I'm not expecting him to rock up anytime soon either but as a football fan who still gets giddy at 44 years of age whenever he watches Messi play, it's nice to dream of him in a blue shirt.Ive never understood this point. If it was that easy to raise money on the back of signing Messi then Barcelona would simply offer him whatever we would and keep him?
It is blindingly obvious that Messi does not want to come to City. It’s always been obvious.
I will say right now that there is no way whatsoever City will ever sign Messi. Never. I’ll go further and state the Messi will NEVER EVER EVER EVER sign for any other club.
He is using City and PSG as a means to get a seat on the Barca board after he finishes playing.
Fair play to our club for not getting drawn into this twice yearly charade.
If we get somebody, and I'm not convinced we will or that Fernandinho won't do another if we do buy antone can't see us spending any more than we could get Luiz back fo.Class players cost money.
Ive mentioned it before but i reckon we could drag another 12 months out of Dinho to see how the land lies with 3 or 4 of our academy products.Rodri is what, 24? We should be finding him an understudy, someone in the 18-20 age range, either from within the CFG or without. If there's nobody ready to step into that role at the moment we should be looking at a short term option until we find someone who is. Rodri's age gives us a fair few stabs at finding someone for that role. Fuck all point in blowing a huge chunk of our budget on another 24 or 25 year old only to end up having to replace both at the same time in the future. If we want to avoid "transition periods" in the future then we need to keep the age spread across positions in mind. Outside of the striker role we're in a blessed position at the moment of being able to sign for the future in the positions we need to strengthen and not spend a premium gambling on the 'now'.
That is true but I feel as Gundo gets older dropping deeper again could be beneficial. At the end of the day it isn’t my decision but we don’t HAVE to spend big on a replacementI think we’ve found Gundogan’s best position and it isn’t DM. Seems like a pretty bizarre solution to pass on signing a replacement for Fernandinho because we can play someone out of position and lose him from the position that he’s performing really well in. We have lots of players who can play 8, 10 or out wide and one DM, smacks a little bit of forum group think to me. Sometimes the obvious solution is the right one.
We signed Ferns replacement 2 years ago in Rodri. Fern has started what, 6 or 7 PL games this season. We maybe get one more year from him (hopefully) and then we see how the land lies in terms of youngsters.I think we’ve found Gundogan’s best position and it isn’t DM. Seems like a pretty bizarre solution to pass on signing a replacement for Fernandinho because we can play someone out of position and lose him from the position that he’s performing really well in. We have lots of players who can play 8, 10 or out wide and one DM, smacks a little bit of forum group think to me. Sometimes the obvious solution is the right one.
Take the age profile of those 8s and their skillsets into account, and you'll get a different picture. We need a readymade 8 like Aouar/Grealish that can control the rhythm of play. Right now only 30 yo injury-prone Gundo is capable of doing thatI think we’ve found Gundogan’s best position and it isn’t DM. Seems like a pretty bizarre solution to pass on signing a replacement for Fernandinho because we can play someone out of position and lose him from the position that he’s performing really well in. We have lots of players who can play 8, 10 or out wide and one DM, smacks a little bit of forum group think to me. Sometimes the obvious solution is the right one.
That’s a very fair point actually. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the minutiae of transfer rumours and forget the most important bit..Football is supposed to be a joy, a fantasy, an escape from modern world drudgery.I'm not expecting him to rock up anytime soon either but as a football fan who still gets giddy at 44 years of age whenever he watches Messi play, it's nice to dream of him in a blue shirt.
I mean, what's the point of the game if not enjoying the very best of it.
An understudy is someone capable of stepping into the role occasionally mate, not a complete novice. We'd be bringing in someone with the potential of being a future first teamer and the ability to stand in now, ala Steffen, Zinchenko, Jesus, Foden, Sané (when we signed him).Time doesn't work like that. We currently have Fernandinho and Rodri. One day we only have the latter. Now I like the kid, but he isn't capable of that role on his own until that understudy comes through. We need two, just like we have now, but one is about to leave at some point and needs replacing if we are to maintain our status as the club in the hunt for every trophy going.
