26 | Savinho - 2025/26

The majority on here seem to be set in their opinions on the lad. Which is a shame, but it's City fans' way. We seem to love having a scapegoat. And we're blessed that we have several candidates this season. Sav, Rico and Tijani spring to mind straight away.
There are posters in Rico's thread who post just to remind us that the lad is shit, even though he hasn't played a proper game in months. Yes, he might not be good enough for City for whatever reason, but is that something that needs repeating even when he's not playing? Don't think so.
 
All the more reason to get behind them, no?

At the match, yes agreed, and I think those players get support.

But they’ve played poorly so it’s pretty unrealistic to think people aren’t going to say as much on a forum created to discuss topics like player performance.
 
Hopefully he does. I wouldn't mind him staying another season rather than throw the towel in on him just yet. If he's made no progression after that, then it'll be time to go.

The reality is you could probably copy and paste the previous two paragraphs into the Reijnders thread and it'll apply to him too. We can't be carrying too many players like this
You have to have a panel of players.
This almost always means that you have 15 or so that are in contention for a starting place each matchday.
Its the quality of the other 7 or 8 that makes up the squad that can be difficult.
Ait Nouri, Savinho, Kovacic, Nico G etc. are good enough for most PL teams.
 
What stood out to me on Weds - and a bit in his last few sub appearances- is his improved attitude and workrate. The lack of that used to infuriate me more than his poor form. Much, much better recently and funnily enough it’s led to an improved output. Hope it continues
 
You have to have a panel of players.
This almost always means that you have 15 or so that are in contention for a starting place each matchday.
Its the quality of the other 7 or 8 that makes up the squad that can be difficult.
Ait Nouri, Savinho, Kovacic, Nico G etc. are good enough for most PL teams.

But we are not most PL teams.

And of course every squad has varying quality throughout it but the very best teams need squad players that can come in and least do a solid job when called upon.

As an attacking player, you at least want them to have some impact when given a chance. Savinho has had very little impact for the most part. It's very sporadic. Unless that changes for the better, then he should be playing for teams who come under "most teams", not the most dominant club of this era.

Hopefully he kicks on though, I'd love him to showcase his talents here. I think there's something to work with, in terms of potential.
 
But we are not most PL teams.

And of course every squad has varying quality throughout it but the very best teams need squad players that can come in and least do a solid job when called upon
I meant good enough to start for other PL teams.
Its hard to juggle everyone.
We had a situation when we had no CB' s at one stage during the season and now have a surplus.
I find it pointless getting on the backs of Savinho or Lewis or Nico G who we all know are not at the standard of previous city greats and currently not good enough to start regularly for us.
 
I was pleased with his improved application and the way he made runs for Cherki to find him was good to see. I am struggling to see him make the jump to being a first choice pick and it is game time that he needs to press on.
He may start having competition for the right wing backup spot from McAidoo who looks ready to make the step to being a regular first team squad member.
I have thought for a long while that we need wide players who can make significant goal contributions and Semenyo provides that so will own that starting place on the right next season.
 
You have to have a panel of players.
This almost always means that you have 15 or so that are in contention for a starting place each matchday.
Its the quality of the other 7 or 8 that makes up the squad that can be difficult.
Ait Nouri, Savinho, Kovacic, Nico G etc. are good enough for most PL teams.
Pep usually has around 16-17 players he trusts. EG, in the treble season run-in, he had 17 that he used with any regularity:

Ede
Ortega

Walker
Akanji
Stones
Ake
Dias
Laporte

Rodri
Bernie
Gundo
KDB
Foden
Grealish

Mahrez
Haaland
Alvarez


Players like Rico, Gomez, Phillips (stop laughing at the back) were for the last 10 mins when we were 3-0 up. Even Laporte seemed a way down the pecking order by that point.


Who does he trust these days?
Donna
Trafford

Nunes
Khusa
Guehi
Ake
NO'R
Josko

Rodri
Bernie
Phil
Cherki

Semenyo
Haaland
Doku

15 players

RAN, Marmoush, Savinho, Stones, Kova are probably next in line in the "if need be" bracket, Dias obvs when he's fit again, but where does that leave Gonzalez / Rico / Reijnders?
 
Back to Savinho - there was much to like about Wednesday I thought, but answer me this: if he'd been playing for Palace, and put in exactly the same performance, incl scoring his goal, would there be a clamour in the "players who might improve us thread" demanding his signature?
 
Finally having an upward trend so I see no reason to talk him down.

If he learns to do the simple things in front of goal like he did vs Palace his confidence will do the rest for himself and us.

22yo pacey winger, quick feet and good touch - not the worst option.
Contract til 2031, working hard on the pitch. Low risk.

And, a feel-good player. Give him a bit of backing and he will give it all.
 
Still think we need to be patient with the lad. Would like to see him play more and closer with Cherki - both very good in tight spaces and savinhos pace can get him in behind for cherki to play him in (as Wednesday showed).
 
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Back to Savinho - there was much to like about Wednesday I thought, but answer me this: if he'd been playing for Palace, and put in exactly the same performance, incl scoring his goal, would there be a clamour in the "players who might improve us thread" demanding his signature?
I think he's a bit like Echeverri, Reis, Bah, Mubama, Nypan.
You just don't know how they are going to turn out and we possibly put too much pressure on a young player when they are physically at the club.
Savinho is probably at the level of Bobb and McAtee.
If Savinho was at Girona, as is Reiss and Echeverri, he wouldn't even be a topic of conversation.
Its fair to say that he hasn't taken the opportunities given to him so far.
O Reilly is an example of someone who has taken his chance.
Only got on the pitch when Pep dragged Khusanov off at halftime before he was sent off.
Gvardiol moved to centre half and O Reilly came in at left back. Both players made those positions their own.
Sav8nho will probably get one more season.
 
