"Whilst his work in Portugal is impressive, he is yet to build an elite team capable of winning serial titles. "Now you have lost me. Hasn't what?
I agree that ‘quality’ is a subjective concept. I also agree that our recent windows (bar the odd exception) have seen us buy back up/ development players. It will need a seismic shift of policy - akin to Guariola’s second season when we last invested in real fullbacks, and with that a review of current tactics. It seems a big task, I hope we are up to it mate..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.
I'd counter that with a lot of that success we've had has been down mostly in part to signings we made quite a few years ago. Ederson, Stones, Diaz, Walker, Rodri, Bernie, Kev, Gundo, Mahrez..... all signed a long time ago. How many in the last 4 years or so have really made an impact? Gvadiol, Haaland, Grealish for 1 season, it doesn't really fill you with confidence on our current transfer strategy when you see the list of ones who just simply aren't good enough.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.
Cheered me up that. ThanksI 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.
No mate, probably me. Fair enough. We shall see."Whilst his work in Portugal is impressive, he is yet to build an elite team capable of winning serial titles. "
The Sporting team he just built has gone back to back
(apologies if i've crossed wires somewhere)
And that sentence there is why we've seen performances and standards slip since the treble season. With the exception of Gvardiol and Doku (and not including the panic buys this January), we've not made one signing to improve the starting 11 despite having an ageing squad.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.
Both Xavi Simmons and Cherki have formally handed in transfer requests.
On the more frugal side I think Hugo Larsson from Frankfurt would be a top investment for us to make.
I agree they are, but they’re both young and showing a lot of potential. Solid alternatives who will undoubtedly be available at a more reasonable price.Personally I think they are all a level below wirtz but time will tell
I agree they are, but they’re both young and showing a lot of potential. Solid alternatives who will undoubtedly be available at a more reasonable price.
100%I'd counter that with a lot of that success we've had has been down mostly in part to signings we made quite a few years ago. Ederson, Stones, Diaz, Walker, Rodri, Bernie, Kev, Gundo, Mahrez..... all signed a long time ago. How many in the last 4 years or so have really made an impact? Gvadiol, Haaland, Grealish for 1 season, it doesn't really fill you with confidence on our current transfer strategy when you see the list of ones who just simply aren't good enough.
Even the signings in Jan are a bit of head scratcher. Gonzalez can't get a look in and Pep would rather play Rico in there which is pretty damning.
For me this is why i'm nervous as our transfers over the past 3 years or so have nothing short of ordinary.
It is my argument when people believe Pep is 100% the man for the rebuild. I hope he is but a number of year worth of recruitment - which he definitely has a say in, has been nothing short of abysmal. To trust another window and expect them to hit the ground running is a big askI'd counter that with a lot of that success we've had has been down mostly in part to signings we made quite a few years ago. Ederson, Stones, Diaz, Walker, Rodri, Bernie, Kev, Gundo, Mahrez..... all signed a long time ago. How many in the last 4 years or so have really made an impact? Gvadiol, Haaland, Grealish for 1 season, it doesn't really fill you with confidence on our current transfer strategy when you see the list of ones who just simply aren't good enough.
Even the signings in Jan are a bit of head scratcher. Gonzalez can't get a look in and Pep would rather play Rico in there which is pretty damning.
For me this is why i'm nervous as our transfers over the past 3 years or so have nothing short of ordinary.
I'd counter that with a lot of that success we've had has been down mostly in part to signings we made quite a few years ago. Ederson, Stones, Diaz, Walker, Rodri, Bernie, Kev, Gundo, Mahrez..... all signed a long time ago. How many in the last 4 years or so have really made an impact? Gvadiol, Haaland, Grealish for 1 season, it doesn't really fill you with confidence on our current transfer strategy when you see the list of ones who just simply aren't good enough.
Even the signings in Jan are a bit of head scratcher. Gonzalez can't get a look in and Pep would rather play Rico in there which is pretty damning.
For me this is why i'm nervous as our transfers over the past 3 years or so have nothing short of ordinary.
Rodri is one of those generational players. Can likely play in any system. Is capable of defending, carrying forward, finding spaces.I used Rodri because I thought that was a brilliant use of good squad planning. A succession plan in place when our best players leave. Funny enough that was what the academy was meant for. A pipeline that would provide future starts for the club but it’s more of a cash cow now. Anyway. I thought we got to pay less since Bayer Leverkusen never wanted to sell to Bayern. 100m for us 150m for them. So I’m not sure how the price went up.
But you’re right Kev clearly thought he was still good enough which is why he was shocked the club didn’t renew his massive contract. Strange imo, it’s like when Walker still thought he was able to play at a high level after last season. It’s abit sad they don’t think they’re past it.
Peps first choice targets were Jude and Rice. After the treble he said he wanted duel winners, pace and power. That steel in midfield with Rodri would’ve been city 4.0 but we didn’t get them because they too rejected us.
Now that I think about it … idk how can we even add more pace to the team. Have you seen that graph how we’re the slowest team in the league. Prefer my intricate play. We’re the least direct side. The players like Bernardo do a 180 when we on half a transition. The team doesn’t look for space in behind. But Pep also pleads for more passes for control and rhythm so. I think both the manager (play style) and the players need to change for our pace to change. We’ve signed Doku, Nunes, Savio, Kova, Gvardiol. And we still play slow. It starts with Pep imo.
Remember that goal Doku scored in the UCL it was a transition goal and everyone was so shocked cuz we barely ever score goals like that when the opposition defence is running back towards their goal. It was so refreshing. It would be great to not be so one dimensional and predictable. Harder to defend against and easier/better to watch as a fan
Yeah i hope you're right pal i really do. Big summer ahead so exciting times.I don't really understand your point, because I said in my post that we haven't been buying first XI players for the last few years. We've been buying squad players as the team was winning titles left right and centre. The only real first XI players we signed are the ones you've mentioned, Josko, Haaland, and Jack. Nearly all of the other signings (Phillips, Nunes, Doku) came in as squad players.
January is a different conversation. Marmoush already looks top. Khusanov we know is going to be a beast but he isn't going to play ahead of Dias right now. Next season I'm sure he'll play more. Nico G is an interesting one, where maybe it'll take the Rodri route of a full pre season with the team to get him into the side regularly. The point is, a lot of people seem to ignore that the last 4 years have been 4 years of insane levels of success on the pitch.
Oh and finally, who bought all those players you listed from Ederson to Riyad? The same people buying the players now.
I understand that yeah, I agree we’re lacking in numberThat’s kind of my point though. We have a squad full of potential but a real lack of world class talent. When Pep came in he needed to rebuild but he still had KDB, Silva, Kompany, Ferds, Sterling, Zab and aguero to build a team around.
We currently have Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri and Haaland that I would say fit into the level of above. We are quickly becoming short of top level players unless certain players do step up ie Foden, Marmoush. Maybe they will but I would love to see us sign at least one world class player in midfield or right back this summer and that, right now, doesn’t seem likely.
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.