Florian Wirtz

[Saddleworth2]

Whilst people talk like our recruitment is done by someone who has never watched football before, our recruitment is actually done by the same people who built the last 2 record breaking City teams. I'm sure they can build a third and probably have a better grasp on how to do it than you or me.

You talk a lot of sense. However it’s not quite the same as we have a new Director of Football who I assume is leading the rebuild in this coming transfer window. Whilst his work in Portugal is impressive, he is yet to build an elite team capable of winning serial titles. In Pep we trust has never had more resonance. I wish I saw the green shoots of a new squad that is a firm foundation for the future but I don’t yet. I guess my biggest concern is our use of Haaland, playing to his strengths and enabling him space to do what he can do.

 

[theholysmurf]

Yeah honestly, I'm gutted about Wirtz as are the majority of the fan base.

I do think it opens us up to longer-term planning in other areas, though, provided we see some improvements from the existing squad.

If we see a marked improvement from Savinho, Doku, Foden, Bobb, and Nico G (obviously others) we should improve our goal and creative output whilst maybe having the budget to bring in players like Hugo Larsson and allow them an easier path into the first team.

I'm not looking for a marquee signing this summer, nor a huge statement signing to replace De Bruyne. I'm wanting to see players who fight for the club, develop relationships across the pitch with like-minded players and to get back to the team chemistry we had for song.

We've lost those Cancelo-Gundo-Grealish or Walker-De Bruyne-Mahrez patterns on the pitch and I'm desperate to see this sort of cohesion back in the team.

Unlike most, I'm trusting the board to get the right profile, no matter how big or small the name is.

Precisely mate. We’ve lost that spine that all good teams need, needs to be rebuilt now, as Mancini, Pellegrini, and Pep already did once before.

Additionally we need players who like MGW, team has been screaming out for a player who isn’t afraid to lead.

 

[Tb1981]

Not to be pedantic as I know you're not the only person on here who chats like this, but we won the title a year after the treble. So, y'know, that's the sort of 'mismanagement' every single other club in the country would take.

Generational talent is a modern football term wildly overused, which generally describes a player who is being hyped to fuck at a young age with no guarantees that they'll fulfil that potential. Kai Havertz was a 'generational talent'. Ansu Fati was a 'generational talent'. Mario Gotze and Marco Reus were generational. I could go on but you get the point. I'm glad City aren't obsessed with shit like that and have an actual transfer strategy based on the actual characteristics the squad needs.

What City did was make a conscious decision to not break up the treble winning team because Guardiola asked them not to. That's why we won the 4th title on the bounce and wrote a piece of history that will never be written again. The downside of that is what has happened this season, but only someone with no spine and no foresight would predict City's demise based off one down season. Whilst people talk like our recruitment is done by someone who has never watched football before, our recruitment is actually done by the same people who built the last 2 record breaking City teams. I'm sure they can build a third and probably have a better grasp on how to do it than you or me.

Spot on
If our recruitment team don’t think he is serious then why waste any more time.
Move on to plan b or plan c
We’re talking £100m plus transfer fees

Also these guys bought us Rodri (no one knew how good he would be) after Jorginho fell through
We all wanted koulibaly, turns out he was shit
Sanchez the same.
We will move on and be fine.
The main thing is bringing in first 11 players. That’s where we have gone wrong, you can’t buy a backup player

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

You talk a lot of sense. However it’s not quite the same as we have a new Director of Football who I assume is leading the rebuild in this coming transfer window. Whilst his work in Portugal is impressive, he is yet to build an elite team capable of winning serial titles. In Pep we trust has never had more resonance. I wish I saw the green shoots of a new squad that is a firm foundation for the future but I don’t yet. I guess my biggest concern is our use of Haaland, playing to his strengths and enabling him space to do what he can do.

his team did just win back to back titles tbf. 3 of the last 5.

 

[Ashton Moss Messi]

Maybe the truth is that the deal was outside our affordability
The fee was going to be circa £130m
Agents fees circa £25m
Salary, he maybe was wanting similar to Haaland >£500K / week net*
Wages costs NHI £3.9M
Possible bonuses ?
That's £304M over 5 years
60M / amortization

*If his demands were for a net salary then the income tax and employee NHI would be an additional cica £13m

UEFA squad control allows 70% / turnover for 25/26 season onwards
Plans have to assume worse case scenario that the turnover could drop so its a serious consideration IIRC PL plan to introduce similar squad control costs as well

Don't worry about the 70% squad cost, Etihad will pay players £1M per flight for publicity, per family member

At least that's what it will say on RAWK

 

[bell_mcfc]

According to Romano, we've walked away because of the fee but also we needed an answer quickly so we know how much of our budget we'd have left to spend. Feels similar to the Laporte transfer

Fabrizio Romano shares the real reason Man City walked away from the Florian Wirtz saga

Fabrizio Romano has shared another key detail in Man City leaving the Florian Wirtz race...

www.manchestercity.news

Especially if we know it going to be hard to move players and not have much coming in. Ok we’ve sold a lot of youth players in the past but maybe we want to keep this lot around, I’m not opposed to that at all

 

[theholysmurf]

who's this??

