De Bruyne?

[5948947]

This is incredible boring now ffs get it done city

 

[supercity88]

In hindsight, that was probably a mistake. As you say, it sort of raised expectations / whet the appetite for a marquee signing (bigger than Sterling). There'd have been little wrong with underplaying things - but at the same time, he perhaps wanted to emphasise the FFP issue as no longer holding us back, thus over egged the pudding on 'major transfer activity'.

All of that said, it seems like we set out to land the likes of Pogba and KdB, and may will still end up with at least one of them. Personally I never believed Pogba would be coming, but that's a purely personal opinion. I still hoped City could prove me wrong (and they still could). I had hoped Pogba would be another statement of intent that opened up the gates for other top stars to join us, but now I'll just hope that IF we land Guardiola next season (big if!) and his reputation is still intact (ideally with a CL win) - then we'll have a serious overhaul next time around - which may even involve some fans favourites saying goodbye.

The trouble is, prior to Khaldoon's end of season review there had already been a whole host of links to players on here as well as people stating we had a big pot of cash with which we would go after key players. Most immediately thought big things and expected a left back, central midfielder and attacking midfielders. What we have done is signed excellent prospects for the future as well as addressing the homegrown quote. We've signed the best young English player in the league but because of all the hype on here, and subsequent statement from Khaldoon we expected much more.

If Pogba's fee and image rights was totalling up to £100m I think we're right to walk away. It makes a statement in one way, but it also leaves us open to a hell of a lot of scrutiny if he didn't live up to that price tag. We'd never get away with an expensive player having indifferent form. They might at the swamp but not here. Look at Di Maria - no real scathing articles about how the rags pathetically over spent on him and he flopped. Nothing. We saw with Robinho the scrutiny our big signings have, the same with Yaya.

De Bruyne would be an excellent addition but maybe not the headline signing people expected. For £70m though you can still buy two very very talented midfielders, one that does the box to box work and another who is creative.

The fact we have spent so much time negotiating for Pogba suggests the club too were interested in making a statement as much as anything. They wanted a seat filler signing. In this respect it looks likely that they'll fail.

 

[pudge]

'I am not the one telling the people I am definitely going to stay. Just to move on two weeks later,'

 

[MadchesterCity]

Looking forward to seeing De Bruyne in a City shirt. Don't agree with those who say we're weaker than last season - him and Sterling improve us considerably, and could be here a long time given their age.

Defence and central midfield still a slight worry, but hopefully we'll just outscore opponents like in 2013/14.

Agreed

 

[FanchesterCity]

We're going to spend £49m on Sterling and probably a similar amount on De Bruyne.

If people are complaining because we haven't made "big" signings this summer they need to get a grip.

I don't think they are complaining, I think some have allowed themselves to get carried away at the prospect of Pogba and then feel disappointed if we don't land him.
However, we haven't got KdB yet, and so it's fair to say the only 'big' signing we've actually made is Sterling. We can't start counting players we've not got as part of the feel good factor!

 

[NorCalBlue]

We're going to spend £49m on Sterling and probably a similar amount on De Bruyne.

If people are complaining because we haven't made "big" signings this summer they need to get a grip.

I certainly hope we ultimately spend 49 million on Sterling, because if I understand the deal correctly, that would mean we'd won 3 more titles and a Champions League.

 

[barryo]

I certainly hope we ultimately spend 49 million on Sterling, because if I understand the deal correctly, that would mean we'd won 3 more titles and a Champions League.

Plus played 200+ games.

Bargain. ..!!!

 

[FanchesterCity]

If we sign De Bruyne that will be almost £100m spent on 3 internationals, and two potential world class players. Roberts and Unal in too. Bony will be like a new signing

On top of that Dzeko, Milner, Lampard, Negredo, Richards, Nastasic, Jovetic, Guidetti, Boyata gone or going.

That's an overhaul in my book. We've basically refreshed a squad that was looking old. Not much left to do other than to add one or two World Class players as and when they become available.

Nastasic and Negredo were already gone last season, Jovetic and Lampard were bit part players, Richards, Guidetti and Boyata were hardly fundamental players for us. So I'd not really say it's an overhaul at all. The fast majority of our starting XI will be same as two seasons ago with no major upgrades (bar Sterling).
Mangala MIGHT prove to be an upgrade in time, but that's it.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

Age mate I reckon.

We can't be going for another 27/28+ outfield player when we already have so many 27/28+ players.

That's got me thinking about our staggering of age groups:

18-20: Iheanacho Denayer Sterling
21-23: Zuculini
24-26: Mangala Delph Bony
27-29: Hart Nasri Fernando Kun Kolarov Kompany Navas Silva
30-32: Clichy Zabaleta Fernandinho Sagna Yaya
33-35: Caballero Demichelis
35+: Wright

Could do with a couple of 21-23 YOs.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Hi TRUE BLUE NO1, I would consider Sterling a bigger signing than KDB as well.

problem is mate......"if" we ended this transfer window with the signings we have....Sterling is the "only" signing that improves our starting 11 on a team that arguably needed 3 or 4 improvements.....(DM,LB, 2 wingers) I just understand why people might have their concerns....

 

[Deleted member 58678]

We're going to spend £49m on Sterling and probably a similar amount on De Bruyne.

If people are complaining because we haven't made "big" signings this summer they need to get a grip.

But we haven't signed de Bruyne. The difference between now/not getting him and landing him is a huge difference in that.

 

[FanchesterCity]

The trouble is, prior to Khaldoon's end of season review there had already been a whole host of links to players on here as well as people stating we had a big pot of cash with which we would go after key players. Most immediately thought big things and expected a left back, central midfielder and attacking midfielders. What we have done is signed excellent prospects for the future as well as addressing the homegrown quote. We've signed the best young English player in the league but because of all the hype on here, and subsequent statement from Khaldoon we expected much more.

