Recruitment issues

[Cityzen_89]

Mahrez? He was our record signing at the time and doesn't look any closer to fitting in with the team now than when he arrived. Foden's had him stuck to the bench since the restart. How is he a great signing?

Deary me. Foden has been starting on the right because Mahrez had COVID, not because he isn't good enough and Foden had benched him. Mahrez last year scored the same amout of goals as Jesus and had 9 assists. David had 10 and was our second highest assister in the league. I know people don't like Mahrez but it's boardering on delusion now. So I'll flip that back to you. Why do you think Mahrez wasn't a great signing? He came to us after just winning the league with Leicester and was a crucial player for them and had won Premier League POTY.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

Let's be honest here. Walker was one of the best right backs in Europe and had only ever played in England - we knew what we were buying and on the whole he's been very good. His pace basically means that even though he's not the smartest defender, that pace gets him out of trouble.

We've not bought bad players. Cancelo came from Juventus - multiple Italian league winners and CL winners. Mendy and Bernardo from Monaco who were title winners and CL finalists. Rodri from Athletico. Mahrez was the best player at Leicester who won the PL. Danilo is no clown if he's played for Real. Gundogan isn't a bad player and had won the title in Germany I think. I could go one but these aren't 'bad' players at all, far from it. They've all shown why we bought them with great form at previous clubs.

So what's the problem? I think part of it is personality and the system. We're not buying players who ooze determination are we? I genuinely think that if Kompany, Zabaleta, De Jong, Yaya etc were all 23 now we wouldn't buy them. Aggression, desire and determination are not counted as assets it seems. Just as you absolutely have to have technical skills in a team, you need a mindset of winners. None of the players we've bought come even close to Zaba or Kompany in that regard. We're buying good technical players who think we can out-technical any team but we're at a loss when Henderson and Wijnaldum steam roller us time after time. We're not learning.

Our defensive coaches are still mystified playing against Vardy, Martial, Mane, Traore etc etc. It's an absolute disgrace that any time we come up against a team with a fast forward we're completely unprepared for it. It should be a sackable offence to play the likes of Otamendi, Garcia etc against fast players. We can't criticise them for not being able to chase players who are simply physically faster than them. If we're not considering pace as an absolutely essential asset for a defender in our system - which needs a high back line - then it's absolutely setting those players up to fail big style.

Ultimately, the club needs to realise that pace, stamina, desire are just as important as passing. Otherwise we'll always be open to ANY team with quick players sucker punching us.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Recruitment has been hit and miss since Txiki came in. I’d say he has squandered up 400 m plus in duds.

Let’s take a look at some of the mistakes he and his recruitment team have made during his tenure to date :

Jovetic
Jesus Navas
Mangala
Bony
Fernando
Bravo
Nolito
Mendy
Danilo
Cancelo
Mahrez ?
Rodri ?
Stones ?

That Is a lot of mistakes and pretty much one major mistake every summer. We can’t afford to make expensive mistakes. Recruitment team needs a serious review.

Sending your CV to the HM as we speak .

 

[cjn]

Deary me. Foden has been starting on the right because Mahrez had COVID, not because he isn't good enough and Foden had benched him. Mahrez last year scored the same amout of goals as Jesus and had 9 assists. David had 10 and was our second highest assister in the league. I know people don't like Mahrez but it's boardering on delusion now. So I'll flip that back to you. Why do you think Mahrez wasn't a great signing? He came to us after just winning the league with Leicester and was a crucial player for them and had won Premier League POTY.

I said after the restart, I know he hasn't been playing recently because of covid. At the close of last season he was benched against Liverpool, Madrid, Lyon and started one game of the last six. He also doesn't seem to understand how to play in our system because his decision making is consistently atrocious and isn't getting better. The worst out of all of our attackers by far. He also cost a club record fee. So no, I don't think he was a very good signing.

