Have we done enough in the transfer market?

Without Gonzalez, i would argue the window was not relevant for this season, barring Khusanov (even then, if Dias and Ake stay fit from now-ish, does he get a look in?) . The signings did not address the lacklustre state of central midfield and the enormous chance concession that is happening, all throughout games but particularly from 65 mins onwards.

If Gonzalez can go any way to fixing that wide open central space, then that makes it a good window, albeit very last minute (stank a bit of after-thought). But the pressure is now on him, in that respect.
 
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Marvin. said:
The problem with this window is that all this should have been done in the Summer but that said, I think our squad will challenge for the title in 2025-26 providing Rodri makes a full recovery. It's very difficult to know what impact overseas signings from the Winter will make. Not only are they all new to us but even if they are top class players it will probably take the rest of the season for them to settle in, nevertheless at this moment in the season, you wonder what our potential is.

Attack

In the last month, Savinho has started to play at a very high level coinciding with Pep moving him to the left. Then we can add Marmoush and Oscar Bobb. Our forward line looks incredibly exciting but it will take time for Marmoush and Bobb to settle in and recover respectively. We have secured the long term future of Haaland! We also have Doku who can turn a game and is brilliant at beating a player. He is young and will develop. If Bobb develops and Marmoush translates his goals and assists from the Bundesliga to the Premier League it would be spectacular. I think this area of our side has struggled a lot this season because of the sale of Alvarez, and immediate injury to Bobb, and short term injuries to Doku plus the settling in period of Savinho, but all those problems appear to be resolving themselves.

Midfield

The injury to Rodri was hugely damaging and that has been compounded by the age of KDB and Gundogan. But when Rodri is fit we have the Ballon D'or winner plus POTY, Foden. Foden struggled when he returned but is now approaching his best. We can add Gonzalez, Bernardo, Kovacic, Macatee, Rico and O'Reilly. I think that if Rodri is back to his best, that is an outstanding midfield.

Defence

I think there is one significant problem at right back which we can cover through central defenders if we can get Dias and Ake fit. This season Stones, Ake, Dias have all suffered significant injury problems and presumably this is why City brought in Reis and Khusanov as the injury problems had become chronic. On paper, Dias and Stones is an excellent partnership and Gvardiol is an outstanding left sided footballer. He can play anywhere on the left he is that good. He is a little slow and that is his only weakness. I think Khusanov and Reis are too young to start in the Premier League this season.

This season

I think we should finish in the top 4 and we could win the FA Cup. We probably have too many short term problems to expect to beat Real Madrid, but you never know in a 2-legged tie. We could do it.

Next season

We will challenge for the title. This season has been seriously affected by serious and chronic injuries. We have found a top class player in Savinho and Rodri will return. Marmoush and Bobb have a very high potential so I think we are well set. Gonzalez adds to the quality in midfield
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We've now got some excellent attacking options, but aside from a fit Rodri and Foden's goals I'm not sure I share your confidence about midfield Hopefully Gonzalez will hit the ground running, but the others are mostly fading or not quite good enough.

Defensively I agree completely about the Dias/Stones partnership, but realistically how many games will they start together next season?

The Right Back situation will continue to haunt us until we actually do something about it
 
I think it's a start of a 2.5 year process. The squad got stale, which is difficult to realise when we're continuing to win, but the signs were there last season. Still need another midfielder, right back and probably a goalie in the near future.

As much as the investment in players has been important, the real work will be moving on from stalwarts who we've all grown to love, especially for those who have undoubted legend status. We might also have to consider sacrificing the odd holy cow
 
Dazzle84 said:
I think it's a start of a 2.5 year process. The squad got stale, which is difficult to realise when we're continuing to win, but the signs were there last season. Still need another midfielder, right back and probably a goalie in the near future.

As much as the investment in players has been important, the real work will be moving on from stalwarts who we've all grown to love, especially for those who have undoubted legend status. We might also have to consider sacrificing the odd holy cow
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*Sacred cow.

It's not flipping Adam West's Batman speaking, honestly.
 
I don't think its enough - I still think we are a full back or 2 short for when we get hit on the transition. At least we have added a CDM but he is going to have to put some fires out when the teams come at us. I still think we need a Bernardo, Kev & Gundo replacement - teams are using to CDM's - never been one of Peps methods.

