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Anyway I can block Darkman's posts?

Did he not inherit a good team?

Are you saying Rikaards team didn't press?

Upon being appointed, Guardiola revealed that Ronaldinho, Deco, Samuel Eto'o and others were not part of his plans for the coming season. By the time of the announcement, Guardiola had already offloaded full back Gianluca Zambrotta to Milan, attacking midfielder Giovani dos Santos to Tottenham Hotspur, and midfielder Edmílson to Villarreal. Deco went to Chelsea, while Ronaldinho joined Zambrotta in Milan. Lilian Thuram was initially going to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer but the discovery of a heart condition put a stop to the move, and the veteran retired to tend to his health. Oleguer Presas signed with Ajax, Santiago Ezquerro was released by Barça and Marc Crosas was sold to Celtic. The fate of Samuel Eto'o took much of the summer to unravel, with the Cameroonian linked with several clubs, but Guardiola finally declared that he would stay after his dedication in training and participation in the pre-season.

In association with Barça's director of sport, Txiki Begiristain, several new signings were made by Guardiola: Daniel Alves and Seydou Keita arrived from Sevilla, Martín Cáceres from Villarreal by way of Recreativo, Gerard Piqué returned from Manchester United, and Alexander Hleb was signed from Arsenal. Henrique was also signed from Palmeiras, but was immediately loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen. In interviews with the press, Guardiola stressed a harder work ethic than before, but also a more personal approach during training and a closer relationship with his players. Along with the new signings, Guardiola promoted canteranos Sergio Busquets, Pedro Rodríguez and Jeffrén Suárez to the first team squad.

SNM.

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I don't like doing this but when someone tr0lls do much you just have to put them in their place

Pep definitely got lucky with the quality of squad he had at his disposal, but don't forget some of the key signings like Alves were bought in the summer that he took over. So he was probably part of the discussions there. He's also added to the squad by selecting and promoting youngsters that otherwise would have been nowhere...,Pedro was on his way out of the club this summer as the scouts didn't rate him.

Of course, the key thing is he got this quality squad playing together and for each other again, eliminating the poisonous atmosphere of the last season. He also was ruthless enough to get rid of Ronaldinho and Deco (though that was also partly the club's decision). Turned Henry around with some individual man-management (took him for a one-on-one dinner at the start of the season, etc.).

He did not overhaul the tactics (but then, which manager at Barça really has done since the Cruyff style was implemented at the club? ) but added a new level of work rate, and several tweaks in different match situations that proved to be matchwinning. Messi as the withdrawn striker in the CL final anyone? Also, he introduced some new setpiece routines that gave several crucial goals during the season. Under Rijkaard Barca were a joke from corners...never scored.

As I said above, he also rejuvenated the atmosphere in the club after Rijkaard's last year. Rijkaard of course did a much bigger job in this aspect because he came with a totally new presidential project.

One key aspect which isn't obvious to most people is that he revamped the fitness training and monitoring, bringing in his own team and asking for better equipment. How many injuries has Messi had in the last few seasons? After years of breaking down with muscle injuries.

Barca started to press teams further up the pitch which allowed them to win possession back quickly which under Rijkaard never happened!

Also has brought in his own guys to do a lot more work with analysing opponents by video, in line with most modern coaches. It was reported that on the flight back from the league game against Tenerife, he already started preparing for the Copa del Rey 2nd leg by watching videos of Sevilla!

Pep would definitely not achieve the same success at another club so soon, because he fits Barça uniquely thanks to his knowledge of the club's history, fans, how to handle the press, etc. Accordingly he can motivate the players. Some qualities like his immense attention to detail, and love for playing youngsters, can be translated to other clubs easily, but of course his background as a Barça playing legend helped him settle in quickly here.

It gives him authority with the players too, because they know there's a lot more to win before they can match his career, and that he's been there, done that and knows what they're going through as professional footballers. So he can man-manage better.

I don't think he'd be a failure at "any other club in the world". I can see him doing well in Italy (he's played there), but not England.

