It's Quiet the £250m return

[BluestBlue]

Unless I've missed something our big signings have been Ait Nouri, Reijnders & Cherki. I wouldn't say any of them are huge, globally recognised talents. Cherki wasn't even our first choice and Reijnders was a complete unknown by the vast majority of us.

In fact, when was the last time we signed a huge globally recognised talent? Haaland? Before that was probably Aguero

Yall might hate to hear it but it’s Grealish.

He was literally the most well liked player in England, kids were wearing his headbands and getting his haircut. The commentators were calling his charisma Beckham-esque. Everyone wanted him to play for England etc

Obviously that all went away quick when he signed with us but that was the last “big” name we signed.

 

[YatesA]

Be more crazy if you did rate Lewis on here

I think he's a tidy player who has value in possession but we haven't been at the levels required on the ball in a while now to justify his inclusion on a regular basis.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

You think we replace Savinho Tolm?

No idea mate, he clearly wants the move.

Still sick we left Kvaradona for £70m in January!

 

[richards30]

No idea mate, he clearly wants the move.

Still sick we left Kvaradona for £70m in January!

Criminal that!

 

[Mad 4 It]

We need a statement signing which walks straight into our starting 11 where we are currently deficient. Bid £120mill for Saka :)

 

[citytill1die84]

No idea mate, he clearly wants the move.

Still sick we left Kvaradona for £70m in January!

Ye and to think Spurs could pay same price lol.

 

[bell_mcfc]

No idea mate, he clearly wants the move.

Still sick we left Kvaradona for £70m in January!

That’s it he wants to move and sound like the money is on the table now?

We’d normally sell in that situation.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Principles on fees maybe? We defo struggle to smash a big name these days dont we?

In the early days it was all the holistic growth rhetoric and not being taken for fools. Now there are a lot of wealthy clubs seeking to entice players. Add in that they don't get such negative coverage or have threats of charges and relegation over them and I suppose we're well down the pecking order.
Sometimes though it's like we're in the market for a family car, but somehow walk into Wilmslow McLaren, look and talk interested, but then realise they're a bit pricey.

 

[richards30]

In the early days it was all the holistic growth rhetoric and not being taken for fools. Now there are a lot of wealthy clubs seeking to entice players. Add in that they don't get such negative coverage or have threats of charges and relegation over us. I suppose we're well down the pecking order.
Sometimes though it's like we're in the market for a family Skoda, but somehow walk into Wilmslow McLaren, look interested, but then realise they're a bit pricey.

Especially when the dippers, arse and chavs are just steaming on and shopping at the top tables?!

 

[M12Blue]

View attachment 167376

You are welcome ;-)

What transfer window ;)

 

[richards30]

What transfer window ;)

The signing of the window me thinks ;-)

 

[brian the blue]

Especially when the dippers, arse and chavs are just steaming on and shopping at the top tables?!

The fuck are you on about? Who on here was screaming for us to sign any of

Delap
Joao Pedro
Gittins
Garnacho
Estevao
Hato
Frimpong
Kirkez
Ekitike
Leoni
Gyokeres
Eze
Norgaard
Hancapie

12 months ago?

Wirtz and Zubimendi are both good high profile signings, but the idea that we’re feeding off scraps compared to our rivals is ridiculous.

 

[Berti No Show]

Unless I've missed something our big signings have been Ait Nouri, Reijnders & Cherki. I wouldn't say any of them are huge, globally recognised talents. Cherki wasn't even our first choice and Reijnders was a complete unknown by the vast majority of us.

In fact, when was the last time we signed a huge globally recognised talent? Haaland? Before that was probably Aguero

We have to be realistic about where Manchester City stands in the grand scheme of world football. As successful as we’ve been in recent years, we’re still not perceived on the same historical level as clubs like Barcelona, Liverpool, or Real Madrid. These are institutions that carry decades of tradition, heritage, and global recognition. That inevitably makes it harder for City to sign the so-called “elite” players because in the eyes of many, we’re still the newer force on the block, a club that the media have gone out of their way to discredit and tarnish whenever possible. Our rise has been questioned and criticised more than it has been celebrated, and that does impact how some players view us, especially recently.

The truth is, most of the very top players we’ve managed to bring in have come because of Pep Guardiola. His reputation, his vision, and his ability to elevate players to another level have been the decisive factors in attracting talent that otherwise may have gone elsewhere.

