Have we done enough in the transfer market?

[WRicko]

Kovacic has done well this season, but the better teams are fully aware that he's too one footed and doesn't shield properly when forced on his left.
PSG pounced and Arsenal should have scored (albeit that was Ortega's fault)

You might be proved right with KDB, but for me, he's a shadow of his former self, and has been for almost a year.

Not sure what's happened with Bernardo but if he plays in the World Club Cup then he won't get much rest

Kev is awful by his standards but he can and deserves and minor role next year regardless of wages. Will probably mean his passes and energy pick up a little and somewhat get back to where they where and whoever replaces him adds legs etc and we improve

 

[Roachy]

Kev is awful by his standards but he can and deserves and minor role next year regardless of wages. Will probably mean his passes and energy pick up a little and somewhat get back to where they where and whoever replaces him adds legs etc and we improve

I think Kev may go tbh. I don't think we'll keep him if a more effective, younger player becomes available. Legend regardless.

 

[super_city_si]

No we havent done enough but we've done as much as can be expected in the Winter window. Fullbacks are still a problem.

 

[Micky Blue]

Chat GPT two minutes ago?

Manchester City has made some key moves during the January 2025 transfer window, although their activity has been relatively subdued compared to some of their rivals. While they did bring in new faces, the club tends to be more strategic with their signings, rather than making splashes in every window.

The most notable signing has been Josko Gvardiol, the Croatian center-back, who adds more depth to their defense. This could be seen as a reinforcement in a key area, considering the team's need for stability at the back due to injuries or rotation in the defensive line.

City’s transfer strategy has focused more on adding quality in positions that may require strengthening, rather than overhauling their squad. Some fans may argue that, given their recent successes and ongoing competition in multiple fronts (Premier League, Champions League), they might have needed to make additional moves, particularly in attack or midfield, where rotation or injury concerns could be more prominent.

It’s safe to say that City has done enough to maintain their competitive edge, but whether it’s been enough depends on how they fare in the second half of the season, especially against a challenging set of competitors.

Haha yeah, I still find it strange that chatGPT hasn’t been updated in about 2 years.

 

[Micky Blue]

No we havent done enough but we've done as much as can be expected in the Winter window. Fullbacks are still a problem.

Yup, completely agree.

For whatever reason they’ve been asleep at the wheel for the last few seasons letting the team get old without adequate replacements.

Trying to correct that in 1 January window is difficult and expensive.

 

[Axel Freed]

When other clubs spend a few quid on a few players the media term it “revamping the squad” or “investing in talent”

With us it’s always a “spree” or a “splurge”

 

[Bluearmy]

I think it was our best window in a few years, over the next three windows its certain we will lose walker, KDB, gundo, and probable that we lose either or both goalies, stones, grealish, silva, and kova, 4 in now means we can replace like for like going forwards and with echeverri and a couple of youth players hopefully pushing on increase our squad size too, also this change over from aged 30 plus established players to a target age of 22 to 25 should reduce the wage bill considerably.
So if walker and gundo are first out the door a right back and centre mid in the summer should see us challenging for titles again :)

We have the Centre mid already in Gonzalez. We need more than that anyway. Still have potential challenges as you say with GK, RB, LB, maybe CB (if a few of the established ones leave -(Stones/Ake/Akanji), AM (if KDB goes) and an established winger that can score to replace Grealish/Bernardo.

Its a huge job

 

[TheGhost]

When other clubs spend a few quid on a few players the media term it “revamping the squad” or “investing in talent”

With us it’s always a “spree” or a “splurge”

Spaffing the petro cash in the Grauniad today

 

[Stelea]

No not done enough, however it was impossible to resolve all the issues that have crept up on us.
100% at least needed a freshen up in areas which hopefully Marmoush and Gonzalez will give.
We are still woefully short at fullback and have a bunch of centre half’s who can’t stay fit for a few consecutive games each.
The large amount of money spent on 2 kid centre backs is a mystery considering we could have gone and got a PL ready young centre back such as Huijsen or Branthwaite for the combined fee who would have slotted into the team with some level of trust

 

[Tevez City]

Apart from Nico Gonzalez, I don't see how the rest will add anything to the team.