Need a player to provide width in attack on the right? It’s a choice between Semenyo and Savinho. One is sloppy in possession, misplaces a pass, and more often than not shoots off target. The other is of a slight build and easily bullied off the ball. Both are more effective playing inverted and cutting into the box. Maybe the width should come from elsewhere?
 
Need a player to provide width in attack on the right? It’s a choice between Semenyo and Savinho. One is sloppy in possession, misplaces a pass, and more often than not shoots off target. The other is of a slight build and easily bullied off the ball. Both are more effective playing inverted and cutting into the box. Maybe the width should come from elsewhere?

Sav is more like a lightweight wing playmaker, in the mould of Grealish.

Still think Pep trusts Sav to keep the ball and push us up the pitch to see out games as much as any of the bench options.

I think we can all see at this point the technique, passing, vision and dribbling is there. He arguably has a more rounded game than Doku did at the same age, and I'd say now Doku is integral to our team.

Still see no reason to give up on Sav's development and think it even more unlikely we find a 22 year old winger with the same potential happy to play a second fiddle role. Especially having bought Semenyo as competition.

A bit of strength training and some work on finishing and I think it's not unlikely he's a better option (or at least a worthy alternative) than Semenyo in a couple of years time.
 
Pep usually has around 16-17 players he trusts. EG, in the treble season run-in, he had 17 that he used with any regularity:

Ede
Ortega

Walker
Akanji
Stones
Ake
Dias
Laporte

Rodri
Bernie
Gundo
KDB
Foden
Grealish

Mahrez
Haaland
Alvarez


Players like Rico, Gomez, Phillips (stop laughing at the back) were for the last 10 mins when we were 3-0 up. Even Laporte seemed a way down the pecking order by that point.


Who does he trust these days?
Donna
Trafford

Nunes
Khusa
Guehi
Ake
NO'R
Josko

Rodri
Bernie
Phil
Cherki

Semenyo
Haaland
Doku

15 players

RAN, Marmoush, Savinho, Stones, Kova are probably next in line in the "if need be" bracket, Dias obvs when he's fit again, but where does that leave Gonzalez / Rico / Reijnders?

On the way out I’d say.
 
Sav is more like a lightweight wing playmaker, in the mould of Grealish.

Still think Pep trusts Sav to keep the ball and push us up the pitch to see out games as much as any of the bench options.

I think we can all see at this point the technique, passing, vision and dribbling is there. He arguably has a more rounded game than Doku did at the same age, and I'd say now Doku is integral to our team.

Still see no reason to give up on Sav's development and think it even more unlikely we find a 22 year old winger with the same potential happy to play a second fiddle role. Especially having bought Semenyo as competition.

A bit of strength training and some work on finishing and I think it's not unlikely he's a better option (or at least a worthy alternative) than Semenyo in a couple of years time.

Wishful thinking I’d say. I think if we get an offer for him in the Summer he won’t be here. Pep played him on Wednesday because he won’t be playing tomorrow and he has hardly featured at all in the last 10 games or so.
 
One of his better games for us. The issue is you can probably count on one hand the amount of actual good games he has had.

I think we can all acknowledge he has some good attributes there but the difference is doing it at a high level with some consistency. For me, he doesn't look like he would.
You can probably find this exact sentiment in every Doku thread from his first year here and this year all the way up till he got injured acfew months back. Then folks saw 2hat was missing when he isn't around. Now folks panic when he is not starting.

Savio to me has ia a lot like Mo Salah. Chaotic but with dome genius. He just needs to hone that magic...
 
Pep usually has around 16-17 players he trusts. EG, in the treble season run-in, he had 17 that he used with any regularity:

Ede
Ortega

Walker
Akanji
Stones
Ake
Dias
Laporte

Rodri
Bernie
Gundo
KDB
Foden
Grealish

Mahrez
Haaland
Alvarez


Players like Rico, Gomez, Phillips (stop laughing at the back) were for the last 10 mins when we were 3-0 up. Even Laporte seemed a way down the pecking order by that point.


Who does he trust these days?
Donna
Trafford

Nunes
Khusa
Guehi
Ake
NO'R
Josko

Rodri
Bernie
Phil
Cherki

Semenyo
Haaland
Doku

15 players

RAN, Marmoush, Savinho, Stones, Kova are probably next in line in the "if need be" bracket, Dias obvs when he's fit again, but where does that leave Gonzalez / Rico / Reijnders?

Reijnders is not going anywhere.

You can see Pep is angry with him.. and he only gets angry at people he wants to improve.

The ones who he doesn't want to put effort into and aren't responding as he'd like is likely Rico/ Gonzalez/ Alleyne.

Omar is a wildcard.. he could stay or go.. but Pep trusts him to a degree.. his goal from nothing while running all game for Pep definitely didn't hurt him.
 
Wishful thinking I’d say. I think if we get an offer for him in the Summer he won’t be here. Pep played him on Wednesday because he won’t be playing tomorrow and he has hardly featured at all in the last 10 games or so.

Don't think we gave him a 5 year deal to sell him 1 year in.

Unless there's a better young right winger who's happy to be second fiddle to Semenyo I can't see any point making that change.
 

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