It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

[Ajm1985]

City have a lengthy list of targets when recruiting for any position. I’m sure we’re just systematically working through it. The notion that one of the very elite clubs in world sports are “frantically searching” for a player is farcical.

Yes, just like the notion that one of the very elite clubs identified a need for a CM and have moved from Bellingham to Rice to Paqueta to plan D is farcical. Yet here we are. Phrase it however you like, but it's ridiculous.

 

[vincent]

Yes, just like the notion that one of the very elite clubs identified a need for a CM and have moved from Bellingham to Rice to Paqueta to plan D is farcical. Yet here we are. Phrase it however you like, but it's ridiculous.

‘Ridiculous’ FFS.

 

[Ajm1985]

We weren’t really in for Rice. We tested the water to see how it lay. (Unless you believe Aluko)

Even if there were links to Paqueta before KDB got injured, it doesn’t change much.

I‘m still relaxed. Pep still makes us title favourites whether we buy or don’t.

How is bidding £90m not really being in for a player? When have we done that before?

I agree Pep is the difference maker and we have a better starting XI than anyone. My concern is that the squad is thin, and the club evidently think this as well otherwise they wouldn't have pursued midfielders & wingers. By most accounts, an £80m deal for Paqueta was nearly done before his betting became apparent. City wouldn't spunk that for no reason.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Frantic & hurried in this context suggests they had multiple choices for CM and have landed none of them, yet feel they need one with the window closing in 2 weeks. Otherwise, they wouldn't be repeatedly after a CM.

We’ve had 3 targets. Bellingham turned us down.

Rice wanted to stay in London and wasn’t a priority for us as we have Rodri, Kovacic and Phillips at 6 and Rice isn’t good enough to be an 8 for us.

Paqueta has betting issues that nobody expected.

It’s obvious that City want a couple more to add to the squad and I expect they’ll come in.

Targets change. Trust the process.

 

[Sheikh rattle and roll]

Yes, just like the notion that one of the very elite clubs identified a need for a CM and have moved from Bellingham to Rice to Paqueta to plan D is farcical. Yet here we are. Phrase it however you like, but it's ridiculous.

We are one of the top clubs in world football
There are only a very small number of players that can improve our squad/team
There will also be a small number of elite clubs that the said player will consider
Sometimes they choose us sometimes they choose others (Madrid for example)
These players are multi millionaires and they will be offered similar packages by any club interested in them
It comes down to choice/lifestyle and is very complex
Not sure it’s farcical we can’t click out fingers like the pied piper and have elite world class players come running
They are in short supply
Look who we have signed and what we have won and who our manager is and get a grip
We will be fine

 

[HelloCity]

Yes, just like the notion that one of the very elite clubs identified a need for a CM and have moved from Bellingham to Rice to Paqueta to plan D is farcical. Yet here we are. Phrase it however you like, but it's ridiculous.

I remember when we did the same with our centre backs and went down our list until we got Ruben Dias.

 

[Ric]

Yes, just like the notion that one of the very elite clubs identified a need for a CM and have moved from Bellingham to Rice to Paqueta to plan D is farcical. Yet here we are. Phrase it however you like, but it's ridiculous.

The Paqueta situation is, admittedly, ridiculous. But completely out of our hands. Bellingham chose Madrid over us, which is fair enough, and the Rice interest always seemed a bit half hearted. I’d wait until the end of the window before casting judgement though.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

We’ve had 3 targets. Bellingham turned us down.

Rice wanted to stay in London and wasn’t a priority for us as we have Rodri, Kovacic and Phillips at 6 and Rice isn’t good enough to be an 8 for us.

Paqueta has betting issues that nobody expected.

It’s obvious that City want a couple more to add to the squad and I expect they’ll come in.

Targets change. Trust the process.

Say whaaaaaat?!

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Say whaaaaaat?!

West Ham won the Conference thingy against all odds…. Well apart from Paqueta’s mate who runs a bookies.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

West Ham won the Conference thingy against all odds…. Well apart from Paqueta’s mate who runs a bookies.

Just seen the other thread, kinell!!!

