The 2025 Rebuild of City Squad

Not sure what that means, but we have won many titles.
So what now? We rest on our past laurels and pretend that’s enough? We pat ourselves on the back for what was instead of fighting for what should be? Does that mean we abandon the mission to solidify our dominance, to evolve, to stay ahead?


Because if that’s the mindset—if we’re content with yesterday’s success—we’ve already started losing. Complacency is the breeding ground for downfall. While we’re busy basking in old glories, the competition is sharpening their knives. They’re closing the gap. Some have already caught up—and we handed them the blueprint.


Great teams don’t just get to the top—they fight like hell to stay there. So if we’ve traded hunger for hubris, then don’t be surprised when the empire crumbles from the inside out.

United also won a lot of titles in the past—a dynasty in their time. But look at them now: flirting with relegation, a shadow of the force they once were. And I can assure you, they didn’t see it coming either.


That’s how it happens. Slowly at first—subtle cracks, ignored warning signs—then all at once. Arrogance replaces ambition, and before you know it, the decline is irreversible. History doesn’t protect you. Trophies don’t build the future. Complacency kills.


If we think we’re immune, we’re already on the same path.

WE NEED AND HAVE TO BE RUTHLESS!
 
So what now? We rest on our past laurels and pretend that’s enough? We pat ourselves on the back for what was instead of fighting for what should be? Does that mean we abandon the mission to solidify our dominance, to evolve, to stay ahead?


Because if that’s the mindset—if we’re content with yesterday’s success—we’ve already started losing. Complacency is the breeding ground for downfall. While we’re busy basking in old glories, the competition is sharpening their knives. They’re closing the gap. Some have already caught up—and we handed them the blueprint.


Great teams don’t just get to the top—they fight like hell to stay there. So if we’ve traded hunger for hubris, then don’t be surprised when the empire crumbles from the inside out.
Nobody said that and nobody is doing that. I ‘m looking forward to a good summer, to next season and what comes next.
 
Always intrigued by the sudden appearance of left-field names and perhaps more so after the winter window and Viana’s arrival. The names of Udogie and Savona both popped up out of nowhere, though there’s a degree of similarity in their physique, height, age, and playing style. That they’re both Italian just adds to the intrigue. Maybe we’ll shift away from the inverted fullback and have some more power to allow the attackers to concentrate on attacking. Maybe it’s all just speculation but it might be in keeping with buying younger to rebuild for Guardiola’s remaining years and beyond.
 
People need to manage their expectations. I don't see us signing any players you would consider truly elite.

Which is absolutely fine. We have made fantastic teams signing players just below elite, who then become elite. The key is strengthening in the right positions and not just relying on players drawing from the well
 
So what now? We rest on our past laurels and pretend that’s enough? We pat ourselves on the back for what was instead of fighting for what should be? Does that mean we abandon the mission to solidify our dominance, to evolve, to stay ahead?


Because if that’s the mindset—if we’re content with yesterday’s success—we’ve already started losing. Complacency is the breeding ground for downfall. While we’re busy basking in old glories, the competition is sharpening their knives. They’re closing the gap. Some have already caught up—and we handed them the blueprint.


Great teams don’t just get to the top—they fight like hell to stay there. So if we’ve traded hunger for hubris, then don’t be surprised when the empire crumbles from the inside out.

United also won a lot of titles in the past—a dynasty in their time. But look at them now: flirting with relegation, a shadow of the force they once were. And I can assure you, they didn’t see it coming either.


That’s how it happens. Slowly at first—subtle cracks, ignored warning signs—then all at once. Arrogance replaces ambition, and before you know it, the decline is irreversible. History doesn’t protect you. Trophies don’t build the future. Complacency kills.


If we think we’re immune, we’re already on the same path.

WE NEED AND HAVE TO BE RUTHLESS!
No more average players for mad money.
 
Doesnt need to be elite but should be next to the elite or with huge potential to be elite. First time even hearing from this Juventus guy. Don’t know why we need a 6‘4 right back. The stubbornness is insane but who am I. Pep knows best.
 
Doesnt need to be elite but should be next to the elite or with huge potential to be elite. First time even hearing from this Juventus guy. Don’t know why we need a 6‘4 right back. The stubbornness is insane but who am I. Pep knows best.
We currently only have one right back and he’s also playing in northern Italy.
 
Ederson
RB Dias Gvardiol LB
Rodri González
Savinho Foden Marmoush
Haaland

For me 2 good fullbacks and we've got the makings of a team
 
We royally messed up—no two ways about it. I said it at the time, and I said it again afterward. All of those players were there for the taking, and we stood by while PSG had a free run at them. We hesitated. We overthought. And we paid the price.


I banged the drum for Neves—repeatedly—and what was I told? "He’s not at our level." Then, five months later, we turned around and went after Nico González, a clearly inferior player, I like Gonazalez but Neves is so clear of him and it is not even a debate. The logic? Nowhere to be found.


