And so it begins...

[Ray78]

What is different to 2012 is that we have landed most of our prime targets early and made sure they are the right fit for the team.

 

[Mancini Manus Domini]

I think a CB duo of Demichelis-Benatia would be great.

I agree. As would Kompany and Mangala.

As long as we have 1 of Kompany and new CB (Benatia or Managala) in the starting line up, we should be Ok

Benatia/Mangala & Nastasic? Not for me.

 

[Tron Coltrane]

Not sure if this is a response to my post but I am in no way advocating a marquee signing. I am, however, advocating making additional signings with the understanding of our own weaknesses and the work our rivals have done.

The worst examples of decision making are of those made without regard to external factors/influences. Thus far we have made two very good, strength of depth signings, and one potentially good signing (anyone that is certain about Fernando's success in the Premier League are foolhardy—I hope he does well but I don't presume to know without any doubt he will). It is yet to be seen how we address our centreback needs or what will be the outcome of the Yaya situation. Last season was much closer than many seem to remember, as well, which is interesting to me.

But I have confidence our executive team will learn from prior mistakes and make the signings we need. They will not make amateurish assumptions that lead to failure.

Wasn't directed at you, much more of a general rant. Out of curiosity regarding the last section, though, which of Cheeky & Feran's mistakes are you hoping they learn from? Or are you hoping they are learning from the mistakes their predecessor's made?

Maybe their mistake was to prioritise attacking players over the center half position. Pepe was courted for too long and Demichalis brought in too late. Kompany's early season injuries were thankfully overcome but one more injury and it would have cost us the title. So whilst we were indulging ourselves in Isco, and then Jovetic, we were neglecting a key position.

It's not a partner for Kompany that concerns me the most it's a replacement should he be injured. I really hope the delay is due to us trying to get both Benatia and Mangala not just one of them. Nastasic is not forceful and determnined enough for me; a decent player but not a winner in my opinion.

I'm going to skip the whole "how do you rate Nastasic" point because it's covered in at least a dozen other threads throughout the forums, but in defense of Txiki and Feran not prioritizing a CB last summer, Nastasic had been both relatively healthy and immense in his first season partnering Vinny. Whatever you may say about the previous season with the benefit of hindsight, I'm not judging our executive staff too harshly in thinking this time last year that Kompany, Nastasic, Lescott, and a newly-added Demichelis would suffice for the campaign.

As for the January transfer window, we're all sort of putting our own speculative pieces together but I'm personally under the impression that the Mangala price was extraordinarily high and our management team were under the (albeit misguided) impression that we were set to pass FFP if we avoided the purchase and fail if we didn't. Again, hindsight... but I'm not too harsh in my judgment of their decision under the circumstances, even if it did go a bit tits up.

 

[bluechampion7891]

Wasn't directed at you, much more of a general rant. Out of curiosity regarding the last section, though, which of Cheeky & Feran's mistakes are you hoping they learn from? Or are you hoping they are learning from the mistakes their predecessor's made?

Maybe their mistake was to prioritise attacking players over the center half position. Pepe was courted for too long and Demichalis brought in too late. Kompany's early season injuries were thankfully overcome but one more injury and it would have cost us the title. So whilst we were indulging ourselves in Isco, and then Jovetic, we were neglecting a key position.

It's not a partner for Kompany that concerns me the most it's a replacement should he be injured. I really hope the delay is due to us trying to get both Benatia and Mangala not just one of them. Nastasic is not forceful and determnined enough for me; a decent player but not a winner in my opinion.

I'm going to skip the whole "how do you rate Nastasic" point because it's covered in at least a dozen other threads throughout the forums, but in defense of Txiki and Feran not prioritizing a CB last summer, Nastasic had been both relatively healthy and immense in his first season partnering Vinny. Whatever you may say about the previous season with the benefit of hindsight, I'm not judging our executive staff too harshly in thinking this time last year that Kompany, Nastasic, Lescott, and a newly-added Demichelis would suffice for the campaign.

As for the January transfer window, we're all sort of putting our own speculative pieces together but I'm personally under the impression that the Mangala price was extraordinarily high and our management team were under the (albeit misguided) impression that we were set to pass FFP if we avoided the purchase and fail if we didn't. Again, hindsight... but I'm not too harsh in my judgment of their decision under the circumstances, even if it did go a bit tits up.

true, signing those two then would not have affected the FFP decision, and assuming without those 2 we were supposed to break even for 13/14, I think it would have registered close to a 15 million pounds loss. Close enough tot the 20m euro we are allowed for 13/14

 

[Tricky_Trev]

How can anyone believe this window is similar to 2012??? That summer we panic bought FIVE players on deadline day. FIVE! This is nothing like that. How is signing Richard Wright, Maicon, Garcia, Nastasic and Scott Sinclair on deadline day the same as this window? It just isn't. So zip it!

 

[Wilf Wild 1937]

The ONLY similarity between 2012 & 2014 is that we will end up spending about £50m net.

 

[SebastianBlue]

How can anyone believe this window is similar to 2012??? That summer we panic bought FIVE players on deadline day. FIVE! This is nothing like that. How is signing Richard Wright, Maicon, Garcia, Nastasic and Scott Sinclair on deadline day the same as this window? It just isn't. So zip it!

Who are you shouting at? I'll smack them for you.

 

[El Mago]

Centre back is top priority even with Martín Demichelis and Matija Nastasić already at the club.

As far as I remember, it was difficult for us to cope with Bayern and Barcelona.

They had more control and were more effective going forward, thats why we didn't do great in the Champions League and not because we didn't have good CBs.


IMO, as good as our attacking midfielders, we need someone like Ribery, Robben...etc. A dribbler who can create space, chances and score goals.


We need an upgrade over Silva and Nasri, and IF we didn't sign a player who can be better than them, then lets hope Jovetic can do this job.

 

[pudge]

Centre back is top priority even with Martín Demichelis and Matija Nastasić already at the club.

As far as I remember, it was difficult for us to cope with Bayern and Barcelona.

They had more control and were more effective going forward, thats why we didn't do great in the Champions League and not because we didn't have good CBs.


IMO, as good as our attacking midfielders, we need someone like Ribery, Robben...etc. A dribbler who can create space, chances and score goals.


We need an upgrade over Silva and Nasri, and IF we didn't sign a player who can be better than them, then lets hope Jovetic can do this job.

Do you plan on pulling some mythical player out of your arse then?

 

[bluechampion7891]

Centre back is top priority even with Martín Demichelis and Matija Nastasić already at the club.

As far as I remember, it was difficult for us to cope with Bayern and Barcelona.

They had more control and were more effective going forward, thats why we didn't do great in the Champions League and not because we didn't have good CBs.


IMO, as good as our attacking midfielders, we need someone like Ribery, Robben...etc. A dribbler who can create space, chances and score goals[/b].


We need an upgrade over Silva and Nasri, and IF we didn't sign a player who can be better than them, then lets hope Jovetic can do this job.

While I agree with the need for a dribbler with pace and goal-scoring capability, that in no means diminishes our need for a CB. We are a Kompany injury away from being seriously derailed. IMO the club should have raised money from sales and gotten Sanchez, but that ship has sailed. Don't see it possible this summer as other targets (Di Maria) are out of range

Nasri just signed a 5 year contract, with Silva expected to follow. Can't see them being replaced any time soon.