 

[citytill1die84]

Mahrez is a very talented player but does seem to struggle at times in our setup. Had he played a pass through to Foden at 1-1 we could have been having a different conversation now.

Rodri I like the guy but seems his pace is a big issue in our side.

When was the last time we signed a top top player? It's so annoying as we have the cash :(

What a depressing day, football really does take over my life sometimes lol

 

[decmancity]

Recruitment has been hit and miss since Txiki came in. I’d say he has squandered up 400 m plus in duds.

Let’s take a look at some of the mistakes he and his recruitment team have made during his tenure to date :

Jovetic
Jesus Navas
Mangala
Bony
Fernando
Bravo
Nolito
Mendy
Danilo
Cancelo
Mahrez ?
Rodri ?
Stones ?

That Is a lot of mistakes and pretty much one major mistake every summer. We can’t afford to make expensive mistakes. Recruitment team needs a serious review.

Jovetic, injured and didnt settle. Made some money back.
Navas, fairly solid player and gave us some good service.
Mangala, failure.
Bony, failure but at least we made back half the fee.
Fernando, failure, at least we got money back.
Bravo, solid years of service in the cups.
Nolito, didnt settle and we made back money.
Mendy, injuries.
Danilo/Cancelo, Danilo and Cancelo both come in as second choice RB and good enough to rotate with Walker. Cancelo has a lot more to offer and hopefully he can get some chances when hes back from his injuries.
Mahrez, good in flashes but just doesnt fit, tough to say whos fault this is.
Rodri, hes been hung out to dry by the choices around him.
Stones, flashes of talent, injuries, personal issues and we could still make some money back on him.

No team is perfect for transfers, almost every player we have bought is off the back of good performances for their previous team. What more can our recruitment go off? there is no gurantee they will settle, not get injured or just not fit in the team.

Have a look at how much money the rags have burnt through in comparison to their trophy return in the past decade, Chelsea the same, even Fulham etc have spent in the hundreds of millions and got fuck all.

 

[Cityzen_89]

I said after the restart, I know he hasn't been playing recently because of covid. At the close of last season he was benched against Liverpool, Madrid, Lyon and started one game of the last six. He also doesn't seem to understand how to play in our system because his decision making is consistently atrocious and isn't getting better. The worst out of all of our attackers by far. He also cost a club record fee. So no, I don't think he was a very good signing.

I know you did. Seeing as a new season has just started I assumed you meant the new season when you said restart. All of that is your opinion and you are obviously entitled to it but I'm going on facts and statistics. He scored a belter today too because he is a threat. In 27 appearances last year, 13 of which were as a substitute he scored 7 goals an got 9 assists. So thats 17 direct goal involvements from 27 appearances. I don't know how that constitutes as "doesn't seem to understand how to play in our system because his decision making is consistently atrocious and isn't getting better" but hey ho. Great squad player who was a great signing imo.

 

[cjn]

I know you did. Seeing as a new season has just started I assumed you meant the new season when you said restart. All of that is your opinion and you are obviously entitled to it but I'm going on facts and statistics. He scored a belter today too because he is a threat. In 27 appearances last year, 13 of which were as a substitute he scored 7 goals an got 9 assists. So thats 17 direct goal involvements from 27 appearances. I don't know how that constitutes as "doesn't seem to understand how to play in our system because his decision making is consistently atrocious and isn't getting better" but hey ho. Great squad player who was a great signing imo.

Fair enough, agree to disagree. Though I would point out that "great squad player" isn't really what you want out of your club record signing, who was brought in as a ready made 27 year old on big wages.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

I know you did. Seeing as a new season has just started I assumed you meant the new season when you said restart. All of that is your opinion and you are obviously entitled to it but I'm going on facts and statistics. He scored a belter today too because he is a threat. In 27 appearances last year, 13 of which were as a substitute he scored 7 goals an got 9 assists. So thats 17 direct goal involvements from 27 appearances. I don't know how that constitutes as "doesn't seem to understand how to play in our system because his decision making is consistently atrocious and isn't getting better" but hey ho. Great squad player who was a great signing imo.

