It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

[mancboy]

pep really has a hard on for lewis, hed prob try him in net if ederson left

 

[Vester]

I can't help feeling you've read what you want to read in that purely because it's Sam Lee.

I think you are confusing me with someone else or are making wrong assumptions, I have nothing against Sam Lee. I just felt that what he wrote in this article was ridiculous. That scenario be a disastrous window and considering Txiki just assembled a treble winning team it feels a bit unrealistic he would all of the sudden have become the worst sporting director in the Premier League.

 

[Kamaro011]

Going by this logic, we're never signing anyone again for the foreseeable future.

It's my opinion pal, maybe the club is looking for talent in South America like Alvarez and Perrone.

But the majority user in this forum will think the club is not serious by signing unproven talent from there.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

The only winger that will be real upgrade and not just what might have been potentiallly world class is Mbappe.

And Mbappe will never join our club for any circumstances.

So yeah real dire the market for trully world class winger that a clear upgrade for our squad out there.

LOL. You’d never buy anyone based on that logic!
That notwithstanding, Diaby, Coman, Leao, Sane, Kvaratskhelia, Rodrygo, to name but a few.
And they don’t even need to be an upgrade. Good enough to provide squad depth without a discernible drop off in quality would suffice. I’d happily take Olise or someone similar, if the alternative is trying to plough through a 55 game season with only 4 recognised AM’s at the club, supported by several untested kids. You stand still in this league, you get overtaken

 

[leo_city]

What happened to these Valverde links @93.20blue

As good as his track record

 

[Kamaro011]

LOL. You’d never buy anyone based on that logic!
That notwithstanding, Diaby, Coman, Leao, Sane, Kvaratskhelia, Rodrygo, to name but a few.
And they don’t even need to be an upgrade. Good enough to provide squad depth without a discernible drop off in quality would suffice. I’d happily take Olise or someone similar, if the alternative is trying to plough through a 55 game season with only 4 recognised AM’s at the club, supported by several untested kids. You stand still in this league, you get overtaken

Only Sane want to goes to City the rest is happy to stay or very difficult to get in their respective club.

And Sane itself might not be wanted by our club management club and Pep anymore.

So yeah real dire.

 

[bluenova]

Or is it possible that the fucking window is still fucking open for another fucking month?

Clearly this- there seems to be a perception this season that things happen neatly and all at once early in the transfer window, which is pretty much never the case.

There also seems to be a perception that everyone else is doing fine. Look at Liverpool - yes, they've got a couple of midfield players in, but after Keita, Firminho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Milner's contracts ended, they clearly wouldn't have wanted the position they're in now, with Henderson gone, Fabinho going, and Thiago apparently wanting out. They needed a refresh, but clearly would have done it over 2-3 seasons, rather than lose all six senior midfield players in one window.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Can somebody point me in the general direction of rational debate, as all I'm seeing is ridicule, abuse and cliquey in-jokes?

At the time of writing, our only major signing Kovacic doesn't pose anything like the goal threat of either Mahrez or Gundogan, and whilst Gvardiol (if he ever signs) might eventually prove to be a fantastic long term acquisition, he's not the genuine speedy Left Back that would provide the balance.
I've not seen any serious links for any other player, but then again, we bought Akanji, seemingly out of the blue, on the last day of the 2022 Summer Transfer Window

I've not watched the pre season friendlies, but has Phillips showed any signs of adapting to Pep's philosophy?
Similarly, I'm assuming that because Doyle didn't travel, we must be intending on selling him to the highest bigger, whilst there must be loftier ambitions for both Palmer and McAtee?
Are we seriously intending on keeping Cancelo or just letting things drift until somebody makes a half-decent offer?
At some point, we'll have to let Walker go, but maybe Bayern can promise more guaranteed starts?

Not flapping, and I certainly won't be panicking after the joys of travelling to every European away game last season, and the memory of the Final Whistle in Istanbul.
However, I've also got a Ticket for Turf Moor and unless my calendar is wrong that game is next week. Yes, the Transfer Window has still got a few weeks, but I refuse to believe that the delay was all part of a clever strategy.

 

[BrazilianGus]

The funniest part of Sam Lee’s ridiculous story is the Palmer bit. I can’t believe he included it after coming up on the spot on his podcast. He literally thought out loud “well, Juanma Lillo is coming back, and he used to like Palmer… so maybe Palmer stays”. There is zero source behind this

 

[oldius]

How many "ifs"? Those "ifs" sum up why this has been an underwhelming window so far.

Every new signing is an if.

 

[Manc123]

I just dont see how we dont sign either a midfieler or a winger.


Also given peps comments about things happening suggests to me there are going to be incomings and outgoings. sam lee just hasnt been given any info.

 

[Del_Bosque]

You can dislike Sam Lee all you want and he does come out with some mad, weird stuff every now and then(that Mahrez article ffs) but he's just been on the pre-season tour, everything in that article and podcast will be well sourced and pretty much inline wit the clubs thinking.

