Ferran Soriano & Txiki Begiristain

[blueparrot]

Re: Is there any way back for Cook?

That leaves Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Milner, Nasri, Dzeko, Kolarov, Aguero, Silva, Clichy, Yaya... 11 players that remain since Txiki was brought into the club. I’d argue only Kolarov and perhaps Dzeko depending on your opinion, should be sold/upgraded from that list.

Apart from Aguero and Silva(only if he improves his pressing game) how many players from that " core " eleven would make into Europe XI? Offering juicy contracts to Kolarov, Nasri, Dzeko and Yaya was nothing short of criminal.

Those contracts ensure we get good fees for those players, fees that could well fund this summers spending.

 

[Marvin]

What? I can't respond seriously to that.

You don't need to, our abysmal record in Europe is enough to explain what i wanted to say.

At least we're in it and have qualified for the last 16 twice in successive seasons whereas Utd aren't even going to qualify....again.

You can't possibly make a case for Yaya Toure and Zabaleta being weak links in 2013/14.

 

[sam663]

Re: Is there any way back for Cook?

Those contracts ensure we get good fees for those players, fees that could well fund this summers spending.

Still believe their stock was higher in the last summer and we should have shipped them out at that time. It would require astronomical fees to replace them with potentially world-class players, players like rodriguez and kevin de bruyne are having stormer of a season and we would again have to resort to average players.

 

[sam663]

At least we're in it and have qualified for the last 16 twice in successive seasons whereas Utd aren't even going to qualify....again.

What? I can't respond seriously to that.

 

[GX Blue]

Soriano has done a good job. Avoiding FFP sanctions first time round was an impossible task but overall he has done an excellent job in increasing revenue and putting us on a sound footing.

Begiristain has failed miserably, he's done an awful job. The first team squad has regressed on his watch and we have the highest average age in the league. For him to preside over that, FFP sanctions are not (we have spent big money), is criminal. Those are two of his key objectives and he has made a massive balls up.

He should be gone in the summer.

I agree with this post.

I especially like your write up on Begiristain :-)

 

[blueparrot]

Soriano has done a good job. Avoiding FFP sanctions first time round was an impossible task but overall he has done an excellent job in increasing revenue and putting us on a sound footing.

Begiristain has failed miserably, he's done an awful job. The first team squad has regressed on his watch and we have the highest average age in the league. For him to preside over that, FFP sanctions are not (we have spent big money), is criminal. Those are two of his key objectives and he has made a massive balls up.

He should be gone in the summer.

I agree with this post.

I especially like your write up on Begiristain :-)

Maybe you should let the Sheik and Khaldoun know what an awful job Txiki has done, as they don't seem to have noticed. If they're happy I'd say it's because they are taking a wider and longer term view with all the facts than any of us.

 

[bluechampion7891]

Re: Is there any way back for Cook?

Those contracts ensure we get good fees for those players, fees that could well fund this summers spending.

Still believe their stock was higher in the last summer and we should have shipped them out at that time. It would require astronomical fees to replace them with potentially world-class players, players like rodriguez and kevin de bruyne are having stormer of a season and we would again have to resort to average players.

yes, and then replaced them with who in a window where we were financially restricted - given that you yourself have said that thier replacements will require astronomical fees

 

[supercity88]

Re: Is there any way back for Cook?

That leaves Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Milner, Nasri, Dzeko, Kolarov, Aguero, Silva, Clichy, Yaya... 11 players that remain since Txiki was brought into the club. I’d argue only Kolarov and perhaps Dzeko depending on your opinion, should be sold/upgraded from that list.

Apart from Aguero and Silva(only if he improves his pressing game) how many players from that " core " eleven would make into Europe XI? Offering juicy contracts to Kolarov, Nasri, Dzeko and Yaya was nothing short of criminal.

That isn't our "core" eleven. Those are the eleven that remain at the club from Txiki's arrival to now.

A European 11 will never be universally agreed so your whole question is pointless. I've also seen that you believe Yaya and Zabaleta to be the reason for our failings in Europe. That's absolute bollocks. Against Barcelona last season Yaya was very good and we were competitive throughout the game, nerves and being too respectful to Barcelona... and injuries were why we didn't make the most of things in that game.

You'll see in the return fixture just how much better we will be with Yaya added to our side. On their day Kompany, Yaya, Zabaleta, Silva and Aguero would get into any side in Europe. We have been working under regulations that mean we can't spend £60m - £100m on individual players. When things start to improve on that front we can buy the best players and look to improve. We are still Manchester City, we aren't Barcelona, Real or Bayern - those are teams with names that precede them. We cannot compete if they come calling for players, sometimes even if we offered more money.

Offering "juicy" contracts... just screams of negativity. They are footballers, they're on good money, get over it. We offered them contracts to ensure we can sell them and get some money. We could pay Milner £20,000 a week and let him leave for free... that's £1m we've paid him over one year. Had we offered him an improved £50,000 contract for a year and sold him for £5m we've paid out £2.5m and therefore made a profit. Spend money to ensure you can get more. That's why players like Reus get bumper deals with huge transfer clauses. It costs the club a lot in the short term but gets them the security of a high return on their investment. It's simple really... It's funny that you don't seem to get that...

 

[Blue warrior]

Soriano has done a good job. Avoiding FFP sanctions first time round was an impossible task but overall he has done an excellent job in increasing revenue and putting us on a sound footing.

Begiristain has failed miserably, he's done an awful job. The first team squad has regressed on his watch and we have the highest average age in the league. For him to preside over that, FFP sanctions are not (we have spent big money), is criminal. Those are two of his key objectives and he has made a massive balls up.

He should be gone in the summer.

I agree with this post.

I especially like your write up on Begiristain :-)

I have posted before I don't think cheeky has covered himself in glory, if you notice we signed players to fill out the squad which was needed. However I think the plan was to buy ageing experienced players who could win us trophies in short term then big emphasise on the academy graduates stepping up. Problem we have is the academy guys just aren't ready yet, I think he was too short sighted the jump from academy to first team is huge and many still need a couple more years Imo.

We now in a position were we have old players perhaps not as motivated and not many kids ready for the step up perhaps Lopes and denayer but I would give Lopes another year on loan somewhere injury free (hopefully).

Big summer that's for sure got to nail it this time city!

 

[Damocles]

What's going on today then Bluemoon?

The genuises here still selling 15 players in the summer?