We have to realise Pep inherited peak Vinny, Stones, Sergio, Ferna, KDB, Sterling, Silva - with Yaya, Zabba, Otamendi

The core of that team were young and already world class and once Pep saw the short comings of the 1st season - added pace - Leroy, Walker - Bernardo, Gundo, Ederson & Laporte

I still think until all the pieces come together - a few more transfer windows - we won't be at the level to match Liverpool & Arsenal - who over the last few years have been added players into their squad. I hope I'm wrong.
 
Stoned Rose said:
Very happy with Gonzalez and Marmoush as they are straight into the starting 11 level players and in positions we really needed.

The other 4 are more longer term signings which at least suggests some long term succession planning. Whether they’ll turn out to be any good remains to be seen.

Summer needs us to get a top RB and 2 top midfielders and either a new number 1 goalie or promote Ortega and get a new number 2.
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I agree with all that except Ortega. Assuming Ederson leaves I don't think Ortega is good enough to be first choice. His distribution is average and his shot stopping is average to good. We need to find the next Ederson, hungry to succeed with good to excellent distribution as well as top all round keeper ability. And a keeper that can save a few penalties will be a bonus.
 
TFC said:
We've done enough for now. Extra midfielders required in the summer tho. And a left back. And a right back.
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The left back situation has been going on since he who shall not be named got injured in 2017. He wasn't much of a miss in the long run as it transpired, but even so for a club with so much money and a cheque book manager ( sorry last few words are ironic taken from usual media platitudes) it's been very remiss to not address this glaring deficiency. Delphy and Zinny did good enough jobs, but why ffs has an lb not been signed? What position does Vitor Reis play?
 
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Really good window in my opinion. Two young defenders who can learn from the experience we have at the club and help transition into the side to avoid history repeating itself and us being left short or having to react to a situation in the future. Both are highly rated youngsters, Khusanov closer to first team action than Reis, but ultimately they can help us field our strongest back 4 in bigger games by covering for them in others.

Marmoush is an exciting talent. Loads of pace, loads of confidence and a worthy replacement for Alvarez.

Gonzalez is just what we've needed, on paper at least. Can play with Rodri or cover him. Gets half a season to develop with us and we'll be in much better shape next season. A lot of pressure on him though, any success this season is reliant on him performing for us.

We know we should have acted in the summer, but we didn't. We've made big steps towards improving the squad and bringing the age down. A couple of mid-20s proven talents in the summer and we're right back to title challengers with the return of Rodders.
 
Nah, dark clouds are still gathering above my head and there is no sliver of blue! At best we are moving sideways into unchartered territory that is nowhere closer to Pep way of playing football. But that's only me.
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
We've now got some excellent attacking options, but aside from a fit Rodri and Foden's goals I'm not sure I share your confidence about midfield Hopefully Gonzalez will hit the ground running, but the others are mostly fading or not quite good enough.

Defensively I agree completely about the Dias/Stones partnership, but realistically how many games will they start together next season?

The Right Back situation will continue to haunt us until we actually do something about it
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I think you can get another season out of Kova, Gundogan is gone in summer. Gonzales replaces him. Rodri is fit, Kev is fit. Bernardo rested more that’s a lot better. But I think we get at least one more mid in summer
 
Gonzalez and Marmoush are great signings to get done in January. In form experienced players ready to come straight in and make an impact.

The kids are a gamble, can't really comment until I've seen more of them, hopefully they are both able to muck in and help our injury stricken backline. I feel there were much more proven players who would have been a safer bet out there we could have gone for instead.

The jury is out, hopefully we have stolen a march on our rivals and secured our centre back pairing for the next decade. They will be judged on results, if they turn out to be no better or worse than THB, Doyle and JSP then it's a pretty large fuck up.
 
WRicko said:
I think you can get another season out of Kova, Gundogan is gone in summer. Gonzales replaces him. Rodri is fit, Kev is fit. Bernardo rested more that’s a lot better. But I think we get at least one more mid in summer
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Kovacic has done well this season, but the better teams are fully aware that he's too one footed and doesn't shield properly when forced on his left.
PSG pounced and Arsenal should have scored (albeit that was Ortega's fault)

You might be proved right with KDB, but for me, he's a shadow of his former self, and has been for almost a year.

Not sure what's happened with Bernardo but if he plays in the World Club Cup then he won't get much rest
 
Bobb’s completely unproven. He may come good but he may not. He had a magic moment and a couple of half decent games, people are putting way to much store in his ability.

He most certainly doesn’t fit an Alvarez shaped hole as some are suggesting.
 
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