If Pogba's fee and image rights was totalling up to £100m I think we're right to walk away. It makes a statement in one way, but it also leaves us open to a hell of a lot of scrutiny if he didn't live up to that price tag. We'd never get away with an expensive player having indifferent form. They might at the swamp but not here. Look at Di Maria - no real scathing articles about how the rags pathetically over spent on him and he flopped. Nothing. We saw with Robinho the scrutiny our big signings have, the same with Yaya.

De Bruyne would be an excellent addition but maybe not the headline signing people expected. For £70m though you can still buy two very very talented midfielders, one that does the box to box work and another who is creative.

The fact we have spent so much time negotiating for Pogba suggests the club too were interested in making a statement as much as anything. They wanted a seat filler signing. In this respect it looks likely that they'll fail.

I'm inclined to agree. The biggest things Pogba has / had going for him was the statement of intent across Europe. Sterling's is much more of a domestic statement.
I personally don't care if someone's a marquee name or not, if they improve us, I'd like them to join us - but from a City point of view, I can see how superstar names can be important to our image - sadly there's not many of them around to buy, and when they are on the market, Bayern, Real and Barca tend to have first option on them.

 

[Deleted member 58678]

The trouble is, prior to Khaldoon's end of season review there had already been a whole host of links to players on here as well as people stating we had a big pot of cash with which we would go after key players. Most immediately thought big things and expected a left back, central midfielder and attacking midfielders. What we have done is signed excellent prospects for the future as well as addressing the homegrown quote. We've signed the best young English player in the league but because of all the hype on here, and subsequent statement from Khaldoon we expected much more.

If Pogba's fee and image rights was totalling up to £100m I think we're right to walk away. It makes a statement in one way, but it also leaves us open to a hell of a lot of scrutiny if he didn't live up to that price tag. We'd never get away with an expensive player having indifferent form. They might at the swamp but not here. Look at Di Maria - no real scathing articles about how the rags pathetically over spent on him and he flopped. Nothing. We saw with Robinho the scrutiny our big signings have, the same with Yaya.

De Bruyne would be an excellent addition but maybe not the headline signing people expected. For £70m though you can still buy two very very talented midfielders, one that does the box to box work and another who is creative.

The fact we have spent so much time negotiating for Pogba suggests the club too were interested in making a statement as much as anything. They wanted a seat filler signing. In this respect it looks likely that they'll fail.

Good post but what do reports have to do with anything? They mean precisely nothing! Who cares if anybody scrutinises us or licks our arse?

 

[FanchesterCity]

Good post but what do reports have to do with anything? They mean precisely nothing! Who cares if anybody scrutinises us or licks our arse?

Half the forum cares - you only need to look at 'The Agenda' thread.
Like it or lump it, a huge part of our success relies on image and the general public's perception of us influences sponsorship values etc.
Bringing in sexy big name players makes us a lot more appealing financially. Of course, if they flop, it's another matter, but on the whole, big names attract big money and fill stadium expansions.

 

[g180aj]

Rony lopes

That's got me thinking about our staggering of age groups:

18-20: Iheanacho Denayer Sterling
21-23: Zuculini
24-26: Mangala Delph Bony
27-29: Hart Nasri Fernando Kun Kolarov Kompany Navas Silva
30-32: Clichy Zabaleta Fernandinho Sagna Yaya
33-35: Caballero Demichelis
35+: Wright

Could do with a couple of 21-23 YOs.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

How about an announcement monday before the first game of season? Dzeko should be signed up in rome by then!

 

[Deleted member 58678]

Half the forum cares - you only need to look at 'The Agenda' thread.
Like it or lump it, a huge part of our success relies on image and the general public's perception of us influences sponsorship values etc.
Bringing in sexy big name players makes us a lot more appealing financially. Of course, if they flop, it's another matter, but on the whole, big names attract big money and fill stadium expansions.

People shouldn't need to care about our media. LG Nissan SuisseGas CocoJoy SAP Heineken etc. don't care what the media says. All that matters is what we do ourselves, anyone else can say what they like they have little influence on people's perception. You only have to go to away games and get chatting to fans like West Ham or Sunderland who like us being up there and challenging the traditionally hated (by other sets of fans) teams, and our ever growin fan base and partnerships to see the media aren't worth taking notice of.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Hope we can get some movement before wolfsburg play this weekend! All we need is him getting injured playing for them!

 

[FanchesterCity]

People shouldn't need to care about our media. LG Nissan SuisseGas CocoJoy SAP Heineken etc. don't care what the media says. All that matters is what we do ourselves, anyone else can say what they like they have little influence on people's perception. You only have to go to away games and get chatting to fans like West Ham or Sunderland who like us being up there and challenging the traditionally hated (by other sets of fans) teams, and our ever growin fan base and partnerships to see the media aren't worth taking notice of.

I know what you're saying, but those companies do care. Believe me. Although we loathe the media (generally), the influence they have shouldn't be underestimated. At the same time, it's not the be all and end all, but it still matters. Fortunately City don't have bad headlines (just a few negative spins). It's not like we're FIFA etc.

 

[aguero93:20]

That's got me thinking about our staggering of age groups:

18-20:Roberts Lopes Iheanacho Denayer Sterling
21-23: Zuculini
24-26: Mangala Delph Bony
27-29: Hart Nasri Fernando Kun Kolarov Kompany Navas Silva
30-32: Clichy Zabaleta Fernandinho Sagna Yaya
33-35: Caballero Demichelis
35+: Wright This **** doesn't count.

Could do with a couple of 21-23 YOs.