Ederson | Deal agreed with Fenerbahce

[blueparrot]

FaIr point on fickle fans turning against him... Sadly, doesn't apply here. I predicted this last summer. Said he shouldn't come back.

Left as Captain of the best team that won everything. Sometimes its best to leave things on a high...

But hey, bad decisions were made and he came back. We'll support him. But lets not fool ourselves, barring a significant rash of injuries he shouldn't be playing. And no, he wont be developing Reinjders who's 27 and in his prime, nor Cheeki who's a different type of player. And at most, hed be taking needed minutes. sway from NOR and Gonzo.

There is no upside to him staying. And as some of us pointed out a year ago, there was no upside to him returning in the first place :(

If Akanji goes no real downside to him staying either.

 

[Mcfc1.9.8.0]

Gundo is as deserving of a statue as anyone. Right up there alongside the very best who have ever put on a blue shirt.

I'm desperate to see him step into the coaching team and if that means he stays another season and makes some impact sub appearances, then all the better as far as I'm concerned.

Fuckwits slagging him off don't deserve to watch this team.

Why does he have to stay another year taking up a non homegrown spot to become a coach next year. He could go then come back as coach or he could stay take the home grown spot then leave and coach somewhere else.

 

[blueparrot]

Why does he have to stay another year taking up a non homegrown spot to become a coach next year. He could go then come back as coach or he could stay take the home grown spot then leave and coach somewhere else.

How could he stay and thake a home grown spot.

 

[alexmcity]

FaIr point on fickle fans turning against him... Sadly, doesn't apply here. I predicted this last summer. Said he shouldn't come back.

Left as Captain of the best team that won everything. Sometimes its best to leave things on a high...

But hey, bad decisions were made and he came back. We'll support him. But lets not fool ourselves, barring a significant rash of injuries he shouldn't be playing. And no, he wont be developing Reinjders who's 27 and in his prime, nor Cheeki who's a different type of player. And at most, hed be taking needed minutes. sway from NOR and Gonzo.

There is no upside to him staying. And as some of us pointed out a year ago, there was no upside to him returning in the first place :(

Fair points, but Gundo may be important off the pitch.

I'm not against selling him. It's up to him and Pep. I think the honest approach is to tell him we may fail to register him for the CL.

Was it a mistake to sign him back? It depends. If we didn't sign another player, we might have failed to make the CL without Gundo, who knows?

 

[SWP's back]

You’re usually one of the better posters on here so let’s not fall out - but I’m not having anyone dig out one of the best players in the history of our club and our treble winning captain just because we had a shite season and for some bizarre reason he was made the fall guy by some fans.

But surely you are aware it’s possible to be both a legend for the club and also not suited to still be playing for the club? It’s not like it’s the first time that past legends have had to move on. It was a mistake when we re-signed him and it will be a worse one if he stays, in a playing capacity.

He was unable to keep up with play last season and he won’t be getting any pace back now 12 months later. Pep loves him as Pep often loves players beyond the time with which they’re an asset to the team. For me, and yes this is my opinion, we’d be better blooding younger players.

 

[Matt Diablo]

Not to single you out, but the way our fanbase has turned on Gundo is quite shameful. You all had your trousers down in excitement only a year ago for his return. He started slow but eventually found his groove. He's still a good player, and he's still a good man.

This is a club legend we're talking about. Likely a future City coach. Sure he's not in his prime, but if he plays 30 mins here or there and helps develop Tijani, Nico G, Nico OR, Cherki, etc., is that not worth one of the last squad spots?

Why all the hatred?
View attachment 166683

well for one i certainly did not "have my trousers down" when Gundog returned. Knew his legs were gone. Not really seen anything to prove otherwise. Also how could anyone "hate" him ffs!!

Its about now. 2025. August 2025 to be particular. LAST season was painful to watch our midfield continuously getting ripped apart. Due also to other issues for sure but none the less. On the bench OK. Start the odd game sure. But nothing more if we want to win again . . .

 

[Sibierskii]

Don’t underestimate the importance of Gundogan in that dressing room

 

[Bill Walker]

Gundo is as deserving of a statue as anyone. Right up there alongside the very best who have ever put on a blue shirt.

I'm desperate to see him step into the coaching team and if that means he stays another season and makes some impact sub appearances, then all the better as far as I'm concerned.

Fuckwits slagging him off don't deserve to watch this team.

Always loved Gundogan, City legend.
He can stick around for me, play the odd game, come on as sub. Give the other guys a rest.
Lovely guy and model Pro to have in the dressing room.

 

[skillman]

They've stumped up the money for Akanji pretty quickly - £15m.

So either we're asking for more than £15m for Ederson or they don't value him as highly as they do Akanji.

I was hoping there'd be some sort of double-deal announced but the Akanji one has raced through within 24 hours.

 

[alexmcity]

Don’t underestimate the importance of Gundogan in that dressing room

Exactly.

There's much more to a team than running. Intelligence, mentality, professionalism, team spirit, club values, and so on. Gundo offers a lot in those terms.

 

[GLBlue1995]

But surely you are aware it’s possible to be both a legend for the club and also not suited to still be playing for the club? It’s not like it’s the first time that past legends have had to move on. It was a mistake when we re-signed him and it will be a worse one if he stays, in a playing capacity.

He was unable to keep up with play last season and he won’t be getting any pace back now 12 months later. Pep loves him as Pep often loves players beyond the time with which they’re an asset to the team. For me, and yes this is my opinion, we’d be better blooding younger players.

Isn't that the problem? It's not that Gundo still can't contribute and that he still doesn't have a role.

