What I imagine Pep with RDM as assistant would be like.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Meh, still dislike Pep and reckon he won't be anywhere near as successful at any other club. If he proves me wrong I will cut off my left bollock.

I dont expect him to be as successful, afterall he created something at a club which suits his philosophy, at a club where the talent to play that way was available to him, with big resources and some of the most talented players the world has ever seen (talent which he helped to shine).

But I do think he could take over any big club in Europe and be a success, whatever that club would define as being successful.

[Shane 2,275]

Obviously the Dutch influence at Barcelona cant be denied with Cruyff, Rinus Michels, Louis Van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard having all coached at the club, though its Cruyff and Michels who made the truly lasting impression. However lets not forget that for quite some time Barcelona were struggling and had almost lost their way. Rijkaard did well to restore the club's image and bring some success but in the dying days of his reign the club was a mess. Guardiola came in, cleaned the mess and created a dynasty. He is the most successful coach in the history of Barcelona. He helped to develop a style of play that has changed football forever. He's changed our view and perception of football, you could argue that we are signing small, technically gifted players like Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Marin ect. is down to the impact Guardiola's Barcelona and Spain have had on world football. For me there's no doubt he will be remembered as Barcelona's greatest ever manager.

I have been over the Pep argument with you before, But there is no way you can say that us signig 'small' technically gifted players is down to Pep, that comment is ridicloius.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

I have been over the Pep argument with you before, But there is no way you can say that us signig 'small' technically gifted players is down to Pep, that comment is ridicloius.

You get tall technically gifted players too remember

[The Big Drog 1,110]

I have been over the Pep argument with you before, But there is no way you can say that us signig 'small' technically gifted players is down to Pep, that comment is ridicloius.

It isn't ridiculous at all. Before Guardiola arrived at Barcelona, Xavi is quoted as saying that players like him were almost extinct, that it was all about the big, physical players. Guardiola changed the perception everyone involved in football. Take Man City as an example. No I know they have a fairly tall backline and a double pivot of Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry. Go past that. Silva, Tevez, Aguero, Nasri, all small technically gifted players, can you name me an English side that won the league that had 4 regular attackers smaller than the average height of that quartet. Spain, Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, Silva. These things dont just happen by accident, pre Guardiola, a player like Xavi felt he was no longer needed at Barcelona, today a player like Xavi is prized above all others. Im not saying Guardiola is directly responsible for us signing smaller, technically gifted players, but I would certainly say that the way Guardiola's side took the world by storm and changed our view point on the game has had a knock on effect throughout world football which includes Chelsea and Man City.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

It isn't ridiculous at all. Before Guardiola arrived at Barcelona, Xavi is quoted as saying that players like him were almost extinct, that it was all about the big, physical players. Guardiola changed the perception everyone involved in football. Take Man City as an example. No I know they have a fairly tall backline and a double pivot of Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry. Go past that. Silva, Tevez, Aguero, Nasri, all small technically gifted players, can you name me an English side that won the league that had 4 regular attackers smaller than the average height of that quartet. Spain, Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, Silva. These things dont just happen by accident, pre Guardiola, a player like Xavi felt he was no longer needed at Barcelona, today a player like Xavi is prized above all others. Im not saying Guardiola is directly responsible for us signing smaller, technically gifted players, but I would certainly say that the way Guardiola's side took the world by storm and changed our view point on the game has had a knock on effect throughout world football which includes Chelsea and Man City.

Size doesn't matter, where as ability does. So it wouldn't matter if Xavi was 5 ft 7 or 8 ft 4, he has good technical ability and is a good team player. I don't get the stupid size arguments.

It shows that the English coaching system was completely wrong from day one, yes physical players were better in England as the culture of football was just lump it long and get the second ball, basically playing the quickest most direct route to the opponents goal. Now that teams play based on possession and slow build up play it is more obvious that technical players like Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Messi etc are getting more recognition than before. Before the Barcelona "domination" started players like Tevez, Nasri, Aguero and Messi were excelling anyway. Nasri earned a move from Marseille to Arsenal in like 2006, Tevez moved to United in 2007, Aguero was excelling with Atletico before and Messi ultimately built his reputation up as one of the finest footballers anyone had ever seen in the last 50 years. Just because Barcelona have won things with a team of 5 ft 7 and 8 players recently doesn't mean they started this trend if you will call it that. Brazil in the 60s, 70s and 80s had a team full of small technically brilliant players in Pele, Romario, Carlos Alberto, Zico etc etc. Even in the 90s and 2000s Brazil had players coming through who were small and brilliant technically and had amazing individual skills.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Size doesn't matter, where as ability does. So it wouldn't matter if Xavi was 5 ft 7 or 8 ft 4, he has good technical ability and is a good team player. I dont get the stupid size arguments tbh. Look at Busquets.

Plus Cesc is barely a small technical player, he is like 5 ft 10 or 11 which is average height.

Im not saying you have to be small either, Im simply saying that Guardiola redefined what is looked for in a footballer at the highest level, that being technical ability over physical power.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Im not saying you have to be small either, Im simply saying that Guardiola redefined what is looked for in a footballer at the highest level, that being technical ability over physical power.

Well it depends on what playing style/philosophy you want to utilize. If you want players who can keep the ball under intense pressure and turn the screw, you look for the more technically gifted but if you want a player or players who can hold the ball up and bring others in to play you look for physical players. Example Xavi in comparison to Didier! A team should probably have a mix of both so they have a plan B imo.