I pushed hard for Kvaratskhelia, and the response? "We already have a better player in Grealish." Seriously? Saying Grealish is better than Kvara is pure nonsense—delusion at its finest. There’s no comparison in impact, creativity, or raw talent.


I pleaded for Hakimi—a perfect fit for our system. Blistering pace, defensive solidity, technical brilliance, and attacking presence. He was made for us. We ignored it.


I screamed for Nuno Mendes when our left-back situation was crumbling. The kid was miles ahead of his peers at his age, and we still didn’t move. Why? Because apparently, we don’t buy left-backs. Unreal.


We made a push for Fabián Ruiz, but Napoli slapped a €100M price tag on him several years ago. Fair enough, that one was out of reach—but what about the rest?


Time and again, I warned: keep buying average, and you’ll get average. And what did I hear? "The board knows what it’s doing and are smarter." Like—what does that even mean? This isn’t about ego or intelligence—it’s about plainly seeing the flaws in the players we’re signing versus the quality of the ones we should’ve gone after.


It’s not hindsight. It’s pattern recognition—and we kept missing sitters. Players that could have been acquired with ease!

We became too cocky and complacent—plain and simple. When you reach the top, that’s not the time to relax or get arrogant. That’s when the real fight begins. Staying at the top takes even more hunger, discipline, and self-awareness than getting there in the first place.


But instead of digging in and pushing forward, we acted like the work was done. We got to the summit—and then we completely shit the bed. The focus faded, the sharpness dulled, and the decisions started slipping. We stopped evolving and started believing our own hype. That’s how dynasties crumble—not because others rise, but because the kings get lazy.

“We stopped evolving and started believing our own hype. That’s how dynasties crumble—not because others rise, but because the kings get lazy.”

Can you hear yourself?

We’re not playing FIFA here. You seem to believe you’re some visionary scout and everybody employed by the club to make decisions, who have led us to 4 successive premier league titles and a treble, are wholly incompetent.

You can’t genuinely believe the club didn’t look at the players mentioned, and that they were either ruled out for a myriad of circumstances or they simply had a preference for PSG.
 
“We stopped evolving and started believing our own hype. That’s how dynasties crumble—not because others rise, but because the kings get lazy.”

Can you hear yourself?

We’re not playing FIFA here. You seem to believe you’re some visionary scout and everybody employed by the club to make decisions, who have led us to 4 successive premier league titles and a treble, are wholly incompetent.

You can’t genuinely believe the club didn’t look at the players mentioned, and that they were either ruled out for a myriad of circumstances or they simply had a preference for PSG.
Oh, I hear myself just fine. This is a forum, to discuss football and these are my observations and opinions, as you have yours!


What you’re doing is confusing criticism of current decisions with disrespect for past success. No one’s erasing the brilliance that brought us four straight Premier League titles or the treble. That era was historic. But trophies aren’t lifetime immunity from scrutiny. Dynasties don’t crumble because of one bad season—they erode quietly, while everyone insists everything’s fine because of what came before. That’s how it happened to United. They thought the empire was self-sustaining, too. They didn’t see it coming—until it was too late.


You say we’re not playing FIFA. Of course we’re not. But let’s not pretend fans can’t see patterns or recognize when the hunger fades. This isn’t about pretending to be a scout—it’s about calling out stagnation when it shows up in plain sight. Complacency is real. And when ambition gets replaced by self-congratulation, decline becomes inevitable. You stop evolving, start believing your own hype—and yes, that’s exactly how dynasties crumble.


You claim the club surely looked at the players mentioned—Neves, Kvara, Hakimi, Mendes—and maybe they did. But looking isn't enough. You don’t get credit for browsing the menu and walking out hungry. Acting with clarity and conviction is what separates elite planning from cautious indecision. Not every player picked PSG. Some were there for the taking—we just didn’t pull the trigger.


So no, this isn’t about playing fantasy football. It’s about seeing the illusion of control in a system that risks falling into autopilot while the rest of the world sharpens its edge. Because if we’ve traded vision for comfort, and hunger for hubris, then we’re not evolving—we're waiting to be overtaken.


You either adapt—or you become someone else's stepping stone.

You seem to believe you’re some visionary scout
No, I don’t believe I’m a “visionary scout.” I believe I have eyes, memory, and the capacity to recognize patterns—qualities any engaged supporter should possess. You don’t need a scouting badge to see when a club starts favoring risk-averse decisions, or when talent is passed over for comfort.


And let’s be clear: being critical doesn’t mean claiming to be superior to professionals—it means holding those professionals to the standards they themselves set when they built a winning machine. The moment we stop asking questions because “they must know better,” we surrender all accountability to the echo chamber of authority.


Blind faith in leadership isn't loyalty—it's negligence. Support isn’t about nodding along to every decision—it’s about caring enough to question when the trajectory starts to dip.