But how many could THE TEAM have scored had a less selfish player had the same opportunities? Mahrez’s personal numbers are good because Mahrez sees to that as a priority.

There are some games where we look incredibly uninspired and Mahrez is the one player who actually makes something happens, and for that he deserves credit. But there are far more games where he fails to make good decisions, doesn’t do his defensive work and ultimately is detrimental to the overall performance of the team.

 

[bugsyblue]

I don’t think our recruitment is holding us back, we’ve been one of the most successful clubs over the last decade - our transfer business has been adequate - however I do think this team is coming to the end of its cycle.

Also, I think a lot of our fans don’t realise just how much of a rebuild we’ll need.

Agüero will need replacing next season unquestionably and frankly there’s probably only two strikers who could fill his boots; Haaland and Mbappe. Attracting one of them will be no mean feat.

Dinho will also need replacing too. He’s our club captain this season and whilst he doesn’t have the legs he once had he’s still quality. He was pivotal to our success and whilst I like Rodri not sure he has the pace, stamina or tenacity to make it to Dinho’s level.

Left-back - this isn’t so much as replacing someone in as much as we haven’t had a competent left back since Clichy! It’s criminal how poorly we’ve recruited for this position.

Walker - another one who is often the target of abuse but he’s been immense at certain times and another unsung hero in our 2nd and 3rd seasons under pep. He’s not over the hill per se, but because he always had poor concentration and the odd mistake in him, now that he’s not quite as quick or strong those mistakes are showing. I think we’ll need a right back soonish.

Sane - let’s hope Torres is the man to replace him. I think between him, sterling, Bernardo and Mahrez we are well equipped on the wings but Sane on his day was as deadly as all of them.

Kompany - maybe días will be our man to replace Vinnie. He will need time to settle though, but I have high hopes of him and Laporte forming a strong partnership. However if it doesn’t work out we will require a world class CB and a strong back-up because Stones is on his way out.

 

[paulchapo]

On paper we recruited well but although all players have contributed to our success a lot haven't hit the heights we thought they would. Stones and Mendy just haven't worked. Rodri is failing to impress too. Cancelo looks like he might be improving. Jesus is decent but no Aguero replacement. Mahrez is Mahrez, still too selfish and not too keen on the defensive side of his game.

 

[Cityzen_89]

But how many could THE TEAM have scored had a less selfish player had the same opportunities? Mahrez’s personal numbers are good because Mahrez sees to that as a priority.

There are some games where we look incredibly uninspired and Mahrez is the one player who actually makes something happens, and for that he deserves credit. But there are far more games where he fails to make good decisions, doesn’t do his defensive work and ultimately is detrimental to the overall performance of the team.

Look, I'm not saying Mahrez hasn't got his issues but how many could the team have scored if we had players who could actually finish? It's an irrelevant argument. All players are selfish to some degree. Bernardo was dreadful last year and gets nowhere near the stick Mahrez does.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

Look, I'm not saying Mahrez hasn't got his issues but how many could the team have scored if we had players who could actually finish? It's an irrelevant argument. All players are selfish to some degree. Bernardo was dreadful last year and gets nowhere near the stick Mahrez does.

I’m sympathetic to the general thrust of your argument here but I would say that when Mahrez has a single game for us where he works his bollocks off like Bernardo did against Liverpool in 18/19 then we can ask why he’s more maligned than Bernie is with a straight face.

 

[Cityzen_89]

Fair enough, agree to disagree. Though I would point out that "great squad player" isn't really what you want out of your club record signing, who was brought in as a ready made 27 year old on big wages.

