It's Quiet the £250m return

[Dribble]

In a part of one season in the last decade we were overrun in defence and midfield.
That period coincided with our worst period for injury and illness during Pep's tenure.
It also came after achieving an unprecedented fourth title in four years.

I believe that the idea that we suddenly need even more dramatic change over-emphasised.
We will see the return of the winner of the Ballon d'Or and the return of Oscar Bobb, without doing anything else.
To that, we have added the Bundeliga's leading forward (Marmoush).
An attacking midfielder described as one of only two magicians in French football.
A gifted midfielder - player of the season for a historic European club.
A central defender boasting some of the best U23 stats in the world's top leagues.

I could go on.
We have also changed much of the coaching setup.
There are still three weeks left in the transfer window.

Just enjoy the ride.

ManUre made the mistake of not evolving when they were kings. 12 years on...

The point many are making is our mistake was not starting our squad succession planning in earnest right after the treble. It was obvious then that the treble winning squad had peaked & a core of them were ageing & beginning to lose their physicality, pace & were succumbing to injuries.

We left it too late which can be summed up by our huge January & summer 2025 transfer activity. Our recent transfer activity looks uncharacteristically chaotic in comparison to our recent past.

We've bought well, but have a glaring hole at RB, where our main option seems to be failed midfielder Matheus Nunes. If anything were to happen to him, the "can do a job" merchants will inevitably appear suggesting in-squad replacements like Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Khusanov etc. None of them are specialist RB's, & 2 of them have age & questionable injury records against them.

Liverpool have evidently taken note of what happened to ManUre, Chelsea, Arsenal & City not massively strengthening when they were on top, as evidenced by their approach to this window.

As mentioned by others, if Yamal, Pedri & the like were signed for City, they too might be loaned to Girona with us looking to sell them on with buy back clauses. I'm still scratching my head as to why we're loaning out Reis, Echeverri & possibly others, whilst seemingly falling back on those who are ageing & can't stay fit for significant periods.

Barça had few options available other than to take a step back after being bled dry trying to keep Messi happy - a mistake which all but bankrupted them, hence the reliance on Pedri, Gavi & Yamal etc during their barren years.

Our problems didn't start last season. They started in the summer of 2023 when we didn't take action then. As things stand, we have 1 x No 9, 1 x LB, no RB & a squad full of CB's & midfielders.

Our inaction has handed Liverpool the advantage, but with Arsenal & Chelsea also massively strengthening, we've gone from City being the team to beat, to challenging to remain in this season's top 4, with a bloated squad filled with ageing, injury-prone players who are refusing to leave.

That's the cold, hard reality, & we only have ourselves to blame. If you don't evolve when you're on top, you die. It's that simple...

 

[Coatigan]

Lyon, if indeed we have an agreement for a player to go to them after the Cherki deal.

I meant who does it make sense for?

Might make semse for them, sure. Don't think it necessarily makes sense for us, or even Ech.

Plus we may be taking a throwaway claim in a tweet about the Cherki deal a bit too seriously.

 

[richards30]

Nypan is a more likely candidate for Lyon, though reading their forum they have their hearts set on Bobb. Much rather the latter remains.

Unfortunately though, if Kovacic, Gundogan and Bernardo stay then the likes of Bobb and Nico Gonzalez are going to get less game time? I`d have Bobb in the squad/team ahead of Savinho to be honest.

 

[Coatigan]

I think like Reis, they defo want him playing regular minutes mate.

Says who?

 

[richards30]

I meant who does it make sense for?

Might make semse for them, sure. Don't think it necessarily makes sense for us, or even Ech.

Plus we may be taking a throwaway claim in a tweet about the Cherki deal a bit too seriously.

If the older players stay then Echeverri isnt going to play regular though is he? If rumours are true and he doesnt fancy Girona then where to besides Roma who want a purchase option?

 

[richards30]

Says who?

Well we have loaned Reis for a certain reason i would imagine?

 

[Coatigan]

Nypan is a more likely candidate for Lyon, though reading their forum they have their hearts set on Bobb. Much rather the latter remains.

There is sense in that. Strengthens a similar position for them, reasonable step up in leagues for him, and a promising young player replacing another young more established but still with promise player.

 

[Coatigan]

If the older players stay then Echeverri isnt going to play regular though is he? If rumours are true and he doesnt fancy Girona then where to besides Roma who want a purchase option?

Shades of grey mate.

 

[Dribble]

Mess my arse.Can't wait for the new season and seeing the new squad start to emerge.You obviously think all the management and coaches at City are idiots, that makes you the idiot.

You only have to look at Barça, ManUre, Arsenal & Chelsea to see how quickly you can go from Champions to mid-table mediocrity. Are you seriously suggesting this could never happen to City?

