End of an era

good article, met with the entirely predictable responses. The new model army will be younger and more versatile, Skill alone is not the future, the level of speed and stamina to cope with the top teams has risen beyond the capabilities of most of our squad.
It will be a major triumph if the club can stay competitive whilst phasing in new blood and phasing out yesterday's heroes.
 
LoveCity said:
Didn't Silva say he wants to win the Champions League with us just a matter of weeks ago?

I don't think he's infallible but I don't think he'll go this summer. If City do get De Bruyne, there is a chance he will be seen as Silva's successor. He isn't as elegant as Silva but there is more of a directness to his game which results in goals, assists and also very good crosses + corners. If KDB could produce what he has at Wolfsburg (or even within 20% of that astonishing productivity) it could make City consider selling a then-30 year old Silva next summer. But now with so many others on the chopping block? I just can't see it.
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Me neither. Looking at the squad on Sunday, I wondered where we'd be without Silva and Aguero, cos the rest of it is filled with bang average players or ones nearing the end of their shelf life. Those two then are surely our real draw cards in terms of attracting other top players to the club, and selling either would be foolish in the extreme at this moment. I can see some serious ructions in the summer though if, as I expect, we finish 5th, cos I doubt Aguero in particular will want to hang around. We've got to come out absolutely firing against West Ham that's for sure
 
bellbuzzer said:
good article, met with the entirely predictable responses. The new model army will be younger and more versatile, Skill alone is not the future, the level of speed and stamina to cope with the top teams has risen beyond the capabilities of most of our squad.
It will be a major triumph if the club can stay competitive whilst phasing in new blood and phasing out yesterday's heroes.
Click to expand...
The predictable responses are mostly aimed at the line regarding Silva. Predictable doesn't mean incorrect either.
If you think a throwaway line regarding our best player and his intention to leave wasnt going to draw closer scrutiny then fair play to you. The thought of him leaving at the end of this year having told us in an interview only a few months ago how happy he is fills me with dread. It also tells me something has happened behind the scenes between the interview and now, and if it's something that's made Silva do a full turn then it'd be nice to know what.
 
Just as an aside ,with somebody mentioning Valencia .. they had a private jet at the airport over the weekend ..only noticed it because it had the club emblem on the side near the passenger door ,could only think it was here for the derby
 
I don't think it is the end of an era, it is merely a transition to something better. I don't know if Pellegrini will lose his job but this season has shown everyone in the powers that be that there is a massive room for improvement. The thing is, around December we were well within a chance behind Chelsea and still in 1 cup. The wheels have now seemingly fallen off but I don't think it points to the end of an era or some mass exodus out of the club. My guess is many players are very happy here but like when United walked the title a couple of years ago, we have just lost that spark, we are a considerable amount of points behind Chelsea and it has been allowed to fester to the point where even our top 4 status is under threat.

This is a fantastic team make no mistake about it, we have actually played some quality football this season. The reason for this complete collapse I'd rather blame on that loss of hunger and a lack of the mentality needed to get results no matter how you are playing. Neville was perfectly right during the game when we got the 2nd and the players still did not have anything in the tank to at least try and make it 4-3, it was acceptance that we were beaten. That has happened many times this season, we have gone behind so many times without any real answer and beyond finding why we were getting beat in the first place, responding has been a big problem.

I think now is not the time to take rash actions in sacking Pellegrini, we need to close out the season with as much certainty as possible. I'm sure the players don't want Pellegrini to go and for us to lose our manager at a critical stage, we risk everything for a completely unproven, temporary manager? Now we need to focus on the top 4, Liverpool/Arsenal and United are not going to win every game, it's impossible because they all play each other and they all also have to play Chelsea who have to win to ensure the title comes home.

We really should be winning our home games so that is potentially 9 points from 18 leaving 9 to gain away. With Liverpool needing 5 just to catch us as their GD is miles behind, 5 points from 9 in those away games will guarantee top 4 and that is even if Liverpool win every game. They will probably actually only get around 10-12 points from their remaining games and remember they will possibly have a cup final to think of so I reckon 12 points from all of our remaining fixtures will be enough to see us over the line.
 
Silva go. No chance. Never had much pace so his age is irrelevant. Lets play to his strengths...play him through the middle...proper number 10.
 
