It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

[leo_city]

But we don’t have to look at last three years, what counts is the recent season. We need to celebrate everything we’ve won. On the other hand, we need to look at how Arsenal performed; while we were lucky by escaping injuries, they had one influential player absent for a long stretch in Saliba. How would they have done with him? And maybe one more experienced player? United in the FA Cup again, it was a close game. We are maintaining an advantage by inertia, that’s not how football works.

Experience, Pep, injuries. All play a factor every single season. Also I highly disagree with not looking at 3 seasons, we build on each year and the team is more refined, also let’s not ignore that we’ve done a treble, we could just have a natural falloff despite who we sign coming season. You are talking about the chances to prevent that and we have enough to do so.

Arsenal also happened to collapse at the business end. The gap is actually still massive. Let’s debunk this Arsenal improvement shall we? They’ve signed a DM to compete with Partey, or to partner him, fair enough. Where have they actually improved? Adding depth in quality to a couple areas sure, but have they addressed their key weaknesses? Where have they improved creativity in the side? And do they have a midfield that can control games when they’re under pressure? Because both of those were crucial in determining how their season unfolded, Saliba’s injury wasn’t a sole factor. They still haven’t addressed those areas on top of failing to sign a forward that guarantees 25-30 goals a season. So yes, the level we operate at is much higher, and maybe only Liverpool can come closer, depending on how quick their new midfield setup gels together.

Essentially, forgive me for marvelling in a season that ended with a treble, which people still somehow fail to gather the gravity of. If you’re going to go into next season acting as if the rest are closer or better than that is always the case every single year. I felt that last year in terms of profiles we lost, I did not think our squad was as complete, but look what happened. There’s a sense of urgency where there needn’t be, it’s as simple. If we can get certain players (and I do hope we can) then fine, if not I’m still more than confident of winning the league, and you can have many new faces and still not win it, because you cannot control intangibles in football.

 

[wolviedinho]

I think we also have shown that calmer heads prevail; we don’t need to be seen as needy as the depth, despite a few exits, is there for all to see; the main target remains the same and will get over the line, we’ve replaced gundogod with a solid recruit; the sporadic form of foden worked in the minutes mahrez was afforded but I’m feeling Phil will have his stand out season, barring injury and I’m totally convinced this is a planned design to immerse a few of the immensely talented kids, into the melting pot; it’s a risk worth taking and can see one in particular being a revelation on fodens level…

The only thing that hampers this is a walker/ Bernardo being flogged last minute, and for me, especially the latter, it will get rebuffed…

Foden and Alvarez will step up and fill the hole left by Gundo and Mahrez. Rico is immensely talented with no limit. The problem will come with the drop off when the above players are not available. Strength of squad gets us through busy periods. Mahrez coming in when needed and Gundo stepped up as the season came to a close. Who will step up now?

We might have to give a few young players a chance. The Walker situation will sting but if gvardiol comes in we have plenty of options.

Bernardo going late will be a kick in the teeth.

Cool heads will prevail. As you say, we are not desperate and don’t need to go chasing the wrong type of player just to make a purchase. This group deserve only the best to arrive.

Wrap up Gvardiol, Laporte and maybe Cancelo out. Go with what we have.

 

[wolviedinho]

Experience, Pep, injuries. All play a factor every single season. Also I highly disagree with not looking at 3 seasons, we build on each year and the team is more refined, also let’s not ignore that we’ve done a treble, we could just have a natural falloff despite who we sign coming season. You are talking about the chances to prevent that and we have enough to do so.

Arsenal also happened to collapse at the business end. The gap is actually still massive. Let’s debunk this Arsenal improvement shall we? They’ve signed a DM to compete with Partey, or to partner him, fair enough. Where have they actually improved? Adding depth in quality to a couple areas sure, but have they addressed their key weaknesses? Where have they improved creativity in the side? And do they have a midfield that can control games when they’re under pressure? Because both of those were crucial in determining how their season unfolded, Saliba’s injury wasn’t a sole factor. They still haven’t addressed those areas on top of failing to sign a forward that guarantees 25-30 goals a season. So yes, the level we operate at is much higher, and maybe only Liverpool can come closer, depending on how quick their new midfield setup gels together.

