It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

I am quite relaxed this season, amazing what winning a treble does for you!!

Every year I go into the season thinking we are short and last season I thought after signing Haaland we let too many leave, the squad didn’t look balanced, and we just didn’t have enough players to challenge on all fronts. What I hadn’t factored in was that Pep is an absolute genius and who would have expected us to end last season with a treble playing a 3 2 5 formation with John Stones because one of the worlds best DMs. In short I used to always panic at the beginning of a season and at the end we’ve won it all again.

As things stand I do think we look weaker than last season but we could suddenly sign a winger and defender and Pep might invent another new formation. I say invent but I personally reckon Pep copies his formations from the early 20th century with the old WM. Maybe our opponents could add plagiarism to our list of charges .

I just think it will all be alright in the end. It is an uneasy truth I’m starting to reluctantly accept.
 
After the pre season tour it feels like we are decent shape bar a concern over a lack of creativity without KDB.

I think as a result of those matches Perrone will leave on loan. Not sure where we stand with respect to Palmer, Bobb and McAtee. I’d expect at least one to be moved out either permanently or on loan.

Despite the positive noises I can’t see Cancelo having much future. He plays in a position that we don’t really use and he’s fairly unhappy if he doesn’t play.

No idea what’s happening with Gvardiol but I guess it will sorted soon which means Laporte will be off.

Phillips is a strange one, he’s going to 3rd choice DM behind Rodri, Kovacic possibly Lewis and behind Bernardo, KDB, Kovacic, Foden and Lewis as an 8. Not sure if he’s going to get much game time. With the Euros next summer he’s going to have think hard on his future.

Not as worried about whether Walker stays or goes. He won’t be first choice as it stands but if he goes he’ll need to be replaced. I’d prefer if he did stay but would completely understand him taking on a new challenge.

The tour shows the creativity from Mahrez and to an extent Gundogan need to replaced. Whether by a midfielder or a wide player but there’s definitely a need for another creative spark in the squad.
 
Think we need another player that can do a job immediately, and not some young proapect that’s barely better than Palmer/Bobb, like Olise, Cherki and Barcola. Don’t think any of those three strengthen us on the short term, and we have plenty of good young prospects in the club.

Controversial, but I think Dybala would be a perfect fit. Similarly to Grealish he’s more of a 10 that often played out wide for Roma last season. His ball retention is very good, elite finisher in the box and from long range and one of the best creators in the top 5 leagues by stats. Got a goal or assist every 96 minutes for a Mourinho side that finished 6th last season (technically 7th because of Juves point deduction). He has also expressed in the past he’d like to play for City and he has a release clause of €12m for non-Italian CL clubs. Would ease some of the pressure on Kev as he can play both RW and attacking midfield (and false 9). Gundo and Mahrez got 46 G&A between them last season, we need someone that can do a job in his first season. Would be a very good Pep winger on the right
 
MadchesterCity said:
It’s easier to say weaker as we’ve lost Gundogan and Mahrez but you also have to consider that Foden, Alvarez, Haaland are all a year more experienced
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Mahrez and Gundogan had a combined goal involvement of over 40 goals last season. Even if you think Haaland only needs to pick up a quarter of that it would mean he would be looking at 70 goals/assists this season.

As things stand right now we are weaker.
 
JewelZee said:
Raphinha is ranked 4th behind Saka, Salah, and Rodrygo by 4 4 2 and 6th behind Salah, Saka, Rodrygo, Gnabry, and Dembele by 90 min. In both cases one spot above Mahrez. That's debatable for me but what's not debatable is that he's a top class wide forward. Your inability to rate players is astounding. I'm starting to think it's a put on to rankle people. You can't possibly watch football and come to the conclusions you come to...
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I totally disagree with you on this one and I am not on a wind up on this one. We can do a lot better than Raphinha and stats only tell part of his overall ability.
 
Gundogans key goals will be missed. I think his ball carrying and passing can be covered by Kovacic. Mahrez creativity will be missed. KDB can be covered by Foden if hes not a starter.

Alvarez is a great prospect but feels like he is another Jesus.....

Another AM/wide player feels needed but haven't a clue on who that could be.
 
PolarBearCub said:
Gundogans key goals will be missed. I think his ball carrying and passing can be covered by Kovacic. Mahrez creativity will be missed. KDB can be covered by Foden if hes not a starter.

Alvarez is a great prospect but feels like he is another Jesus.....

Another AM/wide player feels needed but haven't a clue on who that could be.
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Which isn't totally a bad thing as Haaland is our main goalscorer which does take off some of the pressure. Other than that I agree.
 
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