Haha I’ve just realised he’s signed for PSG ffs

 

[BillyShears]

You talk a lot of sense. However it’s not quite the same as we have a new Director of Football who I assume is leading the rebuild in this coming transfer window. Whilst his work in Portugal is impressive, he is yet to build an elite team capable of winning serial titles. In Pep we trust has never had more resonance. I wish I saw the green shoots of a new squad that is a firm foundation for the future but I don’t yet. I guess my biggest concern is our use of Haaland, playing to his strengths and enabling him space to do what he can do.

Begiristain will be here for the whole summer and will work in tandem with Viana on all recruitment we do during that period. Notwithstanding that, we have a huge data analysis department which is the root of any top modern recruitment department. Not so much "in Pep we trust" but in Khaldoon and the club we trust. Such a shame that one down season has made so many people forget how many people and how much work was done to achieve the things we've achieved.

 

[strudelslol]

Begiristain will be here for the whole summer and will work in tandem with Viana on all recruitment we do during that period. Notwithstanding that, we have a huge data analysis department which is the root of any top modern recruitment department. Not so much "in Pep we trust" but in Khaldoon and the club we trust. Such a shame that one down season has made so many people forget how many people and how much work was done to achieve the things we've achieved.

I don't think people have forgotten or disregarded achievements.

I do think they're right to question the board in terms of recruitment, though, particularly when our primary targets are in a habit of rejecting us in recent memory, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th choices have not hit the way they used to (Jorginho through to Rodri as an example).

Caution is always expected when things don't go particularly well, especially with all the optics around the club currently not being the most positive.

Personally, I'm still backing the board to get it right, but I'll caveat that by saying the misses are slowly catching the hits up in terms of transfers, so people will rightly be on edge.

 

[ArtetaTechnicalArea]

Called it.

Kid isnt leaving Germany. He signs for Bayern this season or the next.

 

[Gordyola]

We knew all of that before we invited his parents over

Did we though? Things change during negotiations maybe, post the visit another party offered a more attractive package? Don't discount the fact he is sponsored by Adidas and the last thing they would want his him moving to a club sponsored by arch rivals Puma, considering the history of the Dassler brothers family feud Addidas being one of the shareholders / sponsors of Bayern

 

[BillyShears]

I don't think people have forgotten or disregarded achievements.

I do think they're right to question the board in terms of recruitment, though, particularly when our primary targets are in a habit of rejecting us in recent memory, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th choices have not hit the way they used to (Jorginho through to Rodri as an example).

Caution is always expected when things don't go particularly well, especially with all the optics around the club currently not being the most positive.

Personally, I'm still backing the board to get it right, but I'll caveat that by saying the misses are slowly catching the hits up in terms of transfers, so people will rightly be on edge.

I don't agree with your characterisation of our recruitment. In the main in the last few years we've been buying back up players or developmental players. Our first team has been fixed for quite some time. I would agree that Phillips and Nunes in particular were poor squad acquisitions, but they were never bought to be starters. Josko, Haaland, and Grealish were. Personally I don't rate Grealish at all, but I understand his contributions to the treble winning season.

Doku has played as much as he has because of the cliff that Grealish has fallen off. I'm sure if the club had known how Grealish's career arc would go they absolutely wouldn't have sold Palmer, but you can't know these things in advance all the time. I really like Savinho. My gut feeling is that next season Savinho, Nico G, Khusanov, and Marmoush will become huge players for City. Regular starters and they will show their qualities.

I'm not trying to shut down discussion either. I've been really critical of our squad planning at times, but it's easier to do when you're winning. Currently, I think everyone at the club is aware of the work that needs to be done in the summer. Mark my words, City will expect to win the league again next season. It's up to the club to refresh the squad accordingly. But so far from what I've seen of their targets, I'm super excited. 4 or 5 players added to Nico G Khusanov and Marmoush will be an almost total refresh of the squad. Especially when you look at the core that's already here.

 

[Great Kompany]

Another aspect I may add in this discussion of us getting our 2nd or 3rd choice - I was never concerned about this fact because I firmly believe Pep can make any system and any player work.
Something has changed here.The erratic nature of Pep’s management this season does makes me worry about our recruitment - is he okay and emotionally available to continue this massive rebuild and guide the team to title against a resurgent Liverpool and probably a good striker equipped Arsenal

 

[Cobwebcat]

Begiristain will be here for the whole summer and will work in tandem with Viana on all recruitment we do during that period. Notwithstanding that, we have a huge data analysis department which is the root of any top modern recruitment department. Not so much "in Pep we trust" but in Khaldoon and the club we trust. Such a shame that one down season has made so many people forget how many people and how much work was done to achieve the things we've achieved.

