As we get our teeth into another tightly contested Title race, this time with Arsenal, I will have my eye cast on one side to the Championship. Vinny's Burnley lead Sheffield United by 3 points at the halfway stage. I wanted to wait until the 32nd game to post this given how fluid the championship can be but I can't hold my excitement anymore.
With Arteta performing a mini miracle at Arsenal with more or less the same group of players who were written off (Xhaka etal) the influence of Guardiola on English football is there for all to see. With Erik ten Hag at United Pep may soon be facing up to 3 managers he worked with in league and cup games next season.
The league has already got enough managers who play possession based football such as De Zerbi who is another Pep disciple and Graham Potter. In other news anyone see James McAtee wondergoal at Blackpool. Wowser
Vincent Kompany
posted on 1/1/23
You'll miss Kompany in this title chase, you wouldn't have overcome United in 2012 or Liverpool in 2019 without him. Proper captain, impossible to replace.
posted on 1/1/23
I loved watching Vinny play - just amazing controlled aggression. When a forward came through, he was always in position and ready to hit him hard. He's made a great start in management - long may it continue. You certainly wouldn't mess with him.
posted on 1/1/23
Can we call ETH a top manager yet? He’s performed well so far for us, but what’s he actually won prior to coming here?
posted on 1/1/23
comment by Loco Liverpool (U18018)
posted 1 minute ago
You'll miss Kompany in this title chase, you wouldn't have overcome United in 2012 or Liverpool in 2019 without him. Proper captain, impossible to replace.
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Kompany is a special human being, never mind a footballer so he is irreplaceable but There are enough big characters in the dressing room to handle this title race and I’m thinking of Walker and Bernardo who do a good job in keeping spirits up within the group.
I beg to differ, in 2012 Yaya Toure taking over most games in those last 6 games was crucial to seeing city over the line rather than any team talk by Vinny.
In 2019, other players stepped up aswell like Bernardo but I agree there that Vinny held it together. Also feel you bottled it.
posted on 1/1/23
comment by Baz tard (U19119)
posted 1 minute ago
Can we call ETH a top manager yet? He’s performed well so far for us, but what’s he actually won prior to coming here?
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I’m only really comparing him to Arteta who also hasn’t won much. Let’s face it, as an inexperienced manager all you can do is show a philosophy, show you can improve players, get results then the board backs you with signings like they did for Klopp.
If Arteta and ETH continue on the same path expect the respective owners to open the purse strings and buy them the best players.
I feel Chelsea and Borely and going about it the wrong way.
posted on 1/1/23
A few West Ham want him to replace Moyes.
posted on 1/1/23
Possession based football was the philosophy of Cruyff. Pep was a disciple of Cruyff and expanded on that philosophy. The Total Football philosophy by Rinus Michels revolutionised football
posted on 1/1/23
OP, it's actually not tightly contested is it?
posted on 1/1/23
comment by manusince52 (U9692)
posted 12 minutes ago
OP, it's actually not tightly contested is it?
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Guess we will see by mid February when we both get through some tough games and play each other. Dont think 7 points is a huge gap with 20 games left.
posted on 1/1/23
I beg to differ, in 2012 Yaya Toure taking over most games in those last 6 games was crucial to seeing city over the line rather than any team talk by Vinny.
There were a few key figures in that run in. Definitely needed kompany to bang that one in against United to give us the belief again though, we were the better side in that game but couldn’t find the way through until he bagged. Same against Leicester when he fired that 40 yarder in