I do agree that a true rating of Pep's abilities as manager can only be done after he's had a career of many years, and shows how he handles the downs and whether he can rebuild a squad or not. The question is whether he wants to do it, or move into a director role soon.

There are a few weaknesses of his that I forgot to mention:

1. His poor record at transfers: he's asked for the likes of Hleb, Caceres, etc. Ibrahimovic and Chygrinskiy too, but although they're good players the price tags are ridiculous.

2. His reluctance to use the full squad regularly...of course there are arguments for and against rotation, but I think Pep leans a bit too much on his preferred 14/15 players. Trying to fit too many midfielders into the first eleven

3. The team seems to always start a bit slowly in big games. Not sure why that is, but so far it doesn't really matter since eventually they end up winning anyway.

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Let me wrap this debate once and for all

The difference between Pep's team and Rijkaard's team may not be obvious in terms of formation or tactics, but is huge in terms of motivation, fitness, lack of injuries, workrate, teamwork, defending, pressure on the ball, movement off the ball, and performance in big occasions. All things that are necessary to turn a top team into a title-winning one.

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Why not England?

Pep can talk good English, he now just needs to understand the mentality to adapt.

and whatever club he walks into he has more medals in recent years than any of the players or the actual club, he will command respect, be listened too and more importantly the media will take a while to remotely question him...

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Anyway I can block Darkman's posts?

Did he not inherit a good team?

Are you saying Rikaards team didn't press?

Upon being appointed, Guardiola revealed that Ronaldinho, Deco, Samuel Eto'o and others were not part of his plans for the coming season. By the time of the announcement, Guardiola had already offloaded full back Gianluca Zambrotta to Milan, attacking midfielder Giovani dos Santos to Tottenham Hotspur, and midfielder Edmílson to Villarreal. Deco went to Chelsea, while Ronaldinho joined Zambrotta in Milan. Lilian Thuram was initially going to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer but the discovery of a heart condition put a stop to the move, and the veteran retired to tend to his health. Oleguer Presas signed with Ajax, Santiago Ezquerro was released by Barça and Marc Crosas was sold to Celtic. The fate of Samuel Eto'o took much of the summer to unravel, with the Cameroonian linked with several clubs, but Guardiola finally declared that he would stay after his dedication in training and participation in the pre-season.

In association with Barça's director of sport, Txiki Begiristain, several new signings were made by Guardiola: Daniel Alves and Seydou Keita arrived from Sevilla, Martín Cáceres from Villarreal by way of Recreativo, Gerard Piqué returned from Manchester United, and Alexander Hleb was signed from Arsenal. Henrique was also signed from Palmeiras, but was immediately loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen. In interviews with the press, Guardiola stressed a harder work ethic than before, but also a more personal approach during training and a closer relationship with his players. Along with the new signings, Guardiola promoted canteranos Sergio Busquets, Pedro Rodríguez and Jeffrén Suárez to the first team squad.

SNM.

Don't know eaxctly what you're trying to prove with that quote

Barca's key players: Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol all inherited (except for Alves)

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Let me wrap this debate once and for all

The difference between Pep's team and Rijkaard's team may not be obvious in terms of formation or tactics, but is huge in terms of motivation, fitness, lack of injuries, workrate, teamwork, defending, pressure on the ball, movement off the ball, and performance in big occasions. All things that are necessary to turn a top team into a title-winning one.

You do know Rikaard won the league twice right?

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Obviously every team presses, but telling a couple players to press during matches is different to spend hours and hours perfecting pressing and bringing in a culture of pressing and signing players who press good etc

This is so simple to see, what are you missing?

Secondly yes he inherited good players but that doesn't automatically mean everything will fall into place ffs

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Obviously every team presses, but telling a couple players to press during matches is different to spend hours and hours perfecting pressing and bringing in a culture of pressing and signing players who press good etc

This is so simple to see, what are you missing?

Secondly yes he inherited good players but that doesn't automatically mean everything will fall into place ffs

No it doesn't but it makes things easier. And even more so when one of them is Lionel Messi

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yeah he played well today, one of my old friends woulda been screwing if he watched that game, spotted a couple of the guys from his age group at crewe playing and hes a builder now.

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