Sat in Dublin airport having heard the flight is delayed so thought I'd write out how I currently feel. I caught the first half only and missed the second but this post is more about City in general than today. I find it incredulous that a 4 times champions winning team whom also won the Champions League, FA cup, Super cup and World cup innthe same period now less than two seasons later find themselves looking a shell of their former selves.
We've listened to Khaldoon tell us everything is in place to maintain that challenge. We've watched a new stand and hotel being built which all point to us aiming to maintain and stay at the top. We've seen the worlds no 1 striker sign a 10 year contract whilst breaking numerous records these past few seasons. We're delighted the greatest manager signed an extended contract. All this and plenty more whilst fighting a barrage of negative press surrounding the 115 charges. All the above should be pointing to a bright and great future with a fever pitch expectation of success and continued glorious football. So why does it feel we are currently a long way from that?
Last week v Everton and on many other occaison it's been a dire watch punctuated by the odd bit of genius usually from Haaland. Our style of football is a reflection of more recent signings and I'm now firmly of the opinion that we are carrying at least half a dozen players with a few more yet to prove themselves. We have bought poorly, we continually play players out of position and whether he will admit it or not Pep plays his favourites above others. Some of these players will have good games, they will show promise, they will perform as they should do, afterall they are premier league players. However I genuinely feel they will fail to perform at a standard required every week, to win trophies. They severley lack the strong mentality and the desire not to lose. We are far too nice. The push on Gvardiol today should have had us screaming for a penalty, instead we just played on as if it was nothing had happened in total contrast to Villas players falling over and claiming everyone a foul.
Nunes, Savinho, Doku, Bobb, Rico are simply not good enough to command a first team place. I actually don't think they're good enough for us period. I've seen enough. There are also a few others that have yet to fully impress they have the level required. We need to stop kidding ourselves, stop wanting it to come good, it will here and there but it won't ever like it did before with this current squad.
And what I find most baffling of all is that Pep must have had a say in these players.