It's that there are a lot of us who don't exactly trust Pep to utilize Gundo in that role and instead fear that Pep's going to ask too much of Gundo like last year, to both his detriment and that of the team.

 

[bumbleblue]

They've stumped up the money for Akanji pretty quickly - £15m.

So either we're asking for more than £15m for Ederson or they don't value him as highly as they do Akanji.

I was hoping there'd be some sort of double-deal announced but the Akanji one has raced through within 24 hours.

Maybe we are just trying to get Dunarunner signed and sealed before confirming.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

Isn't that the problem? It's not that Gundo still can't contribute and that he still doesn't have a role.

It's that there are a lot of us who don't exactly trust Pep to utilize Gundo in that role and instead fear that Pep's going to ask too much of Gundo like last year, to both his detriment and that of the team.

The difference is that this year we’ve got a lot more options.

Rodders back (v soon!), Reijnders, Foden hopefully back fit, Gonzales plus Cherki and Bobb in more attacking positions.

All this means the pressure isn’t on the likes of Gundogan anymore. He can take a step back, come on every now again when needed and be a role model and effectively a player-coach for the young lads to show them what’s what.

It’s an absolute no brainer to me to keep him at the club.

 

[blinkblue]

Hopefully Gala can't reach our valuation. Would like Edersons to see out the last year of his contract.

 

[Father Paul]

Fair points, but Gundo may be important off the pitch.

I'm not against selling him. It's up to him and Pep. I think the honest approach is to tell him we may fail to register him for the CL.

Was it a mistake to sign him back? It depends. If we didn't sign another player, we might have failed to make the CL without Gundo, who knows?

He played a lot of minutes last year and while not as dynamic as in the past was not as poor as some are suggesting. Yes he is slower than before but he could still put in a shift if used as a squad player and back up. Would that be enough to justify him holding down a slot I am not sure. I trust the management to make the right call.

 

[blueparrot]

Isn't that the problem? It's not that Gundo still can't contribute and that he still doesn't have a role.

It's that there are a lot of us who don't exactly trust Pep to utilize Gundo in that role and instead fear that Pep's going to ask too much of Gundo like last year, to both his detriment and that of the team.

Why would he now he has Reijnders and O’Reilly, he played Gundogan a lot last year because he had little choice.

 

[bell_mcfc]

Literally a pointless reply.

Why?

 

[Master-Lotus]

So Galatasaray does have enough money for Akanji but are 'a bit short for Ederson'? No wonder the deal didn't happen yet. We know they have the money so they better pay up. Ederson is a more important player than Akanji so they should sort their priorities.

The difference is that this year we’ve got a lot more options.

Rodders back (v soon!), Reijnders, Foden hopefully back fit, Gonzales plus Cherki and Bobb in more attacking positions.

All this means the pressure isn’t on the likes of Gundogan anymore. He can take a step back, come on every now again when needed and be a role model and effectively a player-coach for the young lads to show them what’s what.

It’s an absolute no brainer to me to keep him at the club.

100% agree. I'd absolutely keep Gundogan for one more season because our Treble winning captain deserves a better farewell and like you said, the pressure won't be on him now like it was last season because we got the young guns in a midfield. He'll be a great backup for the next season.

 

[GLBlue1995]

Why would he now he has Reijnders and O’Reilly, he played Gundogan a lot last year because he had little choice.

He had options last year too -- O'Reilly, Lewis, Nico after January -- and kept going with Gundo.

There was enough reliance on underperforming experience last year that having some worries about Pep and being too loyal is fair I think. That said, small sample size, I was pretty encouraged with how things played out against Wolves. Hopefully, that's what we see, by and large, going forward.

 

[Dribble]

Not to single you out, but the way our fanbase has turned on Gundo is quite shameful. You all had your trousers down in excitement only a year ago for his return. He started slow but eventually found his groove. He's still a good player, and he's still a good man.

This is a club legend we're talking about. Likely a future City coach. Sure he's not in his prime, but if he plays 30 mins here or there and helps develop Tijani, Nico G, Nico OR, Cherki, etc., is that not worth one of the last squad spots?

Why all the hatred?
View attachment 166683

I love Gundog to bits. He's an absolute City legend & our treble winning captain & no one can ever take that away from from Captain Whippy.

However, he's 35 next birthday & he's occupying a crucial non-HG spot. We have to look to the future, & City need to act in our best interests, not Gundog's.

When we wanted him to remain on a one year deal with the club option of another year, he couldn't get the Barcelona quickly enough.

If Ilkay stays, then who in our midfield goes? We need to lose two or even three, & Bernardo is our Captain. The obvious choices are Gundog & Kovacic. The other option is Matheus Nunes & replace him with a homegrown specialist RB. They can't all be registered to play.

Whether it was agents through the media at work or genuine interest, Chelsea & Villa were reportedly interested in signing O'Reilly. Nico isn't ready yet, & short-term Gundog would be a better option, but as things stand we have a plethora of midfield options even without Ilkay.

I think we'd be better off moving on Gundog & Kovacic, concentrating on the younger senior midfielders we have like Gonzalez, Reijnders & Cherki, & giving vital minutes where we can to O'Reilly. That's what long-term squad evolution & succession planning is about.

Ole father time waits for no player. We had these decisions to make with Fernandinho, KDB & Aguero, none of whom wanted to leave. We acted in City’s best interests & evolved our squad. Doing the same with Ilkay isn't us being disrespectful to him.

When push came to shove two years ago, Gundog acted in his best interests. It's now time for City to do the same, & invite him back to join the coaching team when he's hung up his boots.