Although some fans call for Pep to leave, when that day actually comes they will be in for a huge shock. It’s easy to forget just how much he has given us, how he has transformed Manchester City into a dominant force and set standards we could only dream of before his arrival. Once he steps away, the same people who now complain will quickly realise how rare a manager like Pep is, and they’ll be the first to beg for him to return to the club. His influence is so deep that life after him will inevitably feel different, and only then will some truly appreciate the era we’ve been privileged to witness. Football is cyclical, and our period of dominance is over.

 

[oldius]

Unless I've missed something our big signings have been Ait Nouri, Reijnders & Cherki. I wouldn't say any of them are huge, globally recognised talents. Cherki wasn't even our first choice and Reijnders was a complete unknown by the vast majority of us.

In fact, when was the last time we signed a huge globally recognised talent? Haaland? Before that was probably Aguero

Talent. In the way that KDB became the best with us, as did others.

Cherki was recently described as one of only two magicians of French football, the other being M'bappe.
Reijnders is a Dutch international and Serie A player of the year.
Marmoush had the leading Bundesliga stats ahead of Kane when we bought him.
Khusanov and Bah had the top stats for all U21 defenders at the time of purchase.

I won't labour the point but too many fail to recognise the talent we have while lauding every other Tom, Dick and Harry bought by others as an immediate worldy. In many respects, IMO, many here are sounding like spoiled kids. We have it GREAT!

 

[oldius]

The fuck are you on about? Who on here was screaming for us to sign any of

Delap
Joao Pedro
Gittins
Garnacho
Estevao
Hato
Frimpong
Kirkez
Ekitike
Gyokeres
Eze
Norgaard
Hancapie

12 months ago?

Wirtz and Zubimendi are both good high profile signings, but the idea that we’re feeding off scraps compared to our rivals is ridiculous.

ABSOLUTELY. If we had signed nearly anyone on that list the scribes here would be saying the same thing they are saying now. But if anyone else signed Cherki, for example, we would be going mad that they had stolen a march.

 

[brian the blue]

ABSOLUTELY. If we had signed nearly anyone on that list the scribes here would be saying the same thing. But if anyone else signed Cherki, for example, we would be going mad that they had stolen a march.

Everyone on this forum was straight into panic mode right before we signed Cherki after they watched him score a nice volley for France wondering if someone would steal a march on him or Lyon would up the price and we’d walk away.

 

[blueparrot]

I fear that makes us Chelsea :(

No, Chelsea is haphazard I can see method behind ours,and long term planning, if you look at what COULD , be the foundation of our squad next summer with room to add 3 .or another couple leave and add 4 or 5 but it’s a strong young foundation.

Free list 16

1. Donnarumma
2. Khusonov
3. Dias
4. Reis
5. Bah
6. Gvardiol
7. Ait Nouri
8. Gonzalez
9. Rodri
10. Reinjders
11. Nypan
12. Cherki
13. Marmoush
14. Haaland
15. Echeverri
16. Doku

Home grown 2
Bettinelli
O’Reilly

Academy trained
Bobb
Foden
Trafford
Lewis

 

[Rammy Blue]

No idea mate, he clearly wants the move.

Still sick we left Kvaradona for £70m in January!

Memory serves me right, it was £60mil plus add-ons too, even more criminal.

 

[Berti No Show]

ABSOLUTELY. If we had signed nearly anyone on that list the scribes here would be saying the same thing. But if anyone else signed Cherki, for example, we would be going mad that they had stolen a march.

What’s even more frustrating is that it isn’t just rival supporters who play into this narrative, it’s some of our own fans on our forums. If City had signed Wirtz and Liverpool had gone for Cherki and Reijnders, you can guarantee many of our lot would still be out there moaning, saying Liverpool had smashed the window and we’d somehow fallen short. It’s as if some supporters are determined to believe the grass is greener elsewhere, no matter what we do.

The truth is, we’ve been spoiled. Years of Pep, titles, and record-breaking football have raised expectations to such an impossible level that even smart, well-thought out signings don’t feel good enough anymore. Instead of trusting the process that’s brought us unprecedented success, some fans are quick to praise Liverpool or anyone else while tearing into our own club - it's weird behaviour. It’s as if people have forgotten that this era of dominance wasn’t built on chasing headlines, it was built on finding the right players, the right profiles, and turning them into world beaters.

And yet, here we are, with a section of our fanbase acting like success is guaranteed forever, criticising every move we make while applauding our rivals. That, more than anything, is what being a spoilt fan looks like. Pep Guardiola has given us the best days of our lives, but has completely destroyed the fanbase whilst doing that. I rest my case.

 

[blueparrot]

Principles on fees maybe? We defo struggle to smash a big name these days dont we?

We always did, we have always gone for those players that were seen as potential and improved them. Haaland is the exception rather than the rule, maybe KDB too but even he had many doubters..