[Spike 12,049]

Small players can be powerful; look at Dennis Wise. Big guys can be technical; look at Didier Drogba. A good player is a good player, period. Pep is kind of luncky though, no disputing his talent at managing (he is one of the best) but he got lucky at Barça given that his team was already technicaly gifted. For instance if he had inherited the the AC Milan team of 2008, I believe he would have struggled getting his philosophy and name on the map.

And he is terrible in the transfer market.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Mad Mike will sort out his transfer policy.

Pep would be an unmitigated disaster at Chelsea. We are not suited to him.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Im not saying you have to be small either, Im simply saying that Guardiola redefined what is looked for in a footballer at the highest level, that being technical ability over physical power.

That won't last. Give it a few more years, perhaps 6 or 7, and we'll be back to where we were in the mid 2000s. These things are cyclical, and the technical model is approaching the end of its life cycle.

[Blue Armour 4,448]

lets see if pep can be even near that successful in another club. of course he achieved all that with barca, who wouldnt? barca is a self-playing piano, they could have a monkey as manager and yet be successful. I dont rate Pep that high tbh....

Ridiculous.

And besides, if ever there was a self-playing-piano-like football team it is (or was) Mourinho's Chelsea.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Ridiculous.

And besides, if ever there was a self-playing-piano-like football team it is (or was) Mourinho's Chelsea.

Precisely. The players have seized responsibility and played the Mourinho way on at least one occasion (under Grant).

He made our club, we cannot change from that style unless we have a complete clear out- 25 players sold, 25 new players bought, all remaining coaches from his era removed, etc.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

That won't last. Give it a few more years, perhaps 6 or 7, and we'll be back to where we were in the mid 2000s. These things are cyclical, and the technical model is approaching the end of its life cycle.

I keep hearing this. I heard it reached the end of its cycle when we beat Barcelona. Then Spain won Euro 2012 and the Spanish under 19 side won their own Euros. Don't be surprised if Spain also win the Okympic tournament. The talent line of Spain never ends, they keep churning out wonderfully gifted prospects. Time to accept that that is where football is heading, less physicality, more technique.

[capriccioso 2,545]

I keep hearing this. I heard it reached the end of its cycle when we beat Barcelona. Then Spain won Euro 2012 and the Spanish under 19 side won their own Euros. Don't be surprised if Spain also win the Okympic tournament. The talent line of Spain never ends, they keep churning out wonderfully gifted prospects. Time to accept that that is where football is heading, less physicality, more technique.

Its been heading in that general direction since the 50s. It'll take several more decades until physicality is completely eradicated.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

Its been heading in that general direction since the 50s. It'll take several more decades until physicality is completely eradicated.

If you accept that then what exactly are you debating?

[BlueDutchy 63]

Obviously the Dutch influence at Barcelona cant be denied with Cruyff, Rinus Michels, Louis Van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard having all coached at the club, though its Cruyff and Michels who made the truly lasting impression. However lets not forget that for quite some time Barcelona were struggling and had almost lost their way. Rijkaard did well to restore the club's image and bring some success but in the dying days of his reign the club was a mess. Guardiola came in, cleaned the mess and created a dynasty. He is the most successful coach in the history of Barcelona. He helped to develop a style of play that has changed football forever. He's changed our view and perception of football, you could argue that we are signing small, technically gifted players like Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Marin ect. is down to the impact Guardiola's Barcelona and Spain have had on world football. For me there's no doubt he will be remembered as Barcelona's greatest ever manager.

You do underestimate the influence of Laporta. He came when Barcelona was a mess and reorganised it and eventually appointed Guardiola. Laporta was again appointed because Cruijff supported him (that was at least one of the reasons). Cruijff didn't just have indirect influence on the succes of Guardiola and Barcelona. He still has a big direct influence. This stopped when Rosell became the new preses.

Guardiola is the most responsible for Barca's succes, but Laporta and Cruijff deserve a lot of credit as well. People who say anybody could have achieved with this team are ridiculous. Xavi wasn't worldclass until Guardiola came..

[capriccioso 2,545]

If you accept that then what exactly are you debating?

That football is unpredictable. Lets say 50 years from now we reach a point where its purely technical. An astute manager could set up a physical side and dominate the world. Then other managers would be forced to get more physical and balance in football would be restored again.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

You do underestimate the influence of Laporta. He came when Barcelona was a mess and reorganised it and eventually appointed Guardiola. Laporta was again appointed because Cruijff supported him (that was at least one of the reasons). Cruijff didn't just have indirect influence on the succes of Guardiola and Barcelona. He still has a big direct influence. This stopped when Rosell became the new preses.

Guardiola is the most responsible for Barca's succes, but Laporta and Cruijff deserve a lot of credit as well. People who say anybody could have achieved with this team are ridiculous. Xavi wasn't worldclass until Guardiola came..

Ye Laporta's message was that he wanted to restore the clib's identity and he did that. In the end he and the club as a whole deserve credit for appointing the young, inexperienced but idealistic Guardiola after Rijkaard. Ye Cruyff's influence was big in the halls of Barcelona and he is still very popular with the fans.

[The Big Drog 1,110]

That football is unpredictable. Lets say 50 years from now we reach a point where its purely technical. An astute manager could set up a physical side and dominate the world. Then other managers would be forced to get more physical and balance in football would be restored again.

Obviously you aren't going to completely eradicate physical players, there will always be a place for them. But with the laws of the game and how they are being enforced, it limits physical players and favours technical players, as long as those laws and the way they are enforced stay the same I suspect that technical players will always have the upper hand.

[sleazyB 58]

Only reason I would ever want pep to come to chelsea, is because I think our board would go balls out for neymar, so pep could have his own messi here.