So no, I’m not a scout. But I know what excellence looks like. I’ve watched it. I’ve celebrated it. And now, I can see when we’re slipping from it.
 
Oh, I hear myself just fine. This is a forum, to discuss football and these are my observations and opinions, as you have yours!


What you’re doing is confusing criticism of current decisions with disrespect for past success. No one’s erasing the brilliance that brought us four straight Premier League titles or the treble. That era was historic. But trophies aren’t lifetime immunity from scrutiny. Dynasties don’t crumble because of one bad season—they erode quietly, while everyone insists everything’s fine because of what came before. That’s how it happened to United. They thought the empire was self-sustaining, too. They didn’t see it coming—until it was too late.


You say we’re not playing FIFA. Of course we’re not. But let’s not pretend fans can’t see patterns or recognize when the hunger fades. This isn’t about pretending to be a scout—it’s about calling out stagnation when it shows up in plain sight. Complacency is real. And when ambition gets replaced by self-congratulation, decline becomes inevitable. You stop evolving, start believing your own hype—and yes, that’s exactly how dynasties crumble.


You claim the club surely looked at the players mentioned—Neves, Kvara, Hakimi, Mendes—and maybe they did. But looking isn't enough. You don’t get credit for browsing the menu and walking out hungry. Acting with clarity and conviction is what separates elite planning from cautious indecision. Not every player picked PSG. Some were there for the taking—we just didn’t pull the trigger.


So no, this isn’t about playing fantasy football. It’s about seeing the illusion of control in a system that risks falling into autopilot while the rest of the world sharpens its edge. Because if we’ve traded vision for comfort, and hunger for hubris, then we’re not evolving—we're waiting to be overtaken.


You either adapt—or you become someone else's stepping stone.


No, I don’t believe I’m a “visionary scout.” I believe I have eyes, memory, and the capacity to recognize patterns—qualities any engaged supporter should possess. You don’t need a scouting badge to see when a club starts favoring risk-averse decisions, or when talent is passed over for comfort.


And let’s be clear: being critical doesn’t mean claiming to be superior to professionals—it means holding those professionals to the standards they themselves set when they built a winning machine. The moment we stop asking questions because “they must know better,” we surrender all accountability to the echo chamber of authority.


Blind faith in leadership isn't loyalty—it's negligence. Support isn’t about nodding along to every decision—it’s about caring enough to question when the trajectory starts to dip.


So no, I’m not a scout. But I know what excellence looks like. I’ve watched it. I’ve celebrated it. And now, I can see when we’re slipping from it.

I’ve got no blind faith—we’ve definitely made some bad transfer decisions. Our key players have declined, and yeah, we probably should’ve started phasing them out earlier. There I’m sure we agree.

But it’s way too easy to just reel off a list of top talents and act like we could’ve signed them all. Most of them were either out of reach or would’ve blown up our wage structure.

It’s not so simple to shift ageing, injury-prone players and replace them with the best young talent every time. We’ve got contracts we can’t shift and limited room to move. Without giving our best players the contracts we have, we wouldn’t have had all this success.

Success comes with a cost—and now we’re feeling it. Why do you think we’re signing players like Doku, Savinho, Khus, and González on relatively low wages?

It’s part of the reset, that we’re probably a season or so behind on. We fucked up in the summer but we’re still in with a shout on champions league and in a cup final.

I have no reason to believe we won’t improve upon that next season and beyond.

Liverpool are catchable. Wages are freeing up with outgoings. Fingers crossed we sign the right players going forward.

I’m certainly not worried about a falling dynasty.
 
Nobody said that and nobody is doing that. I ‘m looking forward to a good summer, to next season and what comes next.
I think the point was more that, those trophies were won by attracting *both* elite talent and elite mentality. If you then replace those players only focusing on elite mentality and not elite talent, that's not going to sustain the same success or further trophies.

Dialog was pointing out that PSG, and apparently they, had picked out those names that have all gone on to show both of those qualities in a greater capacity, in a short space of time, whilst we had never shown interest as a club and even fans were dismissing those names. You then stated that our targets were more suitable for us because their attitudes are better... maybe they are, but that won't on it's own achieve the same kinds of things we've grown accustomed to in recent years, and that's been proven by the results and the amount of silly errors and poor decisions we've seen this season.

Skillset and mindset are equally important. Neither one will get you over the line by itself.
 
I’m certainly not worried about a falling dynasty.
That's the biggest mistake anyone can make. You should always be worried about a falling dynasty. Not overly so, but enough so to avoid it happening. Nobody is immune, you constantly have to keep your levels up high and your wits about you, or it is self-fulfilling.
 
If City were smart, they would be better served going after talents in England such as MGW, Rodgers, Wharton, Eze, Kerkez, Huijsen, Baleba, Delap.

We need to sign young, hungry players, ones who aren't used to winning trophies and want to die busting a gut to try..
That’s a full bench of youngsters for Pep to ignore…….
 

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