Marmoush became the highest rated player in Germany when he played as a striker, using him in different position is a gamble.I would rather see KDB plays behind Haaland than Marmoush


Vitor, hopefully will be our next Rock ( Wishful thinking )


Khusanov, will never be Pep CB ( Hopefully I am wrong )

 

[Bluewonder]

For a top 5 finish this season? Yes.

To build Pep's next great team? No.

We need a couple of world class additions this summer.

 

[Marvin.]

For a top 5 finish this season? Yes.

To build Pep's next great team? No.

We need a couple of world class additions this summer.

A right back. Not sure what other position you have in mind?

The BBC wrote an article entitled, "'£180m only scratches the surface of the rebuilding job Guardiola faces". I disagree with that. In the 2023-24 season we also foundered without Rodri and that was with 'the best defence in Europe, Ederson and Ake, Walker and Akanji, Reuben Dias, Johnny Stones'. None of them have been fixtures this season. What we need are our best players back, and for these new signings to settle. If they come through, then we will have completed most of the job imo, but we will have to wait and see. Ederson is possibly a contract discussion we have to sort out in the Summer.

 

[LongsightM13]

Still playing catch up after last summer’s complacency and arrogance but did more in January than I expected
The right back situation may still prove fatal to any vague aspirations of salvaging something from this shitshow
As I said in another thread, we could probably have signed Aina, the best RB in the league this season by a distance, for about £10-15m as he’s out of contract in the summer
That could've made all the difference to this season rather than 3CBs who probably won’t play this side of August.
Even if we signed someone else in the summer, he would’ve been a great rotation option and could even flip him for 2-3x in a year

 

[Roberto Manciti]

I suspect that the club is placing great emphasis on a strong showing in this Summer's Club World Cup. The financial reward for winning it is huge, and in years to come it has every chance as being seen as prestigious as the UCL is now. It is a trophy that the club will want to be able to show a serious track record in. These new players will be available to help City make a serious push for this one ... Summer '25 signings won't. It isn't just top 5 these players were brought in for. CWC prize money is right up there. The club really see the potential of the CWC ... much more so than the fans. Note that Real Madrid are happy to boast of all the European Cups they amassed before it was taken really seriously as a competition. The CWC is now on the cusp of acquiring similar recognition and prestige.

 

[Keeper!]

Kev is awful by his standards but he can and deserves and minor role next year regardless of wages. Will probably mean his passes and energy pick up a little and somewhat get back to where they where and whoever replaces him adds legs etc and we improve

"Kev is awful by his standards but he can and deserves and minor role next year regardless of wages."

If we miss out on the CL and regardless if we do qualify we will be bringing in 3-5 top players who will be on big wages, we can't afford to give another contract to KDB for what he's done in the past.

We have seen a huge decline in him this season, he is simply unable physically able to do it other that the odd flash of brilliance. It's time to say thank you and goodbye and if we do want to keep loyal, make him a huge offer to go to NYCFC and be the figure head there.

I would also add that he has quite rightly been handsomely paid during his time with us, both parties have given their total commitment but I find the recent statements that KDB can dictate his future wrong.

 

[yankblue]

Done as much as we could in the winter window.

We kicked off the rebuild, but didn't finish it. This summer I think we will prioritize a RB and a creative midfielder - essentially replacing Walker and KDB. The latter will cost a fortune.

We also need to figure out the GK situation, whether that's figuring out what's going on with Eddie or replacing him.

I expect there will be quite a few departures.

 

[BLUE THUNDER]

Our decent CB's are ageing injury crocks except maybe for Dias, so we go and buy 2 untested CB's for 80 mil with potential rather than something for the now, quite bizarre. No RB either, so our porous defence will continue to get creamed by half decent opposition.
We will still need 2 x A grade creative midfielders and a ready made RB in the summer to compete for honours again This will cost min 200 mil. Hopefully our defenders and Rodri stay healthy next season ( a big ?) because if we're relying on Nunes and Akanji as 1st choice, we'll be cooked again.
For this season, injuries permitting, we can still/should get top 4-5. Anything more or any trophy aspirations are fanciful.

 

[Paul1970]

The problem with this window is that all this should have been done in the Summer but that said, I think our squad will challenge for the title in 2025-26 providing Rodri makes a full recovery. It's very difficult to know what impact overseas signings from the Winter will make. Not only are they all new to us but even if they are top class players it will probably take the rest of the season for them to settle in, nevertheless at this moment in the season, you wonder what our potential is.

