Players develop at different rates. At 24, Mahrez wasn't one the radar of any major clubs. 3-4 years later, he was crowned PFA player of the year.Saka is 24 and when 23 was miles better than Doku. He just isn’t good enough and better players at his age are out there
I would agree the system we play has become an issue but if I’m honest I’d rather have Grealish on the left than Doku. At least he keeps the ballPlayers develop at different rates. At 24, Mahrez wasn't one the radar of any major clubs. 3-4 years later, he was crowned PFA player of the year.
You can't apply a blanket arbitory age that a player must be performing consistently at an elite level, otherwise they'll always be shit. You're also not considering the system our wingers & full backs are being told to play in. I think that has a bigger bearing on their performances than theur lack of talent as you're alluding to.
And did little with it but pass it back or to the side. Ask yourself why?I would agree the system we play has become an issue but if I’m honest I’d rather have Grealish on the left than Doku. At least he keeps the ball
Everything comes back to Pep. He was too stubborn to let Palmer leave on loanI couldn’t and still can’t get why we sold Palmer. We are happy to spend £55mill on Doku and sell Parker for £50 mill. Bonkers
The upside with Doku is enormous if he can figure out his decision making, and he’s one of our lowest earners.Sané was subject of a bid from Bayern & then his injury struck. The season before, he was in & out of the team for inconsistent performances. It happens. He was a brilliant young player, yet to fully mature.
Sterling peaked young & then began to decline before his peak years & now his once stellar careeer is drifting. It happens.
Mahrez was playing lower league football in France, & like a fine wine he matured & got better with age.
Mate, players develop & peak at different rates & ages. Doku, Savinho & Lewis are still maturing, are nowhere near the peak of their careers & all have serious potential.
You disagree. You believe they should be elite players now. I totally disagree, so let's wait & see hey...
I'm quite happy for both to remain, develop & realise the vast potential they evidently possess.The upside with Doku is enormous if he can figure out his decision making, and he’s one of our lowest earners.
I’d be happy to keep him for as long as he’s happy to stay on those wages, it does not stop us looking for a better player to compete with on the wings.
With Savinho, I worry we won’t see the kind of money spurs offered ever again but it’s much the same story.
What did I say, MOTM for me today Jezza. Unstoppable on his day, and today was his day.The upside with Doku is enormous if he can figure out his decision making, and he’s one of our lowest earners.
I’d be happy to keep him for as long as he’s happy to stay on those wages, it does not stop us looking for a better player to compete with on the wings.
With Savinho, I worry we won’t see the kind of money spurs offered ever again but it’s much the same story.
If you can't see it by now then you're beyond help. It has been said over and over (and over) again why he left.I couldn’t and still can’t get why we sold Palmer. We are happy to spend £55mill on Doku and sell Parker for £50 mill. Bonkers
City are going to need English players, especially with Stones looking likely to go and Ake potentially following him out the door. The homegrown quota will become a real factor. Guehi is quality—strong, composed, and some—but he’ll probably end up at Liverpool. Still, if City manage to bring him in, that would be a massive win. He ticks the boxes for both footballing ability and squad registration.
City are going to need English players, especially with Stones looking likely to go and Ake potentially following him out the door. The homegrown quota will become a real factor. Guehi is quality—strong, composed, and some—but he’ll probably end up at Liverpool. Still, if City manage to bring him in, that would be a massive win. He ticks the boxes for both footballing ability and squad registration.
very likely Stones will not be here next seasonHow many CBs does the club need ?
City are going to need English players, especially with Stones looking likely to go and Ake potentially following him out the door. The homegrown quota will become a real factor. Guehi is quality—strong, composed, and some—but he’ll probably end up at Liverpool. Still, if City manage to bring him in, that would be a massive win. He ticks the boxes for both footballing ability and squad registration.
I suspect he'll go abroad now.It be all done to the player where he wants to go and obviously money as well
At least 4 that are consistently fit and ready to play. And proven to have the ability to play at the highest level.How many CBs does the club need ?
I'm quite happy for both to remain, develop & realise the vast potential they evidently possess.
As I've said before, it's not our player quality that concerns me, it's the system the team is being asked to play.
I also wish our fans would stop comparing unlike with unlike. How can we seriously compare Mahrez at the peak of his career with 21 year old Savinho whose at the start of his career in a new country?
Our succession planning was horrendous & we're paying the price. At one end we've got ageing, injury-prone players beyond their peak years, & at the other end we've got seriously good young talent, who're yet to enter their peak of theirs.
The glaring issue we have is a dearth of quality players in their peak years. This is no one else's fault outside of Manchester City's player acquisition panel.
We've little choice as to where we currently stand. We all need to accept we're in a transitional period, which could take 2-3 season to start bearing fruit.
Throwing huge sums at the problem won't solve it, as we've seen with that lot at Old Toilet. Honestly mate, it's like we're turning into the Rags on & off the pitch with our unrealistic expectations, & many of us are taking the easy option of taking pot shots at our players who aren't to blame for our squad planning fuck ups.
Let's play the hand we've been dealt & get behind the players we've got. I'm sure they'll come good in time, but realistically we've just gotta be patient.