And so it begins...

[TCIB]

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.

Deep breaths Guy, deep breaths...

I would like to convey my disagreement with your post sir.

 

[super_city_si]

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.

Does such a thing even exist?

 

[jared]

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.

Does such a thing even exist?

I would say messi but he plays further up the field compared to silva these days

 

[ElanJo]

We need an upgrade over Silva

Bed time

 

[mscenterh750]

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.

Does such a thing even exist?

In cloud fucking cuckoo land maybe.

 

[FantasyIreland]

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.

Is it not time this character was removed(again....) from the forum?

Wum,troll,rag? certainly not a Blue.

 

[andyhinch]

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.

Is it not time this character was removed(again....) from the forum?

Wum,troll,rag? certainly not a Blue.

I enjoy a laugh first thing:)

 

[KevR_7]

Upgrade on Silva & Nasri are you insane?! For me Silva & Nasri are our Xavi & Iniesta they make our attacking play tick, Aguero is far more effective when he has them behind him.

If you are a fan watch Samirs interview on the OS, he is spot on about bad luck....against Barca we had Aguero, Nasri & Fernandinho injured. You need luck in the champs league.

If we get a top CB we are sorted, the goals we scored last year shows there is little improvement needed going forward but bringing in Sagna, Fernando & Willy has given us strength where we need it most.

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Our goals scored last year states we are fine attacking.

We all know it's in the defence we need to be improving and in signing both Sagna and Fernando as DM we have already improved but we still need WC CB to partner Vinny.

 

[Mancitybluemoon1]

I will always hate the summer of 2012 -- not for preceding a failed title defense, or for incurring a lot of deadwood -- but because it will forever be used as an example by the shiny-toy brigade as a reason why we need to run out and buy an expensive world-class player every year or everything will fall apart.

Just because we have a carefully laid-out plan this summer of filling four specific positions -- CB, RB, GK, and DM -- doesn't mean we're resting on our laurels by not signings an exciting right winger. In fact it's quite the opposite, it means we're not impulse shopping (which was the true problem in the dreaded Summer of '12) but rather focusing on ourselves, and not on what the rest of the world is doing. Out of those four targeted slots to fill, we've made improvements to our team in three of the stated positions. We now have the bulk of our transfer kitty left to devote to the biggest priority of the bunch at CB, and we're putting extreme care into the signing by cultivating options and treading carefully.

Not sure how anyone expected the summer transfer business to go any better than it has already. First week in July and we've done 75% of our targeted business at extremely competitive prices, to allow for all focus and an incredible ratio of our funds to be aimed at the last 25% of our dealings. Sincerely thankful that the club is run by cool and experienced heads at the top, rather than the alternative.

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.

Nice comments mate....agree completely! I also didn't expect marquee signings BUT as you have rightly said...we need to identify our weaknesses to remain on top and keep one eye on what those around us are doing....CB not only would fill the biggest need on the team but would also be a first class counter move against the other top 4 teams that have gained new firepower this transfer window.....and would keep us one step ahead! My frustration is because we failed to make the right moves to improve the CB postion last year and will have no excuse if we missed out again this time round.....