Possibly yeah, although he might be a year or two away, in which case we should be looking at someone in their early 30s willing to play a smaller role at a top club until he is.Lavia in the EDS sounds like he's the nearest to making that step.
I know, but there are a few players who we can't let leave and not replace almost like for like. Kompany was one. Look what happened there. Low and behold when we sign Dias, all that changed. Fernandinho is one of those players IMOAn understudy is someone capable of stepping into the role occasionally mate, not a complete novice. We'd be bringing in someone with the potential of being a future first teamer and the ability to stand in now, ala Steffen, Zinchenko, Jesus, Foden, Sané (when we signed him).
But we already have his replacement...I know, but there are a few players who we can't let leave and not replace almost like for like. Kompany was one. Look what happened there. Low and behold when we sign Dias, all that changed. Fernandinho is one of those players IMO
Dinho has started what, 8 league games this season? Kompany was an ever present before he left as Stones and Ota had collapsed. If Kompany had been near permanently benched as Dinho has by Rodri it wouldn't have been as big a priority. You're also missing another point here. An established top class player in their mid 20s moving to a new club is going to want guarantees of first team football, which we can't give them with Rodri already here. A younger player will back themselves to succeed and make their spot in the future and an older player will be happy to accept a lesser role to be an important part of a trophy winning squad.I know, but there are a few players who we can't let leave and not replace almost like for like. Kompany was one. Look what happened there. Low and behold when we sign Dias, all that changed. Fernandinho is one of those players IMO
We could if he was up for it. It would make more sense than spending huge money on someone Rodri's age.Ive mentioned it before but i reckon we could drag another 12 months out of Dinho to see how the land lies with 3 or 4 of our academy products.
If we were only in for one competition each season, fine. We aren't though. We are fighting each season now for all 4 major honours available.Dinho has started what, 8 league games this season? Kompany was an ever present before he left as Stones and Ota had collapsed. If Kompany had been near permanently benched as Dinho has by Rodri it wouldn't have been as big a priority. You're also missing another point here. An established top class player in their mid 20s moving to a new club is going to want guarantees of first team football, which we can't give them with Rodri already here. A younger player will back themselves to succeed and make their spot in the future and an older player will be happy to accept a lesser role to be an important part of a trophy winning squad.
We are and Dinho has still been on the bench for the majority of games. We need someone who can step in if needed but won't get frustrated at only getting 15-20 starts across all comps if Rodri stays fit. We've already got a headache on the horizon at centre half.If we were only in for one competition each season, fine. We aren't though. We are fighting each season now for all 4 major honours available.
I’m with you mate, football fans tend to get excited about attacking players, Grealish, Messi, Haaland, so we’re probably flogging a dead horse on here. Despite all the excellent attacking players on our books our form didn’t turn around until we signed Dias. Similar situation here, if Rodri were to get injured. I’d be shocked if we don’t replace Fernandinho.I know, but there are a few players who we can't let leave and not replace almost like for like. Kompany was one. Look what happened there. Low and behold when we sign Dias, all that changed. Fernandinho is one of those players IMO
We will definitely have two players who can play in Fernandinho’s position next year. Who it is will be the biggest questionI’m with you mate, football fans tend to get excited about attacking players, Grealish, Messi, Haaland, so we’re probably flogging a dead horse on here. Despite all the excellent attacking players on our books our form didn’t turn around until we signed Dias. Similar situation here, if Rodri were to get injured. I’d be shocked if we don’t replace Fernandinho.
We could if he was up for it. It would make more sense than spending huge money on someone Rodri's age.
Wouldn't be a total surprise to me if Ake re appeared fom his abscence playing as a bac up D.M or even left back and Zinchenko moving to D.M.We are and Dinho has still been on the bench for the majority of games. We need someone who can step in if needed but won't get frustrated at only getting 15-20 starts across all comps if Rodri stays fit. We've already got a headache on the horizon at centre half.
Tommy Doyle? Looks a good all round midfielder and can be moulded to that role, he has dipped his toe in the first team so should be ready for the next step next season, similar path to foden.Lavia in the EDS sounds like he's the nearest to making that step.