20 Jan 2026 17:52:25
One of the things that struck me as different about City was our first goal. Cherki took the free kick and when the ball came out to Mbuemo he failed to do what all Pep teams do in that circumstance, and that's commit a foul to stop the play. City have thrived off doing just that, enabling them to commit extra players in attack, happily giving up the odd yellow card.

Indeed, if the foul is committed early enough before the opposition fully emerging from defense has had a chance to get going, they don't even get a yellow.

1.) 20 Jan 2026
20 Jan 2026 19:20:31
Pep famous for tgat tactic, foul around halfway lines, to stop the fast break, usually get away with it, Rodri is a master at it.

2.) 20 Jan 2026
20 Jan 2026 20:41:31
Well, well, well newname, I watched the 20 min highlights package on the club's website earlier and noticed the exact same thing and thought I would post about it later! Great minds eh.

First of all the free kick given in favour of Haaland was ridiculous, was never a foul. Cherki then took the free kick which he played straight ahead of him this was met by Harry and he headed the ball straight back towards Cherki. Mbeumo had moved into the space in front of Cherki and as soon as the ball reached him, instead of attempting to control it he immediately flicked the ball round the side of himself to Bruno.

Now given Bryan did not try and retain the ball Cherki had no opportunity to foul him and given his newness to City he may not be fully immersed in their practice of the dark acts yet.

I have no doubt whatsoever had someone like Rodri been where Cherki was, then Bryan would of been fouled and the move stopped and subsequently we would not of scored that fantastic goal.

Given the risk and reward of these constant ''Pep'' fouls should the Premier League not be looking at greater punishments for them. (YES they should)

Just had a look at tonight's scores, Oh dear, how sad, well never mind! City have lost 1-3 at Bodo/Glimt and Rodri was sent off. They are not having a good week are they!

3.) 21 Jan 2026
21 Jan 2026 00:00:33
Rodri sent off for 2 of the Pep fouls we talk about above, ones he gets away with every week in the premier league but the European ref wasn’t having it. Bernardo did 4 against Newcastle last week and only got a yellow after the last one.

Pep will be into Cherki about it and he will never let a player go like Mbeumo did without bringing him down again.

4.) 21 Jan 2026
21 Jan 2026 05:23:28
Arsenal do the exact same thing with risk and reward fouls. It’s nothing new Jose done it all the time at Chelsea it’s nothing new, but the FA punishing them for it, is a bit silly, the game is getting bad enough already without more rules and regs to be interpreted differently by different refs each game, if it goes wrong as did for them on Saturday that’s the punishment.

5.) 21 Jan 2026
21 Jan 2026 09:11:25
The card system is wrong.
A 'delibeeate/cheating /tactical foul' no matter where it is on the pitch should be an automatic 15 min sin bin. The punishment must be more appropriate to the crime.
#stop the cheaters.
I was watching a cl last night and saw lots of the same type of fouls.


It does bring the game into disrepute.
Do it in rugby and prevent a try the ref will just award the try anyway after a verbal warning.
Its not ok to do it its not 'part of the game' and its need to be addressed.

6.) 21 Jan 2026
21 Jan 2026 17:02:00
Bernardo Silva (although a great player) is one of the dirtiest players in the PL. The amount of times he loses his head sliding in and getting away with it is ridiculous especially later in games when City aren't winning.
Macallister also is similar and they both roll around after as if injured themselves getting leniency.