 'jobber' that some people think he is but I won't shed any tears when he leaves. Hopefully the Barca guy can do a job.

[hhyftrftdr]

The Hart situation is pretty telling and I'm actually really liking Pep's stance on it all. This is Joe's first real setback/challenge in his career (I know Pellers dropped him the other year but not counting that) and it looks like he's jumping ship at the first opportunity instead of tackling the issue head on. I think if Hart said he'd stay until January and work on the points Pep wants him to improve on, then it would be a big tick next to his character. Granted, it might still result in him leaving but at least he'd have given it a bash. The fact he's eager to leave immediately speaks volumes IMO.

From what I've read it was a simple training exercise that really unimpressed Pep and his coaches; the ball was played onto his weaker foot, he had to adjust his feet, get the ball onto his stronger foot and play it out. He really struggled and I think that was the final nail in his coffin. All his long balls in pre season won't have helped either

It's a potentially divisive move from Pep as Hart is generally loved by City fans, however you can't hire the best coach in football and then not back him on the big decisions. The question is why hasn't Hart been working on his footwork for the last 6 months? I'll be sad to see him leave but also thankful for having him in nets for the previous 7/8 years. It's a shame that as good a keeper as he is, his next move is downwards as any big club at home or abroad don't really need him.

[Ant040689]

The Hart situation is pretty telling and I'm actually really liking Pep's stance on it all. This is Joe's first real setback/challenge in his career (I know Pellers dropped him the other year but not counting that) and it looks like he's jumping ship at the first opportunity instead of tackling the issue head on. I think if Hart said he'd stay until January and work on the points Pep wants him to improve on, then it would be a big tick next to his character. Granted, it might still result in him leaving but at least he'd have given it a bash. The fact he's eager to leave immediately speaks volumes IMO.

From what I've read it was a simple training exercise that really unimpressed Pep and his coaches; the ball was played onto his weaker foot, he had to adjust his feet, get the ball onto his stronger foot and play it out. He really struggled and I think that was the final nail in his coffin. All his long balls in pre season won't have helped either

It's a potentially divisive move from Pep as Hart is generally loved by City fans, however you can't hire the best coach in football and then not back him on the big decisions. The question is why hasn't Hart been working on his footwork for the last 6 months? I'll be sad to see him leave but also thankful for having him in nets for the previous 7/8 years. It's a shame that as good a keeper as he is, his next move is downwards as any big club at home or abroad don't really need him.

It is shocking because Man City are a huge club in the champs league and all the clubs wanting him now aren't, unless he opts for Sevilla. So I think he should stay and compete for his place. The footwork necessary and style of play I would assume isn't that tough to train into someone with a decent prolonged effort of a month or two, or perhaps i am underestimating it completely.

Can we have a checklist of what pep wants from a keeper?

charging from your line to sweep
great and quick throwing to set counters away
ability to play with both feet in cramped spaces on the deck after a short goal kick with intricate triangle passes where a mistake means a high probability of a goal conceded.
 
Sweeper keeping can take some getting used to to Neuer's extent. As he probably had to deal with say 3 howlers a season on this front where you miss the ball, so it was always risky, but often beneficial to the squad. Perhaps Hart hasn't the bollocks for this? I would say he's capable with familiarity of the style but would have to be afforded a transition process of slightly more mistakes earlier on.

Quick throwing? Should be a part of every pro keeper's repertoire and hes not bad at this no?

Playing in cramped spaces as mentioned above he is struggling with, but I can't see how a short amount of training wouldn't dramatically improve him.

I think generally pep doesn't rate him in the basics of keeping as highly as Hart deserves. I think the poor Euros where pep saw him in games that were high pressure and he flopped twice, made him think that he is a project not worth investing in. Perhaps also his personality which was also mentioned above irks Pep.  

[Archer]

Moved from my normal seat at the front of Level 3 to one 2/3rds up Level 1 last night. First time I have sat lowdown at City for years and although I was 20+ rows from the front I thought the view was terrible. Much prefer looking down when you can clearly see the shape and movement and basically everything that is going on. Each to their own I suppose because I suspect I'm in a minority here.

Great to see Hart get the reception he deserved yet, at the same time, the majority are behind Pep. Winter captures the mood perfecty  in this article:

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/hart-bows-out-after-fans-rousing-reception-fktthnqkh

Just read this long but brilliant article on Bravo, the Pep philosophy with goalkeepers and a connection with the existing City GK coach who Hart has worked with in recent years. After reading that it strikes me there was no chance of Hart staying as No1.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/10549859/claudio-bravo-to-man-city-why-hes-always-been-pep-guardiolas-man
 

[hhyftrftdr]

I much prefer being higher up but sadly for financial reasons I'm very much pitchside this season hoping the relocation window next season is less of a farce than this year and can get into SS3....I want to be able to see all of Pep's way of playing! I love Newcastle away cos you get such a great view from their visiting end, assuming you can survive the marathon getting up there.

Any news on Nacho? Happened right in front of us, looked like he was just pulling up with a hammy or some shit then suddenly their defender was rushing over to aid him and beckoning the medics whilst fiddling around with Nacho's mouth. Looked potentially awful for about 15 seconds, tongue swallowing maybe? I dunno but wasn't nice to see and brought back pretty grim memories of MVF

5pm today, I'm told the microwave is getting powered up at 4.55 and is more than ready to fuck us over

[hhyftrftdr]

'Good' for City....

Benfica
Basel
Dinamo Zagreb

Bad for City....

Barcelona
Dynamo Kiev
Besiktas

Good for me....

Juventus/PSG
Club Brugge/PSV
Legia Warsaw/Zagreb

Bad for me...

Bayern Munich
Dynamo Kiev
Besiktas (not a chance in hell I'd go there for football)/Copenhagen

[TightEnd]

tasty