Yes we will have to but I respect your viewpoint. What City paid for Mahrez was because he was already in the league and had just won POTY. Not necessarily his potential or world class ability. For me he is a £40m player max but we had to pay a premium. My point is that his stats prove he was worth the money and a good signing. Since his arrival City have won 2 titles and were centurians and won multiple cups so he couldn't of been that bad as he contributed to that.

 

[Cityzen_89]

I’m sympathetic to the general thrust of your argument here but I would say that when Mahrez has a single game for us where he works his bollocks off like Bernardo did against Liverpool in 18/19 then we can ask why he’s more maligned than Bernie is with a straight face.

He had a better season than Bernardo last year. One performance doesn't make a player better.

 

[simon23]

Mendy - shit (and that is being nice)
Rodri - pedestrian/slow, no drive - not what was needed to replace Ferna - the exact opposite in fact
Torres - who knows - not done anything yet
No centre half - huge issue - will Dias sort this out - Im not so sure
Mahrez - just not and never will be a city player - no backbone/spine or fight - rarely if ever grabs a game by the scruff of the neck -

At some point questions do need to be asked as there has been more bad than good

 

[teddykgb]

Yes we will have to but I respect your viewpoint. What City paid for Mahrez was because he was already in the league and had just won POTY. Not necessarily his potential or world class ability. For me he is a £40m player max but we had to pay a premium. My point is that his stats prove he was worth the money and a good signing. Since his arrival City have won 2 titles and were centurians and won multiple cups so he couldn't of been that bad as he contributed to that.

He’s not bad by any means but his weaknesses really impact the squad. He’s ridiculously selfish at times and today isn’t the first time he took on a bad shot with a teammate in a better position. His press is poor and he is not great coming back into his own end. All of that can probably be lived with if he has a really high level of production but while he’s had good stats I don’t think they’re good enough to offset the weaknesses. Especially when you contrast that with Bernardo who did struggle last year but always played for his teammates and pressed

 

[Fordyboy46]

Anyone else feel like our recruitment strategy is starting to hold us back?

We’re now losing players like Silva and Kompany, while the likes of Fernandinho and Aguero aren’t getting any younger. The thing is, the players we’re bringing in aren’t at the same level and often it feels like a case of ‘we don’t really know how they’ll turn out, but let’s hope they’re good’. Players like Aguero, Silva and Yaya were top class when we bought them and even Kompany was really highly regarded but held back due to his injury record.

Buying proven big players often DOES work. I’d argue our two biggest names purchased since Garry Cook left were De Bruyne and Sterling but based on the last few years you just know that Aguero’s successor is going to be some mid-range player who ends up struggling to get 15 goals a season.

This will upset some but we SHOULD be in for players like Sancho. His record at Dortmund is phenomenal. I don’t care about the past - let bygones be bygones. He’ll be a star in the top flight for the next 10 years when he comes back.

Don’t get me wrong I do think there are good deals to be had with lesser known talent, I just think you need a strong core of top class players and then you build around them.

Garry Cook was the man, got the big deals done, Txiki and Ferran have bought badly

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

He had a better season than Bernardo last year. One performance doesn't make a player better.

My point was that Bernardo has put in the work before and will do again, poor season or not. If you’re happy with Mahrez’s workrate and all-round contribution then that’s fine. I am not.

 

[Cityzen_89]

He’s not bad by any means but his weaknesses really impact the squad. He’s ridiculously selfish at times and today isn’t the first time he took on a bad shot with a teammate in a better position. His press is poor and he is not great coming back into his own end. All of that can probably be lived with if he has a really high level of production but while he’s had good stats I don’t think they’re good enough to offset the weaknesses. Especially when you contrast that with Bernardo who did struggle last year but always played for his teammates and pressed

I agree and you make a valid point. I just don't think Mahrez falls into the bracket of a bad or mediocre signing. Bernado is clearly a better footballer and team player but on numbers Mahrez had a better season last year but gets far more stick than Bernardo imo and though that may be warranted I just find it a bit unfair.