 

[blueparrot]

You only have to look at Barça, ManUre, Arsenal & Chelsea to see how quickly you can go from Champions to mid-table mediocrity. Are you seriously suggesting this could never happen to City?

No I'm saying with what we've done it's unlikely this summer.Plus with the last 10 years as evidence we are very well run, don't expect that to change anytime soon.I'll wait for the last season posts, but to suggest those in charge learnt nothing from last season is fanciful.

 

[Dribble]

No I'm saying with what we've done it's unlikely this summer.Plus with the last 10 years as evidence we are very well run, don't expect that to change anytime soon.I'll wait for the last season posts, but to suggest those in charge learnt nothing from last season is fanciful.

My point is we took our squad rebuilding action far too late, just like ManUre did in 2011. Yes they still won another PL title, but the overhaul they needed was too big, & they still haven't recovered after several managers spending bi££ions, over several seasons since.

The issues in our squad were clearly evident from the treble summer. We failed to act then & the summer after, & a couple of key injuries signalled our collapse last season. That's how quickly things can change.

Evidently we've learned our lesson, hence our huge January & summer transfer spending. This coming season will show if what we've done since is too little, too late. It's now City doing the chasing...

 

[richards30]

My point is we took our squad rebuilding action far too late, just like ManUre did in 2011. Yes they still won another PL title, but the overhaul they needed was too big, & they still haven't recovered after several managers spending bi££ions, over several seasons since.

The issues in our squad were clearly evident from the treble summer. We failed to act then & the summer after, & a couple of key injuries signalled our collapse last season. That's how quickly things can change.

Evidently we've learned our lesson, hence our huge January & summer transfer spending. This coming season will show if what we've done since is too little, too late. It's now City doing the chasing...

But still no RB............

 

[Gabriel]

Unfortunately though, if Kovacic, Gundogan and Bernardo stay then the likes of Bobb and Nico Gonzalez are going to get less game time? I`d have Bobb in the squad/team ahead of Savinho to be honest.

I prefer to look further down the line and to next season, when neither Gundogan nor Silva will be with us. At that point, all those who remain this season need to be first-team ready, so capable of starting against all opponents. That may make this season another of transition, but it’s incumbent upon the coaching staff and Guardiola to have these players ready. If that means putting an end to the ‘farewell tour’ culture and taking decisions that put a few established noses out of joint, so be it.

 

[simon23]

My point is we took our squad rebuilding action far too late, just like ManUre did in 2011. Yes they still won another PL title, but the overhaul they needed was too big, & they still haven't recovered after several managers spending bi££ions, over several seasons since.

The issues in our squad were clearly evident from the treble summer. We failed to act then & the summer after, & a couple of key injuries signalled our collapse last season. That's how quickly things can change.

Evidently we've learned our lesson, hence our huge January & summer transfer spending. This coming season will show if what we've done since is too little, too late. It's now City doing the chasing...

Agreed

 

[Gabriel]

There is sense in that. Strengthens a similar position for them, reasonable step up in leagues for him, and a promising young player replacing another young more established but still with promise player.

Thing is they have another young player, Khalis Merah, who is close in age to Nypan and plays in midfield as well. A fine prospect and someone they may wish to hothouse ahead of our loanee.

 

[CΛL]

If the older players stay then Echeverri isnt going to play regular though is he? If rumours are true and he doesnt fancy Girona then where to besides Roma who want a purchase option?

I don’t see why he wouldn’t get games on the wings, we’ve always rotated there heavily, he can play either wing like Savinho, there’s an argument to say he’s shown more in his limited minutes (cup final, free kick goal at CWC)

 

[Dribble]

I don’t see why he wouldn’t get games on the wings, we’ve always rotated there heavily, he can play either wing like Savinho, there’s an argument to say he’s shown more in his limited minutes (cup final, free kick goal at CWC)

There's a hint of Julian Alvarez & Bernardo Silva about Echeverri. I still strongly believe his & City's best interests would be served by him remaining & City moving on Gundog, Kovacic, Stones, McAtee & Grealish etc...

 

[richards30]

I don’t see why he wouldn’t get games on the wings, we’ve always rotated there heavily, he can play either wing like Savinho, there’s an argument to say he’s shown more in his limited minutes (cup final, free kick goal at CWC)

Because we have Foden and Cherki fighting for a wing or central position and Doku and Marmoush for the left?

 

[Stoned Rose]

Shades of grey mate.

Grecian2000 likes this.

 

[Rammy Blue]

How the fuck have Chelsea got £45mil for Broja and that other geezer that have gone to Burnley!? Got to be some Yank owned shenanigans going on there. Broja isn’t worth 50p, he’s wank.