It's not the end of an era at all. I think a lot of city fans are getting far too carried away with things. We've been the best side in England over the past few seasons in squad terms, we've won two league titles the FA Cup and the league cup and we've got out of the knockouts of the CL twice... that's it. That might be brilliant and comparable to our successes in the late 60s but with the money we have spent and the ambition we have as a club it isn't anything more than would have been expected.

We've got Yaya coming to the end of his City career. Personally it's only Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Yaya, Silva and Aguero who can be looked at as the core of our successful side. Only Yaya will leave from that bunch so I don't see it as an end of an era. Zabba needs proper competition at right back and a break most likely - last season with the WC was monstrous for him. Kompany I hope will see a return to form with a break this summer too. Hart, Silva and Aguero will all stay.

We need to address weaknesses that have always been there... a defensive midfielder who can also pass forwards... a left back that can defend and get forward... a central midfield with energy... pace out wide... a plan B.

With Bony in the side we have an aerial threat. With pace out wide we can see that Plan B emerge. We can still have the guile from Silva and add energy from someone like Koke. We'll be fine and we'll improve and be fighting for the title next season, and hopefully the CL. Silva and Aguero will still be central to everything we do.
 
It's not the end of an era at all. I think a lot of city fans are getting far too carried away with things. We've been the best side in England over the past few seasons in squad terms, we've won two league titles the FA Cup and the league cup and we've got out of the knockouts of the CL twice... that's it. That might be brilliant and comparable to our successes in the late 60s but with the money we have spent and the ambition we have as a club it isn't anything more than would have been expected.

We've got Yaya coming to the end of his City career. Personally it's only Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Yaya, Silva and Aguero who can be looked at as the core of our successful side. Only Yaya will leave from that bunch so I don't see it as an end of an era. Zabba needs proper competition at right back and a break most likely - last season with the WC was monstrous for him. Kompany I hope will see a return to form with a break this summer too. Hart, Silva and Aguero will all stay.

We need to address weaknesses that have always been there... a defensive midfielder who can also pass forwards... a left back that can defend and get forward... a central midfield with energy... pace out wide... a plan B.

With Bony in the side we have an aerial threat. With pace out wide we can see that Plan B emerge. We can still have the guile from Silva and add energy from someone like Koke. We'll be fine and we'll improve and be fighting for the title next season, and hopefully the CL. Silva and Aguero will still be central to everything we do.
 
bellbuzzer said:
good article, met with the entirely predictable responses. The new model army will be younger and more versatile, Skill alone is not the future, the level of speed and stamina to cope with the top teams has risen beyond the capabilities of most of our squad.
It will be a major triumph if the club can stay competitive whilst phasing in new blood and phasing out yesterday's heroes.
Click to expand...

Here is my thoughts on this matter, I was going to start a new thread but would have probably got slammed for it:

Next season we will be taking IMO a step back but still be competitive. By this I mean we won't be winning the league title but will be aiming for finishing in the top four consistently - if the team pushes for the title then that will be an added bonus.

We are all aware of this seasons mess, and the lack of desire of a chosen selection of the players in the team. They rightly so, will be moved on this summer and the injection of young talented players will be acquired. This means that the team will be in a transitional period, will we get the squad we need in one window maybe not as it may take 2 summer windows for the rebuild to take place.

What this period will then allow us to do is approach the champions league with more emphasis, and make in roads further into the competition that our owners desire.

But this is something I can handle as long as the team has the capability to play as we know it can but also start to press teams (even the so called best teams) as we have been told will become a part of our style. A lack of being able to defend the goal mouth has been our downfall this season which we have witnessed.

During this transition what it allows us to do is bring through Denayer, Rekik and Lopes who I now think can step up to the 1st team next season. Built around the new younger players purchased and around the core group of Hart, Zaba, Kompany, Mangala,Clichy,Silva, Bony and Kun.

We are currently being lambasted from the united fans who have now come out of hiding after their win, they are saying we are on a downward spiral - quite a stupid and naïve response if that is the way they think our owners are going to approach the solution needed.

