@adammarrett.bsky.social
Writer for esteemedkompany.com covering all things Manchester City. Looking to grow into the City content space, but focusing on refining my writing for now. Contact through email: adammarrett@gmail.com All views are my own.
Manchester City's inability to create real clear-cut chances for an hour cost them against West Ham, and it isn't a new issue.
Pep Guardiola is still trying to find the right lineup that has control and creativity which is part of the rebuilding process.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/15/a...
Pep Guardiola explained why Rayan Cherki didn't start against West Ham and what he is looking for with his team selection.
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I don't think those three can play together. They all get in each other's way. People say they starter against Liverpool at Anfield but everything came after Marmoush came off in that match.
Also, they cannot start together if there is no service for them to work with.
Yeah I cannot figure out why Cherki hasn't started tonight or against Real Madrid when he played well against Leeds and Forest. He was in form then hasn't started. The Newcastle game I get why.
Especially when Savinho was rewarded for one good game with a start against Real Madrid.
My City player ratings and match report from Manchester City's 1-all draw with West Ham at the London Stadium.
City dominated possession but a lack of any real creativity and intensity for an hour did cost City in my opinion.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/14/m...
Manchester City and West Ham have confirmed their starting lineups ahead of tonight's massive Premier League fixture at the London Stadium.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/14/t...
Pep Guardiola said yesterday that his team needs to find Erling Haaland more, and I feel that Haaland needs to stop living at the back post as he has done often across the last 17 matches. Hopefully two changes can bring the goals back for Haaland.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/14/t...
The latest City injury news and my predicted Manchester City starting lineup for tonight's Premier League fixture against West Ham.
No doubt I'm nowhere near the lineup but we'll see.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/14/m...
Rayan Cherki has to start in my opinion against West Ham and surely Pep Guardiola reverts back to the system that has worked so well before the Madrid horror show at the London Stadium tomorrow night.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/13/a...
Erling Haaland has scored four goals in his past seventeen matches and he was well below his best against Real Madrid last night like many of his teammates.
Manchester City desperately need Haaland to snap out of this funk.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/12/a...
That's what confuses us all about last night. I want to see how we line up against West Ham and Real Madrid next week but my feeling is we will never see that lineup and team setup ever again.
That I agree with. I don't see why Savinho started over Cherki. In no world in a match like last night's should that happen. Why Nico O'Reilly moved from midfield to left-back I can't answer, and why Nico has vanished from sight I can’t explain.
If I could answer those questions I'd not be on here.
I had the fear that what happened would happen when I saw the starting lineup. In my opinion, that lineup played into Real Madrid's hands with how they were always going to play.
The game has evolved, especially the Premier and this team is transition. It's nowhere near It's final form yet.
And both statements about how good the players were and Pep was in our era of success were are true. The whole thing doesn't happen without both factors.
Kompany is my first choice. He's signed an extension with Bayern and I'm not convinced that Pep is leaving anytime soon.
Agreed.
Without those evolutions and Pep Guardiola, we don't have the era of dominance that we had until last season. It's that simple really. Guardiola's record speaks for itself and that is the reality of it.
He's revolutionised football all together, everywhere he's been. His evolved the City side that won 6 out of 7 PL titles and everything else in between multiple times. False 9, use of wingers, the treble winning side with Stones etc they're all evolutions of Guardiola's tactics.
He won two with that Barcelona side.
I'm not anywhere near the Guardiola out point. Far from it. However, the criticism of his team selection ans substitutes last night is more than warranted.
The starting lineup Pep Guardiola selected last night was bold, but as Real Madrid scored 3 goals in the first half last night, the change to the dynamic of this City side that had worked so well doomed them.
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He wasn't alone on that front tonight. Could say the same for a host of players.
Haaland isn't Aguero, he needs service to thrive and if it's not there that's what happens.
My City player ratings and match report as Real Madrid easily beat Manchester City 3-nil at the Bernabeu tonight.
That team selection was mind-boggling and it played directly into Real Madrid's hands. A poor night for Pep and City
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/11/m...
His tactics I should say.
@lmtpod.city surely no one can be surprised with how this match turned out given the drastic change Pep Guardiola made to the starting lineup and hair tactics for tonight's match. That lineup played into Real Madrid's hands and the team set up just exposed City's frailties.
It's failed spectacularly.
Manchester City and Real Madrid have confirmed their starting lineups ahead of tonight's match at the Bernabeu.
That is a bold selection from Pep Guardiola.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/11/m...
Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo will make their Champions League debuts tonight against Real Madrid assuming they start or get on the pitch. Both players seem made for the stage that awaits.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/11/t...
The latest City injury news and my predicted Manchester City starting eleven ahead of tonight's clash with Real Madrid.
This lineup seems an easy one to call for me, until you look at all of the options that Pep Guardiola has at his disposal.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/11/m...
Pep Guardiola believes this Manchester City side showed their identity against Newcastle. Heading into tomorrow night's clash with Real Madrid that could be a crucial element in tomorrow night's match.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/10/m...
Nico reminded everyone that he's ready and able to step in if Rodri needs a rest or is forced to missed some games in the near future. He slotted in seamlessly against Newcastle and was brilliant in midfield.
esteemedkompany.com/2026/03/09/a...