If I could I would have liked this post twice.

 

[strudelslol]

I don't agree with your characterisation of our recruitment. In the main in the last few years we've been buying back up players or developmental players. Our first team has been fixed for quite some time. I would agree that Phillips and Nunes in particular were poor squad acquisitions, but they were never bought to be starters. Josko, Haaland, and Grealish were. Personally I don't rate Grealish at all, but I understand his contributions to the treble winning season.

Doku has played as much as he has because of the cliff that Grealish has fallen off. I'm sure if the club had known how Grealish's career arc would go they absolutely wouldn't have sold Palmer, but you can't know these things in advance all the time. I really like Savinho. My gut feeling is that next season Savinho, Nico G, Khusanov, and Marmoush will become huge players for City. Regular starters and they will show their qualities.

I'm not trying to shut down discussion either. I've been really critical of our squad planning at times, but it's easier to do when you're winning. Currently, I think everyone at the club is aware of the work that needs to be done in the summer. Mark my words, City will expect to win the league again next season. It's up to the club to refresh the squad accordingly. But so far from what I've seen of their targets, I'm super excited. 4 or 5 players added to Nico G Khusanov and Marmoush will be an almost total refresh of the squad. Especially when you look at the core that's already here.

Respect that take and agree that we should expect big things from some of the newer additions.

I'm hoping more than anything that the recruited players this summer and those in January allow us to take players in and out of the team depending on form, and allow the growth that the majority of them need.

As stated, I personally do back the board to get things right, but I do understand those who are not as positive.

 

[Saddleworth2]

his team did just win back to back titles tbf. 3 of the last 5.

you think I don't know that? Football is unforgiving as is history. Success in the past is no guarantee of success in the future albeit we have implemented a solid structure that should at least get us competitive again.

 

[TheBlueCat]

I don't agree with your characterisation of our recruitment. In the main in the last few years we've been buying back up players or developmental players. Our first team has been fixed for quite some time. I would agree that Phillips and Nunes in particular were poor squad acquisitions, but they were never bought to be starters. Josko, Haaland, and Grealish were. Personally I don't rate Grealish at all, but I understand his contributions to the treble winning season.

Doku has played as much as he has because of the cliff that Grealish has fallen off. I'm sure if the club had known how Grealish's career arc would go they absolutely wouldn't have sold Palmer, but you can't know these things in advance all the time. I really like Savinho. My gut feeling is that next season Savinho, Nico G, Khusanov, and Marmoush will become huge players for City. Regular starters and they will show their qualities.

I'm not trying to shut down discussion either. I've been really critical of our squad planning at times, but it's easier to do when you're winning. Currently, I think everyone at the club is aware of the work that needs to be done in the summer. Mark my words, City will expect to win the league again next season. It's up to the club to refresh the squad accordingly. But so far from what I've seen of their targets, I'm super excited. 4 or 5 players added to Nico G Khusanov and Marmoush will be an almost total refresh of the squad. Especially when you look at the core that's already here.

I admire your optimism Ashan. However, it should be noted that Nico G and Khusanov have hardly played and Marmoush hasn’t ripped up trees. Adding 4 or 5 players of the quality we need seems a tall order.
I really want to buy into your vision and hope you are right.

 

[BillyShears]

I admire your optimism Ashan. However, it should be noted that Nico G and Khusanov have hardly played and Marmoush hasn’t ripped up trees. Adding 4 or 5 players of the quality we need seems a tall order.
I really want to buy into your vision and hope you are right.

Marmoush has been fantastic. Playing in a dysfunctional team. Khusanov looked a beast when Pep played him. Nico G will get the Rodri treatment and in a year all the chat will be about how good he is. It's not blind optimism mate, it's having an idea of how the past has unfolded and how Pep operates.

We're going to buy 2 full backs and 2 CM's at a bare minimum. Questions about 'quality' are relative in that obviously no one is going to agree on every player City sign. Other than super hyped players like Wirtz, whether you sign MGW or Reijnders or some other CM, there'll be people predicting he'll fail.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

you think I don't know that? Football is unforgiving as is history. Success in the past is no guarantee of success in the future albeit we have implemented a solid structure that should at least get us competitive again.

No i didnt think you knew that, you just said he hasnt.

 

[Saddleworth2]

No i didnt think you knew that, you just said he hasnt.

Now you have lost me. Hasn't what?