It might mean 1-2 years of not winning the league title, but allowing us to grow this next new era ready to win more silverware
 
In 2009-10 season City lost a vital game against Tottenham and missed out on the Champions League place. Everybody laughed and mocked. In 2010-11 season City won the FA Cup and finished 3rd securing Champions League football. Everybody shut their mouth. In 2011-12 season City had scandals with Tevez and Balotelli and were 8 points behind with just 6 games to go. Everybody laughed and mocked. City won the league. Everybody shut their mouth again. In 2012-13 season City was a shadow of a team that won the title, lost to Wigan in the FA Cup final. Everybody laughed and mocked. In 2013-14 season City played some fantastic football and scored 156 goals in all competitions and won the league. Everybody shut their mouth. This season City is a shadow of a team that won the title last year. Again everybody is laughing and thinking it's over. Next season City will play some fantastic football again and all critics will be quiet.
 
BlueMoonz1977 said:
bellbuzzer said:
good article, met with the entirely predictable responses. The new model army will be younger and more versatile, Skill alone is not the future, the level of speed and stamina to cope with the top teams has risen beyond the capabilities of most of our squad.
It will be a major triumph if the club can stay competitive whilst phasing in new blood and phasing out yesterday's heroes.
Click to expand...

Here is my thoughts on this matter, I was going to start a new thread but would have probably got slammed for it:

Next season we will be taking IMO a step back but still be competitive. By this I mean we won't be winning the league title but will be aiming for finishing in the top four consistently - if the team pushes for the title then that will be an added bonus.

We are all aware of this seasons mess, and the lack of desire of a chosen selection of the players in the team. They rightly so, will be moved on this summer and the injection of young talented players will be acquired. This means that the team will be in a transitional period, will we get the squad we need in one window maybe not as it may take 2 summer windows for the rebuild to take place.

What this period will then allow us to do is approach the champions league with more emphasis, and make in roads further into the competition that our owners desire.

But this is something I can handle as long as the team has the capability to play as we know it can but also start to press teams (even the so called best teams) as we have been told will become a part of our style. A lack of being able to defend the goal mouth has been our downfall this season which we have witnessed.

During this transition what it allows us to do is bring through Denayer, Rekik and Lopes who I now think can step up to the 1st team next season. Built around the new younger players purchased and around the core group of Hart, Zaba, Kompany, Mangala,Clichy,Silva, Bony and Kun.

We are currently being lambasted from the united fans who have now come out of hiding after their win, they are saying we are on a downward spiral - quite a stupid and naïve response if that is the way they think our owners are going to approach the solution needed.

It might mean 1-2 years of not winning the league title, but allowing us to grow this next new era ready to win more silverware
Click to expand...

We still have to realize that going in to win all 4 trophies is just not going to happen. There is not a single team apart from the scum that has won the title and the Champions League the same year. Chelsea won theirs and finished 6th that year! Perhaps we are sacrificing our Premier League form and even the players are playing only for Europe. This recent shocking run of form has completely coincided with us going out of the Champions League and that suggests to me a lack of hunger and desire for the title.

The same thing has actually happened at every other club but the other way round, both Chelsea and Arsenal went out at the same stage as us against relatively poorer teams putting in shocking performances. It seems to me every club is now focusing on domestic affairs whilst we are trying to do the opposite. Is it any coincidence Arsenal too are in with a chance of the title and another cup because they have effectively given up on Europe?

Put it this way, if you are a player rather than a fan would you rather have 5 Premier League titles or 2 Premier League titles and 1 Champions League when you end your career?
 
Dipsis_LTU_MC said:
In 2009-10 season City lost a vital game against Tottenham and missed out on the Champions League place. Everybody laughed and mocked. In 2010-11 season City won the FA Cup and finished 3rd securing Champions League football. Everybody shut their mouth. In 2011-12 season City had scandals with Tevez and Balotelli and were 8 points behind with just 6 games to go. Everybody laughed and mocked. City won the league. Everybody shut their mouth again. In 2012-13 season City was a shadow of a team that won the title, lost to Wigan in the FA Cup final. Everybody laughed and mocked. In 2013-14 season City played some fantastic football and scored 156 goals in all competitions and won the league. Everybody shut their mouth. This season City is a shadow of a team that won the title last year. Again everybody is laughing and thinking it's over. Next season City will play some fantastic football again and all critics will be quiet.
Click to expand...
I like your thinking. The stats show we play better and collect the silverware the season leading into an International tournament rather than straight after.
 
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