The Jack Gaughan article was similar

 

[TheBlueCat]

That Sam Lee report is all over the place. City want Olise, City want to use Bernardo and Foden on the wings, Rico is a right back option, Rico is an option for the midfield. Covers a whole lot of options and doesn't seem certain on any of them If you ask me.

This was my take on things. Lee obviously hears things

That Sam Lee report is all over the place. City want Olise, City want to use Bernardo and Foden on the wings, Rico is a right back option, Rico is an option for the midfield. Covers a whole lot of options and doesn't seem certain on any of them If you ask me.

That Sam Lee report is all over the place. City want Olise, City want to use Bernardo and Foden on the wings, Rico is a right back option, Rico is an option for the midfield. Covers a whole lot of options and doesn't seem certain on any of them If you ask me.

This is my take on things too. SL obviously hears things, he works in the industry. This though, seems to cover all bases and gives the impression that he actually has nothing to offer. I could have written/ said what he said without any insight at all..

 

[Worsleyweb]

I think Pep will win it with the kids! I honestly do.

 

[Edwin Edwin]

It's my opinion pal, maybe the club is looking for talent in South America like Alvarez and Perrone.

But the majority user in this forum will think the club is not serious by signing unproven talent from there.

And fair enough.

But the point I disagreed with was that we can only sign upgrades on what we have, since that is just disingenuous cause such players are already established and playing at the top echelon and or untouchable in terms of a transfer. For that we would have put up and offer ridiculous money for them (which we obviously wont), or we just have to take a chance on potential in an already inflated market.

World class players don't grow on trees. We can't fold our hands and wait for another club to develop a player to our 'level' and offer them to us on a platter at cut price deals based on our own valuation. The current market is the market, unfortunately, and current trend suggests it's only going one way. We either sink or swim. We can't eat our cake and have it too.

 

[Keeper!]

Can somebody point me in the general direction of rational debate, as all I'm seeing is ridicule, abuse and cliquey in-jokes?

At the time of writing, our only major signing Kovacic doesn't pose anything like the goal threat of either Mahrez or Gundogan, and whilst Gvardiol (if he ever signs) might eventually prove to be a fantastic long term acquisition, he's not the genuine speedy Left Back that would provide the balance.
I've not seen any serious links for any other player, but then again, we bought Akanji, seemingly out of the blue, on the last day of the 2022 Summer Transfer Window

I've not watched the pre season friendlies, but has Phillips showed any signs of adapting to Pep's philosophy?
Similarly, I'm assuming that because Doyle didn't travel, we must be intending on selling him to the highest bigger, whilst there must be loftier ambitions for both Palmer and McAtee?
Are we seriously intending on keeping Cancelo or just letting things drift until somebody makes a half-decent offer?
At some point, we'll have to let Walker go, but maybe Bayern can promise more guaranteed starts?

Not flapping, and I certainly won't be panicking after the joys of travelling to every European away game last season, and the memory of the Final Whistle in Istanbul.
However, I've also got a Ticket for Turf Moor and unless my calendar is wrong that game is next week. Yes, the Transfer Window has still got a few weeks, but I refuse to believe that the delay was all part of a clever strategy.

It's not possible to replace with like for like.

Mahrez particularly was a unique and special player, there are not many like him around, just like when we lost Aguero, Silva,Yaya, Kompany etc.

Football teams evolve and we have done since the day Pep walked through the door.

Kovacic is a quality player, Gvaridol for me is the Haaland of CB and I am sure there will be a couple of surprises.

Last year we signed Akanji totally under the radar for a small fee, look what a superb signing he became.

On Phillips, sadly for me he is simply not up to standard.

 

[mcfcstu]

That Sam Lee report is all over the place. City want Olise, City want to use Bernardo and Foden on the wings, Rico is a right back option, Rico is an option for the midfield. Covers a whole lot of options and doesn't seem certain on any of them If you ask me.

Maybe we will maybe we won't, easy job this journalism lark !!!

 

[leo_city]

That Sam Lee report is all over the place. City want Olise, City want to use Bernardo and Foden on the wings, Rico is a right back option, Rico is an option for the midfield. Covers a whole lot of options and doesn't seem certain on any of them If you ask me.

Just highlights possible solutions Pep sees in the team, nothing new.

 

[Kamaro011]

And fair enough.

But the point I disagreed with was that we can only sign upgrades on what we have, since that is just disingenuous cause such players are already established and playing at the top echelon and or untouchable in terms of a transfer. For that we would have put up and offer ridiculous money for them (which we obviously wont), or we just have to take a chance on potential in an already inflated market.

World class players don't grow on trees. We can't fold our hands and wait for another club to develop a player to our 'level' and offer them to us on a platter at cut price deals based on our own valuation. The current market is the market, unfortunately, and current trend suggests it's only going one way. We either sink or swim. We can't eat our cake and have it too.

World class does grow on trees like our Academy for example and the club management maybe thinking these current academy grad will be enough for next season until the the right player will be avalaible next year.

Are you really want our club like the rags just sign the player no matter the price is?

Maguire, Fred, Sanchez, Pogba etc, i don't think our club will missed at all when we just wait and not signing for the sake of it.

 

[mancboy]

sam lee is the same as all the other journalists, says alot without saying anything