Pep Guardiola

[i_bleed_blaugrana]

I feel bad for Pep...I am just having nightmares of a Chelsea-Madrid horror final. We have to see either Mou or Do lift the trophy and like seriously, fuck that. Hate both of those pricks...

Tiki-taka isn't dead and while I am sure everyone in Bavaria is blasting Pep for bringing this style of play with him, the only reason why they lost so comprehensively was because Pep got his tactics completely wrong in the first half. The decision to play Kroos-Schweini as a double-pivot with Martinez on the bench was truly baffling. He would have offered a lot more protection on set pieces that perhaps would have denied Sergio on one of his goals and he most importantly would have neutralized Madrid's attempts to counter through the center. Time and time again in the first half when Madrid would break, either Bale, Ronaldo or Di Maria were consistently unmarked in the center. It was often a 3 or even 4-2 with Lahm coming late when Madrid attacked and that much of a glaring tactical oversight from Pep is puzzling.

However, he made the adjustment in the second half and immediately once Martinez was on, Bayern improved drastically and had much more control over the game, regardless of Ronaldo's brilliant FK. It was too little, too late however and if Martinez had started say next to Kroos, I think the game would have been much different.

 

[Alissa]

It was so naive of him to think that he can bring his philosophy to a team like Bayern. This was once again the proof that Pep isn't versatile and can not adapt, he has only one way to play and he will stick to that until the very end. And what an end it was.

 

[goope]

I think the biggest problem was the mentality.
Yesterday Ancelotti said at this stage it’s less about the tactics and more about the psychological aspect and Pep also said that the biggest turning point right now ist he mentality

Before they won the Liga all was well.
Then Pep said „the Bundesliga is over“ which made the players losing their drive to win every single game.
This in combination to fielding a complete B team against Augsburg between the CL ¼ final games in a Bundesliga match killed them off.

I hate to say it but this was hypocritical from Pep.
„We want to win every game“ in combination with „we respect every opponent“ in combination with „every opponent can hurt us“ in combination with „we need the rythm of 2 games per week“ is extremely hypocritical if you look at the Augsburg game.
It really hurts because to me it seems like this showed that Pep doesn’t really believe everything he says himself.

 

[Alissa]

I'd love to see Bayern face a strong team this year (and no I don't consider Arsenal a strong team, sorry) only then will I be able to decide whether Pep has made them better or worse. Them facing RM in the quarters would be amazing, Pep's nightmare come true.

Now I can say it, Pep totally broke Bayern. Well done.

 

[El_e8]

lol at people who feel bad for Pep and justifyng the loss. Meanwhile Tata needs to burn in hell cause Barca conceded against Villareal!

 

[DinhoR10]

If he bought Busquets, messi and iniesta along with Thiago they would have won today

How does a half dead Barca side beat Madrid twice this season but Bayern get thrashed by them?

 

[Behrox]

If he bought Busquets, messi and iniesta along with Thiago they would have won today

How does a half dead Barca side beat Madrid twice this season but Bayern get thrashed by them?

TATA the Tactical Genius. Lets take a look at his season:
1) No pre-season brought in when the transfer window was as good as dead
2) Only 1 pure CB, 1 emerging inexperienced CB, 1 season long injured waiting to retire captain CB and 1 DM playing CB
3) 34 years old Xavi who thinks he is in his prime and 26
4) Neymargate,Valdes injury,Messi injury 1 and 2,Alba injury,Neymar injury,Iniesta injury,Valdes injury 2,Neymar injury 2,Rosell stepping down,shitstorm for conceding possession to a team defeated 4-0,not Barca style,etc,etc
If you look at it objectively you can see Tata did the best he could under the circumstances and bar 1 or 2 games the whole season he didn't screw up tactically as we can see even Pep can screw up

 

[Ghostmaster]