Essentially, forgive me for marvelling in a season that ended with a treble, which people still somehow fail to gather the gravity of. If you’re going to go into next season acting as if the rest are closer or better than that is always the case every single year. I felt that last year in terms of profiles we lost, I did not think our squad was as complete, but look what happened. There’s a sense of urgency where there needn’t be, it’s as simple. If we can get certain players (and I do hope we can) then fine, if not I’m still more than confident of winning the league, and you can have many new faces and still not win it, because you cannot control intangibles in football.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -:)

Rodri’s on fire, you’re defence is terrified, Rodri’s on fire….

Still living in football dream land. We won the fucking treble. The Fucking Treble. No matter what they write or say, they can’t take that away. We also won the champions league…yea!!!!!

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

The football world is small. No point kidding ourselves and footballers will have an opinion on the situation.

But then again most players go to the team that pays the highest wedge. I think we have genuinely been waiting on players to leave and have possibly left it too late to find a player we actual want. In the past, the club have made no secret as to how they do the due diligence on players.

You could argue we have been slow to react to the players either deciding to leave or stay but it’s not how we treat people.

We might have to suck up this window. Go with what we have and find a proper replacement in jan or next summer.

The treble achievement was monumental and the players who achieved it deserve respect when it come to their future but it’s also probably hindered our recruitment.

FFP will also be something we are aware of and the lack of perceived options available. Throw it all into the mix and we are were we are.

The Rice move was so not like us. Normally we have the player boxed off so it was a strange move and we acted too late, his mind was made up. The fee was always over 100m so that why I think we have ffp in mind.

Agreed mate, our lack of courting players in the press makes it seem like we aren’t or weren’t interested in certain players, and can often look like we’re JCL’s to that particular deal, when in fact we have a set value of every player, there’s no way we join in with all the flirting when we’re full throttle for a treble, maybe some players are seduced by that, but I like the way we do business. On the FFP front, it’s crazy to see all these clubs (plus the Saudis) throwing money everywhere and City sitting back watching them all, we’ll probably get outspent by Forest again

 

[Tony - MCFC]

Squad full with just Gvardiol in. Someone gotta go.

I thought we had 2 spots for some reason..

 

[wolviedinho]

Agreed mate, our lack of courting players in the press makes it seem like we aren’t or weren’t interested in certain players, and can often look like we’re JCL’s to that particular deal, when in fact we have a set value of every player, there’s no way we join in with all the flirting when we’re full throttle for a treble, maybe some players are seduced by that, but I like the way we do business. On the FFP front, it’s crazy to see all these clubs (plus the Saudis) throwing money everywhere and City sitting back watching them all, we’ll probably get outspent by Forest again

It’s shows the strength of the club both as a footballing powerhouse and as a commercial juggernaut. This is definitely City we are talking about? -:)

We are run in the upmost professional manner. Wouldnt change It for a second no matter who we do or don’t buy. Haaland is our forward for fucksake. People forget what we already have.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

But we don’t have to look at last three years, what counts is the recent season. We need to celebrate everything we’ve won. On the other hand, we need to look at how Arsenal performed; while we were lucky by escaping injuries, they had one influential player absent for a long stretch in Saliba. How would they have done with him? And maybe one more experienced player? United in the FA Cup again, it was a close game. We are maintaining an advantage by inertia, that’s not how football works.

Welcome home gus

Can we comfortably surmise that should arsenal not of capitulated that we’d of realistically hit the 94pts trajectory and not of dropped the remaining 5?

I think we are so ingrained in expectation of the pts totals Pep consistently puts up, that it discounts the bar set; our mean average is 90pts a season and we haven’t avoided injuries year on year, we’ve adapted when faced with it….. the inertia most definitely brought home the other trophies but the league, it’s almost a perfect lock and is imprinted in our dna under Pep!