Attack

In the last month, Savinho has started to play at a very high level coinciding with Pep moving him to the left. Then we can add Marmoush and Oscar Bobb. Our forward line looks incredibly exciting but it will take time for Marmoush and Bobb to settle in and recover respectively. We have secured the long term future of Haaland! We also have Doku who can turn a game and is brilliant at beating a player. He is young and will develop. If Bobb develops and Marmoush translates his goals and assists from the Bundesliga to the Premier League it would be spectacular. I think this area of our side has struggled a lot this season because of the sale of Alvarez, and immediate injury to Bobb, and short term injuries to Doku plus the settling in period of Savinho, but all those problems appear to be resolving themselves.

Midfield

The injury to Rodri was hugely damaging and that has been compounded by the age of KDB and Gundogan. But when Rodri is fit we have the Ballon D'or winner plus POTY, Foden. Foden struggled when he returned but is now approaching his best. We can add Gonzalez, Bernardo, Kovacic, Macatee, Rico and O'Reilly. I think that if Rodri is back to his best, that is an outstanding midfield.

Defence

I think there is one significant problem at right back which we can cover through central defenders if we can get Dias and Ake fit. This season Stones, Ake, Dias have all suffered significant injury problems and presumably this is why City brought in Reis and Khusanov as the injury problems had become chronic. On paper, Dias and Stones is an excellent partnership and Gvardiol is an outstanding left sided footballer. He can play anywhere on the left he is that good. He is a little slow and that is his only weakness. I think Khusanov and Reis are too young to start in the Premier League this season.

This season

I think we should finish in the top 4 and we could win the FA Cup. We probably have too many short term problems to expect to beat Real Madrid, but you never know in a 2-legged tie. We could do it.

Next season

We will challenge for the title. This season has been seriously affected by serious and chronic injuries. We have found a top class player in Savinho and Rodri will return. Marmoush and Bobb have a very high potential so I think we are well set. Gonzalez adds to the quality in midfield

Need to get away from passing teans to death as it’s boring and doesn’t get the best out of our attack . We went direct against Chelsea and smashed them but went back to usual against arsenal and got hammered . No point having new players if we still carry on playing tappy tapoy football . Pep needs to change as football is now changing again .

 

[Worksop Blue]

Allowing our only right back to leave and not replacing him could never be considered “enough”. Even though Walker wasn’t half the player from 2 seasons ago he was a specialist in that position. Left sided attacking players due to play City in the last few months will be pissing themselves.

 

[Marvin.]

Need to get away from passing teans to death as it’s boring and doesn’t get the best out of our attack . We went direct against Chelsea and smashed them but went back to usual against arsenal and got hammered . No point having new players if we still carry on playing tappy tapoy football . Pep needs to change as football is now changing again .

The 2 teams that take on the most attacking risk in English football are Manchester City and Tottenham. Look at the position of their defensive line. Liverpool also play this way. What you have noticed is really that some teams such as Forest and Everton play a low defensive block and that creates sideways passing in which the ball is recycled many times. That is boring to watch but if you want attacking end to end football, you need 2 sides who want to score goals. Many times good sides come up against sides whose priority is to stop the opponent playing.

If a game degenerates into attack vs defence, you need a lock-picker in midfield, or wide players with an ability to beat a man. I would argue that the 2 most adept players in the Premier League at take-ons play for City: Doku and Savinho. Savinho from day 1 showed an ability to beat a man, but for about 3 months, it led nowhere. Now he's a top player. Doku's final ball is inconsistent but his biggest problem are the muscular injuries he suffers from.

City's creative potential in midfield has gone down.

But I reject your simplistic view of direct vs possession football. The most exciting teams in football, play fast possession based football. We just haven't been as good with and without the ball this season, i.e., less efficient at what we do but there is nothing inherently boring in our play. The enemy of good football are teams like Man Utd away who play a low defensive block. We very rarely play that way.

Sometimes, teams like City and Liverpool will manage games like away legs or difficult away games, or when we are 1-0 up and there's 20 mins left. We are guilty of that under Pep. I think that's part of football. I want to win as well as play good football. Rarely have we been able to do that this season.