 

[kenbelly]

Would love us to sign a winger, Pep will work out a plan for the middle, I’d love to know who he’s referencing in his press conference regarding the three academy players he’s planning to integrate so they are not “stolen”, I got the feeling he wasn’t talking about Bobb, Mcatee etc but maybe I’m wrong.

 

[Ajm1985]

The Paqueta situation is, admittedly, ridiculous. But completely out of our hands. Bellingham chose Madrid over us, which is fair enough, and the Rice interest always seemed a bit half hearted. I’d wait until the end of the window before casting judgement though.

Tbh I'm not bothered about why City didn't land these players - it's that they were identified as a need and that need hasn't been filled with the window closing in 2 weeks. That alone increases the cost of any possible player because of the limited time it gives selling clubs to find a replacement. It also reduces the availability of players. It's clear that Pep and the club feel there is a need for a CM & a winger, so to be this close to the deadline and still looking is hardly beneficial. They may still land players, which will be great, but it's poor that it's got to this point.

 

[vincent]

Tbh I'm not bothered about why City didn't land these players - it's that they were identified as a need and that need hasn't been filled with the window closing in 2 weeks. That alone increases the cost of any possible player because of the limited time it gives selling clubs to find a replacement. It also reduces the availability of players. It's clear that Pep and the club feel there is a need for a CM & a winger, so to be this close to the deadline and still looking is hardly beneficial. They may still land players, which will be great, but it's poor that it's got to this point.

Give them a break. We have got everything right over the last 5-6 years and won the lot. Perhaps they have got one or two things wrong (we will wait and see), but to start saying things like ‘it’s ridiculous’ we are in this position is actually ridiculous.

 

[CC1]

Tbh I'm not bothered about why City didn't land these players - it's that they were identified as a need and that need hasn't been filled with the window closing in 2 weeks. That alone increases the cost of any possible player because of the limited time it gives selling clubs to find a replacement. It also reduces the availability of players. It's clear that Pep and the club feel there is a need for a CM & a winger, so to be this close to the deadline and still looking is hardly beneficial. They may still land players, which will be great, but it's poor that it's got to this point.

Yeah. It’s dead easy to find & sign top players who fit your team & can reach the standards set by treble winning; 3x PL winning teams…….

& at the same time ensuring we’re not being ripped off

 

[Ajm1985]

Yeah. It’s dead easy to find & sign top players who fit your team & can reach the standards set by treble winning; 3x PL winning teams…….

& at the same time ensuring we’re not being ripped off

Indeed, and surely it's more difficult to expect your 4th choice to fit that bill?

 

[burning blue soul]

Tbh I'm not bothered about why City didn't land these players - it's that they were identified as a need and that need hasn't been filled with the window closing in 2 weeks. That alone increases the cost of any possible player because of the limited time it gives selling clubs to find a replacement. It also reduces the availability of players. It's clear that Pep and the club feel there is a need for a CM & a winger, so to be this close to the deadline and still looking is hardly beneficial. They may still land players, which will be great, but it's poor that it's got to this point.

Are you one of those chaps that sits in his plane seat, as its about to take off on your holidays, worrying that you left the iron on?

 

[Blue-Ghana]

More than the buys ,players sales have been poor .Getting 16 million for Laporte and paying part of the salary for Cancelo is very bad business .

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

Say whaaaaaat?!

Thought we were going to get him and then divine intervention!

One of the perfect posts for your "God wills it" to make an appearance out of nowhere!

 

[wolviedinho]

Interesting that pep said we are not looking for a direct kdb replacement as Kev will be back and playing until his contract expires. It’s almost like a puzzle. We keep looking for a different piece to complete the team. If we buy a kdb clone what happens to Kev when he comes back? It’s good to see the club think in this way. Keeps squad harmony l and stops players from getting the hump.

Anyone who is having a go at any of our top executives is either mental or attention seeking or worse a twatter troll.

they literally can’t do anymore from a treble. If you can’t enjoy it now you never will. Interesting watch this season with a few problems to navigate.

 

[MrDaveyHavoc]

More than the buys ,players sales have been poor .Getting 16 million for Laporte and paying part of the salary for Cancelo is very bad business .

Laporte is a disaster. No idea what they're supposed to do with Cancelo. The market is the market. The player is in control of his destination and City want him gone more than he wants to leave.