 

[Jesus H Gabz]

It’s shows the strength of the club both as a footballing powerhouse and as a commercial juggernaut. This is definitely City we are talking about? -:)

We are run in the upmost professional manner. Wouldnt change It for a second no matter who we do or don’t buy. Haaland is our forward for fucksake. People forget what we already have.

Too many people dealing in what ifs, I’d be surprised if some of em left the house in case they get run over. We’ve got a keeper that 90% of other teams are trying to replicate, best defence in Europe, top scorer in Europe, one of the best DM’s and the best all round midfielder in football (sorry for getting all Scouse) with plenty of emerging talent, if Foden or Alvarez where on the market you’re talking £100M +

 

[BrazilianGus]

Experience, Pep, injuries. All play a factor every single season. Also I highly disagree with not looking at 3 seasons, we build on each year and the team is more refined, also let’s not ignore that we’ve done a treble, we could just have a natural falloff despite who we sign coming season. You are talking about the chances to prevent that and we have enough to do so.

Arsenal also happened to collapse at the business end. The gap is actually still massive. Let’s debunk this Arsenal improvement shall we? They’ve signed a DM to compete with Partey, or to partner him, fair enough. Where have they actually improved? Adding depth in quality to a couple areas sure, but have they addressed their key weaknesses? Where have they improved creativity in the side? And do they have a midfield that can control games when they’re under pressure? Because both of those were crucial in determining how their season unfolded, Saliba’s injury wasn’t a sole factor. They still haven’t addressed those areas on top of failing to sign a forward that guarantees 25-30 goals a season. So yes, the level we operate at is much higher, and maybe only Liverpool can come closer, depending on how quick their new midfield setup gels together.

Essentially, forgive me for marvelling in a season that ended with a treble, which people still somehow fail to gather the gravity of. If you’re going to go into next season acting as if the rest are closer or better than that is always the case every single year. I felt that last year in terms of profiles we lost, I did not think our squad was as complete, but look what happened. There’s a sense of urgency where there needn’t be, it’s as simple. If we can get certain players (and I do hope we can) then fine, if not I’m still more than confident of winning the league, and you can have many new faces and still not win it, because you cannot control intangibles in football.

Some people, and it seems you are among them, have already rationalized that whatever happens next season is fine because we won the treble last season. I don’t include myself in that. I have and will always celebrate all our achievements, but I don’t want to become enamored with the past when we have all the resources to remain champions.

Needless to say, I am not saying our rivals have what it takes to win the treble, nor am I asking that we do it. But, in all competitions, we do have serious rivals. The league will be harder and the CL have strengthened teams.

This season cannot be compared to the last in terms of outgoings and incomings, yet, because we added the biggest superstar in European football that changed our profile, and we strengthened (almost by accident) defensively on deadline day. As of now, we have effectively weakened ourselves.

I don’t agree AT ALL with your assessment of Arsenal. Rice, Havertz, Timber all excellent signings for them. They add not only quality but also the character and hunger needed to try again. It isn’t yet a perfect squad, I agree, but it doesn’t seem to me that they’re done in the market yet either.

You say we have enough to prevent falling off. I don’t agree with that, and it’s okay to have disagreements. The squad is thinner, the bench is weak, the options aren’t varied, the one replacement is decadent, and even the filler kids aren’t the best we’ve had. There are many causes for concern but maybe especially a matter of character. Ruben and Phil can talk in interviews all they want that the hunger will be the same, but it’s highly unlikely and that is something that I believe can be fixed in the market. The squad needs to feel fresh. The Euros happen at the end of the season and we need players to not be thinking about that because they’re already successful.

Now I understand that some, including you, look at people like me and see: pessimistic, spoiled etc. It’s just a difference of perspective. If one wants to settle with having won the treble I am not one to interfere. I just believe that the amount of money the club spends to keep a season going isn’t to waste it. And, although he hasn’t explicitly said so, with enough hints of this being the best manager in history’s penultimate season ay the club, I don’t want to throw that away either by inaction and have another 19/20.

 

[TonyM]

We are fucked if just 3 players are injured. We need 4th, 5th and 6th place keepers.