TATA the Tactical Genius. Lets take a look at his season:
1) No pre-season brought in when the transfer window was as good as dead
2) Only 1 pure CB, 1 emerging inexperienced CB, 1 season long injured waiting to retire captain CB and 1 DM playing CB
3) 34 years old Xavi who thinks he is in his prime and 26
4) Neymargate,Valdes injury,Messi injury 1 and 2,Alba injury,Neymar injury,Iniesta injury,Valdes injury 2,Neymar injury 2,Rosell stepping down,shitstorm for conceding possession to a team defeated 4-0,not Barca style,etc,etc
If you look at it objectively you can see Tata did the best he could under the circumstances and bar 1 or 2 games the whole season he didn't screw up tactically as we can see even Pep can screw up

Yep and I may add - 5) freakin Atletico suddenly emerges and wants to conquer the world.

I don't think Atletico will repeat what they did this season, I am expecting a lot of main players to leave and thus next season will be easier for us to fight for La Liga title.

 

[serghei]

Pep has all the right qualities to become a legendary coach, except one -- extensive tactical knowledge. He needs to be more strategic. Other than that, he has the charisma, the leadership, the rare power to unite players and make them to fight for the same thing.

In Barcelona's case, the team was strong enough to focuse on it's own game and not care about the opponent too much. But that was one of the most unique teams in the history of the sport -- one that many expert and pundits consider to be the best ever. Those days are over, for FC Barcelona and Josep Guardiola likewise. NO TEAM IS STRONG ENOUGH TO NOT CARE ABOUT THE OPPONENT today. Barcelona and Bayern payed the price for their lack of flexibility.

 

[BBZ8800]

I love how everyone comments on Guardiola now with a condescending tone, as if he was a beginner coach looking to prove himself. Newsflash: Guardiola's Barcelona won 14 trophies in 4 years, including 2 CLs, making him the club's most successful coach in its 100+ year history. Pep doesn't have to prove shit to anyone.

Coincidence is that the best player of all time, and the best player in Barca's history, Messi, was in his prime years back then.

The question is: How many titles would mighty Pep won without Messi?
And how many titles would any other great coach won in those days with Messi in a godlike mode?
Probably not 14, but maybe it was not all about Pep in those days..

 

[Chong Li]

Dream scenario:

1. Bayern fires Pep
2. Board gets finally kicked out and Laporta returns as president
3. Pep returns home

4. Success!!

 

[Flavia]

Coincidence is that the best player of all time, and the best player in Barca's history, Messi, was in his prime years back then.

The question is: How many titles would mighty Pep won without Messi?
And how many titles would any other great coach won in those days with Messi in a godlike mode?
Probably not 14, but maybe it was not all about Pep in those days..

Spain had similar success in the same period, but I think it's obvious Messi was the biggest factor. Pep using him as false 9 changed things, though.

 

[BBZ8800]

Dream scenario:

1. Bayern fires Pep
2. Board gets finally kicked out and Laporta returns as president
3. Pep returns home

4. Success!!

5. winning against small teams with Tiki-Taka
6. losing all big matches in the next 3-4 years on counterattacks until Pep slightly changes his approach and tactics.
And knowing how stubborn he is, that will never happen.

So, we will get the response: "Players haven't followed my ideas" till death.

Whenever his team loses, the players haven't followed his ideas. Lol.
He is "never" guilty and his tactics never need a tweak or evolution..

 

[Barcilliant]

Dream scenario:

1. Bayern fires Pep
2. Board gets finally kicked out and Laporta returns as president
3. Pep returns home

4. Success!!

That scenario has heartbreak and disappointment written all over it.

1)The games has evolved
2)Teams know how to neutralise tiki-taka
3) Our players bar a few are all WAY past their prime

 

[Barcilliant]

Say what you want-Tata beat this RM 2/3 times despite having a past its prime, unbalanced, one dimensional squad.

Pep has a much stronger squad and a template Heynckes left but still failed. There are times when Pep lets his ego get the better of him. He tried to hard to be a Renaissance man, a romantic. In real life there are times when you have to adapt and win ugly. Pep refuses to evolve and this may be his downfall.